Customer Reviews

International Spy Museum's Handbook of Practical Spying

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At first glance, this compact black, white, and red paperback looks like it could be another gimmicky book along the lines of the later Worst Case Scenario books. Delving beneath the surface, however, the reader will discover some useful information about how to act like a spy (act like you belong, behave purposefully, blend in, develop your assessment skills, trust your instinct and analyze later, and more), how to improve your memory and become more observant, how to ingratiate strangers, how to maneuver in a danger zone, anti-theft measures, and so on. You don't have to want to be a cloak-and-dagger/trenchcoat spy to use this book to glean some useful tips about human behavior and getting the information you want from others.

The Practical Handbook of Spying is a short, simple book on some basic techniques of intelligence work. It's not a comprehensive manual; instead it covers areas useful to the general reader.

It's written in an easy, mildly amusing manner similar to the `Dummies' series of books. I originally wasn't impressed and almost sent it back, but after re-reading it a month later, I saw that there were nuggets of good information hidden under the superficial layer of humor. The book's introduction by former CIA agent Peter Earnest is excellent.

Another good thing; because it's only 184 small pages, there isn't as much padding and verbiage as in other books.

This isn't a CIA agent's manual, but perhaps the book a CIA agent would give someone interested in the subject. Useful for all ages.

The book is enjoyable and takes a light-hearted approach, often playing on the average person's perception of spies. This means a lot of references to James Bond and gadgetry. However the real content of the book is based in some beginning human intelligence skills, like improving your memory, being more aware of your surroundings and danger, and profiling people and their temperments.

I found most useful the discussion on using the Myers-Briggs personality test as a basis for profiling people and trying to predict their behaviors. Also intriguing was the section on Dale Carnegie as a "master spymaster" because he understood how to influence people; a nice connection made by the author, going to the core of how espionage is mostly based on human interaction and not gadgetry.

While some of these basics were worthwhile, I was distracted and disappointed with the constant effort to loop everything back to James Bond. The book really assumes the reader knows nothing more about espionage than watching Bond films, and it tries to be funny by talking about using "that James Bond charm" or "Q's gadgets" to get out of sticky situations. The effort to lighten the mood was mishandled because as much as the author tries to be funny he is just not a comedy writer and his jokes are lame.

I would regard this book as light on content and more of an entertainment book. It does have a few basic tips that are insightful.

I loved this book. It was entertaining and informative. The book is as smart as it is good looking. There isn't too much information, but the right amount to go on. Improving your spy skills improves your general life skills.

This is a fun outsider's guide to espionage. The text is accessible enough for readers as young as early teens. Artwork complements the text nicely.

Good:
-Casual treatment of real espionage subject matter
-Writing is a very easy read
-Anecdotes and historic figures and incidents
-Direct quotes from spies and related personnel
-Material attempts to relate spy skills to everyday life, travel, etc.

Bad:
-Could have been a little more in-depth
-Some treatment of the subject was a little silly

Reading this book will not, obviously, prepare one for work as a spy. It does pull back the curtain on an interesting field and makes some of the techniques applicable to non-spy activities.

This book would make a good gift for anyone (from young teens to adults) having an interest in the subject, or perhaps as a light (!) introduction for those curious about what espionage or intelligence as a career might entail.

I use the concepts in this book every day. As a spy, it is imperative to remember the ideas presented in this book for recruiting, questioning, and handling agents and spying on others in general. And if you are not a spy, this book is great for assessing situations, acting on your instincts, and getting into the VIP section of that awesome restaurant so you won't be stuck in the rain waiting for that girl who stood you up.

Originally saw this title advertised at the International Spy Museum's website. With an intro written by a former CIA case officer and the director of the museum (located in DC), it claimed to offer instructions in real espionage techniques and how to apply them to every day situations. It had gotten at least one strong reader review, and it was cheap, so I bought it. The result...A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!!!

If you are a spy novel reader/espionage aficionado, you will find the book's appearance and tone both hokey and hackneyed. Worse yet, it is so busy sticking its tongue into its cheek that it virtually fails to deliver on how to use cloak and dagger tactics in the real world.

Instead, it limply tries to tie together information useful only if you found yourself on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago, with a dash real spy story snippets (ala Robert Hanssen). Mixed in for good measure is also some decent spy jargon.

It seems to me this book's target audience would be fairly hard-core spy novel readers and the whole cloak and dagger set. Presented in this format, this books offers them little in the way of new information and worse still---does so in a style that I think insults the average Bondophile/spy craft aficionado by talking down to them and making them feel like a Trekkie.

If you are really into the whole spy vs. spy thing, look elsewhere to get your fix. Because for me this book, while real cheap, isn't even worth .007 cents.

The books I ordered from Amazon were very helpful and wonderful resources for the espionage unit I am doing in my classroom. This book came in handy before I did the unit because it gave me some background information.

I hear the Spy Museum in DC is great, and this is the book they have available. Fun little read for spy book enthusiasts. Great price and condition through Amazon.

Ok, i bought this book, mearly on the fact that i like spys, wether it's 007's James Bond, Burn Notice's Micheal Weston, or little know video game spys, and i have to say, it's a nice little book thats better if it's not taken too seriously. The book does offer some helpful tips on how to use spy like tactics in real, everyday life, such as someone stealing the last drink or snack from the fridge, or a neighbor stealing your paper. although it's kinda short, it's still a nice book to flip through when you're bored or need some spy help, i got mine last year and i still read through it, so if you would like to know some helpful spy tips, or are looking for an enjoyable book, pick this up