The Devil's Chessboard

Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government

By: David Talbot

Narrated by: Peter Altschuler

Length: 25 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

An explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful - and secretive - colossus in Washington, from the founder of Salon.com and author of the New York Times best seller Brothers.

America's greatest untold story: the United States' rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials - including newly discovered US government documents, US and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles' wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials - Talbot reveals the underside of one of America's most powerful and influential figures.

Dulles' decade as the director of the CIA - which he used to further his public and private agendas - were dark times in American politics. Calling himself "the secretary of state of unfriendly countries", Dulles saw himself as above the elected law, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients - colluding with Nazi-controlled cartels, German war criminals, and Mafiosi in the process. Targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims, Dulles employed those same tactics to further his goals at home, Talbot charges, offering shocking new evidence in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

An exposé of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil's Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state - and the battle for America's soul.

©2015 David Talbot (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Compelling and Sad

This is an informative look at a complicated period of American history. saddly, many of the social and economic drivers of the Cold War are still with us.

Very insightful

Makes you realize how much our politicians hide from us and that the news we see is just managed propaganda. It really does matter who controls the message controls the people, (at least those listening).

Allen Dulles is evil.

Great read. Gripping look at 20th century American history. Allen Dulles had his finger in the pot the entire time. I am a student of history, not of conspiracy theories, but this book weaves a tightly knit tale of Dulles's unabashed grasp for power over 50 years. I believe about 80% of this book is true.

Incredible! Very detailed.

Well written, and much respect for the effort put into the book. Very rich in details, and I found a lot of information, previously read in other books, corroborated by the author.

Horrifying, Astounding, Uncomfortably Revealing!

I was almost totally ignorant of the JFK conspiracies before reading, but was curious and wasn't one of the types of people that believes official stories implicitly especially considering the abuse of public confidence that news media is engaged in around the recent election cycles. After reading about 10 chapters in I became extremely depressed. 10/10 a great read and a compelling performance by the narrator.

Powerful

seek the truth and it will set you free, slow read initially but gains momentum fast.

Absolutely amazing read

this book provides great detail, and insight into Allen Dulles and his career in the CIA. It also makes a compelling case around the JFK assassination. it is an interesting read all the way, that has plenty of narrative details and a storytelling tone that makes it an easy read.

the truth shall set you free

he was a student of hell hiding behind patriotism. no justification of the lives he destroyed.

Engaging, informative and disturbing.

I learned a lot listening to this book. What I learned is very disturbing, but I am wiser for knowing it.

Evil to the 10th power

Alan Dulles was pure evil and sorry to say his ways continue in the present day CIA and the FBI.