With shocking revelations that made headlines in papers across the country, Pulitzer-Prize-winner Tim Weiner gets at the truth behind the CIA and u...
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May 18, 2011
Kemper
rated it: 
Attention crazy people! If you are one of those poor souls who thinks that the Central Intelligence Agency is reading your thoughts and/or manipulating your brain waves, I have good news for you. You can take off your aluminum foil hat and stop trying to pull out that tooth with the tracking device. Here it is:
The CIA is too incompetent to do any of the things you are worried about. Seriously.
After reading Legacy of Ashes, I’m amazed that we weren’t taken down by the More...
The CIA is too incompetent to do any of the things you are worried about. Seriously.
After reading Legacy of Ashes, I’m amazed that we weren’t taken down by the More...
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(14 people liked it)
Dec 22, 2007
Scott
rated it: 
Written by a writer who has won the Pullitzer Prize for his work on National Security for the New York Times, this is the first ever comprehensive, on the record, history of the CIA. Every interview in the book is on the record, including 10 Directors and over 100 agents. With newfound access to thousands of recently declassified documents, and extensive notes, this is the best history of the CIA you're likely to read.
This is a devastating book. The experience of reading it reminded More...
This is a devastating book. The experience of reading it reminded More...
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(8 people liked it)
May 29, 2008
Aaron
rated it:
A sprawling, fierce work of history, scholarship, and journalism. Markedly pessimistic in tone, Tim Weiner chronicles the often tragic history of America's once revered intelligence service. What he finds is that the the CIA has failed in its fundamental mission – to gather, analyze, and disseminate intelligence – for the better part of a century.
Weiner argues that the agency has suffered from and still suffers from several cancers. First is the propensity of its directors to bend More...
Weiner argues that the agency has suffered from and still suffers from several cancers. First is the propensity of its directors to bend More...
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 29, 2007
Nathan
rated it: 
The title of Tim Weiner's tome about the CIA, "Legacy of Ashes", is a quote taken from a comment Dwight Eisenhower made about what he was leaving behind for subsequent presidents. Ike felt he had left a broken and ineffectual intelligence agency far removed from the reality of what America needed. In "Legacy of Ashes", Weiner proves Ike right. Starting with the 1947 birth of the Central Intelligence Agency, Weiner takes us through intelligence bungle after intelligence bungle
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 30, 2009
David
rated it:
The history of the CIA has always been shrouded in secrecy. Recently more and more documents have quietly been made public. With these documents an interesting and darker history of the agency begins to emerge. Time after time the agency has shown disaster, failure, and complete stupidity. Those outside the agency (often including the President) are only shown the smoke and mirrors creating a splendid and false perspective of the agency.
This history was produced to show that th More...
This history was produced to show that th More...
Dec 17, 2009
Douglas
rated it:
a blistering and exhaustively-sourced condemnation of the CIA, an agency (as Henry Kissinger put it) has a reputation of ruthless efficiency that does not in any way reflect reality, which is persistent incompetence. Not only has the CIA failed in the vast majority of its covert operations, it also failed in the most rudimentary of its functions - providing the President with accurate intelligence upon the intentions and capabilities of America's enemies.
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 31, 2009
Matt
rated it:
Sometimes I think the CIA is kept around just so all those old movies and Tom Clancy books will make sense. Because really, from start to finish, the Agency has proven a monumental failure.
The title Legacy of Ashes comes from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who hopelessly battled the Agency throughout his eight years in office. Undoubtedly, his inability to change the CIA was partially responsible for his famous parting shot: the military-industrial complex speech.
Autho More...
The title Legacy of Ashes comes from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who hopelessly battled the Agency throughout his eight years in office. Undoubtedly, his inability to change the CIA was partially responsible for his famous parting shot: the military-industrial complex speech.
Autho More...
Jul 03, 2010
George
rated it:
Legacy of Ashes is founded on three premises.
1. The CIA is incompetent. The author gathers plenty of ammo to back this one up, to the point of downplaying the agency’s successes and highlighting its failures. He still makes a compelling argument that the CIA’s track record isn’t good.
2. The CIA’s dual functions – gathering intelligence and covert operations – are fundamentally at odds with each other. This is obvious: covert operations thrive on secrecy, not openness. On a more practical level: More...
1. The CIA is incompetent. The author gathers plenty of ammo to back this one up, to the point of downplaying the agency’s successes and highlighting its failures. He still makes a compelling argument that the CIA’s track record isn’t good.
2. The CIA’s dual functions – gathering intelligence and covert operations – are fundamentally at odds with each other. This is obvious: covert operations thrive on secrecy, not openness. On a more practical level: More...
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 21, 2010
brian
rated it:
despite being both wildly entertaining and wildly informative, this book catches a three-star rating for all that it lacks. the subject matter requires the full-on multi-volume robert caro approach... weiner's 514 pgs just can't suffice. he skims over so much, leaves out so much necessary and vital information, that as much as i enjoyed it i cannot go above three stars. moreover, i had two fundamental complaints:
1) his conclusions are waaaay too linear. okay, you're writing a book on More...
1) his conclusions are waaaay too linear. okay, you're writing a book on More...
Nov 03, 2007
Andres
rated it:
It's a very interesting read, from a historical perspective, at any rate. Some of the conclusions are suspect, at least in my eyes. One has to wonder, if the CIA was such a bungling, inept, rigid, clueless and blind institution, then why weren't we at the mercy of other countries' intelligence departments? Especially when most were, according to the author, so much better than ours was.
On the other hand, I can very well imagine it being a great piece of intelligence misdirection if e More...
On the other hand, I can very well imagine it being a great piece of intelligence misdirection if e More...
Jul 01, 2008
Lisa
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Okay, so, first off, I am bias, and have to admit that. But, have to say, this book was FASCINATING. I only joined the intel community in 2005, so, can't speak to the accuracy of anything before that, but, can confirm that his coverage of everything since then is outrageously skewed. True, but skewed. Having said that, as a student of US foreign policy it was an incredibly interesting look at an entirely unexplored dimension of US policy. It put everything I studied in school in a new perspe
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(1 person liked it)
Mar 03, 2009
Brian
rated it:
LEGACY OF ASHES: The History of the CIA
TIM WEINER
America’s foes and rivals have long overrated the CIA. When Henry Kissinger traveled to China in 1971, Prime Minister Chou En-lai asked about the CIA. Kissinger told Chou that he “vastly overestimates the competence of the CIA.” Chou persisted that “whenever something happens in the world they are always thought of.” Kissinger acknowledged, “That is true, and it flatters them, but they don’t deserve it.” “Legacy of Ashes” More...
TIM WEINER
America’s foes and rivals have long overrated the CIA. When Henry Kissinger traveled to China in 1971, Prime Minister Chou En-lai asked about the CIA. Kissinger told Chou that he “vastly overestimates the competence of the CIA.” Chou persisted that “whenever something happens in the world they are always thought of.” Kissinger acknowledged, “That is true, and it flatters them, but they don’t deserve it.” “Legacy of Ashes” More...
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(1 person liked it)
Feb 11, 2012
Jerome
rated it:
Very interesting.
However, Weiner has LOTS of the facts wrong.
In 1948, the CIA accurately assessed the chances of war with the Soviets as nil. According to Weiner, that was a failure “because no one listened.” The development of the U-2 spyplane was a stunning technological achievement that offered a unique look behind the Iron Curtain. To Weiner, it is tied to failure, because the CIA should have had better human sources inside the Soviet Union. Through analytic rigor, the agency More...
However, Weiner has LOTS of the facts wrong.
In 1948, the CIA accurately assessed the chances of war with the Soviets as nil. According to Weiner, that was a failure “because no one listened.” The development of the U-2 spyplane was a stunning technological achievement that offered a unique look behind the Iron Curtain. To Weiner, it is tied to failure, because the CIA should have had better human sources inside the Soviet Union. Through analytic rigor, the agency More...
Nov 23, 2011
Nate
rated it:
This gave a fascinating window into the inner operations of the CIA. This thorough book gives a blow-by-blow factual breakdown of the CIA through the years... and it isn't pretty. Despite saying the word "clandestine" in what felt like every other sentence, the book managed to keep my interest throughout the decades that it spanned.
I would be interested in reading a book with a more positive spin, if it exists, to be able to compare and contrast the way the information coul More...
I would be interested in reading a book with a more positive spin, if it exists, to be able to compare and contrast the way the information coul More...
Sep 09, 2011
Tony
rated it:
Weiner, Tim. LEGACY OF ASHES: The History of the CIA. (2007). ****.
This book by Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Weiner went on to win the National Book Award in 2007. The very nature and depth of its subject guarantees that you will have a heavy tome on your hands. The author approaches the subject by examing the CIA and its activities under each president. You find that there is very little continuity in the organization itself. At last count, there have been nineteen directors More...
This book by Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Weiner went on to win the National Book Award in 2007. The very nature and depth of its subject guarantees that you will have a heavy tome on your hands. The author approaches the subject by examing the CIA and its activities under each president. You find that there is very little continuity in the organization itself. At last count, there have been nineteen directors More...
Jul 27, 2011
Kash
rated it: 
Well, I did not know much about the CIA and this book did not provide me any thing beyond what I already knew. I knew CIA was dysfunctional and inefficient. I knew CIA was full of liberal driven morons who take themselves seriously and probably don't care much about the interests of the country they serve (Check the recent Iran's NIE report for example). I also knew CIA's ability and power was exaggerated in the media and hollywood. What got me interested in this book was Tim Weiner's interview
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Jul 24, 2011
Converse
rated it:
Weiner, a journalist, has written a history of the Central Intelligence Agency from its origins up to 2007. More of the narrative is devoted to the earlier decades, which makes sense when one realizes from the asides in the text that sources on say, the Cuban Missile Crisis, were declassified only after the year 2000. The organization that is described is less a spy agency than a filibustering organization, devoted to overthrowing weak governments in poor companies, buying up politicians, set
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Jul 18, 2011
Lyn
rated it:
This is a superbly reseached work and tales the shadowy tale of American foreign policy from the late 40's to the present day. But it is really a 700 page indictment of an example of how bad a government agency can be. The one thing the CIA did well was give money away, BILLIONS of dollars spent with a slim margin of return at best, a...nd at worse it became clear that the CIA had literally been conned out of hundreds of millions by other states and even individuals. But any work of journalism,
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Mar 29, 2010
Blog on Books
rated it:
As long time Angelenos, we were certainly excited to receive our invitation to Taschen Books headquarters for the new release party for their latest coffee table opus `Los Angeles - Portrait of a City.' While partying with the Hollywood elite (Diane Keaton, Hugh Hefner, Jerry Bruckheimer, David LaChappell, Rodney Bingenheimer, various politicos, etc.) and being serenaded by hometown music from the Doors, Mamas and Papas, the Go-Go's and others, we celebrated the release of Jim Heimann and Kevin
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Jan 29, 2010
Ira
rated it:
Buku teranyar di rak buku. Buku ini bener-bener bikin orang makin ngetawain Amerika. Tadinya mau beli buku Negeri 5 Menara. Nyampe Gramedia langsung disambut pemandangan Buku Merah ini. Buku Tim Weiner ini menurut saya bukan hanya membongkar kegagalan CIA, tapi juga membuktikan kalo Hollywood adalah salah satu alat pencitraannya Amerika dan Zionis. Yah liat aja film-film mereka yg menampilkan tentang kinerja CIA, seolah-olah canggih dan wah banget dah CIA itu, padahal. Cocoklah buat temen ngeteh
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Oct 13, 2009
Steven
rated it:
After eight years as President, Dwight Eisenhower was frustrated with the CIA. He concluded that it was not working right. He observed to CIA Director Allen Dulles that (page 167) "I have suffered an eight-year defeat on this." He went on to note that he feared that he would (page 167) ". . .leave a legacy of ashes" to his successor.
This is a book about the CIA, from its beginning to its sad failures in Iraq. It depicts an organization that had some very talented More...
This is a book about the CIA, from its beginning to its sad failures in Iraq. It depicts an organization that had some very talented More...
Apr 27, 2009
Tsalter
rated it:
I have a new pet peeve due to this book. I hate it when publishers state "winner of the pulitzer prize" on the book's cover, only to realize later that the prize refers to the author, not the book.
I bought this book because I am interested in the subject, but also because I mistakenly believed it won the Pulitzer. I found it to be entertaining at first, but I've grown tired of it because it just chronologically goes through history since WWII recounting all CIA's omissi More...
I bought this book because I am interested in the subject, but also because I mistakenly believed it won the Pulitzer. I found it to be entertaining at first, but I've grown tired of it because it just chronologically goes through history since WWII recounting all CIA's omissi More...
Feb 05, 2009
Tim Weiner, multiple Pulitzer Prize winner, longtime New York Times reporter, and the author of Betrayal: The Story of Aldrich Ames, American Spy (1995) and Blank Check: The Pentagon's Black Budget (1991) hits his marks in Legacy of Ashes. Drawing on more than 50,000 documents and 300 on-the-record interviews with key players (10 of them former directors of the agency; all of the book's many notes and quotations are attributed), Weiner treats his subject with a ruthless, journalistic eye, skewer
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Dec 06, 2010
Rob
rated it:
Read with my `old-guys-burnt-out lefty' bookclub.
Reminds me of all the WikiLeaks releases...not much new but, still useful. Gives a powerful sense of how ineffective the C.I.A. has been, both as a source of alot of dirty tricks, and even worse - as a source of analysis. Really didn't have a clue about many of the major events of the past 50 years (Iranian Revolution of 1979, collapse of the USSR). Much of the information here can be gleaned elsewhere although there is some discussion of do More...
Reminds me of all the WikiLeaks releases...not much new but, still useful. Gives a powerful sense of how ineffective the C.I.A. has been, both as a source of alot of dirty tricks, and even worse - as a source of analysis. Really didn't have a clue about many of the major events of the past 50 years (Iranian Revolution of 1979, collapse of the USSR). Much of the information here can be gleaned elsewhere although there is some discussion of do More...
Jan 29, 2012
Roger
rated it:
Weiner’s sweeping chronicle of the CIA demonstrates how since the agency’s nascent years, its covert operations have time and again ended with tragic results. In the sixty years of its history, the CIA has never effectively carried out its one and only major duty: to collect and analyze information for the purpose of notifying the president of threats of national security. Instead, over the years the CIA’s failures have continuously mounted: with running unsuccessful espionage and clandestine mi
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Sep 25, 2011
Христо
rated it:
ЦРУ оставя след себе си зловещо “Наследство от пепелища” според Тим Уайнър
http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/02/blog...
Книги от този тип красят всяка библиотека. Чудесно оформление, качествен превод, сериозно съдържание и огромно количество бележки, доказателство за него – какво повече от професионална публицистика?
Тим Уайнър е носител на “Пулицър” за разкриване на тайни разходи на ЦРУ и Пентагона, обикалял е всички горещи точки на планетата. Затова и историята More...
http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/02/blog...
Книги от този тип красят всяка библиотека. Чудесно оформление, качествен превод, сериозно съдържание и огромно количество бележки, доказателство за него – какво повече от професионална публицистика?
Тим Уайнър е носител на “Пулицър” за разкриване на тайни разходи на ЦРУ и Пентагона, обикалял е всички горещи точки на планетата. Затова и историята More...
Jan 10, 2011
Angelo
rated it:
Tim Weiner after deep researches wrote down this interesting book which let you discover some important aspects of the actual history. The CIA borned as Intelligent Agency unluckily has showed several times to be not so intelligent. But when a mistake or just simply an evaluation not based on certain proofs are made in high levels, the whole humanity will suffer tremendous consequences, as we can see every day in our TV. In this book you will read which were the reasons which brought the people
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Nov 01, 2010
Matt
rated it:
Reading this distressing history of our nation's preeminent intelligence-gathering apparatus, you could almost make a rather grim drinking game: take a shot for every major world event the CIA confidently predicted would go one way and yet went horribly the other way just days after said prediction was made. The North Vietnamese will not attack on the Tet holiday. Take a drink. The Soviet Union will never collapse. Drink. Iraq undoubtedly possesses weapons of mass d More...
Jun 12, 2009
Thomas
rated it:
"Legacy of Ashes" is exhilarating-- I read all 600 pages in two days. It is also deeply troubling to learn about the CIA's checkered history. The author Tim Weiner is certainly qualified, as he spent twenty years as a journalist covering intelligence. To write this work, he interviewed hundreds of agents, analysts, and former directors. He also poured through thousands of CIA documents, most of which were declassified in the last ten years.
What Weiner found was chronically poor i More...
What Weiner found was chronically poor i More...
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Aug 14, 2009
Joe
rated it:
This book tells the history of the CIA and the people that shaped it, starting before its creation through the present.
The author does a great job of covering the CIA's story, breaking it down into different eras, generally by who was in charge of the CIA at the time. He describes the evolution of the CIA and its mission, shaped by world events and politics.
In reading the history of the CIA, I was struck by just how critical foreign intelligence can be, particularly to a More...
The author does a great job of covering the CIA's story, breaking it down into different eras, generally by who was in charge of the CIA at the time. He describes the evolution of the CIA and its mission, shaped by world events and politics.
In reading the history of the CIA, I was struck by just how critical foreign intelligence can be, particularly to a More...
