Agencies

I think the set overreaches in that it tries to cover too much material in three volumes. I think that compressive coverage of narrower focus would have been better than shorting really important political issues such as the potential for manipulation of the bacterial and viral genomes by governments to start pandemics in targeted racial or ethnic groups. There are some otherwise good science articles that fail to even hint at the still unknown the extent of the U.S. government's invasion into personal privacy. But I am most disappointed that the authors kept to the "official" historical line on the role of intelligence agencies in matters such as the Kennedy assassination. Other conspiracies, and the facts supporting them, are also ignored or glossed over in favor of science and technology articles that lose sight of the grander manipulation of intelligence by governments for political gain. While the book lists suspected terrorist organizations, the terrorist actions of the U.S. government and its sometimes allies are also ignored. Younger readers and the general public would be better served by a brighter light on the dirty corners into which secrets are sometimes swept.

I found articles with which I agreed and disagreed, but I appreciated that the book attempted not to pander to special interests, and avoided straying too far right or left politically. The emphasis on the importance of the biosciences, especially biometrics and genetics, makes the books valuable and interesting. The publisher was brave on two counts, for attempting these books during turbulent times where the "facts" and names of agencies seem to change every day, and for tackling tough and intricate topics in way that they challenge but do not overwhelm the average reader.

I might knock a star or two off of the Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security if the books were intended for graduate students or intended as a substitute for professional level publications by security specialists, but there are few resources in this area that bring such clear writing and scientific expertise to younger students and the general public. The books are written from a global perspective (the editors are in the U.K. and the advisory board is diverse and internationally based), and touch on global issues and organizations. These books also offer excellent insight into the tumultuous reorganization of the United States security agencies and the complexities of problems brought about by the concept of homeland security. The typical Anti-American/pro-European world view is restrained, and criticism is directed at organizations, agencies, and politics on both sides of the Atlantic. It is refreshing to see a resource on this topic written by scientists and teachers rather than another insider "tell all." There are some errors and omissions (I would have liked to have seen greater coverage of Asian issues), but it is good to discover a resource in this area that is dedicated to fact rather than opinion. Perhaps most important for students is that the editors and publishers were unselfish in directing readers to excellent outside resources for more advanced study. The reference resources, especially the glossary, included at the end of each volume are outstanding and helpful to all students and researchers.

If good intentions were all that is required for an author, Michael Edwards would be a giant among policy writers. Unfortunately, having one's heart in the right place is not enough. Consider this passage on page 144:

"Does basketball player Michael Jordan have to earn 31,000 times more for advertising Nike sports shoes than the workers who produce them, despite the fact that should wages be doubled the cost of production would still fall below $1 a pair?... Inequalities [such as this] result from political decisions
about the distribution of gains arising from economic activity."

This statement betrays a profound ignorance of how markets work. Michael Jordan earns 31,000 times more than the factory workers, not as a result of any "political decision," but because there are apparently many people for whom $1.75 a day is preferable to unemployment or life in a poor rural village. On the other hand, there is only one Michael Jordan and Nike believes only an athlete of his caliber should represent its product. If Nike had to settle for a lesser player as spokesperson and sold fewer shoes as a result, at least some of the workers in the shoe factory would lose their jobs. So while it may seem frivolous or even outrageous that someone who throws a ball through a hoop earns thousands of times more than people who provide a basic necessity like shoes, the shoemakers themselves and those who care about their wellbeing should be happy Nike can afford to hire Michael Jordan.

This preachy litany of cliches, half-truths, and unsubstantiated assertions about evils of competition and laissez-faire is nothing more than warmed-over Fabian socialism. It didn't work in the 19th century. It won't work in the 21st either.

... Make no mistake, this is a rigorous treatment of the international cooperation debate, packed with detailed evidence that is all footnoted at the end. At times this makes for some heavy reading, but it is worth it, since the evidence and the argument all hang together to illumine what has gone wrong in the world since 1945 and what we can do about it. Yes, this does mean "re-balancing the competitive and co-operative rationalities that motivate each one of us" (from the Preface), but in the aftermath of September 11th you would have to be crazy not to understand the importance of global cooperation in addressing threats like terrorism, pollution and poverty. What Edwards shows, better to my mind than any other recent book I've read, is how the original ideals of "international community" after World War II were corrupted into a system of threats and bribes that can never be effective in eliciting real cooperation between countries. Some of his prescriptions for correcting this situation may sound idealistic, but better this than the emptiness and cynicism of much current political debate. Especially since September 11th, I do believe that the world is heading in the direction of a "Future Positive", and this book is a pretty good roadmap to help us along the way.

After over a decade of dealing with international co-operation in various capacities, in different locations and on many sides of the equation, this is the first time that I find a book that actually translates my experiences in a way that helps me deeply understand the reasons behind my successes and failures.

Would like to highly recomend this book to anyone who has lost faith in international co-operation, or who is looking for a compass to guide them through the complexities of such an art.

Insightful, inspiring, informed, committed, refreshing and very useful are some of the adjectives that come to me as I write this.

Happy reading

I think that Roger can't get over the fact that other people in the world are getting paid more than himself. What probably pisses him off even more is that it is a job (playing baseball) that he believes not to be worthy enough of such pay. He is a jealous and judgemental author who has nothing better to do then hate on well known athletes that succeed his pay check. His facts are good though, and he makes a good case. His book is just his opinion though which I disagree with which is basically the reason I ddin't enjoy reading it.

If you are looking to gain a better understanding of salary economics related to baseball, search no further. The Money Pitch is a good resource to educate any reader about the principles and logic behind such a huge economic enterprise. This book is very informative and reveals many facts that are not common knowledge. Upon reading this book one gains a new perspective toward baseball and broadens his understanding of how economics are applied in sports.

I feel that this Novel was well written but almost too in depth. Abrams throws so many facts and ideas at the reader that it is often overwhelming and hard to follow. He uses amazing analogies and anecdotes to help an average reader understand more about baseball. When you are able to feel the passion in his writing the novel gets very entertaining and at the same time you are underdstanding elements of the game which you could not learn by watching a game. He discusses free agency and various elements of the game as well as the origins of baseball. Overall I felt it was worth my time and I am pleased that a book laced with economics could be so interesting.

This thin book was even thinner on the late days of the Railway Express Agency. I was tickled at the detail Klink Garrett gave for his early years, but this detail was skipped after his move up the corporate ladder. I think they spent themselves into oblivion and nobody seemed to care. Did they fall, or were they pushed? Did Klink help or hinder? I couldn't tell and Klink didn't either. Still, it was an interesting story about a big company that just up and disappeared.

I met Klink Garrett, inspiration and co-author of "Ten Turtles to Tucumcari," the other day. My family had given me a copy of Klink's newly published book for my birthday in December, and the next month Klink was available for book signing at the Western Heritage Center in Spearfish, South Dakota. After convincing the gate-keeper that I was not there for the Western Christmas show, he let me through with my copy of the book to see Klink, assuring me that he would find me if I infiltrated the show-goers to collect the $10 entry fee. Klink gladly signed the copy of his book that I thrust at him and bade me sit at his table and talk for a while. He pulled out another book that he wanted me to see-a looseleaf binder containing dozens and dozens of railroad passes issued to him as an official of the Railway Express Agency by, I think, every railroad in the nation. I looked on passes issued by the Frisco, the Santa Fe, the Union Pacific, the New York Central, the Pennsy, the Texas and Pacific, the Burlington, the Chicago and Northwestern, the Penn Central, and on and on. I was sitting in front of a man who had a personal acquaintance with railroads that I know only through their published histories and by modern toy trains painted in their images.

In "Ten Turtles to Tucumcari," Garrett tells the story of his employment with the Railway Express Agency, adding on to that an historical overview of the express industry in America, including REA's several predecessors such as Wells-Fargo and the Pony Express, and how they merged one by one finally to form the preeminent express company in the nation until changing fortunes snuffed out its final breath in 1979.

Dry facts and statistics bore me to death, and I fear that, all too often, that's what the word "history" connotes to students. In this book, however, Garrett gives us the history of one of the most influential businesses in America as he saw it as an employee, first at the grass-roots level and finally at corporate headquarters. We get to understand the corporate climate of REA by seeing it in action through Garrett's eyes, not by having him lecture us on it. Of course, quite a few anecdotes of unusual shipments and strange customers appear here and there to really enliven the narrative. I'll chuckle for a long time over the shipment of Mexican burros that ate one another's destination tags from their necks! And let's not forget the story of how Klink Garrett got his name-but I'm not going to give that story away here!

There will be readers who say that this is nothing but another American autobiography. You know the genre: Young man works hard, makes good. It is that indeed, but how else could the Railway Express Agency have become the successful, influential, entrepreneurial company it was had it not been for employees like that young man who worked hard and made good? Garrett's personal history goes a long way toward explaining the company's success. Incidentally, this is not a whitewash of the company either, for Garrett's book does not ignore the internal problems that helped bring about REA's demise nor its abysmal sexual and racial bigotry through the 1960's. I found it to be a quite comprehensive view of the company, especially for being only 172 pages long.

If you have an interest in American history, American railroads, the transportation industry, or in stories of young men working hard and making good, you will enjoy "Ten Turtles to Tucumcari." I just wish Klink could have told us what was in those lead-lined REA express cars procured for doing business with the Atomic Energy Commission!

Ten Turtles To Tucumcari: A Personal History Of The Railway Express Agency is a very personal history of the Railway Express Agency comes from a man who spent much of his life in a national sales position with REA coordinating the transit needs of the Defense Department. His story combines ethics and business savvy with an account of the company's decline and the demise of the nation's railroads.

The last thing I want to do is read some dissident's views. Activists generally don't like America and / or find fault with it. The author clearly falls into this camp. He speaks about a CIA that used-to-be for the protection of our liberty. The fact that this book got published is evidence of a new leftist-leaning agency. Sure, harassment exists today, but it is directed at patriots who couldn't get their real life stories of harassment published. I know because I am a target of it.

"Secrets: The CIA's War at Home" might strike a lot of people as whacked out conspiracy theory or anti-government propaganda but it is neither of those things. Using his own well-documented historical and journalistic research, Angus McKenzie demonstrates that for decades the CIA, FBI, DOD (Department of Defense) and other American intelligence organizations targeted American citizens for espionage, harassment, and slander in a manner that eroded their First Amendment rights but had practically nothing to do with national security.

American intelligence organizations frequently spied on and subverted their own people to prevent political opposition to the Vietnam War, to conceal illegal activities such as the Iran/Contra scandal, or simply to hide corruption and bureaucratic waste from the legislative branch of government and the American people. In one appalling example, a government appointed efficiency expert was not allowed to report wasteful Pentagon expenditures to his supervisors in congress because this information was considered classified. American intelligence agencies in fact retain the power to determine that any information is classified and they can use this mandate to fire or prosecute employees even for reporting trivial facts to the public such as the contents of a White House menu. Sadly enough America's intelligence agencies could not have made such a drastic legal and illegal assault on the First Amendment without the cooperation of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), the media, and the legislative branch of government, all of whom were either duped or cowed into acquiescence.

The most frightening part of this book is its revelation that when American intelligence agencies ran out of excuses to justify their anti-First Amendment activities they raised the specter of terrorism. One can only imagine the further corruption, illegal activity, and constitutional abuses that American intelligence agencies will perpetuation against their own people now that terrorism is a legitimate threat. If history repeats it self, then these abuses will stem from the need to conceal corruption and criminal activity but will have little to do with combating terrorism.

Well the CIA does spy on USA citizens but the book failed to mention that a lot of the spying goes on in the Federal Prisons. One such important Federal Prisons is Butner FCI, Butner, NC. Its Prison, "which I read about" is the greatest in surveillence and misinformation and disinformation in the Prison-with false identification with individuals who reside there-claiming they did some "violation of the Federal law"-but in actuality it is nothing but a "front story for the agent" to figure out your case.If you were a inmate. Your surrounded by prisoners, who "claim they are", but really are working for the US Government to figure out your case.

This is a story about Heller, a CIA techie here in the US whose fiancee is killed by terrorists in Europe. He decides that revenge -- killing the terrorists who killed her -- is his best course of action, blackmails his superiors into training him, then goes to Europe to do the job. The overarching problem I had with this book is that Heller did not seem suffienciently motivate. Consequently, his course of action seemed implausible. I had heard a lot of good things about Littell (and maybe he's gotten better -- this book is 20 years old. His knowledge of spy tradecraft is as advertised, but when it comes to the craft of writing, he is lacking. Trite metaphors and cliche's abound. Characterization is better than some in this genre, but a far cry from LeCarre, to whom he's compared on his dust jackets. All in, not bad to kill a plane ride. And if you like insider-CIA stuff, this won't dispappoint.

It has been some years since I read the book so that is why I am only giving it a four. But it is one of those that stays with you long after many similar genre works are long forgotten so it should get a five. I loved Littel working the plot from the aspect of a CIA staffer who works in cryptography - not your typical Bond type. The cryptologist uses his knowledge of what is going on and hides CIA information to force the Agency to train him to exact revenge on the terrorists who killed his fiance. I also loved the sub plot of "who wrote Shakespeare's work." While Robert Ludlum and Clancy are still my favorites and both turn out excellent reads I would add Littel to my list of those who need to be read. And The Amateur is one of my very favorites.

I have been on a Robert Littell reading binge lately and have become quite a fan. He ranks right up there with John le Carre, Ken Follett and Len Deighton when it comes to well written, original, intelligent espionage thrillers. I also enjoy Littell's use of irony and his dry sense of humor.

Charlie Heller is a quiet, unassuming man with a quiet, unassuming job in a back office of a large corporation. He is a crack cryptographer for the CIA - The Company. Since his boyhood he has been fascinated with untangling codes and he considers himself fortunate that he is able to pay the rent by doing a job that he so enjoys. As an added attraction, he gets to use the CIA's super-sophisticated computer, with which he pursues his hobby. Heller is a Shakespeare "denialist" and searches all of the great bard's works trying to find a cryptogram which will reveal their true author. So, with a well paid job, an unusual and most interesting hobby, and the love of a wonderful woman, his beloved fiancee Sarah Diamond, Charlie Heller is a happy man.

Unfortunately, Sarah is brutally murdered by terrorists in a surprise attack at the American Embassy in West Germany. (The novel is set in the 1970s). Charlie, informed of the news by his sympathetic superiors, is bereft. His feelings of loss and subsequent depression are clearly portrayed by Littell, as is the terrible bitterness he feels when he learns that The Company will not pursue the terrorists who committed the crime, even though their identity and location is known. They are behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia. Heller becomes driven by a need for revenge, which his Company psychiatrist notes is "very therapeutic." With his back against the wall, Heller manages to manipulate the masters of manipulation and move toward his goal of assassinating the terrorists responsible for Sarah's death. He is an amateur - "someone who thinks that if something is worth doing, it may be worth doing badly" - working against some of the best people in the field of espionage and assassination. And they all want to take Heller out with extreme prejudice.

This book is a real page turner. I could not put it down. Heller is an extremely well developed character and his motivation and talents are well thought-out and make perfect sense in the storyline. The minor characters are also terrific. His Czech contact is a brilliant addition to the plot and her constant malaprops bring much needed comic relief to many taut, tense situations. If you enjoy this book, you may want to check-out Robert Littell's "The Company." It is another excellent novel. Happy reading.
JANA

Any notion that Allen Dulles was a gentleman is absolutely absurd! He helped Hitler secure funds for his war machine from American and British financial institutions. On behalf of his client, Nelson Rockefeller, Dulles arranged to keep a steady flow of Saudi oil flowing to Nazi Germany throughout the war. He knew about the Holocaust, but didn't lift a finger to help the Jews. Dulles and James Jesus Angleton setup the Nazi Ratline near war's end that smuggled thousands of Nazi war criminals out of Europe to various Middle Eastern states as well as Argentina. After the war, he organized Operation Paperclip to smuggle hundreds of Nazi war criminals from South America into the United States to work for the CIA. He and brother John Foster Dulles committed high treason by providing aid and comfort to the enemy during wartime; crimes for which they should have been executed. Instead, they got an international airport named after John Foster Dulles.

What a great book! If you are a history buff like me, you'll love this book. Allen Dulles, former lawyer, former diplomat, former OSS Operative, former President of the Council on Foreign Relations, for Director of the CIA (under Eisenhower and Kennedy), and brother of the Secretary of State (John Foster Dulles who the airport is named after), and member of the establishment -- this book is quite a treat. It takes us through the post-WWI years and then through WWII where Dulles was stationed for OSS in Bern. It then details the formation and escalation of the Cold War. Grosse does a terrific job detailing Dulles's public and personal lives. Highly recommended.

I just finished this book and it was an excellent read. The life of Allen Dulles is remarkable and deserves to be known. If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, then this is a required book.

Well I just woke up from a long nap after trying yet again to *yawn* read a chapter of this *yawn* book. Definitely not nearly enough bananas or geese in it for me. If you want to hear long drawn-out stories about getting files from government agencies....well all I'm saying is I guess my primary interest in Lennon has always been his music and I just don't give a hoot about this stuff-- not enough entertainment value. I thought the book "The day Elvis Met Nixon" was much better. Oh go ahead write me a negative response.

Chronicling the bizarre FBI/CIA fear & obsession with ex-Beatle rock legend John Lennon during the 70's,Jon Wiener gathers up the dossier files & informant reports(etc) that have been released under the Freedom of Information Act by both intelligence agencies concerning their interests & worries with the "dangerous extremist" Mr.Lennon & his THEN struggle for acceptance & a 'Green-Card' in the U.S.-(And all this manifesting from a minor marijuana conviction in 1968)-. Weiner pushed & leaned on the agencies for years to get the documents published(as had other biographers)& quite a number of them are blanked out for purposes of "National Security". It's a great book for "hard-core" Beatle fans & it's a comprehensive study on Govt. paranoia for future generations to bewilder at. Thumbs up!

It did bring me back "...to those thrilling day's of yesteryear." I was 18 and in the Army in 1972. I have forgoten most of the events unfolding that year, and this book brought back those scene's, as well as the THEN famous people who are just "faded memories" now. John and Yoko, Abby and Jerry, The other Chicago seven members, all of them are here and live again in these declassified FBI files. You would think some of the printed report's on the coming's and going's of the counter-culture leaders were written by old buisy-bodies. Most documents are just plain nonsense and gossip. Why the Government tried to supress these for so long is a wonder. I would like to know what the British sent over to the FBI in the way of documents. These are shown to the reader as still being blacked out, and some dated beyond the date the FBI stopped wacthing Lennon's movements. A well done book by the Prof. and well worth the time if you like to read book's of a more political theme. Not for the four mop top's type of Beatle's fan. If you lived through the Day's of rage and wish to take a walk down those paranoid paths of the Hippie era then buy this book (I did not say "Steal This Book.")

I found the book disappointing with very little information specific to debt collection. I was hoping for insights into the collection industry, however, the first 25 pages were devoted to a very general business plan. The Fair Information Act infomation is available online for free and the final chapter consisted of self-congratulations by the author. I wish Mr. Bills had shared his considerable knowledge of the industry in much more depth.

This step-by-step guide of a home based collection agency proved to be very interesting and a very easy reading guide to follow.
It has very good business plans, marketing tips etc. It shows you exactly what it takes to start up a business. I loved all the sample letters that can be used. I highly recommend this book to those who are wanting to do a Home Based Collection Agency.

This is truly a book for people seeking a legitimate work-at-home business... easy to understand, it answered a lot of questions. It's essential reading for anyone considering a home based business, and an inexpensive way to get a glimpse of this kind of business and what it entails!

I'll be honest, I haven't finished it yet. I've read 3 other books in the week since I started it since it is so boring. I would not buy it again, recommend it or even start it if I saw it. I'll probably finish it as a point of honor, but stick to the author's other works.

I was flattered while working in my first ad agency position when the accountant - a veteran of New York ad agencies - told me I would do very well on Madison Avenue. That lifestyle never appealed to me but I was intrigued enough to buy Up The Agency at the local Barnes & Noble. In a hilarious account from the author's own experiences and observations as a star advertising executive, Peter Mayle reveals the sordid inner workings, dysfunctionalities and shameless greed of the world's most mammoth ad agencies. Detailing the base instincts, typical thought processes and hidden agendas of account executives, art directors, copywriters, assistants and other agency personnel, as well as those of the clients, Mr. Mayle exposes with dire sarcasm how the quest for money, status and ego corrupt the agency-client relationship. The result is bland, ineffective, conservative advertising. But that's what the client wanted and the tradeoff is a second house in the Hamptons and a Porsche in the garage. Add Mr. Mayle's English heritage and it would be easy for those on the outside of the industry to miss much of the dry yet irresistibly funny humor.

In fact, I must confess that it was only last night that I dusted it off the shelf to send it to a friend considering a career in advertising that I realized how funny this book is. After flipping through a few pages describing how industry awards are judged (think Salt Lake City Olympics Pairs Figure Skating), and laughing heartily, I reread the entire book. Apparently, I missed most of the humor when I first read it ten years ago.

Up The Agency is a quick, fun and worthwhile read for anyone involved in advertising. From elaborate new business pitches and bloated entertainment expenses to excessive awards banquets and inflated egos, agency personnel, clients and vendors alike will enjoy dozens of all too true stories that will in all likelihood mirror many of their own experiences.

So many people want the glamour of the agency business. So few people understand what it's all about. This book gives us humourous insight and enough of a story line to carry you through.

Me? I plan to start my own agency, so this will be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to join me. In or out? I'm in.