![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(xposted to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
50bookchallenge)
Ghost: Confessions of a Counter-Terrorism Expert
by Fred Burton
288 pages
Where to begin with this book?
Fascinating content, candid description of how a the US counter-terrorism portion of the diplomatic service originally had 3 overworked agent, 2 of them fresh out of training. Interesting anecdotes about the writer's career.
However, two huge flaws:
(1) Cluttered writing
The author repeats himself ad nauseum - the type of warm jacket he wears, the car he drives, the fact that he sees the world as black and white and the nature of his work is shades of gray.
(2) No narrative
Counter-terrorism grows across agencies, his own organization blossoms, technology changes - but these are mere punctuation and not part of the story. Ugh.
What was truly interesting came in quick glimpses of a mere second or two -
How does one reconcile letting a killer go free (and be on the payroll) for information which may save lives in the future. How does one balance family with vocation?
It's difficult to recommend this book - if you have an interest in espionage or terrorism perhaps.
50bookchallenge)Ghost: Confessions of a Counter-Terrorism Expert
by Fred Burton
288 pages
Where to begin with this book?
Fascinating content, candid description of how a the US counter-terrorism portion of the diplomatic service originally had 3 overworked agent, 2 of them fresh out of training. Interesting anecdotes about the writer's career.
However, two huge flaws:
(1) Cluttered writing
The author repeats himself ad nauseum - the type of warm jacket he wears, the car he drives, the fact that he sees the world as black and white and the nature of his work is shades of gray.
(2) No narrative
Counter-terrorism grows across agencies, his own organization blossoms, technology changes - but these are mere punctuation and not part of the story. Ugh.
What was truly interesting came in quick glimpses of a mere second or two -
How does one reconcile letting a killer go free (and be on the payroll) for information which may save lives in the future. How does one balance family with vocation?
It's difficult to recommend this book - if you have an interest in espionage or terrorism perhaps.
