The Secrets of the FBI
By Ronald Kessler Center Point Large Print, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-61173-184-2
Genre: History
Reviewed by Harry S. Chou - January 23, 2012
Ever wondered why the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) allowed the HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) to call the shots at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas? Or what the truth is surrounding the death of Marilyn Monroe? Or why J. Edgar Hoover liked to wear dresses? Or why was the FBI allowed to break the law by carrying out illegal wiretaps and searches? These and many more questions are answered in The Secrets of the FBI. Written by Ronald Kessler, this book does not break any new ground, but it does provide a thrilling overview of the many FBI secrets that are no longer secret.
This book contains thirty-two chapters, and each chapter covers one topic, case, or event that provides insights into how the FBI operates, or operated. It also chronicles some of the FBI's most notable success, and its failures, and sometimes both. One example is the chapter that details how Robert Hanssen's espionage activities, on behalf of the Soviet Union, were uncovered. Hanssen was an FBI agent, and his outing as a spy technically goes into the FBI's success column. However, Hanssen's activities went unimpeded and undiscovered for twenty-two years. So this chapter in the FBI's history also counts as a resounding failure.
The Secrets of the FBI is a fun, fast, and informative read. It is the type of book that you can read straight through, or jump around reading the chapters in any order you desire. The book is fairly up to date, and includes a chapter on the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. It also includes a large number of quotes from insiders who know the real truth about topics under discussion - often because they were personally involved in the actions described. However, for historians and those who simply like to verify facts - this book lacks two important features - footnotes and information on the sources from which the many quotes were obtained. That aside, if you are looking for an interesting book to read, this one should fit the bill. If you are doing research on the history of the FBI, you may enjoy reading this book, but do not plan on using this book as source material.
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An in-depth look at America's secret biological warfare research and the current efforts underway to thwart a biological attack, and the threat posed by biological weapons, and bioterroism.
