Book Review: The Central Intelligence Agency: An Encyclopedia of Covert Ops, Intelligence Gathering, and Spies

Abstract

This two-volume reference set offers a well-rounded look at the CIA from its inception to the present. As is made clear in the introduction, it is intended to be much more than a straightforward history of the CIA as an organization, but rather a compendium covering the broader spectrum of related topics. It would appear to live up to this claim. It does provide a detailed timeline chronicling the historical highlights, but moves right into over two hundred individual entries comprised of important events (i.e., operations, projects, cases, etc.), key players and names, and other relevant terms (e.g., “Contras,” “Handwriting Analysis,” “Torture”).