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The Puzzle Palace: Inside the National Security Agency, America's Most Secret Intelligence Organization Paperback – September 29, 1983

by James Bamford (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 327 ratings
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In this remarkable tour de force of investigative reporting, James Bamford exposes the inner workings of America's largest, most secretive, and arguably most intrusive intelligence agency. The NSA has long eluded public scrutiny, but The Puzzle Palace penetrates its vast network of power and unmasks the people who control it, often with shocking disregard for the law. With detailed information on the NSA's secret role in the Korean Airlines disaster, Iran-Contra, the first Gulf War, and other major world events of the 80s and 90s, this is a brilliant account of the use and abuse of technological espionage.
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  1. Print length
    656 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Publishing Group
  4. Publication date
    September 29, 1983
  5. Dimensions
    7.76 x 5.08 x 1.32 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140067485
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140067484
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
327 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and interesting about the history of the National Security Agency. They describe it as readable, well-written, and clear. The details are detailed and packed with specifics. However, some readers feel the pacing is slow and frustrating. Opinions differ on whether the content is outdated or still relevant today.

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Information qualityDetailReadabilityInterestDated contentPacingPace
20 customers mention "Information quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and fascinating. They say it's an excellent introduction to the history and background of the National Security Agency. The book provides great inspiration and knowledge about US intelligence capabilities, successes, and failures. Readers appreciate the insight into the dirty dealings of the world's most secretive organization.

"Very interesting and informative" Read more

"...If you can wade through the names and dates, it is an interesting read...." Read more

"...an interesting beginning book about the history and background of the National Security Agency, especially in light of the very damaging leak about..." Read more

"...events of the 80s and 90s, this is a brilliant account of the use and abuse of technological espionage"...." Read more

10 customers mention "Detail"7 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detail and clarity. They find it detailed yet readable, with specifics.

"...but nonfiction narratives have changed as well. This book is crammed with specifics but it reads like a textbook, which is about the way most..." Read more

"...came out decades ago and was extremely impressed by the Bamford's thoroughness and clarity...." Read more

"Accurate. Detailed. Puzzle Palace...." Read more

"A lot of detail...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and interesting. They appreciate the author's thoroughness and clarity.

"...Older volume but scope remains suitable. Must read item." Read more

"...I found it easy to read with details and a page turner. As good as “The Billion Dollar Spy”." Read more

"A good read, but it shines a light on a organization that has no limits . That is a concept that is counter to good government...." Read more

"Well written and hard to put down. I knew about this book for years and finally sat down to read it...." Read more

4 customers mention "Interest"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it interesting, with good human interest stories and historical mystery about the NSA.

"...The history is pretty interesting." Read more

"...some good human interest stories inside." Read more

"Fascinating history of this agency, but the details won't put you to sleep. I learned more than I had expected to." Read more

"Amazing Detail And Historical Mystery Of NSA..." Read more

8 customers mention "Dated content"4 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the book's dated content. Some find it relevant today and fascinating, while others mention it's a bit outdated.

"...a former military member and SIGINT operator, the history this book supplies is fascinating. It answered a lot of questions for me...." Read more

"...Because it's dated, and dry, I wouldn't recommend this book to casual readers...." Read more

"This is an old book, but I wanted a hard copy for my library. You've got to read his latest - current book - SPY FAIL!" Read more

"...The only problem is that this book is a bit dated, so it's hard to know how similar the early '80s Puzzle Palace compares with that of the early..." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slow and frustrating. They describe the history as boring and outdated.

"...Instead of a gripping exposé, it becomes a slog, testing the reader's patience with its plodding tempo...." Read more

"...You probably should never buy or read this. Stay dim, stay daft, stay dumb." Read more

"stopped reading after a chapter. Found it to be slow and boring" Read more

"For academic use only. A dull history, devoid of any human interest. Better to check it out from a library than to buy." Read more

3 customers mention "Pace"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pace slow.

"...This is not a John le Carre thriller; it does move slowly. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have its usefulness...." Read more

"...insights into the inner workings of the NSA, its sluggish pace diminishes its overall impact, leaving readers more exasperated than enlightened." Read more

"stopped reading after a chapter. Found it to be slow and boring" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • R. E. Roper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate. Detailed. Puzzle Palace.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    De facto standard for referencing these activities. Older volume but scope remains suitable. Must read item.
    One person found this helpful
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  • EB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Too bad it's so dated...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    "The Puzzle Palace" probably would have been a five star book back when it was published in 1982, a book that might have rattled a few cages and opened many eyes to what was then a secret organization.

    Since then, not only has the world of spydom changed (or at least I hope it has!!!), but nonfiction narratives have changed as well. This book is crammed with specifics but it reads like a textbook, which is about the way most nonfiction was written forty years ago. These days we expect and appreciate an easier reading experience--one that blends interesting narrative with otherwise dry facts.

    Because it's dated, and dry, I wouldn't recommend this book to casual readers. If you're intrigued by the ins and outs of intelligence gathering and distribution, this book will provide some insight into how it's been done in the past. And when taken in this way, the book helped me understand how faulty our intelligence systems have been and how good they've been--at the same time.

    But the book is probably going to be of most value to those interested in the history of secret agencies, the National Security Agency (NSA) in particular. Who ran the agency when, what types of intelligence they were gathering, how they distributed secret information across vast distances, which scandals most rocked the NSA's world, and how the agency became less secret are all covered.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Darlene Patrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting and informative
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  • Donna Bittinger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Worked here. Good book
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  • Som
    3.0 out of 5 stars Bamford spent a ton of time trying to show how smart he was vs
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I found some of the "facts" were not on the money. Bamford spent a ton of time trying to show how smart he was vs. writing the book.
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  • Monty Vierra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important Background to the Snowden Leaks
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Some reviewers have expressed dissatisfaction with the sometimes ponderous way the book moves, and some have complained that the book is out of date. This is not a John le Carre thriller; it does move slowly. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have its usefulness. And it is right up there with today's headlines. Reading this book can help people understand the evolution of the organization. Unlike when it was written and until the advent of the Internet, it really was shrouded in secrecy. Bamford helped to lift that shroud. To get a sharp contrast with this book, one only has to go to the NSA website, where just about everything is spelled out in black and white.

    When we consider that people as far removed as the leaders of Germany and Indonesia appear shocked by the 2013 revelations that NSA is spying on them, we can conclude either that they have never read this book or that they have and don't want to tell their citizens about it. In short, as Bamford points out, one or more members of the "5 Eyes Only" group has been spying on mass communications ever since the transatlantic cables were first laid, more than a century ago.

    Another valuable part of this history is the laying to rest of some myths of WWII communications. Bamford's book is a good counterweight to books and articles emphasizing the Enigma device. I recall one author claiming that Roosevelt "knew" the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor and "let" it happen. Bamford supplies the more complex, nuanced story of how the communications failed due to human error, not to any "conspiracy."

    The afterword contains the story of Geoffrey Arthur Prime, which is the closest we get to a Le Carre style spy story. Prime was carrying on his work while the 1974 Le Carre novel, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was being written. See pages 502-532 in the paperback edition I have. Perhaps NSA should assign someone to read spy novels.

    There is one major problem with this edition, but it doesn't seem to be the author's fault.The blurb on the back of the book claims that the book includes "information on the NSA's secret role" in "major world events of the 1980s and 1990s." The afterward ends with 1982. There's nothing after that: No "Korean Airlines disaster [Sept 1, 1983], Iran-Contra [1986], [nor] the Gulf War [1990-91]."

    Readers counting on the book to cover these topics should complain to Penguin Books.
    29 people found this helpful
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  • Glenn F. Spencer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Detail And Historical Mystery Of NSA
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Being a former military member and SIGINT operator, the history this book supplies is fascinating. It answered a lot of questions for me.

    I understanding wanting to be thorough, but it is to a fault and can get overwhelming with minute details. It could have been shorter and been just as good. If you can wade through the names and dates, it is an interesting read.

    The only other drawback is the date of the publication, which is 1982. An updated version would be great if it was possible.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars What is happening now in the 21st Century?
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    As other reviewers have said "Purple Palace" brings us to the mid 1980s. But much has changed going into 2024. How can NSA deal with the huge amount of fibre optic cable that has replaced terrestrial transmissions and electronic communication.
    A bigger concern is Artificial Intelligence and what it could do to decryption and encryption. To me it seems that AI will do a fantastic job of creating Keys and do just as good a job, if not better, of deciphering Keys.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Tom Garvey
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great overview on code breaking and the history of the ...
    Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A great overview on code breaking and the history of the NSA.
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  • tonio
    5.0 out of 5 stars Une histoire presque exhaustive de la NSA
    Reviewed in France on November 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Enfin une histoire à peu près exhaustive quant à l'histoire de la NSA.

    Un livre que doit posséder les personnes passionnées par les écoutes et l'espionnage.
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  • XMP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inside the NSA - National Bestseller
    Reviewed in Germany on June 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    "There have been glimpses inside the NSA before, but until now no one has published a comprehensive and detailed report
    on the agency...Mr. Bamford has emerged with everything except the combination to the director's safe."
    -- The New York Times Book Review
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  • Graham
    5.0 out of 5 stars James Bamford has written two newer and - especially post-Snowden ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    James Bamford has written two newer and - especially post-Snowden - important books but this remains a fascinating and gripping read even in the historical context it now exists in. Essential reading still for anyone wanting the definitive public history of the NSA, the only caveat to that statement is that you should also buy and read Bamford's other books on the subject too.
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  • Bob Main
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book to describe the role of the NSA.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I bought the book as a gift for someone interested in knowing what part each of the U.S. agencies played in the gathering and processing Intelligence information relative to potential enemy threats. The book did have a sizable tear on the cover.
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