Secret Man: The Story of Watergate’s Deep Throat By Bob Woodward
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Nonfiction, U.S. History
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? For decades, the identity of the secret informant during the Watergate scandal, known as “Deep Throat,” remained a mystery. Numerous theories were floated over the years but reporter and author, Bob Woodward, would not divulge his source. In 2005, Mark Felt revealed that he had been the informant known as Deep Throat. This is the story of Mark Felt’s interactions and relationship with Bob Woodward as told by Woodward himself.
My Review: I have not seen or read All the President’s Men, so all I knew of Deep Throat were cliched meetings in dark garages with a shadowy figure. I found this book to be interesting, but a little wandering. Some details were intriguing, like Felt schooling Woodward in a bit of spycraft to set up their clandestine meetings. And unfortunately, some questions, like Felt’s motivations for being Woodward’s source, were left unanswered due to Felt’s failing memory later in life. At times, the narrative seemed meandering when the reasons why certain recollections were grouped together was not clear. Overall, it’s a captivating bit of history. I listened to the eaudiobook on Hoopla, but print and CD book versions are also available.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Demystify, Unmask, Bittersweet
Give This a Try if You Like…All the President’s Men by Bernstein & Woodward, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg, Blind Ambition: The White House Years by John Dean
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
