A Higher Loyalty

Truth, Lies, and Leadership

By: James Comey

Narrated by: James Comey

The inspiration for The Comey Rule, the Showtime limited series starring Jeff Daniels premiering September 2020

The sensational number one bestseller about taking on the mafia, the Clintons and Trump.

In his Number One bestselling memoir 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 U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. 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, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail 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.

©James Comey 2018 (P)2018 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic reviews

[Comey] deftly, sometimes comically, captures the president as the inattentive, emotionally stunted, self-focused, absent-from-any-civic-sense, absurd fellow almost anyone in contact with him knows him to be… it is a story of probity, honour and virtue… Comey is an Avenger. (Michael Wolff)

Comey has quite a story to tell – and that’s even before we get to the Clinton and Trump chapters that have made this book an instant bestseller...The Trump win and what followed provides the material for the book’s most riveting chapters. Comey has a keen eye and his observations of Trump and his enablers are sharp…In today’s world, truth has become a precious commodity and those ready to risk their careers to defend it are few and far between. (Jonathan Freedland)

An urgent clarion call. (Edward Luce)

A thriller and treatise in ethical leadership

An amazing book that will stand for years after Trump is long gone. Comey’s leadership was incredible.

A fascinating read

An amazing look at politics and the role of the FBI.
What a fascinating life this man has had so far.

Packs a punch to the conscience...

I half expected this to be a superficial largely self-serving account of Mr Comey’s time as FBI director but found it to be a remarkable document on ethical leadership in public service.

There are in-depth accounts of events long past, most startlingly about the torture-memo time in the Bush era.

It’s a deeply personal and, to my mind, very up-front account about a life lived according to a strong ethical stance and wanting to be of service. He acknowledges personal and professional flaws not in a mea-culpa style but to reflect on how errors and flaws relate to good and bad leadership.

It is a searing and incredibly sharply drawn indictment of a president untethered from any ethical considerations, or sense of duty, and the danger this poses. Incredible achievement.

I’m getting the Kindle version as well as a hard copy, just to be able to underline important passages.

Weirdly, despite the alarming details of the current US administration, it somewhat restored my faith that maybe not everyone in power has ditched motions of truth and justice.

Everyone (including non-Americans like me) should read this before casting their next vote. Everyone aspiring to political office would do well to consider the arguments for truth set out here - your style and focus may be different but the larger ideals are hard to argue with.

Utterly compelling and incredibly well-written and delivered!

Thank you Director

Thank you for inviting us into your life and the FBI. It’s such a pleasure to “read” the words of someone with integrity, and to hear of their journey to the place that you arrived.

Thank you.

Every story has three sides ...

In this well-written, edited and creditably narrated account, Comey gives Trump wary (and weary) readers insight into his motivations and machinations contributing to the most traumatising political era the world has experienced since Nazi Germany. Most compelling, however, is Comey's commentary on the values, traits and competencies of ethical leadership and how, as perfectly illustrated in his own controversial actions as FBI Director - actions which I think I now better understand but still deeply regret, these ideals can and do exist in flawed individuals who must make tough choices in impossible circumstances. He also reminds us of the absolute peril of partisan tribalism and willingness to abandon integrity in pursuit of narrow self-interest and greed. Happy the book ends on a hopeful note. 5 Stars.

A great read!

Surprisingly good book. And very well narrated. Money well spent!
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What is truth

Whatever you think of Comey. Whatever you think of Trump. Whatever you think of Hillary. Consider reading this. If you don’t, you will likely only ever have one side of a three sided fight. In this day, where objective truth is optional, listen to as many versions of these events as you can then make your mind up.

Interesting, reasoned and engaging

Not a bad book, well written and narrated. No doubt t polarising and unpersuasive for many who come with preconceived notions. Nevertheless, quite good and engaging, and an interesting telling of an interesting career.

Great book on Leadership

Not only is this a fascinating book on key moments in current history, which James Comey was in the fulcrum of (which makes you realise what an accomplished career he's had), it is also an excellent book on Leadership. My husband and I are both Executive Coaches. We really appreciated the comments James Comey made on Leadership, particularly in Chapters 8 and 9. I was going to direct some of my coachees to Comey's comments; when I shared this audiobook with my family, listening to Comey's narrative (best, as it's in his voice, as how he meant the words to be read), on a long road trip to the Grand Canyon, with my 2 college-age children also listening, learning and enjoying, my husband was so engrossed, he's decided to buy a hard copy of the book as well, so he can direct the many executive leaders he teaches and coaches to the book. Comey definitely understands what leadership should be about, and what ethical leadership is.

There is a Sheriff in Town

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I grew up on American cowboy movies, where a "man" did what he had to do, and the good guys always won in the end. Up to when Donald Trump became President of the USA, that was the majority view in the world of what the people of America value and stood for. But, the "bad guys" have taken over, America has lost its place as a moral leader.

Good to see that there are still people who are prepared to put everything on the line and stand up for what they believe in.

Listen to the message in this book Americans, drain the swamp before it is too late.