Customer Reviews

Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Of the all the books I have read on the Israeli intelligence services this one is by far the worst. Where to begin, lets start with the writing, its bad. The author has a tendency to start making a point and then meandering off for two pages before returning to his original point, its hard to believe this guy writes for a living. Lets turn to content, how do you write a CREDIBLE non-fiction book without footnotes? None of the events described in this book are sourced, except for the author's vague assurances that they were based on his extensive interviews. Give me a break! Any first year college student would get an F if he/she submitted a paper sourced like this book is. The book's cause is not helped by the fact that known fabricators such as Arie Ben-Menashe are quoted at length. The fables Ben-Menashe spins are presented as fact in this book, for sure that spells trouble. The most egregious error in this book, though, comes about when the author describes the 1972 take-over of the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. The reader is treated to an account where Israeli leaders agonize over their options thinking back to the Raid on Entebbe as one possible solution that is ultimately disregarded. Of course the raid on Entebbe took place in 1976 FOUR YEARS IN THE FUTURE. The Israelis are good, but time travel, please. What this means is the events the author described were made-up, FICTIONAlIZED, as is much of the rest of this book. In short this book is JUNK, there is no way for the serious reader to discern what is factual from what is fiction. Much better books on the topic have been written, Every Spy a Prince by Raaviv and Melmen and Israel's Secret Wars by Black to name two. If you must read Gideon's Spies go to the library, dont waste your money on this dog!

This book is great fun, bursting with supposed revelations about things we thought we'd already heard the definitive revelations about. Most of them come from former Mossad men who make all sorts of claims - that the Mossad killed Yitzhak Rabin, that Israel benefitted more than one might expect from Kennedy's assassination, that Princess Di's driver was about to become a Mossad informer. Some of Israel's most famous spy exploits, like Entebbe, the Eichmann kidnapping and the theft of a Mig from Iraq, are given a new slant suggesting that all previous accounts are incomplete and misleading. But I do wonder... considering the book talks a lot about the Mossad's misinformation department, which spends its time planting stories to mislead the public about Mossad activities, and considering that the author talked to a lot of Mossad people... aren't these new stories merely the Mossad's current version of reality, designed to obscure an even more bizarre series of truths? I hope so, it makes it all so much more fun. A great read for some insight about how the spy trade works, but take the precise details with a pillar of salt.

Mr. Gordon makes many shocking claims in this book. The Mossad supposedly knew that a truck bomb was going to be used against the marines in Lebanon, but didn't tell them. The Israeli Prime Minister (Shamir) supposedly gave Pollard's spy material to the Russians because he hated America. The Mossad supposedly didn't lift a finger to save William Buckley, who was tortured and killed in Lebanon. The famous Mr. Maxwell, who looted his employee's pension funds, supposedly gave those funds to the Mossad. I admit, I don't want to believe this stuff, but if the evidence was better, I would swallow hard and believe it. Its not enough to rely on an occassional disaffected spy like Ostrovsky. Lots of allegations in this book could be true, but on the other hand, they could be false.

Although Thomas has the information to make a great book, he is plagued with some false information that makes his book less convincing. Try Victor Ostrovsky's books, they are better written and more accurate. Or if you are looking for an excellent but longer book, try Israel's Secret Wars. Overall, an okay read, but it lacks the extra stuff to make it beleivable and good.

The book is cool. It tells about how the work really goes in Mossad. How they think and act. Some good and entertaining examples are included.

This book is fantastic and makes the reader know all the truth and how is the israeli mossad works.

If you are raising children and paying taxes in America today, and if you care about those children, and if you are concerned about America, then Gideon's Spies is an absolute requirement. Gordon Thomas painstakingly proves how the system works, and you need to know.

Good insight into the Israeli Mossad. Stories that are quick and to the point. Another GOOD JOB for Gordon Thomas.

This book will blow anyone away, who is interested in the Mossad. The stories that are listed within, could have come straight out of a James Bond novel. Which is also a little bit of a drawback. I would look at this book with a somewhat weary as for their historical accuracy. However, if you want a good bedtime book, this is not one of them. It will keep you up all night.

THE REVELATIONS MADE IN THIS BOOK ARE UNBELIEVABLE. A MUST REA