Rating: 
Summary: Some turths to it, but it forgot about the boring ops
Review: I served in the silent service and we had no trouble trailing the Dealts III's. The things I disliked most were the local ops getting ready for the real thing.... being bored to no end with this routine.... and the book missed at less one big bump X in 1975 that I know about... On the Queen...I also knew some of the guys on the seawolf.... And I have to admitt to being scared a couple times on the sub I served on... But these guys were terrified and some would never go the sea again on a sub.....
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the price of the book and the time to read it!
Review: A lot of tantalizing information about submarine operations and incidents during the Cold War -- interesting for anyone who would like to know a little bit of what our "government" has been up to, although I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg. I read all of the 122 previous reviews, and each of them has valid point(s), but if you can keep from over-analyzing the book from the standpoint of veracity, depth of research, coverage of "espionage", you will enjoy the book. It is provocative, insightful reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Expose/Excellent Bibliography
Review: As a woman who is intrigued by submarines and the roles they played in the Cold War, I found this documentary written in a way even a layman, like myself, can enjoy and appreciate. The bibliography is an excellent source of additional information as well. Great work and a wonderful reference.
Rating:
Summary: Epilogue
Review: See my review from Nov. 6, 1998. I've since re-read Blind Man's Bluff. And much has happened in the five months the book has been available. I just read all the reviews and see the approval rating averages 4-stars. The comments span the spectrum from the informative to the ridiculous. Some commented about the self destruct charges on board submarines. It was always my understanding and relief that no American submarine commander would ever give up the ship. However, if, due to some major casualty, the crew must abandon ship, it surely makes sense to be certain the ship is properly and totally scuttled, especially if a foreign power may be in a position to recover the ship. Does this help? In my opinion a couple reviewers even visited areas not covered in the book and rightfully so. Much of the research for this book was done circa 1990 for a series of articles published in the Chicago Tribune under the leadership of Christopher Drew. I was interviewed then by Robert Becker of Newport News regarding a collection of music I had written about the Submarine Service. Our dicussions were limited to the music, my personal history and record, the leadership and competence of Captain Whitey Mack of LAPON (SSN-661), and the general professionalism and dedication of submarine sailors. Specific submarine operational questions were responded to with the proverbial "no comment." Sherry Sontag called me a few years ago, and the interview went pretty much the same. However, I can state with a reasonable amount of certainty that Sontag and Drew exercised a great deal of restraint in not printing what they could not validate at some level. They know much more than what is published. My conclusions are based upon the questions I was asked. The authors have my profound respect for their journalistic professionalism in this arena. There are some discrepancies in BMB due to disinformation proffered by some of our shipmates who delight in the dispensation of BS in quantity. This is not the authors' fault. Others unwittingly repeated what they heard on submarine missions and any similarities between Crews Mess scuttlebutt and the facts were usually coincidental. Submariners as a group are accomplished pranksters. A favorite line was: "We're surrounded; we've got them right where we want them." My personal life has been affected by Blind Man's Bluff. My family has a newfound respect for my years of submarining. My children understand why I was away so much, and they have given me their understanding for putting my country before my family in those days. Thank God I am blessed with an understanding wife who held it together while I served an aggregate of four years underwater in a span of eleven years. Many former shipmates and team members have been in touch since Blind Man's Bluff. The book has been a catharsis for the players. Blind Man's Bluff has provided an overt pride for sacrifices and contributions to national security, a pride which formerly was minimized by obscurity. For new readers, this is as good as it gets regarding the U.S. Submarine Service, the Silent Service. For the old salts, be proud of your contributions and participation in events that were critical to our great country during a very intense period in our history. For the critics, try to imagine yourself in the shoes of Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew trying to do justice to an important historical evolution. Yes, much of the information was open source based upon traitors such as Ronald Pelton, Johnny Walker Red, and others. The story was intriguing. They followed their leads. If some of our comrades leaked classified data, it is not the authors' fault. Look at the disclosures by Dr. John Craven in the book and on 60 Minutes and Nova. Blind Man's Bluff is not an expose, it is a tribute!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Perfect Storm it Ain't!
Review: I was hoping for a classic page turner. Is there something wrong with me? I can't get more than a few pages and my mind starts to wander. It is a shame that such a facinating history didn't get better presentation.
Rating:
Summary: Only the tip of the iceberg...
Review: From an ex-bubblehead, it is quite apparent that Sontag and the Drew's did their homework. The book is well researched, unfortunately, they were apparently captivated by and spent all together too much time dwelling on the "special projects" boats. There was not enough effort expended in understanding the very special culture of the submarine force on both sides of the cold war. But then, I suppose this would be a book unto itself, and certainly not as 'sexy' as Blind Man's Bluff. Spending time in the submarine force leaves an absolutely indelible mark on the psyche. Even 20 years removed from the force, I still dream frequently about the time spent there.
Rating:
Summary: good, but not great
Review: Wait until the interesting stuff is declassified..
Rating:
Summary: Understanding the Russians
Review: Like many of the other readers who have submitted comments, I too served in submarines. I enjoyed reading about people, subs, and events I knew something about -- as well as learning about people, subs, and events I knew little about. I am also half-Russian, my father having been born in Russia in 1901. He fought in the White Army in the Russian Civil War before coming to America in 1923. Even though understanding the Russians is a minor theme in the book, the authors have got it just right. Especially insightful are pages 259-261 in the chapter Trust But Verify. Quite simply, the Russians are not just like us. As much Eastern as Western, the Russians frequently are enigmatic to us, displaying an Oriental inscrutibilty. These pages capture the spirit and flavor of their pride, inferiority complex, respect for elders, love of homeland. At one and the same time, the Russians are both deeply suspicious, and highly admiring, of America.
Rating:
Summary: A page turning expose of covert actions and black programs.
Review: This is a dramatic overview of highly clandestine covert missions the average citizen never gets a glimpse of. Quite interesting reading and a page turner in many places. The authors could have very well made this an action-adventure-spy movie out of the material. Having spent 30 years working within DoD intelligence activities, I enjoy outsiders viewpoints of historical covert/black programs which take on the aura of conspiracies, which no doubt they are by their very nature. Secrecy of any kind is a conspiracy and it is an art form within certain government agencies. I can only state that this story is told quite well and for the most part accurate. Two other authors who have recently taken unreported covert activities and written quite interesting works are Steiger's fiction thriller Alien Rapture, and Dr. Paul Hill's (NASA scientist) Unconventional Flying Objects. These superb authors have gleamed dark secrets from a well that is normally dry for the average investigator. The result is a dramatic top-notch narrative expose about the deep battleground beneath the ocean. Highly RECOMMENDED!
Rating:
Summary: A great read !
Review: This book is written in a fast-paced style - almost like a well written novel. It is sure to capture those who do not enjoy reading "typically dry historical information," yet it manages to convey the suspense that those of us who lived the cold-war period remember. My only criticism(s) are 1: The Thresher incident and its impact upon nuclear powered submarines was barely mentioned and 2: There are lapses between chapters that - at times - make the book "choppy." Regardless, three friends and myself devoured the book in less than a month. For those who have no understanding of the "Cold War Atmosphere," this will provide a revealing glimpse. I salute all U.S. Submariners everywhere, past & present; and a well-done to the authors!
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