Inside CIA's Private World: Declassified Articles from the Agency`s Internal Journal, 1955-1992 [Paperback]

Professor H. Bradford Westerfield (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 1995

Since the 1950s the Central Intelligence Agency has published an in-house journal, "Studies in Intelligence", for CIA eyes only. Now the agency has declassified much of this material. This book, which presents the most interesting articles from the journal, provides revealing insights into CIA strategies and into events in which the organization was involved. The articles were selected by H. Bradford Westerfield, who teaches courses on intelligence operations but has never been affiliated with the CIA. Westerfield's introduction sketches the history and structure of the CIA, sets the articles in context, and explains his criteria for selecting them. The articles cover a wide range of intelligence activities, including: the gathering of intelligence data inside the United States; analysis of data; interaction between analysts and policymakers; the development of economic intelligence targeted at friendly countries as well as at foes; use of double agents (the personal memoir of a CIA officer who pretended to the Russians to be their agent); evaluation of defectors (the Nosenko case); and coercive interrogation techniques and how agents can resist them.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 32 essays originally written for the Central Intelligence Agency's internal journal, Studies in Intelligence, authors, most of whom are CIA agents, talk shop. These recently declassified articles, written between 1955 and 1992, provide an offbeat internal history of CIA operations. Some delve into arcane areas of tradecraft, and could be considered essential reading for historians as well as spy buffs: CIA operatives detail secret operations, offer practical how-to advice, and critique themselves and their work.

From Publishers Weekly

This collection of recently declassified articles from CIA's in-house journal, Studies in Intelligence, encompasses methods of intelligence gathering, analysis of data, interaction between analysts and policy-makers and the craft of photo interpretation. Although aimed at specialists, some of the essays will be of interest to lay readers: a case study of how analysts and operatives worked as a backup team with U.S. negotiators at an international economic conference; an examination of the friction between CIA and the State Department and how it has hindered U.S. intelligence; a psychologist's discussion of defectors' common personality profiles ("Psychology of Treason"); a manual on how to resist counterintelligence interrogation; and "The Case of Major X," which describes the author's experiences as a double agent. Westerfield is a political science professor at Yale. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (August 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300072643
• ISBN-13: 978-0300072648
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Look Inside and Well Worth It, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Inside CIA's Private World: Declassified Articles from the Agency`s Internal Journal, 1955-1992 (Paperback)

One of my more enjoyable moments while working at the Defense Intelligence Agency was reading the latest issue of the CIA's "Studies in Intelligence". Not only are the stories enjoyable and obviously intruiging, they are historic and add an additional "eye" into the inner-workings of CIA Ops, Tech and Intel Analysis.

You know, it wasn't that long ago that the mere title, "Studies in Intelligence" was classified Secret... This should give you a little indication of the kind of information that's inside. A great enjoyable read by the campfire.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Best of the Best" from CIA Insider Think Pieces, December 18, 2000

By 

Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Inside CIA's Private World: Declassified Articles from the Agency`s Internal Journal, 1955-1992 (Hardcover)

Brad, a respected scholar in his own right, was given unique access to all past publications of the CIA's internal journal, Studies in Intelligence, and has produced an absolutely lovely collection of the best thoughts inside CIA from 1955-1992, organized into sections for imagery intelligence collection, overt human intelligence collection, clandestine human intelligence collection, human intelligence and its consumers, the analysis function, analysis and its consumers, and counterespionage. I regard this book as an essential supplementary reading for teaching both students and practitioners.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No secrets, but a little window into how the agency operates, August 11, 2002

By 

Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside CIA's Private World: Declassified Articles from the Agency`s Internal Journal, 1955-1992 (Hardcover)

This Yale University Press publication is an insiders scorecard on how to collect information. Techniques for clandestine human intelligence gathering are reviewed in detail. The text even explores how internal CIA squabbling hurts U.S. intelligence gathering. The declassified articles from the agency's internal journal from 1955-1992 is mostly insider shop talk. My favorite chapter is VII, Counterespionage. Section eight of chapter three, psychology of treason is an ice-cold analysis.