Spycraft

The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda

By: Robert Wallace, Henry Robert Schelsinger

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

• Secret instructions written in invisible ink
• Covert communications slipped inside dead rats
• Subminiature cameras hidden in ballpoint pens

If these sound like the stuff of science fiction or imaginary tools of James Bond's gadget-master Q's trade, think again. They are real-life devices created by the CIA's Office of Technical Service. Now, in the first book ever written about this ultrasecretive department, the former director of OTS teams up with an internationally renowned intelligence historian to give listeners an unprecedented look at the devices and operations deemed "inappropriate for public disclosure" by the CIA just two years ago.

Spycraft tells amazing life-and-death stories about this little-known group, much of it never before revealed. Against the backdrop of some of America's most critical periods in recent history - including the cold war, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the war on terror - the authors show the real technical and human story of how the CIA carries out its missions.

©2008 Robert Wallace, H. Keith Melton, and Henry R. Schlesinger (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Forget James Bond's famous 'Q' and Hollywood, this is the most remarkable and revealing book ever published about the history and technology of spying." (Peter Earnest, executive director, International Spy Museum)

THE BEST SPY TACTICS BOOK EVER WRITTEN

YOU FIND OUT HOW WE DO OUR SECRET STUFF . . . REAL
EXCITING . . .

Great book

Would you consider the audio edition of Spycraft to be better than the print version?

Yes. Som dry material better absorbed this way

What did you like best about this story?

The technical hints and finds applicable to the average guy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The betrayal of some of our top agents.

Cool Stuff

You hear rumors about the clandestine gadgets and equipment but to get confirmation that it existed is very cool.

An interesing, if wandering history

The book is a definite must read for lovers of spy-tech and spy history. It is very detailed in its stories of individual instances used to illustrate techniques and technologies. Unfortunately, it meanders just a bit in its tellings. In using individual people as vehicles for technology, it seems to cover large spans of time (years or decades) talking about a specific peice of spycraft, then jumps back in time to tell yet another story of another person, in the same time periods, to talk about another peice of technology. Finally, the use of the title word (Spycraft) for every peice of technology, technique, and procedure, while potentially acurate, gets some what distracting as you listen along and hear everything described as a "new piece of spycraft" or an "innovative development in spycraft."

All in all, the reading is magnificent, the stories are fun and the technology is innovative. A great genre piece.

Unique, informative history of the CIA

This is truly a unique book -- a long, unique book. However, potential readers (listeners) should not be intimidated by its sheer length. To the contrary, its varied themes, part CSI, part spy stories, part behind-the-scenes history, make it an interesting and entertaining collection.

At first glance, it may appear that this book was written just for those who enjoy reading spy novels and Popular Mechanics, or Popular Electronics. The technical details are adequate to tell the amazing story of the CIA's engineers and technicians, but they may not satisfy dedicated technophiles. This is not a "how-to" book. After all, there are security concerns about releasing the material in this book, and the authors obviously want to tell the story of these resourceful, creative CIA officers to as wide an audience as possible. By avoiding excessive technical minutiae, they were successful in keeping the book informative, yet readable.

With all of the post 9-11 CIA memoirs and histories that have been released in the past several years, it is difficult to decide what to read about this organization that plays such an important role in our nation's defense and security. However, this book, due to its unique technical insider perspective, stands out from these others as a "must read" for anyone who seeks to have an understanding and appreciation of the CIA's past, and more importantly, its future.

Spycraft

Spycraft, an important work that must be listen to/read and understood, especially in light of cooling relations with the Russians(once again). Anyone who has lived through the cold war will remember the tensions of the 'doomsday' clock and how it colored our world. As I remembered living through those times I felt there was an under current beyond our perception, struggling for domiance. This book details the struggle and fills in all the things you thought must have been happening.

Historically interesting ... but manipulative

Interesting book. Fun. But, has a tendency to leave out some very important historical details. Extremely white washed version of the history of the CIA. Paints some people who where clearly villains as patriots. If you're going to read this book... spend some time on "Legacy of Ashes." They balance each other.

A Gadget Guy or Gal's Favorite History

Great book! The in-depth technical analysis along with dramatic story provide something for every technophile.

You think it might get "long"

This book, never gets dry. Never gets boring. From era to era, mission to mission it's level of detail and intrigue stay high. It ignites the imagination, while providing awesome insight into recent history and the clandestine service.

Very interesting up to 2001, then just dead air

the story was very interesting as it related to Cold War and World War two events. However the books did not even attempt to explain the failures that led to 9/11 or to combat terrorism. for this reason, it is in need of an update. However, the book does an amazing job explaining the incredible achievements that were achieved by the intelligence community in the last century.