The Master of Disguise (My Secret Life in the Cia)

Rating:
Summary: Suitable For Someone Who Has Not Read Much About Espionage
Review: Books like "The Master of Disguise," "A Spy for All Seasons," and other memoirs written by intelligence community insiders present with a paradox that is known to those who are well-read in espionage related subjects. Such books always offer the tantalizing prospect of detailed information that only an insider could possibly possess, but consistently fail to deliver when it comes to revealing significant information beyond what has already been pointed out by technically attentive fiction writers like Tom Clancy. The paradox arises because, as anyone with serious interest in espionage knows, it is quite absurd to expect ex-CIA agents to reveal anything remotely important or significant from their former occupation. Not surprisingly, "The Master of Disguise" seems to consist of slightly sensationalized, self-aggrandizing baubles for the casual reader. If you have not read much about the CIA, this is an entertaining account which you can ooh and ahh over after forking over the dollars the author seems to need for his retirement fund. If you have already read your share of insider accounts, save your money and buy the paperback if you must-- this book does not provide anything new or significantly enlightening.

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Summary: CIA hero Tony Mendez reveals final secrets of the Cold War!
Review: In his autobiography, decorated CIA veteran Tony Mendez has written a detailed and fascinating account of spy operations during the Cold War. Other books have told us what the CIA did, but this is the first and only to expose the secrets of how they did it! Tony's unique career, and mastery of disguises, deception, forgery, and exfiltration, show us that the gadgets utilized by "James Bond" weren't alwaus fictional! Spy agencies worldwide will make THE MASTER OF DISGUISE required reading for intelligence officers; the new KGB will probably charter a plane to rush the first 100 copies straight to Moscow! H Keith Melton; author of THE ULTIMATE SPY BOOK

Rating:
Summary: Interesting & Personal
Review: Mr. Mendez has put together an interesting collections of his personal experiences working in the CIA. There is nothing here to shock or get excited about but it is at once interesting, exciting and informative, and lets outsiders peek behind the curtain of real-life covert field operations. Whether by design or due to faulty memory, some of his tales are not told just they way they happened and times and places have been fudged, but none of that takes away from the stories nor the readers pleasure. Not great literature but a good read never the less.

Rating:
Summary: A Heart-Thumping Read
Review: Mr. Mendez has shared with his readers a very real sense of what it was to be inside the CIA, and then inside some of their most exciting (and up to this point) secret operations. It is interesting that the CIA has allowed these stories to be told now, but in fact, after reading them, it is apparent that the intelligence equities are not affected. In each case the or foreign source has been safely rescued and resettled or the case has been finalized, once with the ultimate sacrifice on the part of the asset. I was thoroughly caught up in these tales of rescue and escapes from danger. It is amazing that these true stories are even more exciting than the Clancey books. His first book is a definite must read and will be on my Christmas gift list for several of my friends.

Rating:
Summary: Boring.
Review: Slow, boring reading. I kept waiting for it to get exciting but it never did!! There is very little real 'meat' unless you are interested in becoming a hollywood makeup artist!

Rating:
Summary: Spymaster
Review: The ambitious Mendez rose from his roots in a Nevada mining camp to become one of the top 50 agents in the CIA's first 50 years. His stories, based on his real-life adventures, crackle more than than many spy novels and movies. The CIA authorized Mendez to write this book, which casts the Company in a favorable light as the rescuer of double agents on the run and Americans caught in a revolution. With deft descriptions, Mendez portrays cities and operations in the Far East, the Middle East and Communist Moscow. Relying on Hollywood techniques, Mendez became the master of disguise who could make a Soviet agent unrecognizable to a KGB associate. The writing is straightforward and fast-paced.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Spy Story
Review: The Master of Disguise is a collection of events that Tony Mendez experienced over his long career with the CIA. While one experiences confusion and lulls with some of the tangents loosely laced throughout the book, this is still quite a good read. I would have to say that my favorite parts are in chapters 8 and 9 that tell of the scariest predicaments, the high-stakes risks, and the personal understanding needed to be a success at the spy game. If you're curious about some of the things that went on in shadows of the Cold War, it's a book that is worth your while.

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced & Factual
Review: This book is fast-paced by keeping the facts brief and relevant. It's not an expose so much as a pleasant example of an agent who is sharing his more interesting missions in a catchy, intriguing style. A quick, worthwhile read.