The Art of Intelligence

Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service

By: Henry A. Crumpton

Narrated by: David Colacci

A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career while illustrating the growing importance of America's intelligence officers and their secret missions.

For a crucial period, Henry Crumpton led the CIA's global covert operations against America's terrorist enemies, including al Qaeda. In the days after 9/11, the CIA tasked Crumpton to organize and lead the Afghanistan campaign. With Crumpton's strategic initiative and bold leadership, from the battlefield to the Oval Office, U.S. and Afghan allies routed al Qaeda and the Taliban in less than 90 days after the Twin Towers fell. At the height of combat against the Taliban in late 2001, there were fewer than 500 Americans on the ground in Afghanistan, a dynamic blend of CIA and Special Forces. The campaign changed the way America wages war. This book will change the way America views the CIA.

The Art of Intelligence draws from the full arc of Crumpton's espionage and covert action exploits to explain what America's spies do and why their service is more valuable than ever. From his early years in Africa, where he recruited and ran sources, from loathsome criminals to heroic warriors; to his liaison assignment at the FBI, the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, the development of the UAV Predator program, and the Afghanistan war; to his later work running all CIA clandestine operations inside the United States, he employs enthralling storytelling to teach important lessons about national security, but also about duty, honor, and love of country.

No book like The Art of Intelligence has ever been written - not with Crumpton's unique perspective, in a time when America faced such grave and uncertain risk. It is an epic, sure to be a classic in the annals of espionage and war.

©2012 Henry A. Crumpton (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Exceptional insight

Well done. The only thing missing is locations of most incidents, but understandably for obvious reasons. we need more people like Henry. From a Navy Vietnam vet, thank you Hank for your dedicated service.

Great story, very informative

Felt a little bit like damage control. But the story was heartwarming, inspiring, family-oriented, and captivating.

Informative and well done

This account provided me fresh perspectives on the CIA's role, on that agency's mandate compared to others; say, the FBI. I believe it is important to know the differences between law enforcement and intelligence gathering, for example, and I appreciate this experienced writer's perspective and his colorful career. This book was my beginning in a search to understand how and why DOJ and intelligence agencies' leadership have misled the public regarding Russia and Republicans while slow-walking or burying proven misdeeds by Democrats. I'm interested because that forms the foundation for my trust, or mistrust. This book covers time periods before 2016, including 911's aftermath and I'm glad to better understand the CIA's special role in that time of great crisis. It does not help me much in my quest to understand the sharp political turn that has occurred since 2015 or so.

great read!

this gives and amazing insight into the world of the CIA and the fight against AQ

Virtual page turner.

Very Entertaining and Informative. A real glimpse into the global Intel community and some events which shaped our world.

cuts with both hands

This book did a great job mixing general capability and his story. his career path combined with experience and how it all played within the construct of Intelligence was both informative and exciting.

This was the first time I had the pleasure of hearing about the hunt for UBL before 9/11 and the initial ops in Afghanistan before Iraq and DoD took the wheel

I enjoyed this book, and will most likely listen again sometime in the future.

A book on the professional life of Hank Crumpton

Good read overall, but pretty dry in certain parts.

Art of Intelligence... reads autobiographical chronicling the professional life of Henry "Hank" Crumpton. He starts from his time as a scrappy farm boy in Athens, Georgia, to a junior CIA officer, to an agent at the FBI's CTC division, to the CIA again, and ultimately the State Department under then Secretary Rice of the Bush Administration.
Hank starts the first few chapters discussing many of the nuts and bolts of clandestine service. He discusses recruiting foreign sources, pulling off collection missions, and his paramilitary operations in the African theater. Later in the book he discusses the Afghanistan theater and his work between the CIA and it's "customers" including the US Military, foreign partners, other US agencies etc. He also discusses the challenges he faced in securing provisions and marketing the intelligence collected against the political and economic arenas of the early to mid-2000s.
One of my favorite parts is when Hank discusses the advent of new tech during his career and the challenges it represented. Unfortunately, he doesn't go to great detail on this. He mentions the prominent emergence of the aerial drones in the late 1990s, the increasing role of big data and OPINT, and the increasing influence of non-state actors as a result of cheaper and more widespread sources of communication and interests abroad.
The book generally reads very patriotic as well as informative on the overall mission of the CIA's clandestine service. Crumpton can get somewhat preachy on the importance of intelligence, civic duty, and politics, but this never gets in the way of the overall message. There is a mildly sexist undertone when one of his bosses says "don't be a pussy, take the job" or when he portrays a fallen comrades wife (and then explicitly all women) as unique in having a sense of clairvoyance in knowing when there partners are in trouble. Lastly, maybe just as a problem for me, the narrator plays female characters in a somewhat obnoxiously feminine tone.
That being said, if you're interested in a career at the CIA, want to know about it as a more informed citizen, or just as a historical narrative, I encourage you to check it out.

loved it. so much insight

a beautiful wonderful weaving of art. tells the value of intelligence in an ever evolving world.

The Real Deal!

The enlightening, behind the scenes, first person account of what really happened in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. This from the perspective of the man whom designed and lead the counter terrorism response for the USA. The world needs more people like Hank! Riveting to the end...

Awesome

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this to the listener who wants to learn about the CIA.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Henry Crumpton's knowledge from his experiences within the CIA were the most compelling

Which character – as performed by David Colacci – was your favorite?

This isn't applicable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

No