Former New Madrid resident pens book on Snowden, NSA

CAPE GIRARDEAU - For a small town guy, Michael Gurnow's first book tackles a subject that is making repercussions around the world.

Gurnow has written "The Edward Snowden Affair: Exposing the Politics and Media Behind the NSA Scandal." The book is a detailed look at whistleblower Snowden and the National Security Administration's surveillance program.

The New Madrid native describes himself as a member of GenerationX, growing up tinkering with computers and computer codes.

After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University with undergraduate degrees in literature and philosophy, Gurnow completed his master's degree in English with concentration in linguistics and creative writing. He went on to teach at SEMO, writing in his spare time. In 2012, Gurnow turn to writing full-time.

Following the revelations by Snowden of the National Security Administration's massive surveillance program, collecting telephone and email records on Americans as well its allies, Gurnow said he realized he could use his background in technology, the law and ethics to write about it.

"I was in the right place at the right time with the right skills to be able to decipher the legal and technical implications of these covert laws," Gurnow said. "I want (the reader) to understand how 21st century technology has created benefits but also can be abused."

For the full story see an upcoming edition of the Standard Democrat.