The Recruiter

Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence

By: Douglas London

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

This revealing memoir from a 34-year veteran of the CIA who worked as a case officer and recruiter of foreign agents before and after 9/11 provides an invaluable perspective on the state of modern spy craft, how the CIA has developed, and how it must continue to evolve.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a modern-day spy, Douglas London is here to explain. London’s overseas work involved spotting and identifying targets, building relationships over weeks or months, and then pitching them to work for the CIA - all the while maintaining various identities, a day job, and a very real wife and kids at home.

The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence captures the best stories from London's life as a spy, his insights into the challenges and failures of intelligence work, and the complicated relationships he developed with agents and colleagues. In the end, London presents a highly enjoyable insider’s tale about the state of espionage, a warning about the decline of American intelligence since 9/11 and Iraq, and what can be done to recover.

©2021 Douglas London (P)2021 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

"Douglas London draws the reader deeply into the world of CIA operations officers, and in his well-written, clear-eyed account he sheds considerable light on the hitherto murky world of CIA operatives in the field. It is a fascinating read." (Peter Bergen, author of The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden)

Liberal but interesting

Definitely an underhanded passive aggressive hit piece on the republicans that had been president during London’s career.

Insight

Insight for someone who served in the CIA operationally for 30 years should place this book in the same league as “To Catch a Spy” or “The Art of Intelligence” and it just isn’t. Insight into the complex relationship between politics and the IC is always of interest, but the this book just finishes on a “I hate Trump” rant. The author doesn’t have to like or dislike certain presidents, but somehow after 30+ years that is the ONLY political insight he is able to provide.

An axe to grind

The book is one half of an instructor speaking to a new class of trainees and the other half bearing witness against those colleagues that sent him to teach. Worth listening to since noise from the back of the room can still be a conversation just beyond earshot.

Fascinating book full of thrilling spy stories

Recruitments, handling agents, avoiding surveillance and other scenes depicting the real life of a CIA case officer. Much of it are dramatically different than what you would believe out of watching spy movies. This book is a pleasure to listen to, the writing is sharp, the stories well-paced and the narrator is excellent.

I illustrated this into fun comics while I listened!

I, absolutely, positively loved this book! Douglas London is the GOAT. Dale is the Blair Witch! 5 stars. Woo! Great book! So well done!

Interesting in depth view with good perspective

Interesting in depth views with good perspective on subject matter. First-hand knowledge was also interesting to listen to.

Well, it’s not that bad

I have listened to several post-Agency time books, most drop a nose tweak here and there about crappy bosses/culture/etc. This one however, comes across more like a nose tweak and middle finger to bosses with a book mixed in occasionally for publication requirements.

I can appreciate that he takes responsibility for some missteps and issues caused but, this is more of a personal diary of bad days and bad bosses/politics that got in the way of one man’s view of the circumstances.

Admittedly, I am writing this before finishing. However, I also am writing this beforehand because it’s impossible to listen without feeling the need to point out that it couldn’t have been as bad as he makes it out to be if he made it to SIS and choose to stick it out till retirement… having started his complaints from day one of training. It just seems he’s venting about a bad transition to retirement and wanting to burn it all down after leaving. Including throwing in the now required references to LGBTQ/race/religion issues he saw decades before everyone else… and like everyone else he kept it to himself until it was politic to demand he saw it all along and fought against it… right.

Sure, Jan.

Loved It ! - Great Stories. Well Read.

Loved It. stories were awesome. thank you !! this is the kind i love, first hand knowledge and experience - it makes for some amazing stories. very detailed and vivid. i felt like i was riding in the back seat of the car, looking around to make sure we were in the clear and not being tailed. LOL. i hope you out put out another one.

OPS Primer with a good dose of Political Intrigue

Great description CIA approach to human intelligence operations by a lifelong practitioner. Unfortunately, the author serve it up with a dose of internal and external political commentaries. More interesting is what is not said, than what is said regarding political appointee vs careerist interaction. His introduction make this very clear in describing the CIA’s bureaucratic review, redactions and (I suspect) insertions. Well worth the read/listen for understanding CIA human intelligence operations. I hope the author found this cleansing, so as to land back into open society.

Solid

Nothing really new or not able to be found in several other books. Interesting perspective in the last several chapters. Worth the time.