Customer Reviews

Spies, Inc.: Business Innovation from Israel's Masters of Espionage

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

 

 

If ever a book screamed for an editor with a big red pen, this is it. Look up prolix, this is what you'll find pictured. It may also be the most redundantly written book I have ever read -- there are essentially three or four points, and they are repeated with small variation several times a paragraph, a page, a chapter -- AAAARGGHHH! Never elaborated, never intensively critiqued, never actually contrasted to how it's done elsewhere -- just restated with a big handful of superlative modifiers.

BUT - I'm about to finish the darn book, and have persisted because there are a number of great, if undeveloped, anecdotes and people, some of them brand new to me, although many are drawn from other books. These tidbits are to the text like raisins are to bran cereal: the only things that make it digestible.

This book reads as if it were written as a "puff piece" by the internal public relations department of the groups covered in the book. The writing style is way over the top melodramatic and would be embarrassing for a real journalist or serious historian. It is an unsophisticated portrayal of "Unit 8200" and other parts of Israeli intelligence and how certain high tech businesses spun off via members of Unit 8200. There are the nuggets of the book that could've been written and if you can get past the unsophisticated, melodramatic, and cheerleading prose then this book might interest you.

I mistakenly thought that this was a book on business, after all it was in the business section at the book store. So I was surprised that what we really get from this author is a real life espionage tail. This book starts off fast and just does not slow down. Equal parts of the credit for the exciting pace of the book must go to the author as well as the audacious story. The book details how the nation of Israel views part of its survival the health of it's economy. Not a terribly original thought, but what they do to make sure it has every edge possible is what makes them and this book stand out.

The book details a number of James Bond like tails of daring deeds that make the reader want to shout "right on" and secretly wish that our government take a few lessons. So this is how a competent spy agency goes about stealing industrial secrets. The book does briefly touch on some of the business aspects, but at its heart this is n espionage book and a darn good one at that. Overall I really enjoyed the book. It was top notch reporting as well as a good job with the writing. If you are interested in Israel, espionage or just how they seem to have so many technological superior products, then pick this book up now.

How is it that the State of Israel, a tiny nation of a few million, surrounded -- and infiltrated -- by declared enemies, does not just survive, but thrive? How does she stay safe in such a vaporous region?

This book uniquely answers these perplexing questions with a fascinating exploration of Unit 8200, an elite, secret Israeli espionage team that operates more like a university think tank, than a crew of James Bonds. These are the thinking man's spies, and it is remarkable to read Stacy Perman's account of their inventiveness.

Don't be fooled by the marketing. This is a not a self-help book per se -- although there is much to learn from Israeli ingenuity. Spies Inc. is a great work of long-form journalism on a tough topic. Not just that, but it's a great read -- like a good spy book.

In fairness, I most note that Ms. Perman is a friend of this reviewer. But that does not diminish her accomplishment. Spies Inc. deserves commendation, and reading it helped shape my newfound appreciation of Israel and why we, as Americans, should be inordinately proud to count the nation among our global allies.

Recommend for anyone interested in a better understanding of the education (selective)and the successfull in Israel (a small country with many successful in the technology)...

To read... two o three times.... :) I'm in the second.... :-)

Veteran business reporter Stacy Perman tells the story of how top-secret members of the Israeli intelligence agency go on to use their expertise at some of Israel's most interesting high-tech start-ups.

The stories read more like a literary spy novel than a business case study - something that helps readers new to the subject keep turning the pages. With the Mid East playing such a crucial role in contemporary international relations, Perman's book sheds light on an important aspect of the Israeli military and its offshoots.

I recommend this for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of international affairs in the Mid East or of business and innovation. 5 stars!!

There could not be a better time to read this book. As our attention has been turned to the Middle East, no matter what your political beliefs, you can see how Israel's actions can be considered lessons that apply to the business world. Far more interesting than a traditional how-to business book, these lessons are equally important and presented in a more pertinent fashion. As a small business consultant, I have recommended this book to several of my clients who face stiff competition in industries with many ruthless competitors. This book proves that by staying smart, small businesses can have big success.

Stacy Perman is one of a rare breed: a great writer, but even better, a great storyteller. She makes the world of Israeli espionage interesting, engaging and relevant, even to this would-be cynic. The jacket says this is her first book, but I can't quite believe that. She has the investigative instincts of a seasoned entrepreneurial journalist coupled with an easy-to-understand writing style that makes this somewhat esoteric subject matter understandable. Can't wait for the second book!

This is what this book is really about. No business, almost no innovation and lots and lots of exaggerations, single-sided stories, melodrama and repetition and repetition and repetition...

Some very small parts are interesting but just not enough!