Discusses the infamous intelligence breach brought about by Edward Snowden, including the dangers of global monitoring, how Snowden managed to leave the country with a hard drive full of secrets, and his battle for asylum.

A precocious computer specialist who rapidly rose through the ranks of the U.S. intelligence community, Snowden exposed the National Security Agency's mass surveillance program of citizens, which collects and stores peoples phone calls, emails, and contacts. Forced to flee the country to escape federal prosecutors, he remains a controversial figure in exile. Harding takes us inside Snowden's story, and creates an essential investigation of the interplay between one man and the government, between national security and the right to privacy, and how the far-reaching capabilities of digital surveillance affect us all.

Foreword / by Alan Rusbridger -- Prologue: The rendezvous -- TheTrueHOOHA -- Civil disobedience -- The source -- Puzzle Palace -- The man in the room -- Scoop! -- The planet's most wanted man -- All of the signals all of the time -- You've had your fun -- Don't be evil -- Flight -- Der Shitstorm! -- The broom closet -- Shoot the messenger -- Epilogue: Exile.