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| International Spy Museum's Handbook of Practical Spying (International Spy Museum) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jack Barth
Publisher: National Geographic
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.00
You Save: $7.95 (53%)
New (28) Used (22) Collectible (1) from $5.29
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 330352
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7 x 5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0792267958
Dewey Decimal Number: 327.12
EAN: 9780792267959
ASIN: 0792267958
Publication Date: July 6, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Casual Guide to the World of Spying March 12, 2008
This is a fun outsider's guide to espionage. The text is accessible enough for readers as young as early teens. Artwork complements the text nicely.
Good:
-Casual treatment of real espionage subject matter
-Writing is a very easy read
-Anecdotes and historic figures and incidents
-Direct quotes from spies and related personnel
-Material attempts to relate spy skills to everyday life, travel, etc.
Bad:
-Could have been a little more in-depth
-Some treatment of the subject was a little silly
Reading this book will not, obviously, prepare one for work as a spy. It does pull back the curtain on an interesting field and makes some of the techniques applicable to non-spy activities.
This book would make a good gift for anyone (from young teens to adults) having an interest in the subject, or perhaps as a light (!) introduction for those curious about what espionage or intelligence as a career might entail.
 The Essence of the Matter January 13, 2008
This is a brilliant, humorous and suscinct introduction to the ethos of spying. The spy is not a technologist nor a SWAT officer, but someone trained in "awareness" and able to approach discreetly her objective to get "intel". This book puts forward the essence of that spirit and the regular behaviour to be acquired, even if it precludes intentionally the sordid side. For that maybe you should read John Le Carre.
 A mix of insight and the superficial August 9, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
The book is enjoyable and takes a light-hearted approach, often playing on the average person's perception of spies. This means a lot of references to James Bond and gadgetry. However the real content of the book is based in some beginning human intelligence skills, like improving your memory, being more aware of your surroundings and danger, and profiling people and their temperments.
I found most useful the discussion on using the Myers-Briggs personality test as a basis for profiling people and trying to predict their behaviors. Also intriguing was the section on Dale Carnegie as a "master spymaster" because he understood how to influence people; a nice connection made by the author, going to the core of how espionage is mostly based on human interaction and not gadgetry.
While some of these basics were worthwhile, I was distracted and disappointed with the constant effort to loop everything back to James Bond. The book really assumes the reader knows nothing more about espionage than watching Bond films, and it tries to be funny by talking about using "that James Bond charm" or "Q's gadgets" to get out of sticky situations. The effort to lighten the mood was mishandled because as much as the author tries to be funny he is just not a comedy writer and his jokes are lame.
I would regard this book as light on content and more of an entertainment book. It does have a few basic tips that are insightful.
One of my favorite books. February 17, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I use the concepts in this book every day. As a spy, it is imperative to remember the ideas presented in this book for recruiting, questioning, and handling agents and spying on others in general. And if you are not a spy, this book is great for assessing situations, acting on your instincts, and getting into the VIP section of that awesome restaurant so you won't be stuck in the rain waiting for that girl who stood you up.
Spying for fun February 14, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I loved this book. It was entertaining and informative. The book is as smart as it is good looking. There isn't too much information, but the right amount to go on. Improving your spy skills improves your general life skills.
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