Books like A look over my shoulder by Richard Helms

"An unprecedented high-level master narrative of America's intelligence wars, from the only person ever to helm both the CIA and the NSA, at a time of heinous new threats and momentous change For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America. "Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran the CIA. In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticize, and this book will give them much to chew on but little easy comfort. It is an unapologetic insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment. How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war, and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last five hundred years? What was the NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath? Why did the NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013? "-- Provided by publisher.

"The former chief of the Central Intelligence Agency tells what he has learned from nearly a half-century of experience in diplomacy, international law, espionage, and the clandestine side of foreign affairs"--Jacket subtitle.

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 ninety days after the Twin Towers fell. At the height of combat against the Taliban in late 2001, there were fewer than five hundred 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. - Publisher.

Inside the CIA, Robert Baer was known as perhaps the best operative working the Middle East. But if his career was everything a spy might aspire to, his personal life was a brutal illustration of everything a spy is asked to sacrifice--he had few non-work friendships, his prolonged absences destroyed his marriage, and he felt intense guilt at spending so little time with his children. Dayna Williamson was just an ordinary California girl, but she was always looking to get closer to the edge. When she joined the CIA, she quickly distinguished herself. Serving in some of the world's most dangerous places, she discovered an inner strength she'd never known--but she also came to see that the spy life exacts a heavy toll. When Bob and Dayna met on a mission in Sarajevo, it wasn't love at first sight--they were both too jaded. As the danger escalated and their affection grew, they realized it was time to leave "the Company." But even then they couldn't know that their most formidable challenge lay ahead.--From publisher description.

The book that the CIA tried to suppress. THE FIRST BOOK THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT EVER WENT TO COURT TO CENSOR BEFORE PUBLICATION. Published with spaces indicating the exact location and length of the 168 deletions demanded by the CIA.