Customer Reviews

Hidden Secrets: The Complete History of Espionage and the Technology Used to Support It

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I am extremely disappointed in this book. I was expecting something very thorough and in-depth, given the subtitle "a complete history." Instead, this is a slim volume written at about the level of complexity you'd expect from one of those Reader's Digest compilations. There are tons and tons and tons of pictures and varying typefaces, as if the editors were desperate to give people something to look at besides the words; as a result, the pages are so cluttered as to not make for easy reading or easy picture viewing. This book can be considered complete in its breadth, which is considerable, but not in its depth, which is at about the level of a high-school reader. I almost expected discussion questions at the end of each chapter. There are some very engaging anecdotes -- but I had read the majority of them elsewhere before. In short, there's nothing here that you can't find presented with more clarity elsewhere. I regret the purchase and will be taking this to a used bookshop to at least try and get some value on trade-in.

Other titles have provided a history of espionage or specific agents: Hidden Secrets combines a focus on the changing technologies used to support espionage, examining the real world of the spy and using color illustrations, photos, and abundant side-bars of information to explain differences between historical and modern spying. Absorbing and revealing.

Hidden secrets is not the type of book that one will study for hours upon hours however, it is most likely one of the most interesting books that I have read in the past year or so. Hidden Secrets is a brief overview of all areas of espionage, from electronic surveillance, to deception campaigns. Especially fun are the short case studies presented. This book can be read quickly and is most definitely for somebody seeking enjoyment of their time and not for espionage study.

If you desire a short, fun read for a boring event such as a long plane ride haul along Hidden secrets.

This is a complete history - definitely - it has a series of 46 case studies throughout history from the Cold war and Lockerbie to Queen Elizabeth I and the Babbington plot, as well as Osama Bin Laden.

It is lavishly illustrated with great graphics and photos well laid out for maximum effect.

Given that there are whole books published on most of these cases it is Naive to believe that one book can provide indepth information on each case. However what really sets this book apart is that each case (from my knowledge) is accurately discussed and the nature of the espionage - its concealment and its being revealed is discussed in context. This gives a really interesting historical perspective on the use of espionage techniques and their discovery over time.

I really enjoyed this book and would gladly recommend it to others. I also think it is a great book for teens - an excellent introduction to some extraodinary cases through history.