The Director

By: David Ignatius

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

In David Ignatius' gripping new novel, spies don' t bother to steal information...they change it, permanently and invisibly. Graham Weber has been director of the CIA for less than a week when a Swiss kid in a dirty T-shirt walks into the American consulate in Hamburg and says the agency has been hacked, and he has a list of agents' names to prove it. This is the moment a CIA director most dreads. Weber isn' t sure where to turn until he meets a charismatic (and unstable) young man named James Morris who runs the Internet Operations Center. He' s the CIA' s in-house geek. Weber launches Morris on a mole hunt unlike anything in spy fiction - one that takes the listener into the hacker underground of Europe and America and ends up in a landscape of paranoia and betrayal. Like the new world of cyber-espionage from which it' s drawn, The Director is a maze of deception and double-dealing - about a world where everything is written in zeroes and ones and nothing can be trusted.

©2014 David Ignatius (P)2014 Recorded Books

soporific

all the excitement of an introductory accounting textbook. whenever something seems on the verge of happening, the author reverts to bland historical backfill.

This book belies the long-held belief that Goodell could read the phone book and make it interesting: even he can't breathe life into this one.

I wanted a little more mystery and suspense

The characters were believable and easy to relate to, and the story offered a palatable, yet frightening, way to understand the real vulnerability of our cyber universe. I just wish the author had let the reader connect some of the dots, rather than doing it for us.

New fan of writer- David Ignatius - THE DIRECTOR

What made the experience of listening to The Director the most enjoyable?

The Director is brilliant writing. I could physically imagine each character, the scenes, and locations.

What did you like best about this story?

Attention to detail. Ignatius knowledge of the intelligence industry and US foreign policy.
He really gets it right!

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

His vocal inflections were very good! Timing, spacing, the entire delivery, great!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have an extreme reaction, only intense fascination!

Any additional comments?

I'm a fan!!!

Slow start, but really picks up.

The beginning of the book is a bit clunky, but once the plot gets moving it really gets interesting. Worth the credit.

Very Enjoyable

This is one of the better books I have listened to in a long time. The topic is of deep concern and this work of fiction explained a great deal of reality. The story is riveting and the characters very believable. I want to read the author's other books. Recommend highly.

Scary premise

The book just wasn't riveting. George made listening a treat, but even his narration couldn't make the story any better.

A pleasant surprise

Took a chance on an unknown (to me) author and very much enjoyed the story. A good choice of narrator added to the overall experience.

Who’s Watching Who

Great history points and references. Lots of intrigue, the real power of surveillance and the balance between its value to society vs. Use for manipulation and personal gain. Enjoyed it's scary authenticity

more paranoia

Is there anything you would change about this book?

yes...the plot

Would you be willing to try another book from David Ignatius? Why or why not?

no...the 'boomer' mentality resonates throughout all his efforts

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

saves eyestrain

Could you see The Director being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

today? sure...

Any additional comments?

when will somebody give our security establishment a few kudos, instead of constant BS?

All talk no action

I had a tough time staying connected to this audiobook. Too much talking - not enough action. I put it down before the last chapter.