The simple fact is that this book is outdated. Published in 1992, it is obvious that the absolute last world event dealt with in the author's research was the Gulf War of 1991. Even though it says it's been updated in 1994, there is definitely no mention of the Clinton years or the 1993 WTC bombing. In fact, in an ominous line, the authors writes to the effect that there has never been a major intel failure since the 80s (regardless of what side you believe, 9/11 would certainly get a full chapter under this category). It's time to update this book, or it will be totally obsolete very soon.

The entire structure of the CIA is outdated. The book was written in the days when there was a DCI, and the major directorates were Ops, Science & Technology, Intelligence and Admin. Now, there is a DNI/DDNI team as head of national intel, under whom is the DCIA (not DCI anymore). The directorates are different as well: Ops is now called the National Clandestine Service; S&T is the same, Intelligence is called Analysis, and Admin is called Support. Not to mention that the whole thing about visitors to Langley is laughably archaic in post-9/11 America.

Though some reviewers mention that Kessler doesn't "reveal any secrets," I found the book quite full of inside info. There are tons of examples of insider issues, operations that went well or badly, and myth debunks. What did you expect, that even if there is a captured UFO, the book would tell you? I didn't see TOPSECRET//NOFORN//SCI anywhere on the cover.

As a history, the book is wonderful. Unfortunately, it's the closest thing to a current tell-all of the Agency, which is sad. Even the Agency itself lists it at the top of their recommended reading for applicants. Untimately, how much can one read about the Soviets and their terrible, horrible threat and still take it seriously in the age of terrorism? In a history of the CIA, fine. But in a book that is supposed to (by the Agency's own admission!) let the average civilian in on the unclassified story of the CIA, Kessler has got to update this book.

Ronald Kessler's INSIDE THE CIA is among one of the worst books I've ever read, and the worst detailing the Central Intelligence Agency.

The material presented by Kessler is hardly informative, and never thought-provoking. Rather, the book is a cluttered, rambunctious compilation of CIA facts merged with Kessler's own commentary which, at times, entirely invalidates his initial claims.

Kessler spends one chapter depicting a CIA director as having been detrimental to the agency at critical times, and justly explains why. However, at the end of the same chapter, he spontaneously introduces his own commentary which contradicts his previous portrayl of the director. For three pages, he actually has the audacity to violate his role as an author and instead become a self-propelled menace to his own writing. Commentary in such books should elaborate on the research presented, and address the author's authentic view; not a repetitive rambling on information.

Furthermore, INSIDE THE CIA is poorly written. Kessler provides facts in short burts of words, sometimes in the most illiterate fashion. At times, Kessler repeats the same facts and commentary, sometimes within the same paragraph on the same page. Therfor, the book becomes irritating to read.

While the book pretends to illustrate the internal workings of each directorate in the CIA, Kessler spends the shortest of chapters on the Directorate of Science Technology, and provides absolutely noththing. The extent to which he describes this directorate is common sense; such as the utilization of satellites; spy devices, etc. He never describes either of those in detail.

Kessler's book succeeds with one function: presenting facts or views on the CIA that are already well known, or just common sense... There are plenty of books on the CIA, and I suggest you buy one that's more informative by an author that knows how to write.