The Puppet Masters: Spies, Traitors and the Real Forces Behind World Events Paperback – November 10, 2005

Great review, lots of historical very important footnotes. Eyeopener. Thanks!

I liked the way the author took me through the history of the "Great Game" in a seamless was leaving much for thought at the end. Avery up to date book which includes reference to the latest atrocities committed by ISIS. Well written and researched. I thoroughly enjoyed this very informative book.

Intersting anecdotes, a potted history, many unknown aspects and facts, but not quite the rivetting read I expected

Most interesting book on the subject I have read in years and a great read as well.

A very interesting overview of espionage through the ages

The title of this book is, in my opinion, misleading. It is a much more thoughtful and insightful story than just a collection of yarns about "spies, traitors, and the real forces behind world events". And although John Hughes-Wilson is a Brit, he does not seem to embrace agent 007, James Bond! The author's easy, conversational style of writing describes the development and role of intelligence in the formulation of strategy and military tactics from Biblical times to the present. He covers great successes and monumental failures almost equally, and draws lessons from both. While there are anecdotes about strange and Machiavellian characters, seductive women, and bumbling amateurs, the underlying message is one of the importance of clear-thinking professionalism to the management of intelligence gathering, analysis, and interpretation. I was fascinated.

This book looked interesting and decided to get a hardcover copy. Wish I would have known it was going to be a used copy from Goodwill with a $5.99 sticker on it that I paid $35 for…

Contains some interesting history.