tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post4751717749217601150..comments2024-02-22T19:45:29.872-05:00Comments on Sources And Methods: Top 5 Books Every Intel Professional Should Read (But Have Probably Never Heard Of)Kristan J. Wheatonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566135545863154089noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-71360248963587876422013-01-22T15:28:32.452-05:002013-01-22T15:28:32.452-05:00If we're going for doozies, can I recommend Go...If we're going for doozies, can I recommend Godel, Escher, Bach: The Eternal Golden Braid?Adi Gaskellhttp://www.adigaskell.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-71522826769130856312012-10-09T22:13:14.122-04:002012-10-09T22:13:14.122-04:00I also recommend "Frame Analysis." I'...I also recommend "Frame Analysis." I'm using it as part of my thesis. <br /><br />Also, I'd recommend "Intelligence and the National Security Strategist." It is full of wonderful and insightful essays by some big names in intelligence. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13233683089227091794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-46154150650796281772012-10-09T13:47:26.619-04:002012-10-09T13:47:26.619-04:00Mr. Wheaton, I'd like to make two recommendati...Mr. Wheaton, I'd like to make two recommendations.<br /><br />One serious: "The Information" by James Glieck. An absorbing educational read about the origins and manifestations of Information Theory. Bayes' Theorem and Entropy figure prominently here as well. <br />A couple of interesting companion books would be "The Idea Factory" and "Tubes." <br /><br />Another for fun: "Double Cross" by Ben McIntyre. Great book about the D-day double agents and the incredible and sometimes silly deception efforts behind the D-day invasion.wingke6https://www.blogger.com/profile/15902815543272408547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-28051659345352056312012-10-09T05:27:08.251-04:002012-10-09T05:27:08.251-04:00Slater's Ordering Power. It might seem strange...Slater's Ordering Power. It might seem strange since it has nothing to do with espionage but sets rather reasonable rules for under what circumstances a certain type of authoritarian government might develop and how they might be recognized (divided into elite-coalition, military-dominated and elite-fragmented authoritarian states). Considering how easily intelligence agencies seem blindsided by revolutions and coups I would make it required reading for all of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-80430290869200865752012-10-09T01:23:33.765-04:002012-10-09T01:23:33.765-04:00The Thinker's Toolkit: 14 Techniques for Prob...The Thinker's Toolkit: 14 Techniques for Problem-Solving, by Morgan Jones is a must read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-57873193717961275602012-10-06T16:26:35.726-04:002012-10-06T16:26:35.726-04:00Excuse any self promotion but I genuinely think th...Excuse any self promotion but I genuinely think that few of you will have heard of this book but many involved in humint or managing confidential informants may be interested. Note it is only available to law enformcent/government bodies. <br />"The Human Source Management System: The use of psycholgy in the management of human intelligence sources." The book is about how to proactively recruit and manage informants.john Buckleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-24196203983892056472012-10-05T23:56:17.391-04:002012-10-05T23:56:17.391-04:00Erving Goffman's "The Presentation of Sel...Erving Goffman's "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life" (1959) and "Frame Analysis" (1974) are sociological in orientation but can be easily overlaid onto intelligence problems related to covert role playing. I doubt they are on anyone else's booklist.<br /><br />For history related to indicators and warning, I recommend "Knowing One's Enemies" by Ernest May. It takes you through, country by country, the efforts of the intelligence machines of the great powers as dark clouds gathered before the two World Wars.<br /><br />"The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable" by Nassim Taleb taught me to never say never.<br /><br />Thanks for the recommendations, Kris. I'm going to look for the book on collaboration.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09082406276423678772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-80904232371128633662012-10-05T23:51:54.760-04:002012-10-05T23:51:54.760-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09082406276423678772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-16260596146967851022012-10-01T00:36:56.352-04:002012-10-01T00:36:56.352-04:00'Irrationality' by Stuart Sutherland.
Yea...'Irrationality' by Stuart Sutherland.<br /><br />Years ago it introduced me to the concepts of 'regression to the mean' and the 'sunk-cost error' (amongst other things). <br /><br />Forever grateful.Tim Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-26108934500531894442012-09-28T22:04:52.612-04:002012-09-28T22:04:52.612-04:00Blink. By Malcolm Gladwell. The story of the adapt...Blink. By Malcolm Gladwell. The story of the adaptive unconscious. Melonie Richeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13605783749071033745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-71118151949821949482012-09-28T12:53:02.765-04:002012-09-28T12:53:02.765-04:00Kat C., David;
Both are excellent, I agree!
Kris...Kat C., David;<br /><br />Both are excellent, I agree!<br /><br />KrisKristan J. Wheatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02566135545863154089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-51381075197656562532012-09-28T12:50:41.388-04:002012-09-28T12:50:41.388-04:00I'd also recommend "Thinking, Fast and Sl...I'd also recommend "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. I think it helps any analyst know what biases they have and are probably unaware of.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14704444624476670992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569772432953120875.post-79703024045144554032012-09-28T12:44:10.046-04:002012-09-28T12:44:10.046-04:00Kris - I'd nominate "Wikinomics: How Mass...Kris - I'd nominate "Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything," by Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams. I'd argue that with the explosion of social media around the world, intel professionals need to understand the seismic socio-cultural shift that has taken place regarding collaboration as a tool of growth and economics. This book is a good place to start.Kat Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11869795137273008736noreply@blogger.com