Blind Man's Bluff

The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage

By: Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew

Narrated by: George Wilson

Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

No espionage missions have been kept more secret than those involving American submarines. Now, Blind Man's Bluff shows for the first time how the navy sent submarines wired with self-destruct charges into the heart of Soviet seas to tap crucial underwater telephone cables. It unveils how the navy's own negligence might have been responsible for the loss of the USS Scorpion, a submarine that disappeared, all hands lost, 30 years ago. It tells the complete story of the audacious attempt to steal a Soviet submarine with the help of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and how it was doomed from the start. And it reveals how the navy used the comforting notion of deep-sea rescue vehicles to hide operations that were more James Bond than Jacques Cousteau.

Blind Man's Bluff contains an unforgettable array of characters, including the cowboy sub commander who brazenly outraced torpedoes and couldn't resist sneaking up to within feet of unaware enemy subs. It takes us inside clandestine Washington meetings where top submarine captains briefed presidents and where the espionage war was planned one sub and one dangerous encounter at a time. Stretching from the years immediately after World War II to the operations of the Clinton administration, it is an epic story of daring and deception. A magnificent achievement in investigative reporting, it feels like a spy thriller but with one important difference: Everything in it is true.

©1998 Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew with Annette Lawrence Drew (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC

best Cold War documentary...

I seldom write reviews, but this book is an exception...
Growing up during Cold War Era in Soviet Union few people knew what's going on, on ether side...
Attempts to raise my generation with ideology of US as an enemy failed miserably, this book confirms gut feelings of young kids of 70s and 80s...
Very well written, excellent narration, captivating story, I just couldn't put this one down...
Highly recommend!

Former Boat Sailor

I enjoyed reading then listening to Blind Man’s Bluff as it brought me back to many of my experiences riding boats for 15 years of my Naval career. I found myself reminiscing about those times of fear and elation. I sent a copy to my parents who were shocked when they read about my boats.
I hope you take the time to read or listen to this book and consider the sacrifices and accomplishments of submarine crews. At the height of the Cold War there were 96 fast boats, about 11000 men responsible for safeguarding our way of life.

Outstanding

A must read for anyone interested in submarines, espionage or the cold war. Do not pass on this one.

WOW!!!

I served in the Navy in the early 80's and I had no idea this stuff was happening! This is a fantastic and compelling work. I highly recommend this read!

fantastic read/listen

very interesting history of intrigue, politics, and heroism. another fascinating portion of the efforts during the cold war.

must read for anyone living during cold war

If you could sum up Blind Man's Bluff in three words, what would they be?

S.M.F

What other book might you compare Blind Man's Bluff to and why?

not sure

Which character – as performed by George Wilson – was your favorite?

ALL

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

its not about reaction. its about action taken by people dedicated to our country and its cold war spy game. I retired after 20 years in military. this is a great book and what the public never realizes what goes on daily in security of our country

Any additional comments?

My hats off the those who are in the book and those who worked for the military and contractors! I mean that. unless you were in some of these classified projects in the book or others not ever to be told. you would never understand the lives lost, games played and dedication of an ordinary kid becoming a hero in a moment and not by choice,, by reaction to their fellow military brothers and sisters and never thinking about their own safety and in some cases losing their own lives.

excellent book

One of the best stories and performances I have ever heard. There send to be no end to the surprises and human perspectives uncovered in the book. I really appreciate to front seat view of this, very different world.

Fascinating Read!

This book is riveting and a great opening into the rich, albeit secretive, history of submarines. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in the worlds navies!

Fascinating

I had no idea what our subs were capable of nor did I realize how advanced our Naval Submersible fleet is becoming. Truly enjoyed this book.

fascinated about submarines

This book is great on history & and increased my fascination of submarines
I have been interested in subs since my grandfather took me to see the U-505.

Fascinating

A fascinating account of the ‘what happened’ regarding submarine activity during the Cold War. However it is a shame that the author does not explore the ‘why it happened?’ and the concomitant mindset and world view. The author writes about the USA’s breaches of International Law regarding territorial boundaries as if it is of no concern. I wonder if he would respond, similarly, if Soviet submarines had sailed within metres of an American naval facility? I think one of the fascinating aspects of this book are the assumptions which underpin it. From the Western view, NATO can be seen as a benign peace-keeping force but perhaps from a USSR perspective it seemed far more hostile? I have not yet completed the book so, perhaps, my perceptions may be wrong. However, at the moment, the lack of critical analysis regarding the deployment of the USA submarine force is irritating.

Fantastic

I'm a marine engineering officer and I found this fantastic. Detailed enough to not be silly to anyone with knowledge of the subject but not over detailed to the point of boredom.

Must for submarine fanatics

Series of excellent stories from each decade of the Cold War, must read for submarines geeks.

Excellent could not put it down

Anyone will enjoy this story, worth a listen and to remember what was going on out there.

An American grind.

Mostly I found the listen a chore not helped by a clunky production. No doubt the sub mariners of whichever nation stood out s pretty incredible people, but clearly the US commanders were pretty gun ho and their bosses paranoid.. A book for flag waving Americans I guess.

Submarine Espionage

An good listen, it's a shame this book could not cover the operations in more modern times, but what was covered (1950-1980) was an very good listen. Recommended!

Brilliant

I really enjoyed listening to this - informative, well-researched and structured. Although each chapter generally (not always) deals with a new topic, the chapters are more or less chronologically arranged, and there is a nice continuity where a number of characters turn up in several different chapters. If you're into submarines/war stuff then this is on a par with the famous ''Iron Coffins'' by Herbert Werner. I nearly didn't take the risk on buying Blind Man's Bluff after a ghastly experience with a previous audiobook by an American submariner (mercifully I can't remember the name of it) which, despite having absolute rave reviews, was utterly dreadful on many levels (I returned it).

Great story that has not been told before

this was a fascinating book on stories that have not been told before. This really shows how the cold War was fought under the oceans.
thoroughly recommend this book.

Fascinating!

Great read and keeps you wondering what on earth we were up to back in the day!

An excellent read

No idea about the world of the submariner before reading the book... it’s an excellent read.