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Product Description
Product Description
Spies are all around us and always have been. They are the ultimate survivors and their knowledge and skillsets have been carefully passed down through word of mouth - until now. "Streetwise Spycraft" shows you exactly what spies do and how they do it. Handling agents, encoding messages, tracking, escape & evasion and surveillance are all skills that the man on the street would not have dreamed of needling as few as ten years go. But in the Age of Terror of the twenty-first century, skills once considered extreme have become essential for survival on the dangerous streets of our cities. If you want to discover the reality of what spies do, and to learn key skills for yourself "Streetwise Spycraft" is the book for you.
About the Author
Barry Davies joined the Army in 1962 and four years later he volunteered for the SAS. He remained with what is one of the world's most feared regiments for 18 years, during which time he was involved in skirmishes around the globe. He was instrumental in helping resolve the Mogadishu Highjack situation in Germany, and was awarded the BEM. On leaving the SAS, Barry turned his talents to improving anti-terrorist equipment. He continues to advise, consult and lecture on all apects of intelligence and terrorism. He has written several books and is often seen on television. He lives in Spain.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Intelligence agencies have existed in one form or another for centuries; their role was always to spy on each other. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Intelligence agencies have existed in one form or another for centuries; their role was always to spy on each other. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm currently researching for a TV drama, and have traipsed through all the usual suspects like Andy McNab and Chris Ryan's books (novels, biographies and reference). This is in a different league. It's amazing!
It's quite a small sized book, easy reading, and short yet without skimming on information. It's also got the tiniest of text (8pt or similar!). It reads like a military field manual: it's firm, clear, and to the point. It is so frank, so often, that every few pages I was left startled by new insights into the dirty world of intelligence and surveillance. As the author Barry Davies says in the introduction, all the information is on the web, but at least 50% of the contents of this book was totally new to me: Dead Letter Boxes and passing messages; recruiting and handling agents; disguises; techniques for mobile and static surveillance; garbology (what they say and what it means); tips on effective sabbotage; techniques on lock picking and breaking and entering; how to fight [really, really] dirty; how to create a new identity and obtain a new passport from families of the recently deceased(!); govt intelligence systems like Echelon; ways to bypass keypad entry systems... It just goes on and on. I can't stop thinking about some of the stuff that he highlights that must be going on all around us. Amazing!
My only reservation is the front cover: It's doesn't inspire confidence that the book is going to be any good, yet it's also just blaitent enough to detract from reading it whilst on the tube.
This isn't a book for spies, but if you want to learn a little (or a lot) about the real world of Jason Bourne and James Bond, then I highly recommend this book.
It's quite a small sized book, easy reading, and short yet without skimming on information. It's also got the tiniest of text (8pt or similar!). It reads like a military field manual: it's firm, clear, and to the point. It is so frank, so often, that every few pages I was left startled by new insights into the dirty world of intelligence and surveillance. As the author Barry Davies says in the introduction, all the information is on the web, but at least 50% of the contents of this book was totally new to me: Dead Letter Boxes and passing messages; recruiting and handling agents; disguises; techniques for mobile and static surveillance; garbology (what they say and what it means); tips on effective sabbotage; techniques on lock picking and breaking and entering; how to fight [really, really] dirty; how to create a new identity and obtain a new passport from families of the recently deceased(!); govt intelligence systems like Echelon; ways to bypass keypad entry systems... It just goes on and on. I can't stop thinking about some of the stuff that he highlights that must be going on all around us. Amazing!
My only reservation is the front cover: It's doesn't inspire confidence that the book is going to be any good, yet it's also just blaitent enough to detract from reading it whilst on the tube.
This isn't a book for spies, but if you want to learn a little (or a lot) about the real world of Jason Bourne and James Bond, then I highly recommend this book.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking read. This book contains a good laymans introduction to the craft, focusing more primarily on operational techniques and uses of technology rather than getting bogged down in specific detail of how certain technology works. There is some in here about recruiting agents however it focuses more on the actual tradecraft: survillance techniques, communications and coding etc. An essential read for any aspiring intelligence field operative or private investigator, or in fact anyone who wants to gain insight into that world.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a fascinating look at the techniques of tradecraft - and I found myself in particular referencing it in my memory to Bourne films, many of techniques described here seem to have found their way into that set of films ! Contains some very interesting information, but in some chapters leaves the reader wanting more - an example of this is in one section it mentions resistance to interrogation techniques and then does not go on anywhere in the book to describe them.
Some good tips on self defence and practical information too for the average jo on the street in keeping ones personal data secure from frauds and basic security for those living in rough areas.
Not a particularly long read, but a good little guide to introduce various ideas. Interesting to read if you are interested in spy films/genre/writing.
Some good tips on self defence and practical information too for the average jo on the street in keeping ones personal data secure from frauds and basic security for those living in rough areas.
Not a particularly long read, but a good little guide to introduce various ideas. Interesting to read if you are interested in spy films/genre/writing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Minimal content--Reads like it was largely cribbed from Wikipedia
I've been thinking about buying a book on surveillance since I saw McNulty on The Wire training his kids to follow random shoppers with a "floating box". Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Duda
a great book for security workers in the small hours
well wrote and good for ideas and adds to our knowledge, and can prompt you into thinking just that little more
Published 20 months ago by johnho
Bravo...zero
The comments below have got it right, in a way - book treats the idea of spycraft as a no nonsense / SAS / Ultimate Force affair. Read more
Published 21 months ago by LucasianChair
Good but basic
Good book, good info, spelling errors and missing letters. I like the way it is written although the font is small. A good overview but definately left me wanting more detail. Read more
Published 22 months ago by B
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