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…
Remembering John Flanagan: The Author Who Taught a Generation That Heroes Come in All Sizes
April 7, 2026
John Flanagan, author of the beloved and bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice, Brotherband, and Royal Ranger children’s books series, recently passed away. He was 81 years old. …
Andy Weir’s PROJECT HAIL MARY Premieres on the Big Screen, Starring Ryan Gosling
March 23, 2026
The highly anticipated film adaptation of Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY (Ballantine Books) hit the big screens on Friday, March 20! Project Hail Mary (2026) is…
Doubleday to Publish New John Grisham Thriller, THE FRENCH ILLUSION
March 13, 2026
Doubleday will publish John Grisham’s new international thriller, THE FRENCH ILLUSION, on September 29, 2026. The announcement was made on March 12, 2026 by Grisham’s publisher, Suzanne Herz, and U.S. rights…
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group Acquires She Reads Truth
April 13, 2026
The Acquisition Builds PRH Christian’s Direct-to-Consumer Platform and Underscores Its Investment in Bible Resources Colorado Springs, CO (April 13, 2026)— Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group,…
Congratulations to Our International Booker Prize Longlisters
March 2, 2026
The longlist for The International Booker Prize, the world’s most significant award for a single work of translated fiction, was recently announced. This year’s International Booker…
Spotlighting Our LA Times Book Prizes Finalists
February 23, 2026
The Los Angeles Times announced the finalists and honorees for its 46th Annual Book Prizes, recognizing outstanding literary achievement across 13 categories and celebrating the highest…
Our Upcoming Author Events | March 2, 2026
March 2, 2026
The Penguin Random House Communications team invites you to discover some of the Penguin Random House Author Events we’re looking forward to this week! Every Monday, a curated selection…
Celebrating PRH Audio’s 2026 Audie Awards® Winners
March 4, 2026
The Audio Publishers Association has announced the 2026 Audie Award winners, including five Penguin Random House Audio titles! The Audie Awards® are the premier awards program…
