Books like The hidden hand by Richard J. Aldrich

A revealing portrait of Allen Dulles, the CIA’s longest‑serving director, uncovering his influence over U.S. policy, covert operations, and alleged links to assassinations and global intrigue.

“[The United States’ goal in Angola] was not to keep out the Cubans and Soviets but to make their imperial efforts as costly as possible and to prove that, after Vietnam. we were still capable of response, however insane. It is this story that has been told, and in impressive and convincing detail, by John Stockweli, the former chief of the CIA’s Angola task force.’ His hook should not he missed. Since strategic thought survives by ignoring experience, it has a highly professional interest in avoiding accounts such as this. By the same token, all who are alarmed about the tendency toward such strategic thinking should strongly welcome Mr. Stockwell’s book.” —John Kenneth Gaibraith. New York Review of Books In Search of Enemies is much more than the story of the only war to be found when the CIA sought to recoup its prestige after the Vietnam debacle. Though no American troops were committed to Angola, only “advisors,” many millions were spent, many thousands died, and many lies were told to the American people, in waging a war without purpose to American vital interests and without hope of victory. In Search of Enemies is unique in its wealth of detail about CIA operations and convincing in its argument that the clandestine services of the CIA should be abolished. John Stockwell, who lived in Africa for ten of his early years, is a graduate of the University of Texas and an alumnus of the U.S. Marine Corps. After twelve years as a CIA officer, he resigned from the agency on April I. 1977

In 1968 Stockholm, Operation Chaos deploys CIA deep‑cover agents to infiltrate and dismantle a burgeoning network of American draft‑resisters and deserters seeking to stage a revolution.

An in‑depth look at the United States’ post‑war covert operations, charting the CIA’s origins and early missions in the context of U.S. foreign and diplomatic relations.

Admiral Stansfield Turner offers an insider look at the U.S. intelligence community, revealing how political dynamics and personal relationships shape the decisions of the President and CIA leadership.

A CIA former officer publishes a wide‑ranging critique of covert operations, questioning U.S. leadership decisions and highlighting alleged manipulation behind the U‑2 Incident, the Kennedy assassination, and Vietnam policy.

An account of the transformation of the wartime Office of Strategic Services into the Central Intelligence Agency and the growth of America's intelligence community.