FROM THE SHADOWS: THE ULTIMATE INSIDER'S STORY OF FIVE PRESIDENTS AND HOW THEY WON THE COLD WAR

Rating:
Summary: Blandness Dulls Insight
Review: As other reviewers have noted, the book is written in an intel-report, 5-paragraph essay format that seems substandard for a high-level official's memoirs.

If you're able to get through the dryness, there are excellent anecdotes and insights on everything from Cuban involvement in Sub-Saharan Africa to the underrated threat Carter posed to the Soviet empire. Not for the casual reader but definitely worth a look for an intel-buff.

I subtracted one star for the tedious style of writing. The other missing star is due to Gates completely ignoring his years as CIA Director. Perhaps there were simply too many regulatory barriers to releasing sensitive info on fairly recent operations or perhaps Gates is a gentleman and does not wish to speak ill of his years as Clinton's DCI. Whatever the reason, this glaring omission detracts greatly from the book because we feel as though we have followed Gates to the pinnacle of power and then the door slams in our faces.

This omission is particularly glaring for those of us looking for insight into the current debates over intelligence regulations in the 90's. It'd be nice for Gates to speak up for history's sake. If he is recusing himself from the debate for gentlemanly reasons, I respect that, but I'll knock his book for it.

Rating:
Summary: Must reading for the Intelligence Professional
Review: Bob Gates is the only person to begin working at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a low-level analyst and then rise to the position of Director of Central Intelligence. His career spans over six presidential administrations. He worked in the National Security Council staff at the White House during the administrations of four Presidents. He offers a comprehensive, unique, and insightful look into the role of national intelligence and the continuity it brought to national policy in spite of the different Presidents and their distinct personalities. His book is essential reading for all intelligence professionals. The book is not an historical account of the CIA, but, rather, a personal account of the intricate personal relationships between national policymakers and national intelligence analysts during the Cold War. This is a story of how intelligence contributed to stabilizing national policy and ensured its continuity, at least with respect to the Soviet Union, from one administration to the next. Due to the author's deference to his former superiors, important lessons are hidden in the subtlety of his words; it is incumbent on the reader to find them. Gates also offers his own evaluation of recent Presidents and their advisors.

Rating:
Summary: Intense Reading - great enjoyment
Review: Excellent account of what really goes on from the inside of the govt. They say that truth is better than fiction. This is true in a big way in this book. You will recall many of the events in not too distant history. They come alive in this book and history makes more sense. Intense reading - be sure to underline the names to keep track of the huge cast of characters. A big Aggie thumb's up for this one!

Rating:
Summary: Intense Reading - great enjoyment
Review: Gates had access to some of the most fascinating characters in the history of the Cold War. His observations are incisive and revealing about many of these personalities; however, his book often reads like one might imagine a CIA memo reads, rather dry. The book provides feedback on several important historical instances but it does not go into much depth on any. I do not recommend it as a book used to learn the history of that era. Instead I would read it to gain a further understanding of what went on behind the scenes.
In general, I find Gates to be an interesting character himself. He has some hilarious anecdotes about life in the CIA. Such as when he is walking up the steps of Air Force One and turns to flip off several of the top officials (I think it was) in Romania after they botch his passport. In addition to a often dry sense of humor he also seems to have a great deal of character and integrity.

Rating:
Summary: Informative but dry
Review: Gates had access to some of the most fascinating characters in the history of the Cold War. His observations are incisive and revealing about many of these personalities; however, his book often reads like one might imagine a CIA memo reads, rather dry. The book provides feedback on several important historical instances but it does not go into much depth on any. I do not recommend it as a book used to learn the history of that era. Instead I would read it to gain a further understanding of what went on behind the scenes.
In general, I find Gates to be an interesting character himself. He has some hilarious anecdotes about life in the CIA. Such as when he is walking up the steps of Air Force One and turns to flip off several of the top officials (I think it was) in Romania after they botch his passport. In addition to a often dry sense of humor he also seems to have a great deal of character and integrity.

Rating:
Summary: Insider's look at the cold war and washington politics
Review: Gates has made a solid contribution to the literature on the cold war. Arguing that US foreign policy had far more continuity and coherence than the political positioning of candidates would seem to make it appear, Gates proves that presidents come and go but the bureaucracy remains forever! The fact that he was a major part of 4 administrations makes it somewhat self-serving for him to make this argument, but nonetheless, it is probably true. Gates provides the reader with major insight into many of the fronts of the cold war, including Latin America, Europe, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, highlighting how intelligence failures in the late 60's resulted in the detente policies of Nixon, but the military buildup by the Reagan administration ultimately bankrupted the Soviet Union. In between Nixon and Reagan, he gives President Carter a great deal of credit for being the first president to challenge the moral auhority of the COmmunist Party to rule. This made him a dangerous enemy i nthe eyes of the Soviets. According to the author, the year 1983 was the most dangerous year; we nearly came to blows with the Soviet Union over missle placement, Star wars and a host of other issues. The book is a bit long and the rough chronological format results in the author repeating many themes too often, but it contains enough facts and insights about so many seminal events in the cold war that its ultimately worth the long hours to finish. What Gates does not do is assess the price America paid for victory in the cold war, and ask if it was all worth it. Is the world any safer now than it was then? Im not sure, but Gates provides us with many fascinating stories about a time when the world was a two superpower place. He also gives excellent portraits of each of the presidents he served under. For those of you unaware of his status, he was the first person to rise from entry level analyst to CIA Director under George Bush. Overall, an interesting book if a bit long and perhaps a bit too detailed and insiderish for some, he drops names as if it was a Hollywood party!

Rating:
Summary: Useful benchmark on intelligence-policy relationship
Review: I wore out one fountain pen on this book. Bob Gates has served his country, and five presidents, as earnestly and capably as anyone might, and there is much to learn from this book. The level of detail is quite good. He is very critical of the Directorate of Operations for both misbehavior and a lack of management control in relation to Central America, and as one who was there I have to say, he is absolutely right. We disagree on the point of intelligence (he would say, "secrets for the president", I would say "knowledge for the Nation") but I believe we would agree on this: intelligence is important, and intelligence merits deep and sustained interest by the President.

Rating:
Summary: A rare look inside, if a bit buttoned-down
Review: Mr Gates' background in writing intelligence analysis is very apparent in his book, which covers the role of intelligence on policy and the figures that carried out the policy, from President Nixon to Bush Sr. Stylistically, ideas are introduced, expanded upon, and brought back together in sum and reflection in efficient essay form, yet in, one senses, what epitomizes intelligence directorate reporting at Langley. As such the recounting can be understandably dry (albeit with ready humor), but these ARE renderings of historical events; when I was patient, I found that his clarity and humility make the work readable and insightful. The DC cocktail crowd no doubt received ample fuel from Mr Gates' (decidedly fair) renderings of George Schultz and William Casey, both of whom Mr Gates spent much time with during the Reagan years. Other character sketches elucidate and emphasize Mr Gates' opinions about other high-ranking individuals in the various administrations, but his everyman-ish voice is an able mediator among the personalities.

The retelling of some events where Mr Gates plays up his role or access get a bit tedious; for example, when he and Larry Eagleburger hit the European circuit to sell arms reductions (somewhat to the effect of "we went to London, then Rome, then Bonn, then Amsterdam")-likewise, when Mr Gates would accompany other advisers and President Bush to Kennebunkport, and almost any private meetings Mr Gates would have with President Bush.

Mr Gates' own conservative bent comes through in several places, but most succinctly in his concluding remarks about the Soviet Union's demise. Here Mr Gates writes of a Soviet role in terrorist activity, yet a US role in aiding freedom fighters, which only extends a pervasive double standard in US government foreign policy. Of course Mr Gates' worked on a day-to-day basis to limit the Soviets' opportunities, and of course US hegemony is all the greater for it, but zeal can sometimes be confused for rationale: certainly the US has carried out its own "terrorist" activities, many through the CIA itself, and recent uncoverings of Kissinger's strong hand in Latin America are evidence of more glib and (many believe) illegal workings by the US executive branch.

Mr Gates has personally intrigued me since I read an article on him around the time of his confirmation as DCI in 1991. The article told of his early job as a bus driver, teaching Russian phrases to community riders, and his reference to many of the Easterners among the DC establishment ranks as "guys with last names as first names." Such an endearing portrait of himself is difficult to find in his narrative and made me a bit disappointed he didn't talk more about graduate school and Russian studies years, especially as the Sovietology schools were evolving in the 1960s, yet such topics would admittedly digress from the book's theme.

Aside from its occasional name-dropping and some opportune flag waving, Mr Gates' memoir is evenly told and offers a straightforward, insider view of executive policy during pivotal moments between 1970 and 1992. It is also well written, with helpful and sufficient background for the events recounted. I would look forward to reading anything he further publishes, especially concerning the direction or affairs of Russia and its former Soviet neighbors.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Book from an Intelligence Pro
Review: Robert Gates saw it all during the Cold War and survived the bureaucratic shuffling of five presidents. His observations on events all over the globe prove an incredibly insightful addition to information about the Cold War. Gates, however, is slightly biased because he worked for both the CIA and State, but nevertheless, the book presents most ideas that allow readers to take their own angle. Overall a good book which I would recommend.

Rating:
Summary: decision making and Cold War from an insider's view
Review: The book provides a clear understanding of the Cold War years during four administrations. Gates' observations present a personal account of state beurocracy and decision making. As a member of the Central Intellgience Agency, Gates approaches the subject from unique perspectives. I think for those of you, who are interested in reading about Cold War and policy making, this book is a notable one.