The Agency: A History of the CIA
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Narrated by:
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Hugh Wilford
About this listen
There’s a fundamental tension buried within the heart of the CIA’s mission to protect the American people: between democratic accountability and the inherent need for secrecy. Ultimately, it’s US citizens who bear the responsibility of staying informed about what the CIA has done and continues to do.
In these 24 engrossing lectures, explore the roles the CIA has played in recent American history, from the eve of the Cold War against communism to the 21st-century War on Terror. You’ll delve into some of the most remarkable successes, including the sound intelligence CIA spy planes provided during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the admirable performance of the CIA throughout much of the Vietnam War, as well as historic failures, including the agency’s slowness spotting the rise of radical Islamism (including the September 11 attacks).
In many cases, the lectures lead you to consider important questions about the nature of the CIA and its role in shaping modern history. What makes particular regions of the world ripe for the CIA’s attention? How successful are techniques like drone strikes, rendition, and interrogation? How does the CIA compare with its depiction in much of popular culture?
Here, in Professor Wilford’s unbiased exploration of the CIA’s inner workings, is everything you need to come to your own conclusions about what “the Agency” might have done right, what it might have done wrong, and what it should do in the future.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Story
There’s an apocryphal story that Alexander the Great once captured a notorious pirate named Diomedes. The great conqueror decided to interview the doomed pirate, asking him what he thought gave him the right to seize the property of other people. The pirate responded by asking the emperor what he thought gave him the right to take property that doesn’t belong to him, including entire countries. The story goes that Alexander thought the pirate very clever, granting him freedom instead of execution.
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Not an intro, but some interesting perspective
- By N. D. Hemingway on 06-21-21
By: Professor Manushag N. Powell, and others
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Understanding Russia
- A Cultural History
- By: Lynne Ann Hartnett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lynne Ann Hartnett
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Original Recording
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From the earliest recorded history of the Russian state, its people have sought to define their place in the world. And while many of us look to make sense of Russia through its political history, in many ways a real grasp of this awe-inspiring country comes from looking closely at its cultural achievements. The 24 lectures of Understanding Russia: A Cultural History survey hundreds of years of Russian culture, from the world of Ivan the Terrible to the dawn of the Soviet Union to the post-war tensions of Putin’s Russia.
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Good American overview of Russia
- By Jeffrey L. Smith, PE on 10-21-18
By: Lynne Ann Hartnett, and others
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The Real History of Secret Societies
- By: Professor Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Richard B. Spence
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
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Welcome to The Real History of Secret Societies, a historical look at the true-life groups which, if you believe the myths, are the unspoken power behind some of the world’s major turning points, from controlling the British crown to holding back the electric car and keeping Martians and Atlantis under wraps. Prepare yourself. In this course brought to you in partnership with HISTORY®, you will be visiting some of history’s deepest rabbit-holes, across centuries and continents, in search of secret societies in all their varieties.
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Far more politics than fraternity.
- By Tp on 11-25-19
By: Professor Richard B. Spence, and others
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How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance
- By: William Landon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor William Landon
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
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In How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance, you’ll study the remarkable trajectory of the Medici from the late 14th century to 1737, when the Medici dynasty ended. Across that span of time, you’ll witness the birth of the Italian Renaissance, and the rise of the Medici as an economic powerhouse under founder Giovanni de’ Medici. You’ll learn how the Medici came to dominate Florence and how they played diverse roles in politics, religion, and culture.
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Not for non history buffs
- By Amazon Customer on 01-06-22
By: William Landon, and others
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The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
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Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
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The Secret World of Espionage
- By: Alma Katsu, Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, Lynne Olson, and others
- Narrated by: Alma Katsu, Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, Lynne Olson, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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The world of espionage is shrouded in mystery—even to those in it—but so much of what we think we know about spy craft is rooted in pop culture. Even though the true nature of espionage is quite different, that doesn’t mean history’s real spies are any less heroic, or less fascinating. In these nine episodes, go behind the shadows with a distinguished panel of historians—including a former intelligence case officer—in search of the secret meeting places, complex codes, stealth observations, and cutting-edge technologies spies have used throughout history.
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This mess does not belong in the Great Courses
- By Keith E. Robison on 06-03-22
By: Alma Katsu, and others
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The Real History of Pirates
- By: Professor Manushag N. Powell, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Manushag N. Powell
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
There’s an apocryphal story that Alexander the Great once captured a notorious pirate named Diomedes. The great conqueror decided to interview the doomed pirate, asking him what he thought gave him the right to seize the property of other people. The pirate responded by asking the emperor what he thought gave him the right to take property that doesn’t belong to him, including entire countries. The story goes that Alexander thought the pirate very clever, granting him freedom instead of execution.
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Not an intro, but some interesting perspective
- By N. D. Hemingway on 06-21-21
By: Professor Manushag N. Powell, and others
-
Understanding Russia
- A Cultural History
- By: Lynne Ann Hartnett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lynne Ann Hartnett
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
From the earliest recorded history of the Russian state, its people have sought to define their place in the world. And while many of us look to make sense of Russia through its political history, in many ways a real grasp of this awe-inspiring country comes from looking closely at its cultural achievements. The 24 lectures of Understanding Russia: A Cultural History survey hundreds of years of Russian culture, from the world of Ivan the Terrible to the dawn of the Soviet Union to the post-war tensions of Putin’s Russia.
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Good American overview of Russia
- By Jeffrey L. Smith, PE on 10-21-18
By: Lynne Ann Hartnett, and others
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The Real History of Secret Societies
- By: Professor Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Richard B. Spence
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Welcome to The Real History of Secret Societies, a historical look at the true-life groups which, if you believe the myths, are the unspoken power behind some of the world’s major turning points, from controlling the British crown to holding back the electric car and keeping Martians and Atlantis under wraps. Prepare yourself. In this course brought to you in partnership with HISTORY®, you will be visiting some of history’s deepest rabbit-holes, across centuries and continents, in search of secret societies in all their varieties.
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Far more politics than fraternity.
- By Tp on 11-25-19
By: Professor Richard B. Spence, and others
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How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance
- By: William Landon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor William Landon
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In How the Medici Shaped the Renaissance, you’ll study the remarkable trajectory of the Medici from the late 14th century to 1737, when the Medici dynasty ended. Across that span of time, you’ll witness the birth of the Italian Renaissance, and the rise of the Medici as an economic powerhouse under founder Giovanni de’ Medici. You’ll learn how the Medici came to dominate Florence and how they played diverse roles in politics, religion, and culture.
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Not for non history buffs
- By Amazon Customer on 01-06-22
By: William Landon, and others
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The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
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Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
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Crimes of the Century
- A Selective History of Infamy
- By: Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Richard B. Spence
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
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Delve into some of the most infamous, ghastly, and mysterious crimes of the last hundred-odd years in Crimes of the Century: A Selective History of Infamy. Taught by Professor Richard B. Spence of the University of Idaho, this enthralling course gives you a dozen case studies of murders most foul. From an intriguing Irish domestic murder to a world-shaking political assassination, this course gives you an inside look at some of the most heinous and maddeningly unknowable crimes in modern history.
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Best Great Courses Lecture There Is
- By Justin on 07-21-21
By: Richard B. Spence, and others
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American Military History: From Colonials to Counterinsurgents
- By: Wesley K. Clark, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Wesley K. Clark
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Wars have played a crucial role in defining the United States and its place in the world. No one is better equipped to analyze this subject in depth than retired US Army Gen. Wesley K. Clark - decorated combat veteran, author, Rhodes Scholar, and former NATO Supreme Commander. In this course, Gen. Clark explores the full scope of America's armed conflicts, from the French and Indian War in the mid-18th century to the Global War on Terrorism in the 21st.
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Boring, should have been titled "Battle Summaries"
- By Ben Chen on 10-12-18
By: Wesley K. Clark, and others
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Renaissance: The Transformation of the West
- By: Jennifer McNabb, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer McNabb
- Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins
- Original Recording
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While it’s easy to get caught up - and, rightfully so - in the art of the Renaissance, you cannot have a full, rounded understanding of just how important these centuries were without digging beneath the surface, without investigating the period in terms of its politics, its spirituality, its philosophies, its economics, and its societies. Do just that with these 48 lectures that consider the European Renaissance from all sides, that disturb traditional understandings, that tip sacred cows, and that enlarges our understanding of how the Renaissance revolutionized the Western world.
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Reads like a bad high school essay.
- By Matthew Dennis on 10-29-18
By: Jennifer McNabb, and others
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History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
- By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
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Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took - or didn't take - a particular path.
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Martial Chaos
- By Cynthia on 08-16-16
By: The Great Courses, and others
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Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
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Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist
- By V. Taras on 07-08-15
By: Randall Bartlett, and others
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Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome
- By: Eve MacDonald, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Eve MacDonald
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
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Hannibal Barca is famous for marching an eclectic mix of troops across the Alps and into the Roman heartland during the Second Punic War. But how much do we know about the world Hannibal was born into and came of age in? In Hannibal: The Military Genius Who Almost Conquered Rome, get to know one of history’s most impressive generals from the political and military conflicts that defined his adolescence to the battles that made him famous. These 15 lectures will paint a portrait of not only Hannibal, but also his enemies and allies.
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bad recording audio. too many breaks and crackles,
- By Kindle Customer on 04-02-23
By: Eve MacDonald, and others
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The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
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Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
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The Medieval Legacy
- By: Carol Symes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Carol Symes
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Though it ended five centuries ago, the medieval era continues to permeate our world in far-reaching ways. Whether we pay attention to them or not, the influences and imprints of the Middle Ages are all around us, sometimes evident and sometimes less so. In these 36 revealing lectures, you’ll learn how to recognize the medieval impacts on the modern world, and to grasp their significance and implications. The Medieval Legacy offers you a deep look at a stunning millennium of change and innovation which continues to inform our contemporary world.
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Too woke to be worth the time
- By Dr Alison J Pilgrim on 06-20-23
By: Carol Symes, and others
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
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The Italians before Italy: Conflict and Competition in the Mediterranean
- By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Kenneth R. Bartlett
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Original Recording
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Take a riveting tour of the Italian peninsula, from the glittering canals of Venice to the lavish papal apartments and ancient ruins of Rome. In these 24 lectures, Professor Bartlett traces the development of the Italian city-states of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, showing how the modern nation of Italy was forged out of the rivalries, allegiances, and traditions of a vibrant and diverse people.
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A useful survey, just what I wanted
- By Adeliese Baumann on 11-07-16
By: Kenneth R. Bartlett, and others
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Banned Books, Burned Books: Forbidden Literary Works
- By: Maureen Corrigan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Maureen Corrigan
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Throughout the 24 lectures of Banned Books, Burned Books: Forbidden Literary Works, author and book critic Professor Maureen Corrigan of Georgetown University will take you on a tour of some of the most challenged and controversial works of literature, from the plays of Shakespeare to 21st-century best-sellers—even including the dictionary and classic fairy tales. You will trace the history, in the United States and Great Britain, of the challenges to books, the censoring of books, book bans, and even burnings.
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Literary Value
- By Mark on 02-06-23
By: Maureen Corrigan, and others
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Building Love That Lasts
- By: Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, James O. Pawelski, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, Professor James O. Pawelski
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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Have you ever been in love? Falling in love is the easiest thing in the world. The difficult part comes later, when you are trying to stay in love. Half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. As it turns out, failing in love is just as easy as falling in love.
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Great lecturers
- By Federic Pulanco on 09-20-24
By: Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, and others
What listeners say about The Agency: A History of the CIA
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- andrew rossi
- 01-29-21
Idk other ppl are hearing,but this is a great book
I had seen what ppl had written for reviews but love the topic and had a great experience with another great courses title so I decided to give it a shot. Idk what those ppl are hearing but the performer/professor was great not only in the way it was read style wise but also in the way you can tell he researched the topic well. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone. I thought I knew a lot about this topic but now I see I still have much more to learn.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 10-09-22
A deeply fascinating, largely objective take on a controversial topic
Prof. Wilford provides a thorough history of some of the agency’s most famous or infamous intelligence and covert operations since the 1940s. His perspective as an academic and foreign national provides a perspective mostly free of either the fawning hardline coverage of some, or the invective polemic of others in American society and he provides a neat and concise description of the personalities and contemporary political reasonings behind many world shaping decisions made behind closed doors by agency and government officials.
This same perspective does lead him to oversimplify a handful of important events and succumb to the “conventional knowledge” take on some more modern (and thus more immediately controversial) topics and there are a handful of pronunciation errors, some of which are recurring that are a touch difficult at times.
Overall, though, I have not found nearly as good or objective of a history of the CIA or American covert action abroad anywhere else and am deeply grateful for the learning experience and would recommend this to anyone hoping for a better understanding of the subject.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Terri Rose
- 10-19-22
I Spy
If you’re interested in spies and the troubles they got into in the 50s and 60s and 70s and beyond,This is book for you. The authors narration is a bit rough in places due to mispronounced words and locations. Otherwise, the writing is incredibly good. Very interesting information.
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- Michael Calderaro
- 10-30-22
Gripping. Insightful. Sometimes stunning
Professor Wilford talks about the legacy of the C. I. A. throughout history and despite living through much of it, it is newsworthy and sometimes disturbing. Well researched, excellent story telling and balanced views. Highly recommend it!
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- Jessa Davis
- 01-25-21
An honest assessment
I found the lecturer's perspective fairly neutral, but not without failing to provide his own perspective on key events. There's nothing wrong with that if you're a rational person who can listen to and evaluate another's position based on facts and merit. I feel like many of the negative reviews of this course provide a commentary more on the state of US political discourse than the content of this book: I see a lot of people who can't abide dissent and mistake critical thinking for "liberal bias" simply because the lecturer fails to cater to some readers' sense of American exceptionalism. I'll say this: I found the course topics informative and thought-provoking; but if you believe that Oliver North is an American hero or that the invasion of Iraq was a justified response to 9/11, this course might not be a safe space for your beliefs.
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14 people found this helpful
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- BF Palo Alto
- 04-14-19
Interesting history of Our Spies, modest bias
Very enjoyable review of the prehistory and history of the CIA. In general, the professor was unbiased. By the end, some of his anti-CIA views leaked through -- especially when he got into the Bush era. Overall, though, worth the listen.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Brian R
- 09-05-22
Everything you wanted to know about the CIA
Informative, Entertaining and sometimes Surprising. Well written, in depth history of the CIA. You will find things you suspected and things you may never have known. These lectures are well worth the time it takes to listen to them all
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- Trish
- 05-21-20
Great until the end
I loved this course until the final three chapters when, worked intentionally or unintentionally, the author’s personal bias impacted his ability to objectively communicate post 9-11 history.
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10 people found this helpful
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- RANDALL
- 08-19-20
Story only
one is only getting a story in this lecture if you call it that your getting a narrative simply put a story NOT THE STORY, take note of subjects mention then research you'll know, otherwise I like the CIA as honorable arm for the country national security interest not private ones.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lucy
- 08-15-22
Balanced, well researched and I love it!
I read numerous books on security and the CIA too, this is by far the most well research and the least partisan.
Job well done.
It is worth every penny.
Thank you
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