Rating: 
Summary: Supremely Satisfying
Review: I am not the type of person who is easily satisfied. I'v read 5-10 books a month for as long as I can remember. Honestly, I have to say I really really liked only maybe 3 or 4 books, I am in love with this book. It is a divinely interesting story of the CIA filled with indispensable information. It provides an insightful glimpse into the world of intelligence. If you are looking for a book about espionage, life in the CIA, the middle east, the realities of the world of intelligence and much more this book will, with-out-a-doubt, becoming one of your favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting, compelling and entertaining
Review: Mr. Baer has written story that will not shock you, if you have been paying attention for the past twenty five years. Commencing at least with the Beruit bombing of the U.S. Marines' barracks, the U.S. has been on the run from reality. Mr. Baer does not mince words about our self delusion and he has plenty of first hand experiences to let you know that what he states is factual.The writing is a little muddled in parts as the names, locations and events come at you at a fast pace. Mr. Baer's style never strays far from what you will perceive as his personal style -- a fairly straight forward guy giving it to you on the level.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Clancy or Ludlum....
Review: then this book is a MUST read. If you've never heard of Clancy, come out of your cave, You REALLY NEED to read this! OK, it doesn't grab you on the first page like a great spy novel (his next one..."Sleeping with the Devil"...does). Remember, he hasn't spent the last 20 years writing fiction about this stuff...he LIVED it! But after working through the believable CIA recruiting and training process (written in an accessible tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating style) and starting on the Middle East assignments, the hook sets. You find yourself relating to this very regular guy as he casually discusses both his personal and the CIA's shortcomings in the "job" environment. Then you find yourself shaking your head as some of the specific scenarios begin to unwind and you realize that you aren't reading fictional spy stories...this is real stuff about a real guy who could've gotten himself killed a dozen times over!! (in fact, he again casually mentions having to be reassigned to another post because of known terrorist assassination plans for him....kinda makes your bad boss or difficult Monday pale by comparison) Finally you start getting the point of the book. This isn't intended to be political bashing of one party or another, or sour grapes from a street soldier who never got to live like James Bond, it's intended to be a wake-up call for all of us naively living a sheltered existence in America (thanks to the likes of Mr Baer and some of his cohorts, who are out there "in the cold" protecting us). We subsist on the drivel produced by a succession of White House inhabitants who's only concern is padding their retirement fund and sold to us by a compliant, unquestioning media. Of course, reading between the lines (it's not hard at times), the frustration experienced during the mid-late '90's by the CIA and the military in dealing with Osama bin Laden and other terrorist threats throughout Clinton's particularly inept and self-centered stewardship, is obvious. However, all liberals need to get over that (he does a little Bush-bashing as well). Put aside domestic political posturing, and READ THIS... it's about far more deadly consequences for the security and well-being of our life and culture, as we know it. I've spent enough time living and working overseas in both business and personal travel to know two things; 1. before you criticize how bad it is in America, truly understand how the rest of the world lives on a day-to-day basis and... 2. this guy has seen more of that dirty side of the world than any of us (even Clancy), could even imagine! Listen to what he has to say!
Rating:
Summary: great spy book!
Review: The book is almost never dull.The whole time I read it was fascinating.It gives your imagination the fantasies of being a spy. It also warns of the CIA's ignorance toward human spying. If you like spy books, buy this book immediatly
Rating:
Summary: Inside look of the CIA
Review: Baer's book is a riveting tale that sheds light on the way in which the CIA runs its ground operations. Drawing on his years of experience as a CIA operative Baer exposes the shortcomings of the CIA and its newfound reliance on technology. I highly recomend this book for anyone who is interested in the dealings of the CIA.
Rating:
Summary: ADVENTUROUS, RIVETING ACCOUNT OF AN ESPIONAGE CAREER
Review: If you are interested in the CIA or in espionage generally, read no further. This is a no-brainer of a purchase, laden with intriguing trivia and the educated but opinionated tirades you can only expect from an ex-CIA field officer. Along with recounting the career of a spy who would go on to recruit agents in such places as India, Lebanon, Sudan, France and Tajikstan, See No Evil also details Baer's opinions for the CIA's decline from an agency that would do whatever was felt necessary to achieve its goal of eliminating security threats to the United States, into a toothless, politically correct organisation run by bureaucrats. Baer's forte is to relate interesting, dangerous experiences in his fluent storytelling style. Conversely, its weakness, quite naturally, is what he is not able to tell us. Due to his employment contract with the CIA, there are operations he isn't allowed to divulge the details of, some he cannot acknowledge and even places where he operated that he cannot reveal. Undoubtedly the secretive nature of his job has also contributed to his personal life not receiving more than a superficial airing, resulting in only a modest insight into his personal motivations and drive. Of course, the CIA has also had its external critics, but for different reasons. Its involvement with coups, funding of armed opposition groups in sovereign countries, and the like, has brought about calls for its reigning in or downright scrapping, whether it be due to concern over human rights abuses or its critics' ideological differences. While that side of things (documented elsewhere) does not really get a mention in Baer's book (the closest he gets is in recalling his Beirut embassy bombing investigation, where he had the opportunity to have a terrorist suspect assassinated, but turned it down; regretting it later) that is not a reason to ignore this particular work, with its insight into a true believing ex-spy. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Have you ever wanted to know what really goes on in the CIA?
Review: Have you ever wanted to know what really goes on in the CIA? Well, this book is the perfect source to go to. It has intence details on how the CIA oparates; from the recruiting tradition to the training and finally to the strong emotions every agents goes through. The book is enticing, and exciting fron page to page. It revels real facts that CIA agents obtained, in the past, and were never reveid to the public. The freedom Baer has to express his experiences is unbeliabable, I loved the fact that I was able to get the truth, and could actually feel a conection to him. Go beyond the media, and find out every detail on the CIA.
Rating:
Summary: The Life of a Spy
Review: See No Evil is about a secret spy who lives to tell about the other side of reality. A place no American would want to do business there. It deals with the work that is done in the CIA and how dangerous it is. The book opens your eyes and shows you that we should be alarmed more then ever. It makes you see how dangerous terrorists really are and what they are capable of doing. It brings to life what a spy has to go trough and, how risky and dangerous it really is. It informs you the many terrorists groups and organizations out there. Robert is an inspiring person who started off not knowing what job to obtain, to someone receiving a Career Intelligence Medal and a Merit Unit Citation Award. The book is really good and I recommend it to people who are interested in that field, and want to learn more about terrorism. It warns you that these people are really dangerous as Robert said "The Only way to defeat such an enemy is by intelligence, by knowing what they plan to do next, and by being ready for them when they arrive."
Rating:
Summary: SEE NO EVIL
Review: "See no Evil" by Robert Baer was a good book that gave a new perspective of the CIA. Robert Baer gives us an insight at how dangerous and complicated it could be for a field agent, any mistake that Baer and other field agents did could ultimately end up with a lot of trouble and even death for the agents and their sources. Even though some of the things Baer wrote were kind of hard to follow it was an interesting book that allowed us to see the involvement of the government as far as terrorism. The government for many instances had the chance to prevent some of the horrible things that were made by terrorists. The government had insight and proof on some of the worst terrorist groups and the leaders but the government didn't seem to care. Baer writes about all these subjects and also believes the government could have known about attacks, like September 11, ahead of time. Robert Baer's book "see no evil" changes the view people have about the CIA, the people who risk their life.
Rating:
Summary: See No Evil
Review: This is a great read, and a spine tingling collection of real adventures by a real CIA ground soldier. The writing is immediate, clear, well thought out, and concise, coming as it only could, from someone who lived it. I am very grateful to Robert Baer for writing this book, and in so doing taking us along on his career down the secret intelligence pathways he's walked, and sometimes crawled. And I'm very grateful for his many years of bravery and dedication and service to our country. He's the real deal, and I am very grateful to him. I wish I could tell him so in person!
|
