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Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence Hardcover – October 1, 1993

by Abram N. Shulsky (Author), Gary James Schmitt (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence, 3rd Edition
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This revised edition of the classic guide Silent Warfare accounts for recent earth-shaking world events -- the breakup of the Soviet empire, for example -- and for the most recent laws and thinking on the new dimensions of intelligence. It remains the only intelligence primer.

Shulsky and Schmitt, leading intelligence scholars and government experts, write clearly and for the nonexpert in this first comprehensive overview of the elements of intelligence designed for both the students and the general reader. A guide to the principles of collection, analysis, counterintelligence, and covert action and to their interrelationship with policymakers and democratic values, Silent Warfare provides a useful framework for understanding today's altered intelligence world as well as the future. It is an informative book for anyone intrigued by the shadowy world of the spy or concerned with security threats, terrorism, or economic espionage.

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  1. Print length
    285 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Potomac Books Inc
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 1993
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0028810252
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0028810256
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
101 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book informative and well-researched on intelligence. They describe it as a good introduction to the subject, easy to read, and concise. However, opinions differ on the coverage of counterintelligence, with some finding it thorough and others feeling it lacks depth.

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Intelligence contentReadabilityIntelligence
9 customers mention "Intelligence content"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and enjoyable. They say it's well-researched, with useful examples and concepts. The book provides a good introduction to intelligence, with detailed explanations and interesting notes. It makes concepts easier to understand and serves as an excellent textbook for an introductory course.

"...Abram Shulsky and Gary Schmitt have written a excellent book on the world of intelligence...." Read more

"...for the book, you can’t help but think that this book was relatively well researched and its sources go well beyond just newspaper articles...." Read more

"..."Silent Warfare" is the best introduction I have found to the arcane world of intelligence and is an excellent textbook for an introductory course...." Read more

"...the book more interesting to read but to make some of the concepts easier to understand...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They mention it's a short, good read with plenty of examples. The book is concise and written for those who want a good introduction.

"...Easy to read and plenty of examples. Well done." Read more

"...I thought the book was pretty good and very easy to read. In fact, I think I read it during Christmas holiday leave...." Read more

"This was a great book to read for someone who is just starting to get into the Intelligence part of her/his job" Read more

"...historical examples really helped not only to make the book more interesting to read but to make some of the concepts easier to understand...." Read more

4 customers mention "Intelligence"2 positive2 negative

Customers have different views on the book's intelligence coverage. Some find it comprehensive, covering covert action, counterintelligence, double agents, propaganda, and intelligence policies in both communist and democratic regimes. Others feel it lacks depth on counterintelligence, describing it as a flimsy introduction to the topic.

"...You'll learn what official and nonofficial cover means,tradecraft,counterespionage and different ways our government collects intelligence...." Read more

"...“critical” review of the book, which addresses its lack of thoroughness on counterintelligence...." Read more

"...It focuses on intelligence policies, failures, and successes in communist and democratic nations...." Read more

"A flimsy introduction to counter intel......" Read more

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1 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • A Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The World Of Intelligence Explained
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Authors Abram Shulsky and Gary Schmitt have written a excellent book on the world of intelligence. Areas covered---covert action,counter-intelligence,double agents,propaganda and much more. You'll learn what official and nonofficial cover means,tradecraft,counterespionage and different ways our government collects intelligence. There may be other books on this subject, but for me it was a good place to start to learn about the world of intelligence. Easy to read and plenty of examples. Well done.
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  • Lisa Beck
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Counterpunch to a Counterintelligence Critic (and other criticisms)
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased (and actually read) this book quite some time ago (in fact, I find it quite helpful that Amazon lets me know that I purchased this book on November 22, 2008). Because of that, I almost bypassed SILENT WARFARE when I saw it on a reading list (The Redteamer’s Bookshelf, to be specific). But, since I’ve been in the habit of seeing what others have to say about books I HAVEN'T read, I decided to take a look at the reviews for SILENT WARFARE. I was actually surprised to see some of the negative reviews (and perhaps others might be, too … after all, the book does currently have a 4.2 rating out of 5). I thought the book was pretty good and very easy to read. In fact, I think I read it during Christmas holiday leave.

    One reviewer mentioned that there wasn’t much here that you couldn’t get from “following the news.” I’m not quite sure what made the reviewer make that claim. If you just glance at the notes section for the book, you can’t help but think that this book was relatively well researched and its sources go well beyond just newspaper articles. I’ve read some books where practically every footnote or endnote is a reference to some newspaper article. That’s not the case with this book. Sources range from government reports and books written by other experts in the field to articles from industry journals that may or may not require you to buy a subscription (e.g., Studies in Intelligence, International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, …). Some newspaper articles ARE cited. I think I saw one to an article in Foreign Affairs and another to a Washington Post article, but clearly this book isn’t just a compilation of news tidbits that one reader might have you believe. In fact, the notes for this book are some of the most detailed, yet most interesting notes I’ve seen in a book. In fact, I underlined and made notes on many of them.

    My intention is not to make this post a thorough, top to bottom review of the book. It’s received 31 reviews in addition to what blurb may be found on the jacket cover, so I figure someone has probably already “been there, done that.” However, I do want to address another “critical” review of the book, which addresses its lack of thoroughness on counterintelligence. First of all, if you read the cover of the book, you’ll know that this is not a book specifically on counterintelligence. It is a book on intelligence, of which counterintelligence is merely one aspect. I don’t think the author tries to pretend otherwise. Granted, the book doesn’t go into great detail on some sections (its section on codes and ciphers comes to mind), but I do think it gives just enough to pique the interest of readers and whet their appetite for more. As for counterintelligence, specifically, the author does devote an entire chapter to it and I will admit that if you are already working in intelligence or have in the past, some of this will be very basic for you and/or be something you’ve heard repeated over and over again. Classification levels come to mind here and, more specifically, the issue of “overclassification." But even entry-level intelligence practitioners may find it interesting to know that:

    “In recent years, the same issue [overclassification] has surfaced in other countries, particularly Great Britain, where the laws governing the release of governmental information are much stricter than in the United States.” (p. 102)

    Lastly, allow me to point out another aspect of this book that I believe adds to its credibility as a book worthy of purchase for those interested in this topic: the number of editions for it. I haven’t read this anywhere, so I don’t know how valid this line of reasoning is, but it would seem to me that if a book is worthy of a second or third update/revision, there’s a reason for it. An author isn’t going to take the time to update and a publisher isn’t going to spend the money for reprint if a book isn’t selling. SILENT WARFARE, now in its third edition, clearly must be appealing to someone, somewhere … and for a reason.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Retired Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking About Intelligence
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2005
    Verified Purchase
    This book was first published in 1991, but is as current today as it was 14 years ago. This is because the authors have succeeded in conceptualizing intelligence functions and activities in an abstract, but very accurate manner. Although the authors provide a conceptualized view of intelligence, they also provide concrete historical examples to illustrate specific concepts. As a result the reader is given an understanding of intelligence that transcends current trends and practices within the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). The book is an excellent introduction to the discipline of intelligence independent of specific agencies or practices of the IC. For this reason the book should be of interest not only to folks with no background in intelligence, but also to experienced intelligence professionals. One of the biggest obstacles to real intelligence reform in the IC is the inability of reformers to formulate broad concepts of the purposes and functions of intelligence. Reading this book could go a long way in helping them to develop such concepts. As the final chapter of the book suggests, it shows the way to a theory of intelligence.

    "Silent Warfare" is the best introduction I have found to the arcane world of intelligence and is an excellent textbook for an introductory course. However, in a utopian world that course would be taught over a year and in its second semester students would read another excellent intelligence text, "Intelligence From Secrets to Policy" by Mark Lowenthal, which moves from the abstract to general, but specific practices and operations of the U.S. IC. The two books compliment each other very well.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Arianna Beard
    5.0 out of 5 stars IT
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great book to read for someone who is just starting to get into the Intelligence part of her/his job
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  • Andrew
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I am in the process of getting my feet wet in counter-terrorism/counter-intelligence and this has helpped me out greatly in the base knowledge of what I need to know
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  • Ryan Lesniewski
    4.0 out of 5 stars Solid introduction into the world of intelligence
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    I would say that this book would be a good first read for anyone interested in learning more about the intelligence community. It covers a wide variety of information without getting to in-depth into any one subject, so it feels like a pretty well-rounded experience. I also felt that the use of some historical examples really helped not only to make the book more interesting to read but to make some of the concepts easier to understand.

    My biggest problem with this book is that at points it reads like a college textbook, which isn't always a particularly good thing. I also found some of the sections that talked about the relations between policy and intelligence to be pretty dull. Overall this book is a pretty informative and a mostly enjoyable read.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Husband, Dad, Nerd
    5.0 out of 5 stars great government "dictionary"
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    great book a must have if you want to work in/for the govermnent
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  • Sanindu Fonseka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Very nice and fast
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Alison Pentecost
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough
    Reviewed in Canada on May 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very comprehensive and didn’t hesitate to define terms. Although organized like a textbook it uses many interesting real world examples to keep it from feeling dry. I would recommend it to students of the social sciences, history and espionage.
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  • Antti Juhani Ylikoski
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intro to the world of intelligence
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The book was recommended to me over the Internet. The book is a highly matter of fact and businesslike intro to a world which officially does not exist.
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  • MG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    no problems
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  • Matthew R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    good
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  • Daniel Greer
    3.0 out of 5 stars This is a good book for academic classes on the subject and provides ...
    Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a good book for academic classes on the subject and provides solid overview with good examples. Although it's revised and updated, I feel like it need more recent content added to it.
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