The Bureau, Ronald Kessler
The Bureau, Ronald Kessler
3 Rating(s)
List: $27.95 | Sale: $19.57
Club: $13.97

The Bureau
The Secret History of the FBI

Author: Ronald Kessler

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Unabridged: 17 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/01/2007

Synopsis

The Bureau takes listeners behind the scenes of the FBI, from its creation in 1908 to the scandals of present day. Based on exclusive interviews, Kessler reveals the inside story surrounding the events of September 11 and the investigation into the anthrax mailings. The Bureau delves deep within the agency, presenting the organization in its historical context and answering questions concerning its somewhat checkered past.This incredible book includes the first definitive evidence that Hoover blackmailed Congress with information from his secret files; the source of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s bogus claims that there were 205 Communists in the State Department; the truth about J. Edgar Hoover’s sexual orientation; and the disastrous Freeh years, and Robert Mueller’s efforts to correct the problems created by Freeh.

About Ronald Kessler

Ronald Kessler is the New York Times bestselling author of The FBI, Inside the CIA, Moscow Station, Escape from the CIA, Spy vs. Spy, The Spy in the Russian Club, and The Richest Man in the World. He is an award-winning former correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, and his articles appear in leading periodicals. Mr. Kessler lives in Potomac, Maryland.

About Raymond Todd

Raymond Todd is an actor and director in the theater as well as a poet and documentary filmmaker. He plays jazz trombone for the Leatherstocking quartet, an ensemble that gets its name from one of his favorite Blackstone narrations, The Deerslayer. Todd lives in New York.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Patrick

This book was about a mile wide and an inch deep; it covered a wide breadth of topics, but didn't cover any of them in any great detail. It also veered off on tangents and into very ancillary topics. The book wasn't bad per se, but I was hoping for better.......more

Goodreads review by Xin

Extremely biased. The author documented the history like a gossip column writer for a woman’s magazine. It’s not a piece of scholarly historian work. It isn’t even up to the standard of solid objective documentary work. Don’t mistake it as either. Read it for fun and with an open & critical mind. In......more

Goodreads review by Ebonique

good book to read after comey. middle of the book was a bunch of smut that seemed slightly respectable because it was supposedly historically accurate, but in the end, i thought the book was a good read to understand the machinations of individuals who influence government agencies.......more

Goodreads review by Curtis

Obviously very anti-Louis Freeh. In fact by the end that seemed like the entire point of the book. Still good reading for someone who is interested in the FBI, though.......more

Quotes

“Offer[s] context by providing insight into the institution’s history, as well as an account of what it’s like to be on the inside…[Kessler] recounts the organization’s history since its creation in 1908…Kessler investigates the relationship between FBI directors and sitting presidents and also includes exclusive interviews with Robert Mueller, who led the FBI in the period immediately after 9/11.” New York Times

“A compelling and timely exposition of the real FBI.  Kessler’s fresh information and command of the facts…rings with authority.” Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Colorful and fascinating…Kessler’s sobering report…will come as a surprise to most readers—and possibly even Washington insiders…Chilling.” Washington Post Book World

“Raymond Todd’s clear voice and upbeat reading wear well over this lengthy look at our nation’s top law enforcement agency.” AudioFile

“The reading is excellent, adding a substantial dimension to absorbing material.” Kliatt

“Superbly narrated by Raymond Todd.” Wisconsin Bookwatch

“An insightful history of the agency from its inception…Reveals unexpected details surrounding a number of well known cases.” Providence Journal-Bulletin

“Kessler’s access to reliable sources results in a richly detailed overview.” Booklist

Awards

  • Los Angeles Times Best Book
  • New York Times Pick
Add to Cart
Add to Wish List