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The Spymasters
by Chris Whipple • 2020
Fourteen men and one woman, one brutal job: telling presidents what they don't want to hear.
4.05
1k+
The Spymasters Summary
The Spymasters 96%
Fourteen men and one woman, one brutal job: telling presidents what they don't want to hear.
by Chris Whipple 2020
4.05
1k+ ratings
The Billion Dollar Spy
by David E. Hoffman • 2015
A Soviet engineer's note gave the CIA billions in secrets; a single betrayal took it all away.
4.23
16k+
The Billion Dollar Spy Summary
The Billion Dollar Spy 94%
A Soviet engineer's note gave the CIA billions in secrets; a single betrayal took it all away.
by David E. Hoffman 2015
4.23
16k+ ratings
Killing Hope
by William Blum • 1995
For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.
4.27
2k+
Killing Hope Summary
Killing Hope 94%
For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.
by William Blum 1995
4.27
2k+ ratings
A Great Place To Have A War
by Joshua Kurlantzick • 2017
Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.
3.90
788
A Great Place To Have A War Summary
A Great Place To Have A War 94%
Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.
by Joshua Kurlantzick 2017
3.90
788 ratings
Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
by Amy B. Zegart • 2022
James Bond and Jack Ryan are America's spy professors, and the curriculum is dangerously wrong.
3.95
2k+
Spies, Lies, and Algorithms Summary
Spies, Lies, and Algorithms 94%
James Bond and Jack Ryan are America's spy professors, and the curriculum is dangerously wrong.
by Amy B. Zegart 2022
3.95
2k+ ratings
Covert Regime Change
by Lindsey A. O'Rourke • 2018
64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.
4.14
85
Covert Regime Change Summary
Covert Regime Change 94%
64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.
by Lindsey A. O'Rourke 2018
4.14
85 ratings
Surprise, Kill, Vanish
by Annie Jacobsen • 2019
Between peace and open war: the secret history of presidents who chose killing in the shadows.
4.31
7k+
Surprise, Kill, Vanish Summary
Surprise, Kill, Vanish 94%
Between peace and open war: the secret history of presidents who chose killing in the shadows.
by Annie Jacobsen 2019
4.31
7k+ ratings
The Best and the Brightest
by David Halberstam • 1969
How Washington's most brilliant men led America into Vietnam, and could not stop themselves.
4.27
13k+
The Best and the Brightest Summary
The Best and the Brightest 94%
How Washington's most brilliant men led America into Vietnam, and could not stop themselves.
by David Halberstam 1969
4.27
13k+ ratings
Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers
by Norbert Juretzko • 2004
The inside story of an intelligence agency so inept the Americans bought their agents a Winnebago.
3.67
21
Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers Summary
Bedingt dienstbereit. Im Herzen des BND - die Abrechnung eines Aussteigers 94%
The inside story of an intelligence agency so inept the Americans bought their agents a Winnebago.
by Norbert Juretzko 2004
3.67
21 ratings
The Afghanistan Papers
by Craig Whitlock • 2021
Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.
4.25
7k+
The Afghanistan Papers Summary
The Afghanistan Papers 94%
Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.
by Craig Whitlock 2021
4.25
7k+ ratings
Zero Fail
by Carol Leonnig • 2021
A bulletproof reputation, repeated near misses, and the rot the Secret Service hid for decades.
4.23
10k+
Zero Fail Summary
Zero Fail 94%
A bulletproof reputation, repeated near misses, and the rot the Secret Service hid for decades.
by Carol Leonnig 2021
4.23
10k+ ratings
Code Warriors
by Stephen Budiansky • 2016
Math, machines, and moral compromise: the NSA's secret Cold War against the Soviets.
3.72
760
Code Warriors Summary
Code Warriors 94%
Math, machines, and moral compromise: the NSA's secret Cold War against the Soviets.
by Stephen Budiansky 2016
3.72
760 ratings
The Imagineers of War
by Sharon Weinberger • 2017
DARPA gave us the Internet and lost Vietnam. The same faith in technology drove both.
3.69
565
The Imagineers of War Summary
The Imagineers of War 94%
DARPA gave us the Internet and lost Vietnam. The same faith in technology drove both.
by Sharon Weinberger 2017
3.69
565 ratings
The Way of the Knife
by Mark Mazzetti • 2013
After 9/11, the CIA started killing. The Pentagon started spying. The boundary never returned.
3.85
4k+
The Way of the Knife Summary
The Way of the Knife 93%
After 9/11, the CIA started killing. The Pentagon started spying. The boundary never returned.
by Mark Mazzetti 2013
3.85
4k+ ratings
The Brothers
by Stephen Kinzer • 2013
The Secretary of State and CIA director were brothers. They ran the Cold War as a family crusade.
4.15
5k+
The Brothers Summary
The Brothers 93%
The Secretary of State and CIA director were brothers. They ran the Cold War as a family crusade.
by Stephen Kinzer 2013
4.15
5k+ ratings
The First Family Detail
by Ronald Kessler • 2014
Cruelty, affairs, nuclear lapses: what Secret Service agents witnessed inside the White House.
3.37
4k+
The First Family Detail Summary
The First Family Detail 93%
Cruelty, affairs, nuclear lapses: what Secret Service agents witnessed inside the White House.
by Ronald Kessler 2014
3.37
4k+ ratings
Fiasco
by Thomas E. Ricks • 2006
A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.
4.09
8k+
Fiasco Summary
Fiasco 93%
A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.
by Thomas E. Ricks 2006
4.09
8k+ ratings
Area 51
by Annie Jacobsen • 2011
The UFO at Roswell was real. The bodies were human. The secret was darker than aliens.
3.86
11k+
Area 51 Summary
Area 51 93%
The UFO at Roswell was real. The bodies were human. The secret was darker than aliens.
by Annie Jacobsen 2011
3.86
11k+ ratings
One Nation Under Blackmail
by Whitney Alyse Webb • 2022
Seventeen White House visits. The blackmail machine that protected Jeffrey Epstein for decades.
4.42
712
One Nation Under Blackmail Summary
One Nation Under Blackmail 93%
Seventeen White House visits. The blackmail machine that protected Jeffrey Epstein for decades.
by Whitney Alyse Webb 2022
4.42
712 ratings
Dark Alliance
by Gary Webb • 1998
The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.
4.30
2k+
Dark Alliance Summary
Dark Alliance 93%
The CIA's Contra army needed money. The cocaine they smuggled to get it fueled LA's crack epidemic.
by Gary Webb 1998
4.30
2k+ ratings
Spies in the Family
by Eva Dillon • 2017
A Soviet general spied for the U.S. for two decades. His handler's daughter reveals why.
4.15
1k+
Spies in the Family Summary
Spies in the Family 93%
A Soviet general spied for the U.S. for two decades. His handler's daughter reveals why.
by Eva Dillon 2017
4.15
1k+ ratings
The Gun
by C.J. Chivers • 2010
Designed by a Soviet committee to crush uprisings, the AK-47 armed global terror.
3.95
3k+
The Gun Summary
The Gun 93%
Designed by a Soviet committee to crush uprisings, the AK-47 armed global terror.
by C.J. Chivers 2010
3.95
3k+ ratings
Rogue State
by William Blum • 2000
The world's leading democracy has overthrown forty governments since 1945, calling it freedom.
3.97
926
Rogue State Summary
Rogue State 93%
The world's leading democracy has overthrown forty governments since 1945, calling it freedom.
by William Blum 2000
3.97
926 ratings
Science of Coercion
by Christopher Simpson • 1994
Communication studies was secretly built by the Pentagon as a weapon, not a discipline.
4.11
89
Science of Coercion Summary
Science of Coercion 93%
Communication studies was secretly built by the Pentagon as a weapon, not a discipline.
by Christopher Simpson 1994
4.11
89 ratings
JFK's Forgotten Crisis
by Bruce Riedel • 2015
A CIA shadow war in Tibet helped spark the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Asia never recovered.
4.17
445
JFK's Forgotten Crisis Summary
JFK's Forgotten Crisis 93%
A CIA shadow war in Tibet helped spark the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Asia never recovered.
by Bruce Riedel 2015
4.17
445 ratings
Phenomena
by Annie Jacobsen • 2017
How the CIA spent decades training psychic spies to fight the Cold War.
3.94
2k+
Phenomena Summary
Phenomena 93%
How the CIA spent decades training psychic spies to fight the Cold War.
by Annie Jacobsen 2017
3.94
2k+ ratings
The Sword and the Shield
by Christopher Andrew • 1985
One KGB archivist smuggled out the foreign intelligence files, rewriting Cold War history.
3.93
2k+
The Sword and the Shield Summary
The Sword and the Shield 93%
One KGB archivist smuggled out the foreign intelligence files, rewriting Cold War history.
by Christopher Andrew 1985
3.93
2k+ ratings
Cobra II
by Michael R. Gordon • 2006
How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.
3.97
2k+
Cobra II Summary
Cobra II 93%
How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.
by Michael R. Gordon 2006
3.97
2k+ ratings
In the Enemy's House
by Howard Blum • 2018
An FBI agent and a quiet linguist unraveled the Soviet codes that hid the atomic spies.
4.14
2k+
In the Enemy's House Summary
In the Enemy's House 93%
An FBI agent and a quiet linguist unraveled the Soviet codes that hid the atomic spies.
by Howard Blum 2018
4.14
2k+ ratings
Command and Control
by Eric Schlosser • 2013
One dropped socket in an Arkansas missile silo exposes seventy years of nuclear near-disasters.
4.27
15k+
Command and Control Summary
Command and Control 93%
One dropped socket in an Arkansas missile silo exposes seventy years of nuclear near-disasters.
by Eric Schlosser 2013
4.27
15k+ ratings
The Art of Intelligence
by Henry A. Crumpton • 2012
Recruiting a spy means navigating greed, ideology, and revenge, and why it still beats technology.
3.84
3k+
The Art of Intelligence Summary
The Art of Intelligence 93%
Recruiting a spy means navigating greed, ideology, and revenge, and why it still beats technology.
by Henry A. Crumpton 2012
3.84
3k+ ratings
The Jakarta Method
by Vincent Bevins • 2020
Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.
4.61
18k+
The Jakarta Method Summary
The Jakarta Method 92%
Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.
by Vincent Bevins 2020
4.61
18k+ ratings
Spycatcher
by Peter Wright • 1987
MI5's first scientist built secret listening devices, then spent his career hunting a Soviet mole.
3.73
3k+
Spycatcher Summary
Spycatcher 92%
MI5's first scientist built secret listening devices, then spent his career hunting a Soviet mole.
by Peter Wright 1987
3.73
3k+ ratings
The March of Folly
by Barbara W. Tuchman • 1984
From Troy to Vietnam, power makes governments ignore the warnings right in front of them.
4.03
7k+
The March of Folly Summary
The March of Folly 92%
From Troy to Vietnam, power makes governments ignore the warnings right in front of them.
by Barbara W. Tuchman 1984
4.03
7k+ ratings
Case Closed
by Gerald Posner • 1993
One mail-order rifle, three shots, and the case against conspiracy in the JFK assassination.
4.05
2k+
Case Closed Summary
Case Closed 92%
One mail-order rifle, three shots, and the case against conspiracy in the JFK assassination.
by Gerald Posner 1993
4.05
2k+ ratings
The Yom Kippur War
by 50Minutes • 2016
How a Yom Kippur ambush shattered Israel's myth, drew in superpowers, and led to Camp David.
3.00
3
The Yom Kippur War Summary
The Yom Kippur War 92%
How a Yom Kippur ambush shattered Israel's myth, drew in superpowers, and led to Camp David.
by 50Minutes 2016
3.00
3 ratings
Kill Chain
by Andrew Cockburn • 2015
Precision warfare is a lie. Drone strikes miss, breed enemies, and only the contractors profit.
3.82
804
Kill Chain Summary
Kill Chain 92%
Precision warfare is a lie. Drone strikes miss, breed enemies, and only the contractors profit.
by Andrew Cockburn 2015
3.82
804 ratings
McNamara at War
by Philip Taubman • 2025
By 1965, McNamara's data proved Vietnam unwinnable. Why he kept fighting for three more years.
4.18
528
McNamara at War Summary
McNamara at War 92%
By 1965, McNamara's data proved Vietnam unwinnable. Why he kept fighting for three more years.
by Philip Taubman 2025
4.18
528 ratings
Imperial Hubris
by Michael Scheuer • 2004
Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.
3.81
2k+
Imperial Hubris Summary
Imperial Hubris 92%
Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.
by Michael Scheuer 2004
3.81
2k+ ratings
The Situation Room
by George Stephanopoulos • 2024
Twelve presidents. One basement room. The crises that revealed who they really were.
4.33
11k+
The Situation Room Summary
The Situation Room 92%
Twelve presidents. One basement room. The crises that revealed who they really were.
by George Stephanopoulos 2024
4.33
11k+ ratings
Mossad
by Michael Bar-Zohar • 2010
Audacity and moral compromise: the real missions that built the Mossad legend.
4.19
16k+
Mossad Summary
Mossad 92%
Audacity and moral compromise: the real missions that built the Mossad legend.
by Michael Bar-Zohar 2010
4.19
16k+ ratings
The Master of Disguise
by Antonio J. Mendez • 1999
How the CIA disguise chief spirited 150 agents out of hostile territory without a single loss.
3.85
3k+
The Master of Disguise Summary
The Master of Disguise 92%
How the CIA disguise chief spirited 150 agents out of hostile territory without a single loss.
by Antonio J. Mendez 1999
3.85
3k+ ratings
The Management of Savagery
by Max Blumenthal • 2019
Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.
4.29
807
The Management of Savagery Summary
The Management of Savagery 92%
Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.
by Max Blumenthal 2019
4.29
807 ratings
Follow the Money
by Dan Bongino • 2020
A Cambridge dinner, a monitored phone call, and the trap that felled a national security advisor.
4.36
757
Follow the Money Summary
Follow the Money 92%
A Cambridge dinner, a monitored phone call, and the trap that felled a national security advisor.
by Dan Bongino 2020
4.36
757 ratings
The Spy and the Traitor
by Ben Macintyre • 2018
Soviet golden boy, MI6's greatest mole, and the desperate 1985 escape that saved him.
4.52
91k+
The Spy and the Traitor Summary
The Spy and the Traitor 92%
Soviet golden boy, MI6's greatest mole, and the desperate 1985 escape that saved him.
by Ben Macintyre 2018
4.52
91k+ ratings
Buckley
by Carl T. Bogus • 2011
To build the modern American right, one man had to decide who belonged and who did not.
3.75
151
Buckley Summary
Buckley 92%
To build the modern American right, one man had to decide who belonged and who did not.
by Carl T. Bogus 2011
3.75
151 ratings
The Twilight Struggle
by Hal Brands • 2022
How America's Cold War playbook for long-haul rivalry can be updated for China and Russia.
3.98
248
The Twilight Struggle Summary
The Twilight Struggle 92%
How America's Cold War playbook for long-haul rivalry can be updated for China and Russia.
by Hal Brands 2022
3.98
248 ratings
Overthrow
by Stephen Kinzer • 2006
America has toppled 14 governments since 1893; the reasons it gave were almost never real.
4.18
5k+
Overthrow Summary
Overthrow 92%
America has toppled 14 governments since 1893; the reasons it gave were almost never real.
by Stephen Kinzer 2006
4.18
5k+ ratings
Den of Spies
by Craig Unger • 2024
The Reagan campaign's secret pact with Iran: keep the hostages captive and win the White House.
3.84
264
Den of Spies Summary
Den of Spies 92%
The Reagan campaign's secret pact with Iran: keep the hostages captive and win the White House.
by Craig Unger 2024
3.84
264 ratings
Devil's Game
by Robert Dreyfuss • 2005
The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.
3.99
272
Devil's Game Summary
Devil's Game 92%
The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.
by Robert Dreyfuss 2005
3.99
272 ratings
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