Inspectors general are the spine of serious government oversight, and Glenn Fine was the master.

Americans’ faith in institutions continues to be historically low. We do not have public confidence to spare, and Inspectors General are on the front lines of protecting what remains. It is more important than ever that the guardians of our public integrity do their jobs well. Glenn Fine is among the finest examples of this breed of noble sentinels who watch over our government and help restore trust. Watchdogs gives the reader a master class on the importance of the often unheralded work done by the unsung heroes known as IGs. His book is an invaluable account of why this work so important.

An engaging memoir about his career that brings readers inside the world of inspectors general. For students of government, the book provides important lessons about the value and the limitations of this system of independent bureaucratic oversight—and its vulnerability to attack from an administration that is determined to bury its mistakes . . . Fine ends his book with a series of policy recommendations. Unquestionably the most important, and timely, is one that would create an independent inspector general to oversee the Supreme Court. (Congressional Democrats seeking court reform might do well to call Fine as a hearing witness to publicly air his proposal.) . . . Perusing the reflections of an inspector general is hardly summer beach reading, but it’s many decades overdue that Americans learn how their government actually functions, and that there are good people in government service who try hard to do their jobs. It is also a grave warning that a constitutional government of checks and balances, staffed by honest public servants, is all that separates us from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and dictatorships across the world.

Glenn Fine has written a 'how to' book for protecting government from waste, fraud, and abuse. His vivid narrative of what he investigated as an inspector general will make your head spin. A thousand documents the FBI failed to disclose in the Oklahoma City bombing case; an FBI that ignored flagrant breaches of security by a spy for Russia in its midst; a Pentagon that too optimistically  assessed its foreign wars. Watchdogs shows us precisely why we need independent inspectors to shine a light on mistakes and misdeeds that some government agencies would rather keep hidden. 

From the FBI laboratory to detention facilities to war zones and more, this book compellingly defends Inspectors General, proposes sensible reforms to strengthen their oversight, and suggests valuable lessons for IGs to be more effective. But the book is not just about IGs. It is an exceptionally engaging tale of leadership in the federal government. We need more leaders and writers like Mr. Fine.

Watchdogs provides an inside account of many of the most important and high-profile government investigations in the last twenty years. It illuminates how our government operates at the highest levels and how inspectors general provide crucial oversight of it. It is a must read for anyone interested in government integrity and checks and balances on our government, which is more important now than ever.

A fascinating and highly readable account that makes the case for the indispensable role of federal Inspectors General and for their continued independence in this era of destructive partisanship. The integrity of our government and the trust of America’s citizens depends upon it.
 

Anyone seeking to understand—and perhaps improve—the system of checks and balances crucial to a healthy, functioning democracy will find [Watchdogs] useful. . . . An illuminating look at an overlooked but crucial element of American governance.

An engrossing look at the work of IGs that not only describes their important role in government and their many high profile and important investigations, but also makes specific recommendations about how to improve the system.

This interesting and informative book about IGs is a critical element for good government.