Edward Snowden's memoir, "Permanent Record," will go on sale on Sept 17

The whistleblower Edward Snowden announced today that he has written a memoir, Permanent Record, which will go on sale worldwide in more than 20 languages on September 17.

John Sergeant, CEO of Macmillan, Snowden's publisher (and my own), said, "Edward Snowden decided at the age of 29 to give up his entire future for the good of his country. He displayed enormous courage in doing so, and like him or not, his is an incredible American story. There is no doubt that the world is a better and more private place for his actions. Macmillan is enormously proud to publish Permanent Record."

I know Snowden slightly and was lucky enough to get a blurb from him for my novel Walkaway and then to do a double act with him at the New York Public Library.

He impressed me as incredibly smart and thoughtful, and while I know the broad outlines of his biography, I'm fascinated to read Permanent Record and gain more insight into the circumstances that led to his extraordinary, principled act of bravery and self-sacrifice.

Permanent Record [Edward Snowden/Macmillan]