A Higher Loyalty

Truth, Lies, and Leadership

By: James Comey

Narrated by: James Comey

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

The number-one New York Times best seller, now with a new preface! 

In his audiobook, A Higher Loyalty, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader. 

Mr. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as US attorney for the Southern District of New York and the US deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration's policies on torture and electronic surveillance and overseeing the Hillary Clinton email investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.

©2018 James Comey (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"Comey's conversational tone instantly connects with the listener, and hearing him deliver the book's highly charged contents in his own voice brings authenticity and immediacy to the presentation.... This greatly anticipated, revelatory memoir needs to be heard." (AudioFile)

"It was essential that Comey himself narrate this book, not only because his absence would have distracted listeners familiar with his voice but also because only the author could credibly convey the range of raw emotions emanating from the experiences he shares from this most eventful of lives." (Booklist, starred review)

Insightful, nuanced and encouraging

When Comey was let go, I understood that there was more to it than the official story made it out to be. In this book, we follow his career from even before the very beginning, learning to understand how he thinks and why he thinks that way. Hearing him describe the differences working for Bush, Obama, and Trump, we gain an insight into his unique experience, and an understanding of the dangers of the Trump presidency.

That said; despite the very negative outlook on the Trump presidency, Comey ends the book on a strong note of positivity, describing the rebound that is sure to happen following a presidency such as this one. I hope he's right.

Unfortunately this book is filled with many lies.

Having worked with many members of the intelligence community, I know that what Mr Comey has stated in this book isn’t true.

Some of his statements should send him to jail for many years.

What mr. Comey did WRT Hilary Clinton, is a disgrace to the Constitution and the rule of law., let alone the many Federal laws and regulations dealing with classified materials and the improper handling of them.

What he has stated in this book is evidence against him for his abuse of power.

If anyone, other than him or his friends, were to have done what they have done- they would be in prison.
SHAMELESS behavior 😩

Please don’t waste your money on this book.

A Brilliant Civics Lesson

James Comey had a long and distinguished career before he was fired by Donald Trump, and his blockbuster best-seller spends more time establishing his credibility than dishing dirt. His autobiographical account is necessarily one-sided, since that’s what an autobiography is, but persuasive.

The man who ultimately inherited the job of the legendary J. Edgar Hoover is obviously intelligent and principled, and deeply patriotic. He’s also an excellent writer and narrator whose tales of prosecuting mafia dons and even Martha Stewart make this a real page-turner. He does a credible job of explaining how he handled the Clinton email investigation, which was a series of incredibly difficult decisions, often with no good choices. Diehard Hillary partisans will probably disagree.

He’s more than halfway through before the subject swings to Trump. Ominously, Comey repeatedly returns to the parallels with the mob bosses he prosecuted.

At a highly uncomfortable private White House dinner, Trump demands his loyalty, and seems either incapable of understanding the independent role of the FBI, or simply doesn’t care.

“It would never occur to an ethical leader to ask for loyalty,” Comey observes.

In Comey’s telling, the White House becomes a bizarre house of mirrors, inhabited by a president who is dishonest, unhinged, narcissistic, and just not very bright.

“As I found myself thrust into the Trump orbit, I once again was having flashbacks to my earlier career as a prosecutor against the mob. The silent circle of assent, the boss in complete control, the loyalty oaths, the ‘us versus them’ worldview, the lying about all things large and small in service to some code of loyalty that put the organization above morality, and above the truth.”

The book’s epilogue in the closing minutes is a brilliant summation to a jury of the American people by a veteran federal prosecutor. It should be required reading in every high school civics class.

It’s....hard to pin down

I think I respected Comey more before I got this book. I wanted to actually read it instead of casting judgements based on sound bites and poorly edited interviews. I truly felt that he was in a difficult position during the election and still feel that much of the country seems hell bent on tribalism at any cost and it’s disturbing. Whether or not I agreed with his actions I did think he was doing his best to serve in his role with honesty. Now....I’m not so sure. After listening to his drawn out explanation it becomes clear he absolutely DID act outside of accepted procedures which essentially means he went against what he also claims to believe in. And it basically poured gasoline on the dumpster fire. The empty fire extinguisher you now wield is useless Mr. Comey. And it doesn’t give me any joy to say it.

Well done!

Although I disagree with how Mr. Comey handled the press in the Clinton matter. I now understand why and appreciate the honesty and humility of the book. Additionally, I appreciate how simple and understandable the information was given. It really resonated for me that truth is not complicated. However, dishonesty requires great effort to maintain.
Well done!

More Than Trump: All Comey's Life/Working Years--

Actually, this is a really, really good book by a man who winds up coming off as someone who has walked a fine non-partisan line for a long, long time.
I truly expected to come away from listening to A Higher Loyalty, rolling my eyes. Not because I'm a big Trump fan or anything, but coming so soon after his high-profile firing, I thought it would be bashing and filled with self-sanctimonious tirades. And it's anything but.
Wow. Comey has been through it all: From Martha Stewart, through surveillance and torture programs; from coming from an agency that borders on almost totally white, through keeping a memo authorizing the surveillance of MLK (okayed by Robert Kennedy) as a reminder that that which is not looked at carefully could lead good people far, far astray.
Cheney comes off as hideous, Hillary is a piece of work, Obama could be vastly over-confident but was willing to listen and learn (which surprised Comey; he thought that, coming as an appointment from a Republican president, a Democrat would dislike him grievously).
And yes, there's the utter outrage that happened with the Russians, and quite a bit to do with Trump.
Just don't come into this book thinking it's a vast tell-all about Trump with bashing thrown in for good measure. This is about a kid who avoided bullies (tho' he once joined their ranks to his forever shame), a young man who lost an infant son, a hard worker who tried to give Alberto Gonzales a backbone, somebody who has tried to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the black citizens who are unfairly targeted.
To someone who is raising a red flag about what went on and what continues to go on today. Sprinkled throughout it a touch of ribald language with a heavy dose of humor.
Another reviewer expressed that they couldn't multitask whilst listening to this, and I found that to be true for me as well. I was up all night.

Not what I expected

I didn’t have much of an opinion regarding James Comey before listening. At the end I feel much different. Vastly entertaining, well written, beautifully narrated,surprisingly detailed. This is a great read regardless of your political affiliation.

LIAR

The man is a liar and a traitor, and if I could have rated this book with a zero I would have.

Comey took 8 hours to justify what he leaked

Comey has some interesting stories but still didn’t convince me he isn’t a partisan hack.

A must-listen for every leader and every American

First, Comey is an absolutely exceptional narrator! I've listened to many, many audio books and his narration is right up there with some of the best.

But the subject matter of the book is fascinating. Don't think this is just a referendum on the "e-mails" and Trump. The covers Comey's entire fascinating career and shares lessons learned in critical moments that would test the most seasoned leader. Comey brings great humor and behind the scenes stories to some of the biggest crimes and most relevant current events of our age.