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The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror
Long before the waterboarding controversy exploded in the media, one CIA agent had already gone public. In a groundbreaking 2007 interview with ABC News, John Kiriakou called waterboarding torture—but admitted that it probably worked. This book, at once a confessional, an adventure story, and a chronicle of Kiriakou’s life in the CIA, stands as an important, eloquent piece of testimony from a committed American patriot.In February 2002 Kiriakou was the head of counterterrorism in Pakistan. Under his command, in a spectacular raid coordinated with Pakistani agents and the CIA’s best intelligence analyst, Kiriakou’s field officers took down the infamous terrorist Abu Zubaydah. For days, Kiriakou became the wounded terrorist’s personal “bodyguard.” In circumstances stranger than fiction, as al-Qaeda agents scoured the streets for their captured leader, the best trauma surgeon in America was flown to Pakistan to make sure that Zubaydah did not die. In The Reluctant Spy, Kiriakou takes us into the fight against an enemy fueled by fanaticism. He chillingly describes what it was like inside the CIA headquarters on the morning of 9/11, the agency leaders who stepped up and those who protected their careers. And in what may be the book’s most shocking revelation, he describes how the White House made plans to invade Iraq a full year before the CIA knew about it—or could attempt to stop it. Chronicling both mind-boggling mistakes and heroic acts of individual courage, The Reluctant Spy is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the inner workings of the U.S. intelligence apparatus, the truth behind the torture debate, and the incredible dedication of ordinary men and women doing one of the most extraordinary jobs on earth. From the Hardcover edition.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
333 people are currently reading
2274 people want to read
About the author
John Kiriakou
9 books209 followersJohn served in the Central Intelligence Agency first as an analyst, and later as a counterterrorism operations officer, from 1990-2004. He spent much of his career working on Iraq and the Persian Gulf. In 1997 he changed career tracks from analysis to operations and moved to Athens, Greece, where he worked against the notorious terrorist group “Revolutionary Organization 17 November.” He became chief of counterterrorist operations in Pakistan following the September 11 attacks, and his tour climaxed in the March 2002 capture of Abu Zubaydah, then believed to be al-Qa’ida’s third-ranking official.
John Kiriakou became an anti-torture whistleblower and activist when he told ABC News in December 2007 that the CIA was torturing prisoners, that that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy was approved by the President.
John eventually was charged with three counts of espionage, one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and one count of making a false statement as a result of the 2007 ABC News interview. Even though he had no criminal intent, and there was no harm to the national security, accepting the plea resulted in a sentence of 30 months in prison.
John Kiriakou became an anti-torture whistleblower and activist when he told ABC News in December 2007 that the CIA was torturing prisoners, that that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy was approved by the President.
John eventually was charged with three counts of espionage, one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and one count of making a false statement as a result of the 2007 ABC News interview. Even though he had no criminal intent, and there was no harm to the national security, accepting the plea resulted in a sentence of 30 months in prison.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
May 31, 2010
Read this review and other articles from me on www.TheNearbyFuture.com
Many people don't know what they want to do in life. John Kiriakou never guessed he'd end up a spy after college.
He was a man with a love of politics and world history. He would sneak into Consulate Dinner Parties with his friends to meet and take photos with the senators he'd read about. His dogged determination, quick thinking and strong feelings of patriotism would steer him towards a career in the CIA.
But he never wanted to be a spy, just an analyst. His love of the middle east propelled him to learning Arabic. After learning this very difficult language, he was suddenly in demand for field work. And that's how he entered the deadly world of espionage.
In his book The Reluctant Spy, John Kiriakou talks about his adventures and life in the CIA. This piece of nonfiction is more engaging than most fiction, and for anyone interested in learning more about the off-limits world of the CIA.
Many people don't know what they want to do in life. John Kiriakou never guessed he'd end up a spy after college.
He was a man with a love of politics and world history. He would sneak into Consulate Dinner Parties with his friends to meet and take photos with the senators he'd read about. His dogged determination, quick thinking and strong feelings of patriotism would steer him towards a career in the CIA.
But he never wanted to be a spy, just an analyst. His love of the middle east propelled him to learning Arabic. After learning this very difficult language, he was suddenly in demand for field work. And that's how he entered the deadly world of espionage.
In his book The Reluctant Spy, John Kiriakou talks about his adventures and life in the CIA. This piece of nonfiction is more engaging than most fiction, and for anyone interested in learning more about the off-limits world of the CIA.
July 3, 2010
Couldn't get past Kiriakou's enormous ego. He's like a used car salesman; slick and smarmy, and explosive at inappropriate times. I was interested in the operational and policy issues, but could have done without the custody battles and self-aggrandizement.
June 5, 2010
The CIA is more than a job - it's a lifestyle choice, but one mired in secrecy and misunderstanding for decades. This book provides a window, intentionally or unintentionally, into the agency to show you how they operate, why the people that work there can get so passionate, and what failings can arise from such passion.
John Kiriakou, who practically stumbled into the spy game (as the title suggests), shows, intentionally and occasionally unintentionally, the strains and stresses the job provides on people who work in that field, and an overview of the things about the agency he cares deeply about. He spends a little time talking in careful, delicate terms about the collapse of his own marriage, spends some time talking about the training agents go through, and talks through life in foreign lands and some of the details about human intelligence and tradecraft.
Roughly the middle third then goes into the details of the CIA after 9/11 which I found fascinating, as well as some specific examples of missions he ran in Pakistan. The latter part of the book goes into his feelings about some of the controversies surrounding espionage, especially torture. Kiriakou cogently tears down some of the strongest arguments against torture and then turns around and builds more solid ones. The result is a more nuanced understanding - at least for me - about a particularly dark part of current US espionage, and finally ending on the rather inelegant and bureaucratic way he left the agency.
My problems - this was too simple a read and too fast a read for a hardcover book. I might be more inclined to recommend it once it gets to a cheaper medium. Many of the issues Kiriakou brings up he does go into or devote his considerable analysis to - for example, he lingers a few times on the divorce rate of intelligence officers, but only to acknowledge it and move on.
Lastly, Kiriakou is a victim of being successful in a clandestine organization, and that may be a problem with memoirs like these: Since there is a lot he can't talk about, the situations he describes are often vague and filled with details he can bring up but not talk about. This made it hard for me to get into those parts of the book. Real situations seemed abstract. And since it is a memoir, some of his events seem really one-sided...though that's probably more of an issue with memoirs than this one.
I'd recommend this book for people who are really interested in current events and modern espionage and wants to get a fuller understanding of the challenges modern spies face today.
John Kiriakou, who practically stumbled into the spy game (as the title suggests), shows, intentionally and occasionally unintentionally, the strains and stresses the job provides on people who work in that field, and an overview of the things about the agency he cares deeply about. He spends a little time talking in careful, delicate terms about the collapse of his own marriage, spends some time talking about the training agents go through, and talks through life in foreign lands and some of the details about human intelligence and tradecraft.
Roughly the middle third then goes into the details of the CIA after 9/11 which I found fascinating, as well as some specific examples of missions he ran in Pakistan. The latter part of the book goes into his feelings about some of the controversies surrounding espionage, especially torture. Kiriakou cogently tears down some of the strongest arguments against torture and then turns around and builds more solid ones. The result is a more nuanced understanding - at least for me - about a particularly dark part of current US espionage, and finally ending on the rather inelegant and bureaucratic way he left the agency.
My problems - this was too simple a read and too fast a read for a hardcover book. I might be more inclined to recommend it once it gets to a cheaper medium. Many of the issues Kiriakou brings up he does go into or devote his considerable analysis to - for example, he lingers a few times on the divorce rate of intelligence officers, but only to acknowledge it and move on.
Lastly, Kiriakou is a victim of being successful in a clandestine organization, and that may be a problem with memoirs like these: Since there is a lot he can't talk about, the situations he describes are often vague and filled with details he can bring up but not talk about. This made it hard for me to get into those parts of the book. Real situations seemed abstract. And since it is a memoir, some of his events seem really one-sided...though that's probably more of an issue with memoirs than this one.
I'd recommend this book for people who are really interested in current events and modern espionage and wants to get a fuller understanding of the challenges modern spies face today.
April 5, 2020
I was inspired to read this because of a stirring interview Kiriakou did on the highly-recommended Rolling Stone magazine podcast Useful Idiots (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics...), in which Kiriakou shared about how he was subject to politically-motivated retaliation by John Brennan's CIA for speaking out to journalists in a nuanced way on the CIA's torture program. Ultimately, he spent over a year in prison for speaking to what was already publicly-available information.
The above is part of why I don't want to be too hard on this book. In the years since 2012 when this book was published, Kiriakou has, understandably, undergone a significant political evolution. In his 2019 interview, he speaks from his professional experience to the disingenuousness of the "russian asset" smear that Hillary Clinton employed against Tulsi Gabbard and opines on his belief that the so-called CIA whistleblower responsible for the claims that led to the erstwhile Democratic impeachment effort was essentially an effort of political interference, driven by CIA leadership. This book was written before Kiriakou learned an extremely difficult lesson about the corruptibility of the U.S. system and just in the wake of his CIA career ending. Consequently, it is very soft even on the CIA leadership that later turned on him, not to mention on the U.S. history of intervention abroad. I found it hard to read his fairly black-and-white accounts of America vs "the bad guys" against whom he worked as a CIA analyst and later counterterrorism agent in Greece and Pakistan, with a great deal of empathy for the victims of these terrorist groups and little more than a passing mention of the atrocities committed by the right-wing dictators the U.S. sponsored and propped up the world over.
I made it through this book, barely, because of what I know about what Kiriakou has been subject to for his relatively innocent and naively-made choice to speak to the media about the U.S. torture program, and his bravery in the present day in putting his considerable smarts and expertise in the field of intelligence to use in speaking out against cynical efforts by elites to smear dissenters with facile, xenophobic narratives of treason. As a stand-alone, however, the book reads as a typical name-droppy, ghost-written memoir full of scarcely relevant, self-congratulatory personal anecdotes. Please look up and support John Kiriakou and the work he is doing now (https://www.johnkiriakou.com/), but maybe don't spend your energy reading this book yourself. Save it for your hawkish friend or family member who needs to be convinced Kiriakou somebody who loves and served America and isn't on the side of "the terrorists."
The above is part of why I don't want to be too hard on this book. In the years since 2012 when this book was published, Kiriakou has, understandably, undergone a significant political evolution. In his 2019 interview, he speaks from his professional experience to the disingenuousness of the "russian asset" smear that Hillary Clinton employed against Tulsi Gabbard and opines on his belief that the so-called CIA whistleblower responsible for the claims that led to the erstwhile Democratic impeachment effort was essentially an effort of political interference, driven by CIA leadership. This book was written before Kiriakou learned an extremely difficult lesson about the corruptibility of the U.S. system and just in the wake of his CIA career ending. Consequently, it is very soft even on the CIA leadership that later turned on him, not to mention on the U.S. history of intervention abroad. I found it hard to read his fairly black-and-white accounts of America vs "the bad guys" against whom he worked as a CIA analyst and later counterterrorism agent in Greece and Pakistan, with a great deal of empathy for the victims of these terrorist groups and little more than a passing mention of the atrocities committed by the right-wing dictators the U.S. sponsored and propped up the world over.
I made it through this book, barely, because of what I know about what Kiriakou has been subject to for his relatively innocent and naively-made choice to speak to the media about the U.S. torture program, and his bravery in the present day in putting his considerable smarts and expertise in the field of intelligence to use in speaking out against cynical efforts by elites to smear dissenters with facile, xenophobic narratives of treason. As a stand-alone, however, the book reads as a typical name-droppy, ghost-written memoir full of scarcely relevant, self-congratulatory personal anecdotes. Please look up and support John Kiriakou and the work he is doing now (https://www.johnkiriakou.com/), but maybe don't spend your energy reading this book yourself. Save it for your hawkish friend or family member who needs to be convinced Kiriakou somebody who loves and served America and isn't on the side of "the terrorists."
September 4, 2012
The title is a misnomer in my opinion. The author does not seem reluctant and the only reason I can see that he called it this was because he started as an analyst and moved into operations. Otherwise, he seemed like a very capable and ready case officer. John discusses his time in Greece, working in the Middle East and his time at headquarters. While all of this was good and included a nice overview of the issues of Greek terrorism, one of the things I really liked about this book was that he tied back his life/career to his two boys and his marriage which ended during his time in Greece and how he was able to continue his work while still being a part of his boys life. The book ends with his departure from the CIA, not because of anything truly inflammatory, which again makes me question the title of the book, but overall a solid book.
August 9, 2011
Totally not my type of thing, but I liked it anyway.. Interesting story from a "six degrees of separation" person I laid eyes on once and may even had said hello to which made it all the more interesting. I feel like I have a much better idea of what goes into protecting our country and the dedication (aka obsessions) of the people doing it. Also confirms how crazy Dick Chaney really is.. lol
June 3, 2025
3.5/5
Pretty interesting, I don’t usually do non-fiction but this was a pretty captivating, easy read. Of course a lot is redacted, and I was curious about the politics of the novel going in, and it further solidifies Dick Cheney as one of the worst Americans to ever live.
Pretty interesting, I don’t usually do non-fiction but this was a pretty captivating, easy read. Of course a lot is redacted, and I was curious about the politics of the novel going in, and it further solidifies Dick Cheney as one of the worst Americans to ever live.
June 23, 2025
good book, but it's clear the author sees himself as a Greek-American Jack Ryan.
You've been a bookish analyst for years and have never fired a gun before, but finished top in your operations class in marksmanship over former navy seals and special operations people? sure, john
You've been a bookish analyst for years and have never fired a gun before, but finished top in your operations class in marksmanship over former navy seals and special operations people? sure, john
April 1, 2013
Interesting account from a Greek-American working for the CIA, with some bits relating to embassy action in Greece.
February 25, 2026
Note: This review is based on the audiobook narrated by Arthur Morey.
Endlessly entertaining and engaging. I'll admit that I picked this one up because John Kiriakou's podcast clips have been flooding my Instagram and TikTok pages. His way of storytelling is so fun on those episodes, that I hoped his book about his time in the CIA would be equally enjoyable. To some extent it is, as his life is pretty interesting in its own right, but some of his charm and wit doesn't really come across through the written page.
It's a biography of his personal and CIA lives, the guy's had a tough go in both. But, it's important to say that this book was written and published before John's life really got turned upside down and he went to jail for blowing the whistle on the torture program. So, the book is a little bit more positive and deferential towards the CIA then I think it would be now if John were to write it again. Still, his story has remained remarkably consistent over the years and the way he describes certain events now are the same as they're described in the book.
Unfortunately, I think the necessity of this is a bit diluted because of how much has changed since its publication and with John's extensive podcast tour. A lot more information is packed into those episodes (at least the best ones) than is found here. The hummus story also does not make an appearance here.
Endlessly entertaining and engaging. I'll admit that I picked this one up because John Kiriakou's podcast clips have been flooding my Instagram and TikTok pages. His way of storytelling is so fun on those episodes, that I hoped his book about his time in the CIA would be equally enjoyable. To some extent it is, as his life is pretty interesting in its own right, but some of his charm and wit doesn't really come across through the written page.
It's a biography of his personal and CIA lives, the guy's had a tough go in both. But, it's important to say that this book was written and published before John's life really got turned upside down and he went to jail for blowing the whistle on the torture program. So, the book is a little bit more positive and deferential towards the CIA then I think it would be now if John were to write it again. Still, his story has remained remarkably consistent over the years and the way he describes certain events now are the same as they're described in the book.
Unfortunately, I think the necessity of this is a bit diluted because of how much has changed since its publication and with John's extensive podcast tour. A lot more information is packed into those episodes (at least the best ones) than is found here. The hummus story also does not make an appearance here.
March 17, 2026
A collection of badass, and oftentimes tragic stories of intelligence, bravery, and resounding heroism. Kiriakou’s pride in both his Greek and American identities shine throughout this honest (occasionally self-aggrandizing) memoir.
March 6, 2026
This is a reasonably interesting collection of CIA stories from the whistleblower on the CIA’s use of torture on al-Qaeda prisoners.
May 13, 2025
Gobbled this short book up. even though the author admits multiple times that the CIA has deleted most of this book, it still feels at a more accurate look at what working for the CIA is like and what CIA operations officers actually do. Because of the redactions the book does feel incomplete. it feels vague and kids bop. Despite all of that though I still enjoyed it and still feel as though I learned a bit more about how and where the CIA operates.
April 14, 2020
I'd probably put this at 2 1/2 stars. I enjoyed learning about how the CIA works, and some of the more "day-to-day" accounts of a field agent and analyst. Definitely the first-hand account of an armed raid was exciting and insightful. So, too, was the author's story of how he was recruited and hired for the agency. This was all new and interesting information to me.
As is often the case in memoirs, personal details are added here that seem out of place. I'm reading this book because you worked for the CIA, and I want to know what that's like. If you need to mention the strain that this job puts on your marriage and family life: that's fine. I can see how that's germane. But I don't need specific details about your divorce, or the time you "kidnapped" your own children from your ex-wife.
Finally, I got to the latter half of the book, I realized that the book was more of a vehicle for the author to share some of this personal and political views, rather than an innocent "this is what it's like to work for the CIA" book. He was a whistle blower against waterboarding, which I applaud him for, but he has some real false humility when all the news outlets come calling for a soundbite. The book degrades from there into a Taylor Swift revenge song against high-profile officials that he did not like and a former boss for whom the term "sour grapes" isn't remotely strong enough.
In a nutshell: the first part of the book is enjoyable; the latter half comes off as petty and childish.
As is often the case in memoirs, personal details are added here that seem out of place. I'm reading this book because you worked for the CIA, and I want to know what that's like. If you need to mention the strain that this job puts on your marriage and family life: that's fine. I can see how that's germane. But I don't need specific details about your divorce, or the time you "kidnapped" your own children from your ex-wife.
Finally, I got to the latter half of the book, I realized that the book was more of a vehicle for the author to share some of this personal and political views, rather than an innocent "this is what it's like to work for the CIA" book. He was a whistle blower against waterboarding, which I applaud him for, but he has some real false humility when all the news outlets come calling for a soundbite. The book degrades from there into a Taylor Swift revenge song against high-profile officials that he did not like and a former boss for whom the term "sour grapes" isn't remotely strong enough.
In a nutshell: the first part of the book is enjoyable; the latter half comes off as petty and childish.
May 9, 2010
I really need to stop buying memoirs after reading reviews because the reviewers never accurately reflect the tone or theme of the book. I think anyone really interested in specific CIA initiatives would love this, but I was looking for more of a story, about the guy's work and the guy's personal life and how it all blended together. The review I read spoke a lot about how the rigors of his job caused the demise of his marriage and really affected his family. But in the book the marriage is basically reduced to three sentences. We got married. My son told me mommy kisses someone else. We got divorced. That's it. In the entire book. This was not a memoir at all but instead about the author's involvement in a few key operations. Again, a lot of people would probably enjoy this but it was not my cup of tea. Also, the writing was very clunky.
June 18, 2010
Hilariously funny -- not in a good way.
Kiriakou is a babe in screw-up land as he describes one disastrous operation after another. My favorite was taking the 100 pound overweight guy on the raid of the Taliban Embassy in Pakistan because it would make him feel good. A good role for John Candy.
Whenever it starts to get interesting the author tells us that the CIA won't let me tell you about this. He does keep telling us how patriotic and well meaning his colleagues are. Unfortunately, they seem to be more James Boob rather than James Bond.
The only person who comes off as an adult is Ambassador Nicholas Burns whom the author does not like.
This book could be a great foundation for a comic spy movie but save your time unless you are looking for yet another reason to mourn the decline ad fall of the CIA.
Kiriakou is a babe in screw-up land as he describes one disastrous operation after another. My favorite was taking the 100 pound overweight guy on the raid of the Taliban Embassy in Pakistan because it would make him feel good. A good role for John Candy.
Whenever it starts to get interesting the author tells us that the CIA won't let me tell you about this. He does keep telling us how patriotic and well meaning his colleagues are. Unfortunately, they seem to be more James Boob rather than James Bond.
The only person who comes off as an adult is Ambassador Nicholas Burns whom the author does not like.
This book could be a great foundation for a comic spy movie but save your time unless you are looking for yet another reason to mourn the decline ad fall of the CIA.
December 27, 2024
John Kiriakou’s, The Reluctant Spy, provides a rare and compelling glimpse into the shadowy world of the CIA during one of its most controversial eras. Part memoir, part exposé, the book recounts his experiences in the War on Terror with clarity and urgency. However, the most captivating element lies not in the tales of "espionage", but in Kiriakou’s moral reckoning with the institution he served and the role he played within it.
The book’s strength is its ability to straddle two identities: it’s an insider’s narrative filled with the tense drama of high-profile intelligence work and a whistleblower’s critique of systemic ethical failings. Kiriakou’s vivid descriptions of operations, particularly the capture of Abu Zubaydah, showcase his skill as a storyteller. Yet, his candid acknowledgment of the moral compromises required in intelligence work is where the memoir gains depth. His eventual decision to reveal the CIA’s use of waterboarding transforms the narrative from a straightforward spy memoir into a significant commentary on accountability.
That said, Kiriakou’s portrayal raises critical questions about reliability and selective disclosure. While he openly critiques the CIA’s methods, his depiction of his own role is often couched in the language of reluctant complicity, casting himself as a principled outsider in an ethically dubious system. This framing, while compelling, risks oversimplifying the complexities of his participation. Did Kiriakou fully grapple with his own complicity in the practices he later condemned? Or does the narrative unintentionally sidestep moments where deeper self-examination might have been warranted?
Additionally, Kiriakou’s critique of the agency occasionally leans toward the personal rather than the systemic, which may leave readers wishing for a broader analysis of the CIA’s structural failings and the wider implications of its policies during the post-9/11 era. While his whistleblowing is undeniably courageous, the book’s narrative arc focuses so intently on his personal journey that it sometimes overlooks the larger geopolitical consequences of the practices he exposes.
Despite these limitations, The Reluctant Spy, succeeds in opening a dialogue about the ethics of intelligence work and the personal cost of challenging institutional power. Kiriakou’s writing is raw, engaging, and deeply human, offering insights that are as troubling as they are necessary. It’s a book that demands readers not only listen but critically engage with the perspectives it presents. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the CIA’s War on Terror and the moral dilemmas at its core, this is an essential, if imperfect, read.
The book’s strength is its ability to straddle two identities: it’s an insider’s narrative filled with the tense drama of high-profile intelligence work and a whistleblower’s critique of systemic ethical failings. Kiriakou’s vivid descriptions of operations, particularly the capture of Abu Zubaydah, showcase his skill as a storyteller. Yet, his candid acknowledgment of the moral compromises required in intelligence work is where the memoir gains depth. His eventual decision to reveal the CIA’s use of waterboarding transforms the narrative from a straightforward spy memoir into a significant commentary on accountability.
That said, Kiriakou’s portrayal raises critical questions about reliability and selective disclosure. While he openly critiques the CIA’s methods, his depiction of his own role is often couched in the language of reluctant complicity, casting himself as a principled outsider in an ethically dubious system. This framing, while compelling, risks oversimplifying the complexities of his participation. Did Kiriakou fully grapple with his own complicity in the practices he later condemned? Or does the narrative unintentionally sidestep moments where deeper self-examination might have been warranted?
Additionally, Kiriakou’s critique of the agency occasionally leans toward the personal rather than the systemic, which may leave readers wishing for a broader analysis of the CIA’s structural failings and the wider implications of its policies during the post-9/11 era. While his whistleblowing is undeniably courageous, the book’s narrative arc focuses so intently on his personal journey that it sometimes overlooks the larger geopolitical consequences of the practices he exposes.
Despite these limitations, The Reluctant Spy, succeeds in opening a dialogue about the ethics of intelligence work and the personal cost of challenging institutional power. Kiriakou’s writing is raw, engaging, and deeply human, offering insights that are as troubling as they are necessary. It’s a book that demands readers not only listen but critically engage with the perspectives it presents. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the CIA’s War on Terror and the moral dilemmas at its core, this is an essential, if imperfect, read.
January 4, 2026
I first learned about John Kiriakou through his epic, hours-long appearance on the Dalton Fischer Podcast—a deep dive into his CIA career, covert ops, and whistleblower journey that had me hooked. That interview painted him as a principled insider with incredible stories, so I was excited to pick this book up.
This memoir delivers exactly what you’d expect from a former counterterrorism officer: gripping accounts of life inside the Agency post-9/11. Kiriakou pulls no punches describing the chaos at CIA headquarters on that fateful day, the high-stakes raid in Pakistan that captured Abu Zubaydah (where he ended up as the terrorist’s unlikely “bodyguard”), and the bureaucratic infighting that often hampered operations. His insider perspective on the lead-up to the Iraq War—revealing how White House plans were in motion long before the intelligence community was looped in—is eye-opening and frustrating.
What resonated most for me, especially after the podcast, is Kiriakou’s evolving stance on “enhanced interrogation.” He openly grapples with the torture program, admitting its existence while ultimately condemning it as wrong and ineffective in the long run. Coming from someone who was offered training in those techniques but refused, it feels authentic and courageous—foreshadowing his real-life whistleblower status.
That said, the book isn’t perfect. The writing (co-authored with Michael Ruby) can feel straightforward and report-like at times, more operational debrief than polished literary memoir. Some personal anecdotes, like his family life, drag a bit, and it ends abruptly after his 2004 resignation, without delving as deeply into his post-CIA path as I hoped (though the podcast filled in those gaps brilliantly).
Overall, The Reluctant Spy is a fast-paced, revealing look at the human side of the War on Terror—from heroism to moral dilemmas. If you’re interested in CIA history, counterterrorism, or the torture debate, it’s essential reading from a patriot who paid a heavy price for speaking out. Highly recommended, especially alongside Kiriakou’s more recent interviews for context!
This memoir delivers exactly what you’d expect from a former counterterrorism officer: gripping accounts of life inside the Agency post-9/11. Kiriakou pulls no punches describing the chaos at CIA headquarters on that fateful day, the high-stakes raid in Pakistan that captured Abu Zubaydah (where he ended up as the terrorist’s unlikely “bodyguard”), and the bureaucratic infighting that often hampered operations. His insider perspective on the lead-up to the Iraq War—revealing how White House plans were in motion long before the intelligence community was looped in—is eye-opening and frustrating.
What resonated most for me, especially after the podcast, is Kiriakou’s evolving stance on “enhanced interrogation.” He openly grapples with the torture program, admitting its existence while ultimately condemning it as wrong and ineffective in the long run. Coming from someone who was offered training in those techniques but refused, it feels authentic and courageous—foreshadowing his real-life whistleblower status.
That said, the book isn’t perfect. The writing (co-authored with Michael Ruby) can feel straightforward and report-like at times, more operational debrief than polished literary memoir. Some personal anecdotes, like his family life, drag a bit, and it ends abruptly after his 2004 resignation, without delving as deeply into his post-CIA path as I hoped (though the podcast filled in those gaps brilliantly).
Overall, The Reluctant Spy is a fast-paced, revealing look at the human side of the War on Terror—from heroism to moral dilemmas. If you’re interested in CIA history, counterterrorism, or the torture debate, it’s essential reading from a patriot who paid a heavy price for speaking out. Highly recommended, especially alongside Kiriakou’s more recent interviews for context!
March 16, 2026
I really enjoyed The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA’s War on Terror. It’s a great, easy, and genuinely entertaining read.
I first discovered John Kiriakou a few years ago on Reddit and later rediscovered him on the podcast circuit—through interviews with Julian Dorey, Dalton Fischer, and more recently Joe Rogan and Steven Bartlett. What struck me while reading the book is that he’s just as captivating a storyteller on the page as he is behind a microphone 15 years later.
The book is primarily a memoir/autobiography that gradually moves into a whistleblower narrative, and the tone is largely reflective. Kiriakou recounts his path into the CIA, his experiences during the early years of the War on Terror, and ultimately how his views on the agency and its practices evolved over time. A major thread throughout the book is the personal cost of intelligence work—how the demands of the job affect relationships, family life, and personal identity. You also see the moral conflicts that can arise inside institutions like the CIA, particularly around the tension between secrecy and accountability.
Much of the book retells stories from his life that he has shared on various podcasts, but with greater detail and additional insight into his personal life—especially around his first marriage and how it ultimately intersected with his decision to leave the CIA.
One area where I felt the book could have gone further was in some of the action sequences. In particular, I would have loved more detail around the capture of Abu Zubaydah or his time stationed in Athens. Interestingly, he seems to go into more operational detail when recounting those stories on podcasts than he does in the book, which felt a bit surprising.
Overall, it’s a great read. People who discovered John through podcasts may find that much of the material covers familiar ground, but for longtime followers like myself it’s a welcome and more complete addition to the life story he’s been sharing for years.
I’d especially recommend this book to podcast listeners interested in intelligence stories or to readers who enjoy memoirs from intelligence officers.
I first discovered John Kiriakou a few years ago on Reddit and later rediscovered him on the podcast circuit—through interviews with Julian Dorey, Dalton Fischer, and more recently Joe Rogan and Steven Bartlett. What struck me while reading the book is that he’s just as captivating a storyteller on the page as he is behind a microphone 15 years later.
The book is primarily a memoir/autobiography that gradually moves into a whistleblower narrative, and the tone is largely reflective. Kiriakou recounts his path into the CIA, his experiences during the early years of the War on Terror, and ultimately how his views on the agency and its practices evolved over time. A major thread throughout the book is the personal cost of intelligence work—how the demands of the job affect relationships, family life, and personal identity. You also see the moral conflicts that can arise inside institutions like the CIA, particularly around the tension between secrecy and accountability.
Much of the book retells stories from his life that he has shared on various podcasts, but with greater detail and additional insight into his personal life—especially around his first marriage and how it ultimately intersected with his decision to leave the CIA.
One area where I felt the book could have gone further was in some of the action sequences. In particular, I would have loved more detail around the capture of Abu Zubaydah or his time stationed in Athens. Interestingly, he seems to go into more operational detail when recounting those stories on podcasts than he does in the book, which felt a bit surprising.
Overall, it’s a great read. People who discovered John through podcasts may find that much of the material covers familiar ground, but for longtime followers like myself it’s a welcome and more complete addition to the life story he’s been sharing for years.
I’d especially recommend this book to podcast listeners interested in intelligence stories or to readers who enjoy memoirs from intelligence officers.
March 14, 2026
I love John Kiriakou. I've loved him since the first time I saw him years ago on a now-forgotten podcast. He's the most straightforward ex-CIA officer you'll find in the mediasphere, while still flexing a masterful ability to tell stories.
I've had The Reluctant Spy on my shelf for ages and started reading it several times. But I have a fickle book brain, and it only caught traction in my latest attempt. If you've never heard his story, don't expect a career paralleling Jason Bourne. He was an analyst before he became an operations officer, and for several years of his career the most exciting role he had was Saddam Hussein's biographer within the intelligence community. Even when he gets into the wilds of the world of espionage, there's not a ton of action. In fact, he opts back to the rear guard at Langley after only a few years and rides out his career giving the finger to the bureaucracy. But that doesn't mean it's not a story well-told, and I'd bet it mirrors far more Agency careers than the Bourne-esque fantasies we have of the CIA.
This is not to say that the book is boring. It's decidedly not. It's endlessly fascinating, instead of mindlessly thrilling. If you've seen John on any podcasts, you've probably heard all of the stories contained in the book, so don't expect any new content, though you'll get a little more detail on stories like Abu Zubaydah than you've probably already heard.
I've had The Reluctant Spy on my shelf for ages and started reading it several times. But I have a fickle book brain, and it only caught traction in my latest attempt. If you've never heard his story, don't expect a career paralleling Jason Bourne. He was an analyst before he became an operations officer, and for several years of his career the most exciting role he had was Saddam Hussein's biographer within the intelligence community. Even when he gets into the wilds of the world of espionage, there's not a ton of action. In fact, he opts back to the rear guard at Langley after only a few years and rides out his career giving the finger to the bureaucracy. But that doesn't mean it's not a story well-told, and I'd bet it mirrors far more Agency careers than the Bourne-esque fantasies we have of the CIA.
This is not to say that the book is boring. It's decidedly not. It's endlessly fascinating, instead of mindlessly thrilling. If you've seen John on any podcasts, you've probably heard all of the stories contained in the book, so don't expect any new content, though you'll get a little more detail on stories like Abu Zubaydah than you've probably already heard.
March 14, 2026
"What I told Brian Ross, in late 2007, was wrong on a couple of counts. I suggested that Abu Zubaydah had lasted only 30 or 35 seconds during his waterboarding before he begged his interrogators to stop. After that, I said he opened up and gave the agency actionable intelligence. I wasn't there when the interrogation took place. Instead, I relied on what I'd heard and read inside the agency at the time.
Now we know that Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 83 times in a single month, raising questions about how much useful information he actually supplied. In retrospect, it was a valuable lesson in how the CIA uses the arts of deception, even among its own. The national debate on waterboarding and other forms of torture got a second wind early in Obama's presidency, and I'm proud to have played a small part in it. In a larger sense, this is not an American conversation that has ended.
If we have learned anything since 9/11, we have learned anew that attention exists between protecting our national security and ensuring the human rights guaranteed in that most precious of documents, the U.S. Constitution. Our challenge, in a world of unprecedented threats, is to strike a balance between the polarities. To find that place where the two can live reasonably, if not comfortably, side by side. It won't be easy, but then, it never was."
I will read all of Kiriakou's books and they will all be 5-stars. An American Hero.
Now we know that Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 83 times in a single month, raising questions about how much useful information he actually supplied. In retrospect, it was a valuable lesson in how the CIA uses the arts of deception, even among its own. The national debate on waterboarding and other forms of torture got a second wind early in Obama's presidency, and I'm proud to have played a small part in it. In a larger sense, this is not an American conversation that has ended.
If we have learned anything since 9/11, we have learned anew that attention exists between protecting our national security and ensuring the human rights guaranteed in that most precious of documents, the U.S. Constitution. Our challenge, in a world of unprecedented threats, is to strike a balance between the polarities. To find that place where the two can live reasonably, if not comfortably, side by side. It won't be easy, but then, it never was."
I will read all of Kiriakou's books and they will all be 5-stars. An American Hero.
February 20, 2026
I've loved watching his interviews this week so I knew I had to pick up one of his books and learn more.
I knew nothing about Greece terrorism and conflict that was all new to me and learning details about the CIA, so interesting. I always thought I wanted to be in some sort of secret service when I was younger, I thought I'd apply to MI6 or something haha
I have to say I love his interviews more than I enjoyed reading this just because he's sooo funny irl the way he tells stories just makes it. It's incredible how many lives he's lived and the abundance of knowledge he's gained through life experience. Can't say I agree with everything but the majority of takes are spot on.
It really goes to show how much is unseen to the average citizen though. So many moving parts in one organisation that holds the power to change so much.
I knew nothing about Greece terrorism and conflict that was all new to me and learning details about the CIA, so interesting. I always thought I wanted to be in some sort of secret service when I was younger, I thought I'd apply to MI6 or something haha
I have to say I love his interviews more than I enjoyed reading this just because he's sooo funny irl the way he tells stories just makes it. It's incredible how many lives he's lived and the abundance of knowledge he's gained through life experience. Can't say I agree with everything but the majority of takes are spot on.
It really goes to show how much is unseen to the average citizen though. So many moving parts in one organisation that holds the power to change so much.
October 13, 2018
Some time last year, I watched a documentary about whistleblowers involving among others John Kiriakou, which eventually pointed me in the direction of his memoir. Given my general interest in the inner workings of intelligence agencies and the like, I finally picked it up. Now, Kiriakou doesn't always come across as particularly sympathetic - and occasionally, as a downright unpleasant individual IMO - in this book, and I disagree with his stance on various issues, but he provides an intriguing, though by necessity at times vague, account of life and a career in the CIA both pre- and post-9/11 along with a sound condemnation of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques which makes some good points and easily kept my interest.
December 29, 2024
Finally read a book that's been on my shelf for years - John Kiriakou's The Reluctant Spy.
It's a great read, exploring the sometimes glamorous, sometimes frightening, but often hardship ridden life of serving in the intelligence service. Many of John's comments delve into prescient territory (the book was published in 2009), mentioning concerns about going to war with Iraq while bin Laden was still at large, and touching on how the administration in Kabul was getting worse, not better.
John, for his part, is a stand up guy who approached talking about hard issues like waterboarding and "enhanced interrogations" with the nuance they deserve. This book serves as a reminder of the good we can do, and the bad we have to carefully tread to avoid.
It's a great read, exploring the sometimes glamorous, sometimes frightening, but often hardship ridden life of serving in the intelligence service. Many of John's comments delve into prescient territory (the book was published in 2009), mentioning concerns about going to war with Iraq while bin Laden was still at large, and touching on how the administration in Kabul was getting worse, not better.
John, for his part, is a stand up guy who approached talking about hard issues like waterboarding and "enhanced interrogations" with the nuance they deserve. This book serves as a reminder of the good we can do, and the bad we have to carefully tread to avoid.
October 9, 2025
Tradecraft of making spies
Spot, assess, develop, pitch
Pickup routines
Beirut and Desert Shield
Greece and 17 November
Pakistan - Zubayah
Iraq
Ahmed Chalabi - serial fabricator
Thought they were throwing flowers and hearts and minds, and designing the flag a year before
Failure of 2003-2004 governance of Iraq
Didn’t understand face in Arab culture as to why Saddam didn’t allow WMD
George Tenet thought he was an outside and was too much of a Bush Admin pleaser.
CIA culture was risk aversion and over correcting before 9/11. Very insular, insider and outsider spouses. Not meritocratic. Office politics and Peter principle.
Videotapes destroyed.
Spot, assess, develop, pitch
Pickup routines
Beirut and Desert Shield
Greece and 17 November
Pakistan - Zubayah
Iraq
Ahmed Chalabi - serial fabricator
Thought they were throwing flowers and hearts and minds, and designing the flag a year before
Failure of 2003-2004 governance of Iraq
Didn’t understand face in Arab culture as to why Saddam didn’t allow WMD
George Tenet thought he was an outside and was too much of a Bush Admin pleaser.
CIA culture was risk aversion and over correcting before 9/11. Very insular, insider and outsider spouses. Not meritocratic. Office politics and Peter principle.
Videotapes destroyed.
November 22, 2019
I almost checked off memoir for this, but one doesn't typically have a co-writer (translation the person who did the hard work of putting the authors words into a readable form). The book was too easy to put down for me, a linear, not very deep story. It was interesting but not compelling. Being an actual writer takes a lot of work and I suspect Kiriakou had his own ideas of telling the story which is a little flat. I was nauseated reading the torture descriptions of what the government does to people arrested, and water-boarding someone 82 times? That's the CIA we all prop up.
June 24, 2023
I did enjoy this book. John is an amazing storyteller. I could not stop reading it. I read the book because I listened to him in an interview and I want to know more about it. It is a window to this secret world of CIA and the game of powers, ego, and politics. Also, it is a recount of the price a person has to pay in order to live up to his values. After reading this book I immediately bought his second book in which he develops further the consequences of being a whistleblower. I do not the accuracy of all what he says, but still it is a very engaging book.
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