James Clapper, Former Director Of National Intelligence, To Publish Book With Viking
July 20, 2017
Viking is pleased to announce that former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, will publish a book in 2018.
When he stepped down in January 2017 as the fourth United States Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper had been President Obama’s senior intelligence advisor for six and a half years, a period that included such critical events as the take-down of Osama bin Laden, the leaks of Edward Snowden, the Benghazi attack, and Russia’s influence on the 2016 U.S election.
James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, will publish a book with Viking in 2018[/caption]
In this book, Clapper will trace his career through his rise through the ranks of the military, the history of several decades of national intelligence operations, the growing threat of cyberattacks, his relationships with presidents and Congress, and the truth about Russia’s role in the presidential election. He will describe, in the wake of Snowden and WikiLeaks, his efforts to make intelligence more transparent and to counter the narrative about surveillance of American citizens.
Clapper will also consider such difficult questions as: Is intelligence ethical? Is it moral to use human sources to learn secrets, to intercept communications, to take pictures of closed societies from orbit? What are the limits of what we should be allowed to do?
James Clapper says, “At the urging of many friends, and after the momentous events of the last two weeks of my time as DNI, I decided to recount my reflections of a half century in the profession of intelligence and share my experiences—warts and all."
Brian Tart, President and Publisher of Viking, says, “James Clapper has had a remarkable career in the intelligence community. The insights he will share in this book will shed new light on our understanding of this community and its role in our nation's safety and security. We are honored to publish this important book at Viking.”
James Clapper served as the fourth United States Director of National Intelligence—the United States’ top intelligence officer and President Obama’s senior intelligence advisor—from 2010 until 2017. Beginning his career as an enlisted Marine Corps reservist in 1961, Clapper eventually became a three-star Air Force lieutenant general and director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, retiring from uniformed service in 1995. In 2007, he was appointed the Pentagon’s top intelligence official, service under both the Bush and Obama administrations.
Viking controls North American Rights, first serial, and audio. Rick Kot, Executive Editor at Viking, will be the editor for the book. Clapper was represented by Gail Ross of the Ross Yoon Agency. Popular Company News
In Memoriam: Ann Godoff, Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief, Penguin Press
February 26, 2026
From Scott Moyers, President & Publisher, Penguin Press: It is with great sadness that I write with the news of the passing of our beloved colleague…
PW’s Spring 2026 Writers to Watch Featuring PRH Authors
January 23, 2026
Publishers Weekly recently named several Penguin Random House authors to its Spring 2026 Writers to Watch list, recognizing a standout group of voices whose debuts are…
Spotlighting Our 2026 ALA Adult Award Winners and Honorees
January 29, 2026
This week, the American Library Association kicked off the 2026 literary awards season with the announcement of their adult book awards, including the Andrew Carnegie Medals,…
RHCB Authors and Illustrators Receive Accolades from the ALA Youth Media Awards!
January 27, 2026
The American Library Association (ALA) announced the 2026 Youth Media Awards on Monday, January 26 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, and several Random House Children’s Books…
PRHPS & Oni Press Worldwide Partnership Begins August 2026
February 4, 2026
Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS) announced on February 3 a multi-year worldwide sales and distribution agreement with Oni Press, the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher…
2026 Audie Awards: PRH Audio Receives a Record 32 Nominations!
January 30, 2026
The Audio Publishers Association has announced the finalists for the 2026 Audie Awards, and Penguin Random House Audio is proud to receive a record-breaking 32 nominations…
Three Listening Library Audiobooks Are 2026 Odyssey Award Winners/Honors!
January 27, 2026
The Youth Media Awards (YMA), in association with the American Library Association (ALA), are an annual set of prestigious honors for children’s and young adult literature…
John Mark Comer’s THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY Surpasses 1M Copies Sold
February 5, 2026
THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World, by New York Times bestselling author…
Friday Reads: Reality TV Novels
January 23, 2026
The weather prediction is pretty bleak for this weekend in much of the U.S. “Roughly 160 million are under alerts for snow, sleet and freezing rain”…
