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50th out of 130 books
—
16 voters
The Art of Intelligence
A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career while illustrating the growing importance of America's intelligence officers and their secret missions
For a crucial period, Henry Crumpton led the CIA's global covert operations against America's terrorist enemies, including al Qaeda. In the days after 9/11,...more
For a crucial period, Henry Crumpton led the CIA's global covert operations against America's terrorist enemies, including al Qaeda. In the days after 9/11,...more
Audio CD
Published
May 14th 2012
by Penguin Audio
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This book offers a chance to learn what it's like to be an undercover CIA agent, but I suspect that CIA vetting of the manuscript has sucked it of most of its juice. We do know that the author served time in Africa, although it is not clear which countries, although Kenya seems likely to be one of them. The first third of the book is filled with interesting vignettes of people he recruited and the circumstances surrounding their recruitment. Then, the prose becomes vague and stilted. There are a...more
Checked this book out at Kepler's and eventually decided to buy it.
I don't know much about the CIA except I've worked for some In-Q-Tel funded companies and that you aren't supposed to call them buy their real name if they are a customer. But I do like that Person Of Interest show with Ben from Lost, so I thought I should learn more about it.
The main take away is I would last about 5 minutes in the CIA. For one thing it is a pretty irony-free environment, and for another thing there are not a lo...more
I don't know much about the CIA except I've worked for some In-Q-Tel funded companies and that you aren't supposed to call them buy their real name if they are a customer. But I do like that Person Of Interest show with Ben from Lost, so I thought I should learn more about it.
The main take away is I would last about 5 minutes in the CIA. For one thing it is a pretty irony-free environment, and for another thing there are not a lo...more
I found this look into the workings of the CIA to be very intriguing. The perspective of someone very familiar with many of the agencies and groups involved in security and espionage made this credible. It was apparent that some of the anecdotes were deliberately fuzzy on details (names, places, etc.) to preserve security. The reality lives up to the James Bond hype in many instances it seems. I disliked the overuse of acronyms and found that the sheer number of acronyms used to identify US agen...more
I love books that open my eyes and reveal a whole new world. This book recounts a life in the CIA and lessons learned along the way. The author, Henry Crumpton, tells how he began as a CIA operative in the field and climbs through the ranks to U.S. Coordinator of Counter Terrorism.
Crumpton's vast experience provides a very informed perspective on geopolitics, but he is candid about the uncertainty of global security policy and best practices. He explains what roles the CIA had in the Middle East...more
Crumpton's vast experience provides a very informed perspective on geopolitics, but he is candid about the uncertainty of global security policy and best practices. He explains what roles the CIA had in the Middle East...more
This book is a good non-fiction work written by a former CIA case officer. It begins by taking a brief look at the beginnings of intelligence operations, from the influences of intelligence during the Civil War and the contributions George Washington and Francis Marion made to the development of intelligence operations and intelligence policy. It then focuses on Crumpton’s career. He looked at the role of intelligence up through the ending of the Cold War and including more recent operations and...more
“It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle.
This quote kept recurring to me as I read this book about the CIA and its bifurcated role in post-911 American action. On one level, the CIA and its political leader, George Tennant massively failed in warning of Al Qaeda (AQ) and equivocating on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. On the other hand, the covert action commandos of the CIA understood and acted upon the new global landscape of terror in...more
This quote kept recurring to me as I read this book about the CIA and its bifurcated role in post-911 American action. On one level, the CIA and its political leader, George Tennant massively failed in warning of Al Qaeda (AQ) and equivocating on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. On the other hand, the covert action commandos of the CIA understood and acted upon the new global landscape of terror in...more
This was somewhat technical and he couldn't name a lot of names or places. It was very interesting when he talked about 9/11 before and after. The CIA had all the warning signs but the politicians ignored it all (just like the bombing of Pearl Harbor). Being in counterintelligence, he didn't care for the FBI. They are more about solving crimes where the CIA is more about gathering intelligence secretly. He ran the war after 9/11 for about 3 months with the CIA and Special Forces doing most of th...more
Let's face it - intelligence and espionage gathering still has a bit of an unsavory reputation among many outsider circles. But it still must be done, otherwise one would be going into the great game of international affairs blind and with your hands tied.
Of course, due to confidentiality, there are things he leaves unsaid, but he does reveal a lot with frankness, thoughtful analysis, and candor.
The CIA was in bad shape in the early 1990s, and the embassy bombings in Africa gave it a needed shak...more
Of course, due to confidentiality, there are things he leaves unsaid, but he does reveal a lot with frankness, thoughtful analysis, and candor.
The CIA was in bad shape in the early 1990s, and the embassy bombings in Africa gave it a needed shak...more
When I received The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to find out about the secret missions of a CIA agent. Unfortunately, this audiobook fell flat for me and I did not finish it. I almost fell asleep before half of the first CD was over, and totally gave up 1.5 CDs into the book. I like non-fiction, but I found this book to be incredibly dry. The narrator, David Colacci, did not help. I thought the reading was rather ted...more
so i picked up this book thinking it would be about spying. and granted, it was about spying. kind of. more than that, though, this was a book about the war in afghanistan and how it changed everything going forward. how we are still there, in a mess.
i'll admit, i didn't pay attention to the war at all in the beginning (or even really now). there's a little too much that hits close to home and certain parts of this book made me uncomfortable (the need for vengeance being one of them) but what i...more
i'll admit, i didn't pay attention to the war at all in the beginning (or even really now). there's a little too much that hits close to home and certain parts of this book made me uncomfortable (the need for vengeance being one of them) but what i...more
If you're looking for a James Bond-style spy thriller in these pages, you'll need to keep looking. You won't find any high wire foot chases, screaming Maseratis on narrow mountain passes or buxom babes in micro-mini-bikins on tropical beaches here.
What you will find is a very scholarly walking tour through the halls of The Farm, better known by the outside world as the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. With 24 years of experience as one of the CIA's top spies, author Henry Crumpt...more
What you will find is a very scholarly walking tour through the halls of The Farm, better known by the outside world as the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. With 24 years of experience as one of the CIA's top spies, author Henry Crumpt...more
This was worth the wait on the waiting list at the library. I can't say that I would necessarily want to be seated next to the author at a dinner party (me = ordinary schlump; he = one Bad Ass Spy with great stories and a pretty massive ego, albeit earned), but reading this book makes me glad that fellows like Mr. Crumpton exist. The story of the CIA's entry into Afghanistan after 9/11 is worth the price of admission alone. Pacifists need not read this part (or the book at all, for that matter),...more
I became aware of Henry Crumpton in a 60 Minutes Interview a day before his book "The Art of Intelligence" was released. Marketing worked because I was intrigued by Crumpton's thoughts in the interview and pre-ordered the e-book online later that night. I was not disappointed.
Hank Crumpton from the very start creates a very detailed very compelling story about life inside the CIA. He manages to do this in very general terms without talking about specific people or places, but still keeping an as...more
Hank Crumpton from the very start creates a very detailed very compelling story about life inside the CIA. He manages to do this in very general terms without talking about specific people or places, but still keeping an as...more
The Art of Intelligence is a memoire by CIA spy Henry A. Crumpton. It tells the story of his career and discusses trade craft, and the growing role of America's intelligence officers. For me, it showed and interesting combination of true multicultural understanding and gung-ho nationalism that many might think contradictory to one another.
Here, however, Crumpton shows that the CIA is filled with real people struggling to do what they believe is right. It also shows an interesting view and histo...more
Here, however, Crumpton shows that the CIA is filled with real people struggling to do what they believe is right. It also shows an interesting view and histo...more
Informative overview of the CIA, espionage, clandestine operations, spying, etc. It also provided perspective in the life and commitment of CIA agents and operatives.
Sections devoted to Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden were informative and fascinating. Since the CIA, and particularly the author's, operations were in charge of much of the intelligence gathering for these actors, it is particularly enlightening to understand the historical context for much of the events leading up to the tr...more
Sections devoted to Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden were informative and fascinating. Since the CIA, and particularly the author's, operations were in charge of much of the intelligence gathering for these actors, it is particularly enlightening to understand the historical context for much of the events leading up to the tr...more
Normally, I like reading nonfiction books, but this was just completely boring. I didn't even finish Chapter 1 when I was bored with it. I normally like to finish a book before I review it, but I just couldn't. It was just plain dry, and not at all how I thought it was going to be. There wasn't anything that really grabs the attention of the reader.
I really passionately hate giving bad reviews, but sometimes it is necessary. I respect where Mr. Crumpton's coming from, and I respect and thank h...more
I really passionately hate giving bad reviews, but sometimes it is necessary. I respect where Mr. Crumpton's coming from, and I respect and thank h...more
Midway through listening to The Art of Intelligence, I had the good fortune to catch the author (Henry Crumpton) on a local talk show. Crumpton spent 24 years of distinguished service as an operations officer in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, followed by his appointment as the US coordinator for counterterrorism. His impressive career included leading the CIA's post-9/11 global covert operations in Afghanistan. If you have the opportunity to listen to Crumpton’s views, whether on the talk show c...more
ALL THAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CIA AND THE AUTHOR WOULD NOT GO TO JAIL FOR WRITING--
Just having read Double Cross- the True Story of the D-Day Spies, my interest in tradecraft was piqued.
Crumpton does a superb job of reducing some of the dark cloud that institutionally covers the CIA, a largely secret institution. The truth is that CIA operatives do a lot of good, hard work to find out what the US's enemies are doing. Yes, there are instances in which the CIA does retaliate with lethal...more
I notice that I gave this book a 2 star rating vs. a 3.67 average rating for other reviewers. So my review may be an outlier. I was excited to read the book. I have read many spy novels over the past 30 years, so I was anxious to find a real life story about the CIA. I was certain that there was more far more drudgery and monotony in this line of work than most people would imagine. And, based on Mr. Crumpton's depiction, this is true. I did enjoy the book somewhat; I learned much truth about a...more
This book does not read like a novel; it is written like an academic report. The writing is clear and well organized, but created to inform, not entertain. While the author has a clear bias, that is expected, considering his career. To his credit, he writes about his failures, as well as his successes. In between the dry facts are glimpses of the humanity and the sacrificial dedication poured into defending Americans. If you wonder what the people in charge of defending this country are thinking...more
Mr. Crumpton first applied to the CIA at the age of 10, but did not succeed in joining that agency until he was 22. He eventually led the CIA's side of the war on terrorism, then all of the CIA's clandestine operations withing the US.
He tells the story of how the US & Afghan forces routed Al Queda and the Taliban from Afghanistan only 90 days from the falling of the Twin Towers. This was done by late 2001 with only about 500 Americans from the CIA and Special Forces.
Crumpton has a New Mexic...more
He tells the story of how the US & Afghan forces routed Al Queda and the Taliban from Afghanistan only 90 days from the falling of the Twin Towers. This was done by late 2001 with only about 500 Americans from the CIA and Special Forces.
Crumpton has a New Mexic...more
This was a very interesting and informative read. It pulls back the curtain enough to give the reader a glimpse of the heroic actions that some of countrymen are doing while we are moving through our daily lives.
It may be a bit picky, but I was distracted by the constant use of phrases such as "in late 2000," "in late October." I lived through those times and I do not recall any month or year being late. They all arrived on time. I prefer "late in 2000," or "late in October." I guess that the p...more
It may be a bit picky, but I was distracted by the constant use of phrases such as "in late 2000," "in late October." I lived through those times and I do not recall any month or year being late. They all arrived on time. I prefer "late in 2000," or "late in October." I guess that the p...more
A great look into the world of REAL American spies. Forget James Bond; the best CIA agents use their personalities and tongues to talk people into spying for them. It seems recruiting foreign agents is the name of the game, and Crumpton was one of the best. A good writer, Mr. C also tells many fun stories of his years in the business, but it's the way he handles people that provides insight. You, too, can use people -- if you know his tricks. A great follow-up for anyone loving The Art of War by...more
I found it hard to take Henry Crumpton’s CIA memoir, "The Art of Intelligence," seriously, at least in part because it starts and ends with odes to American “Founding Father” George Washington. That level of simplistic primary school patriotism is alien to me; I love my country as if it were a dysfunctional mother, not some kind of idolised hero-father. I cannot believe that a man who was a spy in Africa, headed the CIA’s invasion of Afghanistan, and served as the State Department’s counter-terr...more
I randomly grabbed this book at the library and I was pleasantly surprised. This book is a description of the CIA, its inner workings, and its recent history. This book has interesting sub stories and it was a delightful treat.
If you are a terrorist and you are reading this book to gain insight in the CIA, you will probably enjoy it. You can find out all about the organization that has a hellfire missile screaming through the sky coming at you right now.
If you are a terrorist and you are reading this book to gain insight in the CIA, you will probably enjoy it. You can find out all about the organization that has a hellfire missile screaming through the sky coming at you right now.
My favorite line from the book: "I have never faced a problem that could not be solved with an appropriate amount of explosives." - Chuck "Boom Boom" Vessels (page 158)
My first recommendation is to have a piece of paper and a writing utensil at the ready while reading this book. As with so many government institutions there are a lot of abbreviations and acronyms used. Even Al Qaeda and Usama Bin Laden are shortened to AQ and UBL. I recommend writing them down as you come across them because the...more
My first recommendation is to have a piece of paper and a writing utensil at the ready while reading this book. As with so many government institutions there are a lot of abbreviations and acronyms used. Even Al Qaeda and Usama Bin Laden are shortened to AQ and UBL. I recommend writing them down as you come across them because the...more
Fascinating look into the life of a spy. This is the guy who designed the successful campaign by CIA paramilitary forces in Afghanistan which led to the quick and unexpected collapse of the Taliban in 2001. This is the guy who designed the CIA's drone program and took drones to the level they are at now. This is the guy who almost got UBL before 9/11(they were so close and could have gotten him but-you'll have to read the book) and was consumed with finding and killing him. As a young boy he dre...more
I really wanted to like this book more. I think I had expected a little more James Bond and a little less bureaucracy, which is my fault for setting those expectations. The book is a first-hand account of a CIA agent moving up the ranks and his involvement as an operative in Afghanistan immediately following 9/11. One thing is for sure, CIA agents are incredibly intelligent and put themselves in the most dangerous circumstances on earth to help our country and keep the world safe.
I enjoyed this book. Educational and fascinating to learn about the inner workings of the agencies in Washington; especially in the years leading up to 9/11. Henry Crumpton is fascinating and inspirational. He seems to be the epitome of someone who is passionate, bright and yet not 'full of themselves' - willing to do whatever he could to serve his country. He lost me a bit in the Afghanistan years but that was the only part of the book I found the least bit slow.
I really enjoyed the book, great insights to the CIA and overall role of intelligence to our government. There were parts that went on a little long and parts that were a little dry but all in all I really liked it. Makes me wonder since the time that this book references what other leaps forward have we made in the area of intelligence... Also, I have to admit this made me think back to my childhood days when I really wanted to be a spy! ;)
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| Great Book | 2 | 7 | Oct 23, 2012 12:45pm |
54 Years Old
Ambassador Crumpton has been a Director of the Company since February 2008. Ambassador Crumpton has been President of the Crumpton Group since February 2007. He was Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism at the United States Department of State from August 2005 to February 2007. Ambassador Crumpton was Chief of the National Resources Division at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2...more
More about Henry A. Crumpton...
Ambassador Crumpton has been a Director of the Company since February 2008. Ambassador Crumpton has been President of the Crumpton Group since February 2007. He was Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism at the United States Department of State from August 2005 to February 2007. Ambassador Crumpton was Chief of the National Resources Division at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2...more
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Oct 25, 2012 02:49pm