The Two FBIs

Interesting

Purchased audiobook after author was interviewed to promote the book… Ultimately, I learned little (hence the low review- I wish I could award more stars). I completed the “easy read” w/in ~5 sessions.

In summary, I was distracted by repetitive “God will … me” & learned little more compared with single tv news opportunity to describe her FBI Career..

I purchased the audiobook ONLY because (1)because my career in Finance of 4-decades; (2)as a witness to 9/11/2001’s collapse of WTC & the 2/1993 attempt: I was intrigued as to how the narrator/author segued (as a 22-yo) from what may have become a lucrative & personally fulfilling career in Finance in Manhattan.

Was her (as described) decision to “Serve her Country” based on “Survivor Guilt”; a genuine desire to do so - while claiming that by opting to accept FBI offer to serve as a Special Agent rooted in helping others - by arresting alleged criminals?
And, knowing Wall Street compensation methodology, did she actually receive (as author describes-as I understood her statement) as FBI SA ~10% of reported previous year’s compensation by Merrill? She describes coordinating a major transaction before pursuing FBI career… Was that transaction’s compensation, a single event during a very short Wall Street career, a “blip” or “bubble”. If she’d remained in Finance, would every calendar year henceforth be as financially successful monetarily?

•WHY I BOUGHT & listened to every word…

9/11 affected “career choices” of Survivors. Her story as to how she became an FBI Special Agent, headquartered in Miami was interesting & most commendable.

While I respect & honor her choice to be “Guided by God” - (estimate my beliefs are as strong but my personal preference: “God gave me a brain”, I obtained an ongoing Education, etc). I’d logged decades in Finance by 9/11/2001 & remain “busy”.

However, the “tenor” of author’s account about FBI Service, is overwhelmed & interrupted by overly frequent statements “God will .. me” along with “I was hired by Merrill as a BYU grad instead of typical Ivy League grads” for an entry-level position @ Wall Street firms.

The last chapters focus on author’s political opinion re. “weaponizing FBI” during an earlier Presidential Term. I did not expect the author’s vehement comments about her former employer, USA’s FBI. We sometimes find ourselves personally &/or professionally “navigating career challenges due to political issues”. The book was a bit of insight; but “tainted” by author’s personal religious beliefs, & more so, by opining re Politics. Ultimately, in lieu of “navigating the Challenges of Jan 6” author chose to cease FBI career. I respect her decision to pursue a different career path…

I strongly agree that all Americans have “Right to Speak Freely”. However, personally, I choose to NEVER criticize an employer… Instead, I do my best to resolve issues, especially when in workplace.

Instead of what I deem “unnecessary” negative comment re those w/ whom author was not aligned politically nor religiously- I hoped to learn more about how she, then FBI SA, dealt with situations when alleged criminals were arrested - while their children were innocent… from a human interest perspective- that offered the author an opportunity to share what happens to children, &, further, due to (15+ years) a “longitudinal perspective”, based on facts [while never divulging names, identities] as to how these young children “cope” w/ alleged loss of contact with both mother, father, & possibly extended family.

The review is offered in spirit of hoping author’s first “work” or book will lead to a more informative book, if she writes another.

Ultimately, while listening to this audiobook, I hoped the “tenor” would be more “substantive”. Sadly, I was extremely disappointed.

I do not recommend this [audio]book for readers who “appreciate substance over opinion”. Personally, opt for historians (Ambrose, McCullough, etal) & biographies (Isaacson & Lisa Brennan Jobs “Small Fry”)…