Bamford is one of my favorite authors. Loved the Puzzle Palace and Body of Secrets. The man knows the spy business. That being said, I was somewhat disappointed in this book. While full of good stories, it just lacked the punch that Bamford's other books had. The book did leave me very disappointed in the lack of political will in our leaders to take more serious action against those entities spying on the United States.

Thanks to Twelve Books and Netgalley for providing this ARC. Interesting, probably well-researched but felt unfinished to me in some way.

This book is incredibly compelling and well-written. However, I am concerned that the author doesn’t really appear to cite anything throughout this book and it presents conjecture and speculation rather than journalism. The topic itself is critical and this book does hone in on the fact that the US is and has been continually missing foreign surveillance apparatus for years and years, but the lack of citations makes parts of the book hard to believe and leads me to wonder if some of it was exaggerated. I am hesitant to trust this book as a source of truth fully, but the picture it paints is compelling and certainly warrants further analysis.

Reads like a LeCarre spy novel with all the corrupt cover-ups of gross incompetence. Fun read. author has some thoughts on Israeli counterintelligence problems in this country. Not sure how accurate that is, but he doesn’t hide behind journalistic objectivity. He’s got an axe to grind and it’s up to the reader to decide whether or not to agree with him. I enjoyed it for the most part, though, understanding that some of it is closer to fiction and conspiracy theory than actual objective journalism.

I love books that make you a fly on the wall and then the books by fail that is exactly what you become all the things the government doesn’t want you to know and things from all the governments are told in this book. I wish I was one of those people that could name names and give dates and say that was so great but unfortunately I am just a humble reader who loves these types of books and I highly recommend you read this one. If you love intrigues buys moles and those whose jobs could end in death at any time you need to read this book I think James Bamford did a wonderful job and it’s a total five-star read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Twelve Books for an advanced copy of this new book on the world of espionage, global politics and the billions of dollars that are spent tying to learn and kept governmental secrets, some of it well spent, most of it just wasted.

I remember once reading in a book on espionage, that there was an acronym for why people turned traitor. MICE, meaning Money, Ideology, Coercion or Ego. Money and Ego seem to be far ahead of coercion or ideology, even using people ideology, or forcing them to do things so that one person can make lots of money. This book has well to paraphrase a popular movie, you will never find a more wretched hive of scum nor villainy. Except for the author who makes an appearance or two, and some other notables whose careers are probably destroyed for making a stand, and or doing their jobs. Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America’s Counterintelligence is another study of the world of espionage by James Bamford whose The Puzzle Palace is one of my favorite books. Bamford looks at the last almost forty years of American politics and world history and reveals that as bad as some people thought America was at keeping secrets, things are a whole lot worse.

The book starts in Hollywood where a studio that needs a hit has a great idea. A project with a guy known for stoner comedies about killing a real world leader. A leader who is not known for a sense of humor, who is not happy to hear that his face will be shot with a tank round, melting and or exploding depending on the CGI. An idea that is not only thought brilliant by the studio but also by government experts who think this Seth Rogan and James Franco movie can bring about regime change in North Korea. Instead it lead to the biggest hacking scandal in business history, aired out the numerous secrets of a film studio, including nasty emails, and brought down studio heads, and ruined a 100 million dollar movie. This act emboldened North Korea as the Americans had no idea this was going to happen. Get used to reading that. What follows are more stories about Hollywood, nuclear secrets being traded, spies being betrayed, prosecutions overplayed, or made up. Foreign allies, enemies and people all looking to make a buck all seem to be getting away with technology, intellectual property, and more. And billions of dollars being spent without any real results to stop any of this.

A book that is both fascinating, depressing and even more depressing as it goes on. There seems to be no accountability, nor even shame with how bad things are going, or how things have been allowed. Money talks and spies walk, well some do, some go into exile, or prison, while others dine with world leaders, produce movies, and have mansions all over the world. Our govenment needs money to run elections, so various governments are allowed to do what they want, as long as those checks clear. Simple arrests become big shows with SWAT teams, stun grenades, US Attorneys all showing up, but forgetting to Miranda the suspects. The NSA is robbed, and still doesn't know by who, and also can't fight their own hacker programs. The list goes on. Bamford is a very good writer, making everything, Hollywood, film production, nuclear triggers, political motivations, all clear and easy to follow. There are some good guys, but honestly not enough. Money and Ego rule, and it doesn't look good.

I have enjoyed Bamford since reading Puzzle Palace, and this one is just as good. A very large scope and story, with a large list of villains and even sadder incompetents. A book guaranteed to make one angry and depressed. A very eye opening look at a scary future.

I have been on a nonfiction kick recently and this one stood out for many reasons. I loved the honesty and emotion. I felt like I was in the moment with the author and I felt like the articulation of the circumstances were easy to understand which I appreciated with such a complex issue.