PBS’s Frontline has put out the first part of the documentary “United States of Secrets”, explaining in great detail how the US government came to spy on millions of Americans. It’s a two hours watch you might find worthwhile. Checkout this NYT piece about the series.
Also Glenn Greenwalds book “No Place to Hide” is worth your time. Preorder it in print or download to your Kindle today at Amazon. See Wired for a narrative and Ars Technica for images of NSA technicians implanting beacons in Cisco routers.