Secrets: A Reporter’s Memoir
Bob Woodward
(Simon & Schuster, 2026)

Bob Woodward has reported on every American president from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump. His stories have penetrated government institutions, informed the national conversation, and shaped our culture.

In Secrets: A Reporter’s Memoir, Woodward tells his own story—from his Illinois youth to his Navy service during the Vietnam War to his tenure at the Washington Post, where his reporting with Carl Bernstein on Watergate captivated the world and became the book All the President's Men. Like never before, Woodward takes readers inside his reporting on the White House, Supreme Court, CIA operations, and the Pentagon.

The New York Times said of Woodward, “The scope and depth of his work have earned him a unique place in politics and journalism as perhaps the most enduring chronicler of American presidents.” Robert Caro described him as, “One of the greatest explainers of how our government works. How politics work. Not . . . that we’re taught about in high school . . . but how they really work . . .”

Woodward’s one-of-a-kind reporter’s memoir lifts the lid on his historic reporting relationships and secret sources, many spanning decades. This is the story behind some of the most newsworthy stories ever, written by the man with more #1 bestsellers than any journalist of our time.

This event is presented in partnership with the Delaware Historical Society.

About the author
Born and raised in Illinois, Bob Woodward studied history and literature at Yale on an NROTC scholarship before serving a five-year tour of duty in the Navy. In September of 1971, Woodward was hired by the Washington Post, where he currently holds the title of associate editor. He has been awarded two Pulitzer Prizes, one shared with Carl Bernstein for their Watergate coverage, and the other for coverage of the 9/11 attacks. He has authored 24 bestselling books, 16 of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partners — Delaware Humanities and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2025 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. 

Thanks to all of our donors, especially our education and outreach funding partners: Ronald Collins & Susan Cohen, Carolyn & Aaron Nayer, Jen Mason & Clare Hancock, and Browseabout Books. HBF authors visit classrooms in Delaware, and HBF provides their books to schools, libraries, and community organizations.

Our Keynote event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex and Kent Counties and Sally Mott Freeman & John K. Freeman; our Closing event is presented by the Delaware Community Foundation. Saturday’s Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our Founding Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library, for event promotion and production, and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Thanks also to the  Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.