Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Your Plus plan is $7.95 a month after 30 day trial. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Think Like a Spy  By  cover art

Think Like a Spy

By: Tazeen Ahmad,LaRae Quy,Jason Hanson,James Glancy,John Ryan
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

  • Summary

  • Imagine having three life-coaches who had been through the toughest mental and physical challenges; a crack team of problem-solvers who knew in their day job that one mistake could be the difference between life - and death.

    Think Like a Spy brings together ex-officers from the CIA, the FBI and the British Royal Marines. Across eight themed half-hours, they recount their experiences of working in the most stressful situations around the world - and how you can apply the same intelligence techniques to your own everyday life to become more productive, more perceptive and confident.

    A TBI Media production for Audible Originals.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 8 episodes to your Library now.

    Journalist and presenter Tazeen Ahmad sadly passed away, aged 48, after the recording of this series. To mark the launch of this title Audible will be donating to two charities which were close to her heart. Mosac supports all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused. Woman's Trust is a specialist mental health charity, providing free counselling and therapy for women who have experienced domestic abuse.

    ©2020 Audible, Ltd. (P)2020 Audible, Ltd.
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • Ep. 1: Strategy: Spy Thinking 101
    Jan 2 2020

    How techniques from the intelligence world can help you plan to achieve your goals.

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • Ep. 2: Under Pressure: Decisions in Crisis
    Jan 2 2020

    Spy life-hacks that help you to make the right decisions under pressure.

    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Ep. 3: Persuasion & Negotiation
    Jan 2 2020

    Tips from our spies about how to influence people to get what you want.

    Show more Show less
    27 mins

Featured Article: The best motivational podcasts to listen to right now


Whether you're going through a breakup or a rough transition or looking to improve your health, change your habits, or jumpstart a new career, these podcasts can give you the boost you need. This list of the very best motivational podcasts covers a range of self-improvement topics, from mindfulness and spirituality to fitness and personal growth. Get ready to be inspired, turn over a new leaf, and live your best life!

What listeners say about Think Like a Spy

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    37
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and applicable to our lives

Fun to hear real life stories of having to think about smart on your feet. Also found this podcast Motivational and ideas we can apply ourselves!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Act Like a Spy Everyday

This podcast series was extremely interesting. I enjoyed how the Interviewees recalled their own personal experiences from their careers and explained how the skills that they learned can be applied to everyday life from people who don't live in Jason Bourne or James Bond worlds. Persuasion, confidence and decision making under pressure are all just some of the skills that are discussed. The interviewer was fantastic and I enjoyed how each of the former spies built on the stories of each other.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The other side of espionage fiction

We all think like spies at times whether it's a furtive break in the midst of a deadline, crossing the street to avoid a pest, or simply figuring out a fictional protagonist's next move. The "how to" is what's central here, and nicely done in short, info driven podcast form.

Tazeen Ahmed is an engaging interviewer, weaving advice, tips and remembrances from a CIA agent, FBI recruiter, and royal marine through well structured thematic conversations with casual sophistication.

I was deeply saddened there were no other Tazeen audio offerings; her depth and warmth will be missed. This is an entertaining insight into her well respected skills.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Paolo Caldato
  • Paolo Caldato
  • 01-27-20

Spies like us....

This had so much potential but was actually a bit embarrassing in execution. The three "spies" comprised James Glancy, a decorated British former SBS officer, and two somewhat mid-tier US former CIA and FBI officers.

The series came across as a bit of a vehicle for Glancy, who was interesting and had some sensible (if not particularly earth-shattering) tips and suggestions for the day-to-day conduct of one's life and business, based upon his experiences as a special forces operative in a number of theatres.

The two US agency personnel, by contrast, were largely self-congratulatory and self-aggrandising, and frequently illustrated over-simplified high-falutin' "tips" with trivial and/or ridiculous examples of their professional experiences. For example, CIA dude explained how being able to spot deception was a key part of his former role (no, really?). He described how, despite apparently not looking like Brad Pitt, he had been unaccustomedly and unaccountably hit upon in a bar by a very attractive woman (played in the scenario by an actress with a very hammy Russian accent). He then recounted how he had "baselined" her as part of his human lie-detector routine; according to him this involves innocuous questions like "is this carpet blue? What year is it?" which don't really strike me as innocuous at all, but rather as guaranteed to make one's interlocutor's weirdo antennae start to tingle. Once he had "baselined" her, he hit her with the left-field, penetrating question:

"I'll bet you come here all the time to pick up guys."

Apparently, her stuttering response confirmed his suspicions that she was an enemy agent trying to deceive him. Leaving aside that that's not actually a question, perhaps it did not occur to him that she was just flabbergasted by his finger-munchingly crass comment.

Other low points included when "I AM AN F - B - I AGENT" informed listeners of the clichéd fact that the Chinese character for "crisis" also means "opportunity" - except that she said that the character for "crisis" comprised two characters, one meaning "crisis" and the other meaning "opportunity". Really, Flowers By Irene? That sounds like a rather circular definition.

Also, when CIA dude said " I get up at 4:30 every morning so that I can be the best of the best of the best", he was promptly one-upped by Special Agent FBI who informed listeners that she got up the night before.

Overall, very disappointing. A podcast ostensibly about spies where two of the three panellists were not spies at all, and the only one worth listening to was not even really involved in intelligence or counter-intelligence.

Oh, and incredibly formulaic. Every episode ended with the trite interviewer asking what the three interviewees had been particularly struck by in the episode, and inevitably we got "Well I really agreed with Jason and LaRae"; " Yeah and I really agreed with James and Jason"; "Golly, I really agreed with LaRae and James." At no point did anyone say anything like, "I didn't really agree with what Jason said - asking the hot lady in the bar whether water is wet won't out her as an evil Russian spy, it will just make you look like a socially-awkward ring-piece." There was no real challenge or discussion, just a reasonably engaging and informative former Royal Marine and his two comic Keystone Kops friends.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

150 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Rabah B.
  • Rabah B.
  • 02-05-20

self-congratulating bunch

A group of people telling tales of their own heroism and amazing achievements. Boastful, self-aggrandising and completely pointless

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Bob
  • Bob
  • 01-20-20

Bit of a waste of time

The theory is good. How can spies demonstrate skills that can be used every day. The problem is that the experts set up problems, which they then solve, that haven very little transferability to normal life.

Yes there are occasionally crisis that require fast thinking. But face it, most of our problems are not that sort. Where are the spy skills when mum is is exhausted with the kids and trying to make ends meet. There are skill sets that can help but not with these spies.

Or the terrible boss, the lousy job. The always tired. Even the chapter on the self discipline was useless because the exponents already had motivation. It was was self selecting.

Listen for mid entertainment but not education.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dane
  • Dane
  • 01-26-20

Quite misleading

The content was semi helpful but quite contrived to specific situations which most people will never experience. It felt very forced and the people involved made it sound obvious that they were reading from a script at points. Still okay pass time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Rich
  • Rich
  • 01-15-20

Fantastic content and production

Fantastic content and production. Really interesting guests, advice and care studies. definitely recommended for all listeners.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 01-16-20

Thrilling self-help

Definitely a uniqie and fun to listen approach to somewhat overbundant topic of self help.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Steven Nigel Ibbotson
  • Steven Nigel Ibbotson
  • 01-13-20

great listen

if spy's are your thing then this is for you . good doc worth the time .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Duncan Williamson
  • Duncan Williamson
  • 03-12-20

A lot of mainstream advice

Even though the title was Think like a spy, the emphasis was on using spycraft in your everyday life. Some very useful tips here. Some swashbuckling stories in here too: people who REALLY did do what James Bond pretends to do!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tracy
  • Tracy
  • 03-09-20

Excellent

This has excellent information in for everyday life and it is so exciting to hear about the 3 lives of the different agents involved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Daniela Todorova
  • Daniela Todorova
  • 03-06-20

loved it

Loved all the stories and it was very insightful and inspiring. Would like to hear more about their lives

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kindle Customer
  • Kindle Customer
  • 04-01-20

I ONLY WISH THERE WAS MORE OF THIS!

I absolutely loved this audiobook! Probably one of my favorites so far, I don't see why there is bad reviews about it (Smh)
The stories and the lessons follow suit were amazing! The whole story telling and the in-depth lessons were incredible! I can only wish each section went longer and or more of this style concept! Please make more!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Adrian Addicott
  • Adrian Addicott
  • 03-27-20

no good

Its very strange and not really relevant
It just mentions topics without really going into them just giving their personal experiences with an over inflated self importance while exposing what sounded like CIA and FBI war crimes and corporate espionage.
I'll also say Audible doesn't play them in order.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 03-03-20

reasonably interesting free podcast

Enjoyed some of the stories told by the three operatives, though unfortunately they were clearly chosen to illustrate lessons than for entertainment value. The stretch to reframe some 'spy skills' into inspirational civilian self-help was unintentionally hilarious

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Robbie Hammond
  • Robbie Hammond
  • 02-16-20

Its a bloody help series

I cant stand self help books.
It might have had some small bits of infomation to take down and the stories that the professionals told are fairly entertaining but the format its so cringey.

i struggled to get through it all and im dissapointed thats the case

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 03-15-20

Well balanced and informative

Fascinating! I thoroughly enjoyed the stories that were shared and the format in which this audio book was created. Relating the skill and knowledge required to achieve desired outcomes to relevant daily life is exactly what is sometimes neglected in life hack instructionals but it's all tied together here episode by episode very well. I wish there was more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 02-25-20

Not Enjoyable

Difficult to listen to. No correlation to real life scenarios with unrealistic story lines. Story's told by 'agents' are interesting but generally leave you with more questions than answers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Charles Jury
  • Charles Jury
  • 02-16-20

good listening, interview style book

was good as they had different perspectives from different specialties. I did find it more interesting then educational but quote good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for olivia
  • olivia
  • 09-11-20

good

i enjoyed it more than i thought. the mix of speakers was a good touch.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 07-28-20

Nothing New.

All pretty obvious stuff. Main narrater has an irritating high pitched sing song voice which made it hard to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anthony Main
  • Anthony Main
  • 07-27-20

Absolutely AMAZING

I love this so much
I learned so much and enjoyed it and made me appreciate all the people that I had never knew did so much even if they are not the amazing gymnastic hiro they keep us safe without us knowing where or when they are

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!