Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner

Weiner describes the history of the Central Intelligence Agency from its start during World War II to 9/11/2001. While it may not be as entertaining as an Ian Fleming or Robert Ludlum spy novel, it nonetheless is an interesting read.

What strikes this reader throughout the book is how poorly the roles and responsibilities of the CIA are. It is no wonder that the results of the Agency are mixed, at best.

Weiner describes, in detail, a number of different operations the CIA has been involved. Those stories make compelling reading, particularly the descriptions and actions of the characters involved.

It's not a short read (over 448 pages). If you are into our history of "spooks and spies," you will enjoy this book.

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