A Spy's Journey: A CIA Memoir | Floyd Paseman | Entertaining and easy to read

A Spy's Journey: A CIA Memoir | Floyd Paseman | A view of the company - through the years

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A Spy's Journey: A...

	A Spy's Journey: A CIA Memoir Floyd Paseman Zenith Press, 2005 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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For thirty-five years, Floyd Paseman served in the Operations Directorate of the Central Intelligence Agency. From spy in the field to the top ranks of the Company's career agents, he experienced it all as well as seven different presidential administrations. While Paseman's account of his long service has enough real-life derring-do to keep the reader engaged, of even greater interest, however, are Paseman's observation on politics and the CIA, especially how change of presidential administrations could bring sweeping, and often negative changes to the agency.- Johnson - declined to run for a second full term, broken by Vietnam- Nixon - resigned in disgrace after ending Vietnam and opening relations with China- Ford - never elected caretaker - Carter - hoist on the petard of fundamentalist Islam in Iran- Reagan - first full, two-term president since Eisenhower and declared war on the evil empire and brought the USSR to its knees with the threat of a still fanciful Star Wars- Bush the father - "won" the Cold War as the Soviet Union collapsed and "coalitioned" Saddam out of Iraq- Clinton - leader of the new world order, peace in our time, and dead Rangers in the streets of Mogadishu- Bush the son - 9/11, Afghanistan, and IraqIn March 1967 author Paseman joined the CIA following successful service as an army armor officer in Germany. Highly trained in the Chinese language, most of his service was in the far east. Paseman served as chief of the East Asia division at Langley and was also station chief Germany, considered the agency's toughest Cold War field posting.About the AuthorFloyd L. Paseman retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in January 2001 after a thirty-five year career in operations. He now lives in southern Virginia outside Williamsburg where he works as an international security consultant.

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Entertaining and easy to read

This book presents a detailed account of one man's life in the CIA, the challenges he had to face and how he went about to resolve these challenges. Its more of a biography rather then an account of what the CIA is really is. Futhermore, the author talks about how his family deals with his working life and thereby giving a 'human' side to the espionage world. All in all, a great read and would reccomend it.

A view of the company - through the years

The book walks the reader through an officer's career from the highs to the lows. the book outlines the positives and negatives of life as an officer - it also explains that in many instances, taking a step backward in your career many times is how you get forward. Floyd's career was nothing short of stellar.

If you are at all interested in the art or service of espionage - this is aa must read.

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Poorly written, but entertaining.

While certainly a skilled case officer, Mr. Paseman's writing skills leave something to be desired. His memoirs are very entertaining and full of unique experiences, but his lack of skill with the written word means that paragraphs are clunky and flow poorly. Well worth the money for anyone looking to find out exactly what being a CIA case officer is truly like, but don't expect writing skills beyond the level of a high school newspaper editor.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3

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