The Craft of Intelligence, Allen W. Dulles
The Craft of Intelligence, Allen W. Dulles
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The Craft of Intelligence
America's Legendary Spy Master on the Fundamentals of Intelligence Gathering for a Free World

Author: Allen W. Dulles

Narrator: L.J. Ganser

Unabridged: 11 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/28/2017

Synopsis

If the experts could point to any single book as a starting point for understanding the subject of intelligence from the late twentieth century to today, that single book would be Allen W. Dulles's The Craft of Intelligence. This classic of spycraft is based on Allen Dulles's incomparable experience as a diplomat, international lawyer, and America's premier intelligence officer. Dulles was a high-ranking officer of the CIA's predecessor—the Office of Strategic Services—and was present at the inception of the CIA, where he served eight of his ten years there as director. Here he sums up what he learned about intelligence from nearly a half-century of experience in foreign affairs.

In World War II his OSS agents penetrated the German Foreign Office, worked with the anti-Nazi underground resistance, and established contacts that brought about the Nazi military surrender in North Italy. Under his direction the CIA developed both a dedicated corps of specialists and a whole range of new intelligence devices, from the U-2 high-altitude photographic plane to minute electronic listening and transmitting equipment.

About Allen W. Dulles

Allen W. Dulles, one of the most important figures in the history of American intelligence, served under eight US presidents, from Woodrow Wilson to John F. Kennedy. He served presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1953 to 1961. When he died in 1969, President Nixon remarked, ". . . in the nature of his task, his achievements were known to only a few."

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jean on December 14, 2017

This book was more interesting than I thought it would be. Allen said he grew up discussing foreign affairs at the dinner table thus his life long interest. It is amazing that his family produced three Secretary of State: John W. Foster (1836-1917) who served as Secretary of State to President Benja......more

Goodreads review by G.T. on June 27, 2012

Yawn-O-Rama. The writing is real-l-l-l-y dull, because spying isn't actually all that exciting, and Allen Dulles is a crashing bore. I made myself read this as pure research, figuring if I'm going to write spy novels I'd better have taken in the real stuff. It's a good look into the short-sighted, s......more

Goodreads review by Bruce T Ridinger on December 03, 2018

The federal government only names a distinctive Washington, DC airport honoring a person of significant public service and historical importance. This has been the case indeed with the likes of Allen W. Dulles. A special person had to help guide a young and rather naïve American government into the......more

Goodreads review by Joseph on April 25, 2023

While some of the material included in this book is dated, it still made for a good read. We learn about some of the most audacious espionage cases from the early 20th century. We also learn about the basic tradecraft used by the CIA. The author worked in the intelligence field under eight different......more

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