Survive Like a Spy

Real CIA Operatives Reveal How They Stay Safe in a Dangerous World and How You Can Too

By: Jason Hanson

Narrated by: Jason Hanson

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Follow-up to the New York Times best seller Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life - revealing high-stakes techniques and survival secrets from real intelligence officers in life-or-death situations around the world

Everyone loves a good spy story, but most of the ones we hear are fictional. That's because the most dangerous and important spycraft is done in secret, often without anyone even noticing.

In Survive Like a Spy, best-selling author and former CIA officer Jason Hanson takes the listener deep inside the world of espionage, revealing true stories and expert tactics from real agents engaged in life-threatening missions around the world.

With breathtaking accounts of spy missions in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Korea, Japan, and elsewhere, the book reveals how to:

• Achieve mental sharpness to be ready for anything
• Escape if taken hostage
• Defend yourself if detailed by foreign cops
• Set up a perfect safe site
• Assume a fake identity
• Master the "Weapons of Mass Influence" to recruit others to build rapport and make allies when you need them most

With real-life spy drama that sounds like a novel paired with expert practical techniques, Survive Like a Spy is the perfect listen for fans of espionage as well as anyone who wants to stay safe in a fast-changing world.

©2018 Jason Hanson (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Fantastic book, practical tips, too much marketing

The first time the author mentioned a website where you could get a free tactical bag I thought “oh cool!” Then I realized he was trying to sell me more stuff. As the book progressed more websites than I can count were mentioned trying to sell stuff. While I appreciate the info it got a bit overbearing and felt like an infomercial at times. Just leave a master list at the back please!

That said, I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone! It has interesting spy stories and is loaded with practical tips anyone can put into action to stay safer in this crazy world we live in. I’d give it 5 stars were it not for the infomercial tone in places.

Decent but not great

Too many spook stories, attempts to make the case stories sound “real” like when he lists time and month (but not year) , brief descriptions of subjects - attempting to appear to read from a case file

You can also identify in advance when he talks up some ultra cool spy tool - and then proceeds to advertise it available on his web site. All you have to do is give him some personal and credit card info - stuff he warns you about giving away in the book. Many items are “free”you just have to pay for shipping (Credit card details grabbed, monthly, expensive “newsletter” subscription added)

That said, author appears qualified on the subjects covered and has to make a living.

Book does come with some occasional useful info.

Too much brand-building and upselling.

I had already bought his previous book, Spy Secrets that Can Save Your Life which was pretty decent. Unfortunately much of this book involves repetition of the concepts in the previous one and unending recommendations for you to check out his URLs where he can try to sell you a dubious product.

There were a very few interesting stories, but they're presented in a silly stereotypical manner that you'd expect from someone trying to mass-market generic retellings of presumably stories from ex-spooks. Not nearly enough meat to justify the purchase price, and unfortunately it gave me the impression that he was really, far more than anything, trying to expand or revive his brand.

There wasn't much particularly special or interesting at this point in terms of skills or ideas that you can't find better-presented in podcasts elsewhere or in his previous book.

I'd probably pass on this one.

Practical and Fascinating

I chose this to enhance skills and knowledge I've gained over the years regarding self-defense and world travel. This delivered!

Very interesting book

While the delivery sometimes feels a little dry but don’t let that fool you; Hanson’s straightforward delivery of the material is definitely captivating and will keep you hooked from start to finish. This book gives great pointers for how to keep yourself and your family safe by framing the skills and tips in real situations.

Silly

Anyone else wish they had their tax dollars back that were used to fund this silly crap?

Eh…take it or leave it

Too much time directing to websites to buy stuff…story wasn’t there. No real value in this book.

Awesome

As always Jason Hanson doesn't disappoint. I sure would like to meet him one day.

Horrible story and narrator

Avoid at all cost. Robot narrator with silly sales like 'story'. Couldn't finish book.

Fascinating stories, practical advice

Fascinating stories, practical advice. Definitely recommend for entertainment or for tips to implement in everyday life.