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The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence Paperback – September 6, 2022
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If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a modern-day spy, Douglas London is here to explain. London’s overseas work involved spotting and identifying targets, building relationships over weeks or months, and then pitching them to work for the CIA—all the while maintaining various identities, a day job, and a very real wife and kids at home.
The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence captures the best stories from London's life as a spy, his insights into the challenges and failures of intelligence work, and the complicated relationships he developed with agents and colleagues. In the end, London presents a highly readable insider’s tale about the state of espionage, a warning about the decline of American intelligence since 9/11 and Iraq, and what can be done to recover.
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHachette Books
- Publication dateSeptember 6, 2022
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.25 x 8.3 inches
- ISBN-100306847310
- ISBN-13978-0306847318
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The Recruiter shares many great episodes from London’s life in the National Clandestine Service, excellent insights into the challenges and intricacies of intelligence work, and thoughtful accounts of the complicated relationships he developed with agents and colleagues. In the end, London presents a superb insider’s tale about the state of espionage, the challenges that American intelligence has experienced since 9/11 and Iraq, and what needs to be done in the coming years to ensure that America's intelligence agencies can provide our country's national security team with the intelligence they need.”
―General David Petraeus (Ret.), former Director of the CIA
“The Recruiter is the most important book about the CIA in years. London warns that the core mission of espionage—gathering intelligence through the recruitment of foreign agents—has been swamped by counterterrorism and paramilitary missions. That constitutes a clear and present danger to the United States.”―Tim Weiner, author of The Folly and the Glory: America, Russia, and Political Warfare, 1945–2020
"Recommended for all espionage enthusiasts."―Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger and The Deep
“The Recruiter is one of the most interesting spy memoirs in a long time, filled with fascinating insights into a life convincing people to betray their country. Also an unflinching critique of the unsavory side of CIA culture.”―Ken Dilanian, NBC News
"[A] great new book.” –Laura Coates, CNN―Laura Coates, CNN
“Always read about spies written by spies.”―Tom Nichols, contributing writer at The Atlantic and author of the Peacefield newsletter
“Riveting…London has written a scorching portrait of what he sees as decades of CIA mismanagement, from a failure to prevent terrorist attacks on Americans abroad and at home, to not foreseeing the so-called Arab Spring or the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group until it was too late. He describes how some of these senior officials made serious mistakes.”―SpyTalk
“A rich and candid look at the lives of CIA Operations Officers… providing also a critique of the current state of the Agency….London’s book provides a much needed, if complicated, look at what it takes to live and operate forever in the shadows….The Recruiter weaves together a number of fascinating threads to form a tapestry of human intelligence today….That London was able to get this book through the Agency’s review board is a miracle in and of itself. From the hiring and vetting of a potential professional trainee, through to their time on the “Farm” (the Agency’s Virginia training location) and onto their first overseas rotations, London offers the reader rich anecdotes from his own time as a new hire….The richness of London’s book is in these stories, which are raw and real, and highlight both the highs and lows of the life of an Operations Officer. It is rare that one sees the latter or hears about the challenges of a life abroad undercover….[I]nteresting core arguments about the state of the Agency at a policy-level, arguments which fully form by the end of the book….On finishing The Recruiter one can’t help but feel as though they’ve been recruited, in a way.”
―The Diplomatic Courier
“Many of us have wondered what it would be like to be a real spy….There could possibly be no better book to take us deep into this world than the latest release by Douglas London, titled The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence….London… shares highly personal and courageous details in this memoir, which makes for such a fascinating read.”―Robert Amsterdam, “Departures” podcast
"Broad-ranging, thoughtful, [London's] reflected on his career and the changes the agency [he] worked for has [gone] through."―SpyCraft podcast, The Spy Museum
"The Recruiter reads like a very well crafted memoir."
―"The San Francisco Experience" podcast
"Thoroughly enjoyed The Recruiter by Douglas London. Fascinating insights into life of [a] CIA
case officer from ground up--surveillance detection, cover, agent handling, liaison relationships, raising a family in a clandestine life, and how to persuade someone to betray their country."―First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11
“Fascinating detail about life inside CIA, and the challenges—and thrill—of HUMINT [human intelligence] work.”―Zach Dorman, national security supporter
“Douglas London’s The Recruiter is a rare treat, a book that captures the essence of intelligence work….The rewards of London’s career do not blind him to the reality of the world in which he moved. He can see his own agency with a clear eye, and his worm’s-eye view of the CIA post-9/11 makes for a sobering read….London is a smart, persuasive, and charming guide to what, for most people, is a hidden world.”―The Jewish Review of Books
“As juicy as CIA censors would allow.”―The Jewish Independent
“An enjoyable read that multiple audiences will find entertaining and useful…. The greatest value of the book is in gaining the perspective of a seasoned professional with vast experience at the ‘pointy end of the sphere.’… A captivating read… it raises important considerations and is a worthwhile read for multiple audiences.”―Inter Populum
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Hachette Books (September 6, 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0306847310
- ISBN-13 : 978-0306847318
- Item Weight : 12 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #382,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #418 in National & International Security (Books)
- #514 in Political Intelligence
- #11,515 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Douglas London, author of “The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence,” Hachette Books, is a 34-year veteran of CIA’s Clandestine Service who retired in 2019. Mr. London spent the majority of his career overseas and served extensively across the Middle East, South Asia, the former Soviet republics and Africa, including three assignments as a Chief of Station and one as a CIA Base Chief in a conflict zone.
In addition to his overseas experience, Mr. London was a CIA subject matter expert in counterterrorism, counterintelligence, Iran, cyber and hostile environment operations in denied areas. He also served as an intelligence tradecraft instructor. During his service, Mr. London spoke Russian and French with professional competency, and Arabic with limited proficiency.
Since his retirement, Mr. London has taught intelligence concentration courses at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, is a non-resident fellow with the Middle East Institute, and writes frequently on national security topics. He has been a contributor for the New York Times, Foreign Policy, Politico, Just Security, the Hill, and the Middle East Institute. Mr. London has also appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC and ABC, and is frequently quoted by a wide range of national security reporters.
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His analysis of current CIA leaders and policies is sharp and believable. Some have argued that he is simply a whiner. While that may seem partially true, he is also occasionally critical of his own actions in the past, even to the point of suggesting his own performance that may have contributed to some agency failure. He emphasizes the weak point that CIA shares with any large bureaucratic human organization: the inclination of subordinates to please superiors at the expense of truth in order to rise in the hierarchy. He also complains about the current trend of avoiding risk to save one’s position, an especially unfortunate characteristic of a clandestine intelligence agency.
He is most entertaining when he writes about essentially holding two jobs – a day job as, say, commercial attaché in an embassy, wearing the requisite suit and tie, and stepping out at night in jeans, dark jacket and backpack to recruit and interview agents on the dark streets of often-hostile cities. His most personal chapter – even endearing – was the one in which he discusses raising five children who until teens really didn’t know what Daddy did for a living.
This is an important book, even sanitized. One hopes that it finds support in the active intelligence community at the highest levels.
Author comes off as a whiny malcontent, who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Maybe true; who knows.
On the negative side, I think he went a little overboard with the personal criticisms of other officers and management. I'm sure many of his remarks are true but that kind of poor behavior by his coworkers is nothing unique to CIA or government employment as it is quite common in private industry as well! I am referring to all the backbiting, kiss ass behavior, sleeping around, getting ahead not because of what you know or the merit of your work but WHO you know! Careerism. Hanging around the flagpole. It exists everywhere and in every workplace and that includes CIA.
Overall a VERY good book that should be required reading for all new Operations Officers at the Farm. HUMINT is always needed - especially in order to determine intentions and motivations of the enemy.
The only thing I didn't like was the ver clear political bias, which I'd have disliked if it went the other way too. No bias on my dislike of biasbias, if you will. Otherwise, was amazing.
Top reviews from other countries
You aren't going to get high quality, sensitive intelligence off a friggen book on Amazon 🤣
Otherwise the entire espionage industry would collapse as you can just go on Amazon and read the latest disgruntled employee's rant about your target 💀
It is a great read for those who should fix the problem to become competent again. It is now the time to follow the footsteps of the Reinhard Gehlen's and John Dulles. a Politicised US Congress should man up. And grow a pair.