The Way of the Knife Audiobook By Mark Mazzetti cover art

The Way of the Knife

The CIA, a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth

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The Way of the Knife

By: Mark Mazzetti
Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
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Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Mazzetti examines secret wars over the past decade, tracking key characters from the intelligence and military communities across the world. Among the characters we meet in The Way of the Knife are a young CIA officer dropped into the tribal areas to learn the hard way how the spy games in Pakistan are played; an Air Force test pilot who fired the first drone missile in the Nevada desert; a chain-smoking Pentagon official who ran an off-the-books spying operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and a woman from the Virginia horse country who became obsessed with Somalia and convinced the Pentagon to hire her to gather intelligence about al Qaeda operatives there.

Gripping, newsbreaking, and powerfully told, The Way of the Knife reveals the true nature of American warfare in the 21st century—a model that is here to stay.

©2013 Mark Mazzetti (P)2013 Recorded Books Armed Forces Freedom & Security Intelligence & Espionage Middle East Military Military Science Political Science Politics & Government Special & Elite Forces Terrorism War & Crisis World Espionage War Iran
Thorough Background • Groundbreaking Perspective • Excellent Voice • Interesting Stories • Accurate Portrayal
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Crazy subject jumps that made me rewind several times because I thought I had skipped ahead

Fascinating story that needs a better editor

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At first I was a little unsure about downloading this book. I did not want an agenda driven, right or left driven story. I wanted truth and facts and I think I got what I was looking for.

Telling us what the government and media won't.

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lots of opinion here vice fact. but, well laid out and readable. don't take it all for face value!

exaggerated but informative.

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Richard Ferrone has an excellent voice and I enjoyed hearing Mark Mazzetti’s words through him. The book was very thorough on setting up the background for the various characters so the multitude of plots could be understood better. I came away with a greater understanding of the US involvement across the globe over time.

Excellent!

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Very intriguing large scope book on the political spying agencies & the arm wrestling games each agency played. Very good book!

Details details details

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This is an interesting book about shifts in policy in the military and the intelligence services involved in the war on terror from about 2001 onwards. (Some of the material actually pre-dates 9/11.) If the subject matter interests you then you will probably find the book to be worth a credit. Shortcomings of the work include the way the author jumps around temporally and the overly-dramatic reading by the narrator.

Not bad

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Good overview from an American mainstream point of view. Lots of interesting stories, primarily from US intelligence community. Does a good job of portraying debates within the same community. As usual for an American author, however, the framing is ultimately a parochial one. International law, critics from the left, the voices of innocent victims are given very little attention here. The cowboys have compelling, three-dimensional lives. The Indians appear like ducks at a carnival shooting gallery. And so God’s favourite empire rolls on.

Interesting but parochial

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As someone who spent years contracting in Afghanistan i find this book accurately told and wonderfully captivating!!

Captivating

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I am sure this was ground breaking and revealing when first published. It seems like almost ancient history now (2023). A lot has happened since, and many of the concerns brought up by this book have not been dealt with. As seen in most recent conflicts, drone warfare is here to stay and rapidly expanding. Many of the lessons learned the hard way on the ground are being used and taught.

Mostly outdated

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i couldn't wait for my 80 mile commute to and from work. i was completely absorbed by this book.

Outstanding!

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