How Spies Think
Ten Lessons in Intelligence
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How Spies Think
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Narrated by:
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David Omand
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By:
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David Omand
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
From the former director of GCHQ, learn the methodology used by the British intelligence agencies to reach judgements, establish the right level of confidence and act decisively.
Intelligence officers discern the truth. They gather information - often contradictory or incomplete - and, with it, they build the most accurate possible image of the world. With the stakes at their absolute highest, they must then decide what to do.
In everyday life, you are faced with contradictory, incomplete information, too. Reading the news on social media, figuring out the next step in your career, or trying to discover if gossip about a friend is legitimate, you are building an image of the world and making decisions about it.
Looking through the eyes of one of Britain's most senior ex-intelligence officers, Professor Sir David Omand, How Spies Think shows how the big decisions in your life will be easier to make when you apply the same frameworks used by British intelligence. Full of revealing examples from his storied career, including key briefings with prime ministers from Thatcher to Blair, and conflicts from the Falklands to Afghanistan, Professor Omand arms us with the tools to sort fact from fiction and shows us how to use real intelligence every day.
©2020 David Omand (P)2020 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"One of the best books ever written about intelligence analysis and its long-term lessons. Brilliant, lucid and thought-provoking." (Christopher Andrew, author of The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5)
What listeners say about How Spies Think
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DSLR enthusiast
- 01-05-24
Insightful listen
A wealth of information that was organised in a way to offer some great insights. A thoroughly enjoyable listen and I would definitely recommend👍😃
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ivan
- 02-02-23
Seldomly I find books of this calibre
This is a highly recommendable book if you are interested in strategy. It is rare to get so much valuable info in one book, specially with the cut out specific situations from our recent history, that adds tention and extra authenticity to the content.
I don't like to give this high rating of a book and never thought I would do it but here it is....
Well done and earned David Omand!
It's read in with a enjoyable trusted voice and it's a diamond in my book collection. I had to also buy it since I wanted to follow up details in its content. I can do nothin else than highly recommend you to read it. No nonsense, just facts, analysis and strategies at its best.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- ---Iain---
- 03-04-21
An old spy's essential lessons for the digital age
While in parts overly technical for the lay reader, stick with it. The insights of a life in secret intelligence from the late sixties onwards covering Northern Ireland, The Falklands War, The conflict in the former Yugoslavia, to the interference in the US and European democratic processes by Putin's Russia. David Omand brings that technical evaluation of information for the reader / listener in a way that gives useful basic tools in information evaluation for future use. It will not make you an expert, in the same way that basic car maintenance skills does not make you a mechanic but you will be better equipped for the digital age by knowing those skills.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazonian
- 13-08-21
Excellent book
A real gem, a must for everybody’s list. Well structured and engaging. He involves the reader and has delivered an impactful piece.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- David Lilja
- 09-09-21
PaleSkinnySwede
Just a short note that this book should be read by everyone before an upcoming election.
It takes you on a mind boggling journey how to think, maybe not just as a spy, but as a human being and citisen of the modern world.
I loved Mr Omand’s voice. I had the tempo on x1.2 which worked well for me.
It is a brilliant book! Thank you for taking the time to write and record it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Gregory Donaghy
- 28-04-22
The title doesnt do the book justice.
It should be. (How Intelligence Analysts think) I am about to consume this for the fourth time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- AmazonCustomer
- 16-05-23
Brilliant - full of unique experience & helpful hope
Brilliant - full of unique experience & helpful hope. Beautifully written and read. Great recent history of UK politics and ways to aid decision making in your own life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike Houghton
- 19-02-23
Brilliant
Great insights to analytical thinking. Book kept me interested and engaged throughout. Will definitely check out his other books.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Rosie Mc
- 18-02-23
Fine, just not what I’d expected
An interesting listen but not really what I’d expected. I thought it might be a bit more psychology based but the book focuses mostly on case studies of political happenings.
Found it quite hard to digest much information.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Cryptones
- 22-01-23
I was expecting too much
This starts off well, some nice insights about how to think about information, but descends into a lecture on mainstream globalist agenda.
if you are looking for some sort of spy secrets or revelations, I would consider looking elsewhere.
There is basically nothing here that you would not have already heard from watching or reading mainstream media. it is all highly curated, on message, down with the agenda.
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