The Secret World

My line of work has only enhanced my fascination with spies and spying. Espionage was on the periphery of my world and I was privy, on occasion, to snippets of information that shed light on certain events. Reading this book was like being privy to a host of secrets, many during my own era. How fascinating to be taken through the history of espionage from biblical times until today. The author reveals missing pieces to many significant moments in history, where monumental decisions were made based on information bought and sold, died for, killed for, stolen, or extracted by torture… show more.

This book, by one of the most recognizable names in intelligence studies, is a journey through thousands of years of intelligence history that is both an enjoyable read and a valuable reference. Christopher Andrew’s ability to provide a history of intelligence across centuries and continents is an impressive feat that provides the reader a solid appreciation of the purpose of intelligence and how it has evolved throughout history. This is a fantastic book for anyone looking for a foundational history of intelligence!

This book is written by the best intelligence historian of our times, former Official Historian of the British Security Service (MI5), professor of Cambridge University and founder of Cambridge Intelligence Seminar. It is an intelligence history bible which is a must read for everyone interested in this complex subject, for all scholars, intelligence professionals and students of intelligence. It is also wonderfully written and reliable in most cases.