The Book of Honor : Covert Lives & Classified Deaths at the CIA

Rating:
Summary: Familes of CIA Agents
Review: "The Book of Honor" is an extremely well written account of the lives and families of CIA agents who died for their country. Unfortunately, the author spends more time describing the homes where these heroes grew up rather than the circumstances under which they perished. Not only does it not place enough emphasis on covert operation (or the reasons for them), the book is written from an antagonistic perspective. Throughout the book, the author continually takes jabs at the CIA and U.S. covert operations community. There are some interesting historical facts lightly sprinkled through out its pages, but not nearly enough to make it worthwhile. If you want a little action and insight into the lives of individuals as CIA operatives, please look for another book to read. If you are looking for mundane letters between boyfriend and girlfriend or mother and son, this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: All over the place
Review: After hearing the author interviewed on National Public Radio, I ordered the book because of my interest in covert actions and the people involved. The book is extremely well-written--it's clear, without the sensationalism that could easily creep in. How the families handled the blatant misinformation about the deaths of loved is fascinating. I wasn't surprised by the CIA's actions and doublespeak, though, which is a sad commentary.

A few minor editing issues are probably just that, and not enough to cast dispersions of the thorough research performed over many years as a labor of love and dedication by Mr. Gup.

Rating:
Summary: Great CIA "behind the scenes" history book
Review: I found this book very well researched and written. It would be of interest to anyone with a fondness for CIA-spy type history that we often don't read about in mainstream publications. Highly recommended and not very expensive, which is always nice too.
Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: slow and with a slant
Review: I haven't read the book but the 6 hour audiobook was fairly slow for what could have been much more interesting considering the subject matter. It seemed like the author really has an axe to grind against the CIA. The stories seemed overly focused on any mistakes the CIA made. The author lost credibility with me when he said he was the one who revealed the presence of the secret nuclear bunker that was to be used by the US Congress in the instance of a nuclear strike.


Rating:
Summary: A totally different slant than I expected...
Review: I will be honest in that I couldn't get all the way through this book. When the initial monologue started off with the author's assessment that The Agency was "founded on a basis of deceit", I winced. Then, shortly after, the author talked about his motivation for the book. Speaking about those on the wall, he wrote "They are people that, given the life they chose, probably would prefer to be in anonymity up there on the wall. But, I decided that it was important to me to tell their story." That statement made me shut off, because it was obvious this book was not about honoring those who had died in their country's service. Rather, their lives were an intellectual curiousity to the author, and what they would have wanted was less important than the author's belief that as a journalist, his needs are most important.

Bottom line is that if you are looking for an exposé that attempts to make the US look bad in an attempt to sell books, go for it. If you are looking for something that is honoring those fallen in the way they wished to be honored, do not buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough reporting on the people behind the job.
Review: Mr. Gup has done an incredible job on the putting together the lives and missions of some of America's unknown and unsung heroes.

This is not a Clany-esque book by any means. What this is is a collection of biographies of some of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the CIA and USA. It is an in-depth view at the types of character it takes to work a thankless job in remote, hostile and harsh environments. It talks of the resolve (to the point of stubborness) of some men who faced life in a foriegn prison, rather than admit they were a spy (and subsequently be released back to the US - something happening to others around them).

Although some of the people died in random acts of violence that did not specifically target them, they are still powerful and moving stories of their lives surrounding service, and the families they left behind. He chronicles some of the stories of the families who suffering immense loss, were lied to or had information with held from them in the name of "national security". Not even in death could the truth come out about many of these people. The irony is, there are many cases for national security. However, there seems to be no time frame for the grieving for when they may find out the truth (some waiting more than 30 years), or be able to celebrate the fact that deceased died for America rather than for a dummy corporation as a "civilian employee".

Overall, this is a humbling book that proves no matter how trivial some of the work may seem, no matter how much information is received on "America's interests", the true value of that work and that information can be very costly.

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Summary: Patriot Lives, Much Family Pain, and CIA Secrets
Review: The author was visiting CIA headquarters at Langley, Virginia one day during the Gulf War when his eye was drawn to an exhibit on the north wall of the lobby. "There, rising before me, was a field of black stars chiseled into white Vermont marble. To the left was the flag of the nation, to the right, the flag of the Agency. I drew nearer. Above the stars were engraved these words: 'IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY.'" At that time, there were 69 stars. Below the stars was a glass case holding a book, The Book of Honor. Inside its open pages, were the years that each of the 69 had died, along with the names of 29 of them.

Naturally, the author's curiosity was stirred. I am very grateful that it was, because otherwise I would not know the stories behind those lost lives, because Mr. Gup seems to have ascertained who all of these people were (even where the star was not identified). By uncovering parts of their stories, and of the families they left behind, their sacrifice becomes more meaningful.

The uplifting part of this book is found in learning about the great patriotism, determination, dedication, and skill that those who died provided to their country. These were admirable people, and we should all be grateful for what they did for us.

The heartbreaking part of the book comes in three ways. First, these people gave their personal lives in most cases secondary attention. That means that while they were helping us, their families were not seeing much of them. The need for secrecy made this worse by putting up invisible barriers. Second, the continuing need for secrecy meant that their families were often denied access to the facts of their death or recognition for what had been done. This made the pain worse. Third, these people often suffered greatly or died because of mistakes, a desire to save money, or because of politics. They deserved better from their country.

The book is also like a mini history of the CIA, and you learn some details behind its successes and failures. This part needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, because it is hard to imagine that Mr. Gup's sources really knew or told him what really happened in many cases.

Spying is also a family calling. You will be amazed at how many people marry other members of the CIA or have their children enter its service. That connection can make the pain of loss much greater.

If you are like me, you will be stunned, shocked, and appalled by much of what is in this book. But although it will not be pleasant, you should read it. As witnesses to these histories, there may be some small way we can help reduce the risk that these losses will occur in the future. I hope you will write a review on this site to share your reactions after you do. I think we can assume that these comments will be read where they will do the most good.

After you have finished thinking about this book, I suggest that you also examine your own life and think about areas where you are keeping unnecessary secrets. Where could letting go of some secrets be good for you and those you love?

Rating:
Summary: Overall, A Fine Book
Review: This book certainly deserves praise for the author's dogged pursuit of the details of the lives represented by the Stars in the Book of Honor. It is a fitting tribute to the families of the fallen that Ted Gup brought to light the daring actions of those who were lost, but certain frustrations remain for me.
Most galling is Mr. Gup's treatment of the U.S.'s early relations with the People's Republic of China during his chapters regarding Hugh Redmond. Redmond was working under State Dept. cover and taken captive by the Chinese who kept him in a prison for 19 years. He was accused of espionage and paraded through a kangaroo court which of course threw the book at him. Even though Hugh Redmond spent the last 19 years of his life in a squalid prison in a hostile land,defiantly denying the espionage charges, Mr. Gup manages to make the PRC sound like the wronged party in all of this, because the BIG BAD U.S. was spying on it. First, the U.S. is perfectly within its rights to pursue its national interests and take any steps necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens and its employees. In addition, the U.S. is equally right to demand fair trials before a jury with counsel that actually speaks the language for any of its citizens held abroad. Mr. Redmond was convicted of espionage before he ever set foot in that "courtroom", and Mr. Gup chides the US and the Agency for continuing to deny what the apparently omniprescient Chinese already knew. Sure, Redmond was a spy. Sure, we both knew it. That doesn't excuse his treatment. During the cold war, diplomats suspected of espionage were dismissed--unharmed--from either the US or USSR. I guess that's a little too much to expect from a brutal regime that would eventually roll over its own people with tanks. But it doesn't give Ted Gup the right to excuse their behavior, either.

Other than that, this book is quite good. I could've done without certain elements of Gup's anti-Cold War agenda, however.

Rating:
Summary: Lives of Secrecy
Review: This excellent book by Ted Gup is a great testament to those who have gave their lives for their country but their contributions could not be fully acknowledged.

Those in our intelligence community know that if they die while executing their jobs then there is a good chance that their lives and their missions may never be fully disclosed by the government.

Gup does extensive research in this book and uncovers information that the CIA would probably not want people to find out. He writes this book so the families of the dead will finally know what their loved ones died for.

I reccommend this book to anyone with strong interest in intelligence and covert operations. Definitely one for your espionage literary collection.

Rating:
Summary: A totally different slant than I expected...
Review: This is a book about the lives, and deaths, of some of our nation's heroes; stories that have been hidden for decades in some cases.

The author has researched the deaths of CIA agents killed in the line of duty, since the inception of the Agency. Even today some of the stories he relates are officially "classified." The truths about most of these lives should have been released by our government long ago, since it is well past the time that any national security issues would be at stake.

I found the book quite interesting--not only did the author tell a good story (or stories), but it gave me a better understanding of how the CIA works--a topic I haven't pursued up to this point.