Spycraft, Henry Robert Schlesinger
Spycraft, Henry Robert Schlesinger
9 Rating(s)
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Spycraft
The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda

Author: Henry Robert Schlesinger, H. Keith Melton, Robert Wallace

Narrator: David Drummond

Unabridged: 19 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/26/2008

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

—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.


About Henry Robert Schlesinger

Henry Robert Schlesinger is a contributing editor at Popular Science magazine, where he covers intelligence technologies, counterterrorism, and law enforcement. He lives in New York.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim

Although a bit dry & repetitive at times, this was a fantastic look into the CIA, especially the OTS (Office of Technical Services) by the guy that ran it for a long time. It's pretty pro-CIA, of course. While they have done some pretty awful things, usually they were ordered to & some things were o......more

Goodreads review by Rocky

Not well written, but the content is interesting and easier to retain if you take copious, timeline-focused notes. It reads like someone got drunk and decided to tell you the chronology of unclassified/altered/vague CIA historical details ... out of chronology...repeated the same exact details multi......more

Goodreads review by Mike

Fascinating book from a historical point of view and also how spycraft has progressed from its early history until now. I'd love to see an updated version but they may require a few more years for declassification.......more