README.txt

A Memoir

By: Chelsea Manning

Narrated by: Chelsea Manning

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

"Manning reads her book in a sharp voice that is clearly accustomed to marshaling information..."- Washington Post

"[Manning's] text and performance create a blistering autobiography that is both observant and instructive."- AudioFile

"In both content and narration, Manning displays a keen ability to imbue this detailed account of her life and activism with both sarcasm and sincerity." - Library Journal

"In this revealing memoir, Manning details her experience in military intelligence and her ultimate decision to share classified information with WikiLeaks in this revealing memoir. Listeners will appreciate Manning’s voice as she explores her reasoning for her decisions and accepts her fate with dignity."- Booklist

This program is read by the author.

An intimate, revealing memoir from one of the most important activists of our time.

While working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq for the United States Army in 2010, Chelsea Manning disclosed more than seven hundred thousand classified military and diplomatic records that she had smuggled out of the country on the memory card of her digital camera. In 2011 she was charged with twenty-two counts related to the unauthorized possession and distribution of classified military records, and in 2013 she was sentenced to thirty-five years in military prison.

The day after her conviction, Manning declared her gender identity as a woman and began to transition, seeking hormones through the federal court system. In 2017, President Barack Obama commuted her sentence and she was released from prison.

In README.txt, Manning recounts how her pleas for increased institutional transparency and government accountability took place alongside a fight to defend her rights as a trans woman. Manning details the challenges of her childhood and adolescence as a naive, computer-savvy kid, what drew her to the military, and the fierce pride she has about the work she does. This powerful, observant memoir will stand as one of the definitive testaments of our digital, information-driven age.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2020 Chelsea Manning (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Long listed, Washington Post Best Books of the Year 2022

Review

A very important story to be told, one I would recommend any adult listen to. Ms. Manning's performance has some flaws, but I found it did not negatively impact my listening experience.

amazing

If perfect could be a book, this would most certainly be it. Incredible incredible incredible!

An amazing author

This was a great book and an amazing storyline. It’s wild that in 2020 this was still going on. Happy that it’s over for her meaning her time in jail.

Excellent

Chelsea Manning’s Readme.txt memoir read by Chelsea herself, what’s more to say? Unforgettable book from a brave new writer who’s next follow-up books will be greatly anticipated.

Powerful endurance and teachings to all of us

Great story to learn more about many aspects! Hope the future holds a better place for everyone

That was really good!

those were the first words out of my mouth at the end of this audiobook. Chelsea Manning went through some horrific treatment, at the hands of our own citizens for whom cruelty was the whole point, people (can they really be people?)for whom dreaming up tortures was an actual pastime. Then they acted them out.

I didn't know much of Chelsea's story going in and even if I'm late, I'm happy to know her story now. Her intelligence and incredible wealth of knowledge is amazing! OMG She should be held in the highest esteem and given the respect of past heroes in our history.

The arc of Chelsea Manning's life is the actual real life story of someone in a superhero movie, or a drama about a factory worker named Norma Rae. She went through stuff that most of all of us couldn't bear.

And I believe her.

You need to read this book. You'll thank me later.

amazing

i never thought i would get to hear her story as told by her let alone read by her. this is an important read.

Eye Opening

I don’t want to say to much because I don’t want to spoil it. I still think Manning was wrong and should not have done what she did, but the way she was treated was inexcusable.

Note: sometimes it’s a good idea to have the author read the work, and sometimes it’s better to hire a professional narrator. This is a very personal and moving story, but it was read with all of the emotion of a reading of a math textbook.

read this book

Thank you so much for sharing your life Chelsea. We are kindred spirits and we love and appreciate you and your sacrifices for all human kind. You are selfless and amazing . Thank you,Thank you, thank you

well worth the listening time

Excellently written autobiography. I did not follow much of the news of her story at the time, but I was curious how she came to the decision as a soldier. The only reason I did not give 5 stars for performance was an occasional change in the volume and vocal style. It may have been caused by editing recordings from two different times together, but it did interupt the audio flow if the book.