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 real "Q Branch" from James Bond!!!

This book is a must for anyone interested in Cold War Spy History. It is really the story of the men who designed the listening devices, cameras and cool gadgets that helped us gather the intelligence we wanted from our adversaries. It is also the story of the men crazy enough to go in to some of these places to install them. A bit dry at times, but the authors make everything come alive so that you can understand what they are talking about even when the topic is very technical. Mr. Wallace, Melton and Schelsinger have truly helped us peek inside one of the most amazing parts of our history.

Almost addictive

I concentrate on business improvement topics but needed a break. This was a great break. I recommend it.

Slow to start, finishes well

It took a while for me to get into this one, but after a couple hours in I found myself unable to shut it off.

Great book. Highly recommended.

Spycraft provides great insight into technics and methods of espionage/ counter espionage, famous spies and both failed and successful operations during the cold war until present days.

The historical events in this book are more exiting than fictional Hollywood movies and keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

Very informative and inspiring. A must have book for all spy craft enthusiasts.

Great book for techies

Fabulous, great stories a technophile dream book very current in a ever changing dangerous world spying against us from all sides.

How they did it

What did you love best about Spycraft?

This book tells you the high and low tech ways that the CIA spyed on its targets, usually the Russians. It is well written. It does a good job of taking you there.

A tech nerd's dream!

If you could sum up Spycraft in three words, what would they be?

Innovative, Fun, Educational

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed learning about the evolution of technology and how some private companies help win the Cold War.

What about David Drummond’s performance did you like?

He emphasized the right words to give a feeling of what was going through some of the minds of the people he spoke for.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Doing more with a microphone than Bond with a gun.

Excellent!

Great book that details discussion of how CIA Technical Services Directorate equips field officers and agents with the technical resources required to carry out the mission of the CIA. Squirrel and rat carcasses, pin-home microphones and so much more! Includes stores of many missions.

more Cold War then Al-Queda - but great!

so it starts off slow and ends sorta slow, but the middle is great [{}]

near the end there is some repeating of stuff that was in the beginning of the book but it is really to give more info about the device or operation [{}]

this is a great book that covers some great times in history, although you dont know of what is told as it was secret at the time and was not made public so its not something that was in newspapers or on tv, you can still understand and appreciate what is going on [{}]

the beginning of the book is sorta slow but it picks up pretty fast and keeps going until the last 2 hours or so ad its then a recap or just a closing - its not that its a bad ending its just that you dont get much of the Al-Queda stuff its mostly Cold War through the book as that was a huge part and took up so much of the CIA's time - there is then some Vietnam stuff and brief Afghanistan section then back to a recap of items used and some terms and its over [{}]

I liked the book as it was a departure from normal "Spy Novels" as it was mostly real stuff and how technological problems were overcome as well as a few failures [{}]

I say get this book because its something that anyone should be able to enjoy

Good read from well know source.

Good story with interesting data points around gadgets spies and tradecraft. Focused much on the past and less so about more current events. Would have to learned more about current state if possible.