“Enemies: A History of the FBI” by Tim Weiner – The Eternal War on Crime
While it is true that there are many things that need to be experienced or seen first-hand in this life to truly be known or understood, there are also other truths you can use common sense to deduce. For instance, one doesn’t need be a rocket scientist or the greatest detective since Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the FBI has a long, secretive and shadowy history that spans over a hundred years.
Even though many of their actions have never been disclosed, we can always guess as to their involvement when it comes to preserving the security of American people. However, it seems that we no longer have to guess, ever since Tim Weiner released Enemies: A History of the FBI.
Tim Weiner himself was an employee of the Pentagon and the CIA, so if anyone knows the subject, it’s him. He provides not only information as to the operations the FBI has undertaken over the course of numerous decades, but he also looks into the organization’s inner workings, the ideology its leaders and employees are following, their motivations, as well as the impact the organization had on crime and regular citizens. It’s basically the hidden story of one of the United States’ most secret intelligence organizations.
First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed this book being slightly novelized. As much some people like it, I simply cannot stand reading line after line of dry facts, mostly because every sentence automatically feels less important than the last. However, the writing in this book makes learning about the FBI’s history a much more exciting affair, and I especially enjoyed the thorough description of the equipment as well as the techniques FBI agents have been employing over history.
Tim Weiner himself was an employee of the Pentagon and the CIA, so if anyone knows the subject, it’s him. He provides not only information as to the operations the FBI has undertaken over the course of numerous decades, but he also looks into the organization’s inner workings, the ideology its leaders and employees are following, their motivations, as well as the impact the organization had on crime and regular citizens. It’s basically the hidden story of one of the United States’ most secret intelligence organizations.
First of all, I have to say that I enjoyed this book being slightly novelized. As much some people like it, I simply cannot stand reading line after line of dry facts, mostly because every sentence automatically feels less important than the last. However, the writing in this book makes learning about the FBI’s history a much more exciting affair, and I especially enjoyed the thorough description of the equipment as well as the techniques FBI agents have been employing over history.
In addition, I must say that despite being an employee of the government, Tim Weiner doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to criticizing the FBI and their work. While it is true that in many cases they have neutralized dangerous spies and terrorists, there are some instances where their actions were focused more on exercising the will of their leaders rather than public safety.
The author offers some very interesting insight on how the FBI has contributed to the amplification of the eternal problem American people have been suffering: do we choose national security over our civil and individual liberties, or the other way around?
All in all, it’s an interesting book on all fronts, and if you like factual novels that document the history of military and/or intelligence organizations, then I have no doubt that you’ll love Enemies: A History of the FBI.
 | Tim WeinerTim Weiner is an American reporter for the New York Times, as well as an author of three books, and co-author to a fourth one. His work as a foreign corresponded fueled his literary career, which earned him, amongst many accolades, the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for articles on black budget spending by the government, and the National Book Award for Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. |
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