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A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career Revelatory and groundbreaking, The Art of Intelligence will change the way people view the CIA, American intelligence, and international terrorism. Henry A. “Hank” Crumpton, a twenty-four-year veteran of the CIA’s Clandestine Service, offers a thrilling account that delivers profound lessons about what it means to serve as an honorable spy. From CIA recruiting missions in Africa to pioneering new programs like the UAV Predator, from running post–9/11 missions in Afghanistan to heading up all clandestine CIA operations in the United States, Crumpton chronicles his role—in the battlefield and in the Oval Office—in transforming the way America wages war.
Anonymous
Posted May 16, 2012
Not a memoir, per se, but an educational and often entertaining study of CIA intelligence tradecraft. Crumpton addresses why people spy and how the CIA case officer does it, illustrated with stories from his career and those of others. This is a real insider's perspective and a fast read.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 22, 2012
The author Crumpton packs the book with his own bragging over his status as being a top-secret agent and the authority given to him for this...to an extent that I was tired of reading further. If he wants to be really secret, he should not have written any book on this subject. I cannot recommend this book to anyone who hates to hear someone bragging about him- or herself.
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Dugi
Posted May 21, 2012
I was expecting more out of this book, especially after seeing Hank Crumpton interviewed on "60 Minutes". However, it's rather poorly written and frankly, not that interesting.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mrs_Y
Posted July 29, 2012
Considering I am a layperson, I was thrilled to see Mr. Crumpton also started his career in a nonlinear way. The book is interesting to read, filled with bits of life and action. It has also given me a much deeper view into the life of a patriot. I understand now, more fully the function of the CIA compared to the FBI. It has motivated me to search out and read other documents written by Intelligence. Now when I pick up the newspaper, I understand more fully the implications where the CIA is mentioned. A must read for the intelligent citizen of the USA!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AlamoGary
Posted July 8, 2012
Crumpton describes many of the day to day activities of a unilateral case officer. I thought that his continual use of 'operations officer' when referring to himself was a little overblown as all case officers perform operational tasks. If you're looking for an exciting adventure story, stay away. If you want an inside look at how clandestine intelligence (and counter intelligence) works, this is a great read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.bibliophileTR
Posted June 14, 2012
excellent comparison of the CIA with investigative arms of state, local, and federal agencies. Very excellent personnel working for the CIA. Anyone doubting the need for the CIA should read this book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 18, 2013
Been too busy to read it but it looks good on the bookshelf with all of the other unread books. it was actually a gift for my son who is thinking about FBI/CIA after the Air Force.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 23, 2012
Many interesting insights into the author's career which gave me a
better understanding of the CIA. Maybe some of our gifted politicians
should read and understand what people like Hank Crumpton do on a
day-to-day basis that keep our country safe.
Anonymous
Posted July 21, 2012
Well written and informative. Difficult to put down.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 6, 2012
This book is incredible. The action never stops. You also get a great look inside the world of the CIA, which doesn't happen very often. It's very realistic as well, and after reading this I get more of a feel for the War on Terror and the people and struggles involved. The timeline through out the book is a bit odd but not too hard to follow. It's very fast paced and I couldn't put it down. It's definitely a must-read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.fatbac1k
Posted June 21, 2012
The service being selective can not be political. The book as written gives the situations and the effect of politics on an orginisation that can not be political and still protect the country.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MSMI6
Posted June 20, 2012
I thought this one going to be more like "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney, which I have probably reread (at least portions of) 100 times. Unfortunately this book is nothing like that and has been kind of dull. In earnest I have to say that I have not finished reading it, but I think that says more about the book then anything else, as I usually finish a novel in just a few hours, and I have had this book for over a month.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 19, 2012
After reading several chapters I find it a struggle to keep reading! I end each chapter with more questions than answers!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.murycki
Posted June 16, 2012
I didn't know that the CIA was all about information gathering and making assumptions on what is going to happen. Crumpton does a great job within the realm of constraints to explain what he did as an operative for the CIA.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 14, 2012
This is a well written, inside view of the CIA service from an insider's point of view. I could not put it down. Highly recommend it for some great non-fiction reading
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SgtMac
Posted June 13, 2012
This American hero who was in the mix or lead in every major scenario in our war with AQ. He is a brilliant man with a willingness to share his life with us. His depth of knowledge and intelligence jumps off the page at every turn as we read of his successful life and career.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2012
Very disappointing, boring and not worth the money.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 12, 2012
Brilliant, fascinating and insightful. Crumpton writes like a master spy because he is one. There is not an ounce of fat in this book; it is a muscular account by a consummate insider. A must read for an entire spectrum of people, from the marginally curious about the life of a Clandestine Service officer to policy wonks who desperately need Crumpton's perspective on the role and potential of intelligence. Just as the author was the tip-of-the-spear in the opening shots of the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan right after 9/11, he plays the same leadership role in bringing his unique perspective in easy-to-read language.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2012
One of the most honorable things for an officer in such a profession should be to be "clandestine"...the mere fact that this book exists puts into question the motivations behind the author...
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2012
A waste of time & paper or file space. I gave it one star only because I could go no lower!
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career Revelatory and groundbreaking, The Art of Intelligence will change the way people view the CIA, American intelligence, and international terrorism. Henry A. “Hank” Crumpton, a twenty-four-year veteran of the CIA’s Clandestine Service, offers a thrilling account that delivers profound lessons about what it means to serve as an honorable spy. From CIA recruiting missions in Africa to pioneering ...