• The Dark Side

  • The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
  • By: Jane Mayer
  • Narrated by: Richard McGonagle
  • Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (377 ratings)

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The Dark Side  By  cover art

The Dark Side

By: Jane Mayer
Narrated by: Richard McGonagle
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Publisher's summary

In the days following September 11, the most powerful people in the country were panic-stricken. The decisions about how to combat terrorists and strengthen national security were made in a state of utter chaos and fear, but the key players, Vice President Dick Cheney and his powerful, secretive adviser, David Addington, used the crisis to further a long-held agenda to enhance presidential powers to a degree never known in U.S. history.

The Dark Side is a riveting narrative account of how the U.S. made terrible decisions in the pursuit of terrorists, decisions that not only violated the Constitution, but also hampered the pursuit of Al Qaeda.

In gripping detail, acclaimed New Yorker writer and best-selling author Jane Mayer relates specific cases, shown in real time against the larger tableau of Washington, looking at the intelligence gained - or not - and the price paid. In all cases, whatever the short-term gains, there were incalculable losses in terms of moral standing, our country's place in the world, and its sense of itself.

The Dark Side chronicles one of the most disturbing chapters in American history, one that will serve as the lasting legacy of the George W. Bush presidency.

©2008 Jane Meyer (P)2008 Random House
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"A powerful, brilliantly researched and deeply unsettling book....extraordinary and invaluable." (The New York Times Book Review)
"Like a good suspense novel....potent and disturbing stuff." (San Diego Tribune)
"The Dark Side is about how the war on terror became 'a war on American ideals,' and Mayer gives this story all the weight and sorrow it deserves. Many books get tagged with the word 'essential'; hers actually is." (Salon.com)

What listeners say about The Dark Side

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read history

Thank you Jane Mayer for a chilling and detailed account of Cheney, David Addington and John Yoo's reign of terror. This is an important book that tells the story of how we became torturers and how a few courageous republican lawyers -- Jack Goldsmith and James Comey -- spoke truth to power and put in motion the eventual outing of this outrageous criminality. This is not a democrat v. republican book. THis is a book about principled v. unprincipled people -- courage v. cowardice and sanity v. insanity. It is a must read ("listen").

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant and Maddening

This was, from start to finish, one of the most engaging audio books I've listened to. Mayer covers the Bush administration from the eve of 9/11 until the end of its tenure with a focus on its manipulation of the law for political ends, especially as it related to executive power and the right to redefine how captured enemy combatants are treated. Far from being a critique of President Bush himself, she underlines his willingness to acquiesce to Cheney and his legal counsel, David Addington, in all matters regarding the treatment of prisoners and the methods by which intelligence was being extracted from them. It is a damning indictment of the unelected bureaucrats who cared more for their own peculiar and idiosyncratic dogmas than for the constitution of the United States, the separation of powers, or the will of the American people.

My only caution is - don't listen to it while you're trying to fall asleep; it will make you so angry, you won't get any.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Clever Propaganda Not Critique

I got this hoping for a balanced critique of what most agree has been fairly unhealthy eight years for the USA (and the world) after 9/11. 20 minutes into this book its purpose became clear. It is to vindicate and lionize Dick Cheney who is mentioned in nearly every paragraph of the part I heard. Anything evil, such as justifying torture, was ALL the fault of some lawyers (good scapegoats, but who hired them... Dick?) This faux "critique" is nothing of the sort. The theme I gathered (I couldn't get past the first 30 minutes the author's bias became so blatant I just couldn't stand to hear Cheney) made out to be a hero of some sort, Cheney the ultimate long time Washington inside adviser.) But ... hey we had good reasons for still doing evil things to innocent people. The ends always justify the means right?

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely outstanding

This is a frightening--hair-raising--book that every American should read. Unfortunately, the narration is monotone and sluggish, to my ear. But the content is so compelling that this hardly gets in the way.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening!

A very well crafted account of our country's recent decent into torture and the fearmongering politics of the Bush Administration. Although a very long-winded book, the author leaves no detail or accusation unexplained. Mayer clearly did her homework on this subject, as this book should be mandatory reading for every civics class in American schools.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my best audible purchases to date

I can't wait to listen to this one again. Each sentence kept me wanting more with never a dull moment. If you find this type of recent history interesting, you should've already heard this book. If you aren't sure if you like this genre, you will love this book even more for showing you behind the scenes of the aftermath of 9/11. Warning: You will be highly upset, but at least you will be entertained. I love how this isn't a boring, dry, stereotypical educational book. It's truly upbeat, fast pace, straightforward narrative that does a great job of separating chunks of information into the various chapters.

The narrator did an excellent job. I will look for more books read by him. His voice is so easy to listen to & adds the perfect emotion for what is being described.

You will not be disappointed. I promise you. If you aren't pleased, I will gift you a free credit.*

*not guaranteed. offering party will not be held accountable. "free credit" claim is a lie.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Story of how America gave up it's honor.

Very well researched and written; a story I wished didn't need to be told. A must read.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a must read/listen to

It will leave you disgusted, ashamed, and horrified. It's know wonder everyone hats or country for even I'm starting to. Who acts we to tell people how to live when we turn around and do what we won't allow others to do. The founding fathers didn't trust the government and they created it but yet we follow it blindly refusing to listen to the creators on never trusting them and keeping them in check. The power is no longer in the people's hands like intended but instead only in a select few who agree to keep inline in their search of more and more power. They all should be put in jail for what they done and put the three same treatment they put those people threw. Terrorist ore nor without a trial they are innocent till proven otherwise not the other way around. In the end God will have his day of judgment and I would never wish hell on anyone but they will answer fire their ignorance and in human psychopathic ideas. Even the guilty wouldn't deserve treated this way for its just midevil and down right barbaric.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

C

great !! everyone should read this book.
now I know why Isis puts orange jump suits
on captors before they be-head them.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Required tell reading on recent political history

A fascinating account of the painful and idiotic descent into stupidity in the bush administration

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2 people found this helpful