American Book Awards
1 appearances
-
Edition 26 (2005) Winner
Richard A. Clarke
リチャード・アラン・クラーク
Richard A. Clarke
Aliases:
Richard Clarke / Richard Alan Clarke
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1950-10-27 （Dorchester (Boston), Massachusetts, United States）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Boston, Massachusetts → Washington, D.C. → Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Career
- Occupations
- National security expert, Novelist, Government official, Consultant, Lecturer
- Active Years
- 1973-
- Affiliations
- Harvard Kennedy School (adjunct lecturer), Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (affiliate), Good Harbor Consulting (Chairman)
- Memberships
- Sphinx Senior Society (college)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | — | — | BA | 1968–1972 | United States |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | — | — | MS (Management) | 1976–1978 | United States |
University of Pennsylvania
Degree:
BA
Period:
1968–1972
Year of Graduation:
1972
Country:
United States
Selected to Sphinx Senior Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Degree:
MS (Management)
Period:
1976–1978
Year of Graduation:
1978
Country:
United States
Master's degree in management
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | American Book Award | — | — | Before Columbus Foundation | 受賞 |
American Book Award
Organization:
Before Columbus Foundation
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror—What Really Happened
2004 Non-fiction (memoir / policy critique)A memoir about his government service and counterterrorism work. Criticizes the Bush administration's handling of threats before and after 9/11 and analyzes policy failures.
counterterrorismgovernment decision-makingnational security
Defeating the Jihadists: A Blueprint for Action
2004 Non-fiction (policy)A policy book proposing strategies to counter jihadist movements, outlining military, diplomatic, and intelligence approaches.
counterterrorism strategypolicy recommendations
The Scorpion's Gate
2005 Political thriller (novel)A political-military thriller set in the Middle East, drawing on real-world security issues.
Middle East politicsmilitary interventiondiplomacy
Breakpoint
2007 Thriller (novel)Fiction dealing with cyber attacks and interstate tensions, combining technical detail with political drama.
cyber attacksnational security
Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It
2010 Non-fiction (cybersecurity)Discusses cyber threats and what governments and companies should do to defend themselves, combining policy recommendations with technical discussion.
cybersecuritypolicy recommendations
Bibliography
- Against All Enemies (2004)
- Defeating the Jihadists (2004)
- The Scorpion's Gate (2005)
- Breakpoint (2007)
- Your Government Failed You (2008)
- Cyber War (2010)
- Sting of the Drone (2014)
- Pinnacle Event (2015)
- Warnings (2017)
- The Fifth Domain (2019)
- Hostile State Disinformation in the Internet Age (2024)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Expository, direct prose grounded in policy and technical detailAnalytical and fact-focused in non-fiction; realist thriller style in fiction
- Recurring Motifs
- vulnerabilities in national securitycyber threatsfailures of policy-making and their consequences
Legacy
A practitioner who used his government experience to shape policy debates and warn about cyber and terrorism threats. His 9/11 testimony and memoirs sparked public debate, and he helped popularize cybersecurity issues—while also drawing criticism for some post-government activities.
Academic Societies
- Harvard Kennedy School (affiliate/lecturer)
Archives
- Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center related materials
- Library of Congress (related holdings)
In Popular Culture
- Widely known from TV appearances (60 Minutes, etc.) and public testimony before the 9/11 Commission.
- His policy commentary and novels influenced debates in security and cyber domains.
Quotes
-
...your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you.
Source: 9/11 Commission public hearing (testimony) (2004) -
If you spend more on coffee than on IT security, then you will be hacked.
Source: Remark at a security conference (2002) (2002)
Trivia
- Began federal government career in 1973 as a Department of Defense intern.
- Served in multiple national security positions and was National Coordinator for Counterterrorism (1998–2001).
- Author of both fiction and non-fiction, including Against All Enemies, Cyber War, and The Scorpion's Gate.
- After government service, was reported to have assisted UAE in setting up a cybersecurity unit; this involvement drew scrutiny.
- Named to Clearview AI's advisory board in 2021.