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" If Reagan, Gorbachev, Thatcher and Mitterand only manage one book this year, they could do a lot worse than pick up Phillip Knightley' s." -- John le Carre
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'If Reagan, Gorbachev, Thatcher and Mitterand only manage one book this year, they could do a lot worse than pick up Phillip Knightley's and discover what imbecilities are committed in the hallowed name of intelligence.' John le Carr-'A brilliant and original book that makes sense for the first time of the world of espionage.' Edward Jay Epstein
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Phillip Knightley is a fine journalist who played a key role in the coverage of the Thalidomide scandal, wrote a number of books on subjects as diverse as his home country (Australia: A Biography of a Nation) and the history of war reporting (The First Casualty: The War Correspondent as Hero, Propagandist, and Myth-maker from the Crimea to the Gulf War II). In this outing he has written "The Second Oldest Profession", a history of spying in the twentieth century.
As ever Knightley's writing is clear, and easily engages the reader. With regard to his subject, he is focused on the state institutions of spying and their personnel, with particular regard to the experience of Britain, America and the Soviet Union (MI6, CIA, KGB). He is very good on the roots of these organizations and the personalities involved, from the British in the period prior to the Great War, the Soviets during the Civil War and the Americans during WW2. Other countries, primarily Germany and France, only come into the plot as and when their role is deemed important, mostly during both the world wars.
The cast of characters is a large one, though one never feels overwhelmed, perhaps because they are a colourful enough bunch that easily stick in the mind. Knightley is particularly interesting on the Cambridge spy ring in Britain, one of whom (Kim Philby) has been the focus of some of his journalism and a prior book. The coverage of this part is quite detailed and endlessly fascinating, particularly with regard to the genesis of the Spycatcher affair in the 1980's. The infamous Peter Wright himself was one of the "young Turks" who believed that Roger Hollis (head of MI5) was a Soviet agent. The sect within MI5 he belonged to come across as paranoid Cold War ideologues par excellence, as their capers around the Labour Governments of the 1960's and 70's make clear.
Other subjects covered include the deleterious effect of spying on the spies themselves, industrial espionage, and the dynamics of the relationship between States and "their" Intelligence agencies. Room for other subjects such as Iran, Vietnam is woefully short, the book is also somewhat threadbare with regard to the world outside the three big spying organisations: Mossad of Israel, BOSS of South Africa and Savak of Shah era Iran are barely mentioned, nor is their much with regard to South America, Africa and Asia. The 2003 edition has been updated, including coverage of the invasion of Iraq and the "War on Terror".
The limitations of scope mean this book can hardly be regarded as a definitive history of twentieth century spying. Nonetheless, it is a constantly interesting and always gripping read. Knightley is not afraid to give his opinions on matters, and as someone who has covered these issues at length during his years reporting, they are always of interest. While not exhaustive, it will certainly give the reader a sceptical insight into the murky world of spying.
As ever Knightley's writing is clear, and easily engages the reader. With regard to his subject, he is focused on the state institutions of spying and their personnel, with particular regard to the experience of Britain, America and the Soviet Union (MI6, CIA, KGB). He is very good on the roots of these organizations and the personalities involved, from the British in the period prior to the Great War, the Soviets during the Civil War and the Americans during WW2. Other countries, primarily Germany and France, only come into the plot as and when their role is deemed important, mostly during both the world wars.
The cast of characters is a large one, though one never feels overwhelmed, perhaps because they are a colourful enough bunch that easily stick in the mind. Knightley is particularly interesting on the Cambridge spy ring in Britain, one of whom (Kim Philby) has been the focus of some of his journalism and a prior book. The coverage of this part is quite detailed and endlessly fascinating, particularly with regard to the genesis of the Spycatcher affair in the 1980's. The infamous Peter Wright himself was one of the "young Turks" who believed that Roger Hollis (head of MI5) was a Soviet agent. The sect within MI5 he belonged to come across as paranoid Cold War ideologues par excellence, as their capers around the Labour Governments of the 1960's and 70's make clear.
Other subjects covered include the deleterious effect of spying on the spies themselves, industrial espionage, and the dynamics of the relationship between States and "their" Intelligence agencies. Room for other subjects such as Iran, Vietnam is woefully short, the book is also somewhat threadbare with regard to the world outside the three big spying organisations: Mossad of Israel, BOSS of South Africa and Savak of Shah era Iran are barely mentioned, nor is their much with regard to South America, Africa and Asia. The 2003 edition has been updated, including coverage of the invasion of Iraq and the "War on Terror".
The limitations of scope mean this book can hardly be regarded as a definitive history of twentieth century spying. Nonetheless, it is a constantly interesting and always gripping read. Knightley is not afraid to give his opinions on matters, and as someone who has covered these issues at length during his years reporting, they are always of interest. While not exhaustive, it will certainly give the reader a sceptical insight into the murky world of spying.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In "The Second Oldest Profession," Phillip Knightley has penned a compelling account of the ongoing saga of the British Secret Intelligence Service, a once-'non-existent' organization that was gestated appropriately enough in the fantasies of Rudyard Kipling's Great Game and pre-World War I spy novels. These, the author notes, ignited a frenzy of hysteria against various enemies, both actual and imaginary. As SIS became a reality (and other agencies and nations joined in the intelligence rush) the fantasy became compounded--often careening out of control--due to the deception that is, necessarily, embedded in the core of espionage.
Mr. Knightley questions whether governments ought to sponsor intelligence agencies, which, he notes, tend to be costly, self-perpetuating many-headed monsters, the growth of which "always seems to be accompanied by a reduction in civil liberties" (p. 366). Thriving on "secrecy which corrodes a democratic society," the intelligence monster "juggles all our destinies in the name of protecting them" (p. 392), a proposition that seems even more cogent today than in 1986 when the book was first published.
Phillip Knightley's books are eminently readable, and "The Second Oldest Profession" is no exception. The book, which serves as a reader's guide to British intelligence agencies (e.g., SIS, MI5, SOE) with stopovers at the Abwehr, the KGB, and the CIA, is fascinating, both to the reader approaching the topic for the first time and to the "addict," who cannot get enough of the subject. With considerable wit (e.g., "KGB: Dzerzhinsky's Pride, Stalin's Prejudice"), Mr. Knightley rounds up the usual suspects--a cast of "thousands" whose names have become household words (at least, in some households). In relating the notable triumphs and even more notable disasters of the intelligence world, Phillip Knightley never fails to inform and to whet the interests of his readers.
Mr. Knightley questions whether governments ought to sponsor intelligence agencies, which, he notes, tend to be costly, self-perpetuating many-headed monsters, the growth of which "always seems to be accompanied by a reduction in civil liberties" (p. 366). Thriving on "secrecy which corrodes a democratic society," the intelligence monster "juggles all our destinies in the name of protecting them" (p. 392), a proposition that seems even more cogent today than in 1986 when the book was first published.
Phillip Knightley's books are eminently readable, and "The Second Oldest Profession" is no exception. The book, which serves as a reader's guide to British intelligence agencies (e.g., SIS, MI5, SOE) with stopovers at the Abwehr, the KGB, and the CIA, is fascinating, both to the reader approaching the topic for the first time and to the "addict," who cannot get enough of the subject. With considerable wit (e.g., "KGB: Dzerzhinsky's Pride, Stalin's Prejudice"), Mr. Knightley rounds up the usual suspects--a cast of "thousands" whose names have become household words (at least, in some households). In relating the notable triumphs and even more notable disasters of the intelligence world, Phillip Knightley never fails to inform and to whet the interests of his readers.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read other bits by Philip Knightley, I had no hesitation in ordering this book. On the whole it's pretty good, although there are a few gaps in the thinking and repetitive sentences that (almost) make it look like it was rushed out.
Knightley is obviously very sceptical of the benefit of spies and lays out a comprehensive and convincing argument, especially when it comes to 'secret' departments circular thinking for justifying bigger and bigger budgets.
But there are a few points where Knightley seems to forget he's talking about a clandestine world with, basically, no rules. The rigorous approach he applies in some places gets missed in others and at times it feels as though he is forcing his argument rather than setting out the facts. (Although, to be fair, he is openly critical of his own earlier writings and their mistakes, which not every writer is capable of doing).
However, I would recommend giving it a read as a very good alternative to the books written by ex-spies (with all their inevitable biases). It will definitely throw up some unknown facts and questions many long held assumptions; on that basis alone, it is worth reading.
(But find Knightley's 'The First Casualty' first and read that)! :)
Knightley is obviously very sceptical of the benefit of spies and lays out a comprehensive and convincing argument, especially when it comes to 'secret' departments circular thinking for justifying bigger and bigger budgets.
But there are a few points where Knightley seems to forget he's talking about a clandestine world with, basically, no rules. The rigorous approach he applies in some places gets missed in others and at times it feels as though he is forcing his argument rather than setting out the facts. (Although, to be fair, he is openly critical of his own earlier writings and their mistakes, which not every writer is capable of doing).
However, I would recommend giving it a read as a very good alternative to the books written by ex-spies (with all their inevitable biases). It will definitely throw up some unknown facts and questions many long held assumptions; on that basis alone, it is worth reading.
(But find Knightley's 'The First Casualty' first and read that)! :)
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