
Need to Know
World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence
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Narrated by:
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Fred Sanders
About this listen
Historian and former CIA officer Nicholas Reynolds, the New York Times bestselling author of Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy, uncovers the definitive history of American intelligence during World War II, illuminating its key role in securing victory.
“Need to Know is the most thorough and detailed history available on the origins of U.S. intelligence.” —Michael Morell, former Deputy Director and Acting Director, CIA
The entire vast modern American intelligence system—the amalgam of three-letter spy services of many stripes—can be traced back to the dire straits that Britain faced at the end of June 1940. Before World War II, the US had no organization to recruit spies and steal secrets or launch secret campaigns against enemies overseas. It was only through Winston Churchill’s determination to mobilize the US to help in their fight against Hitler that the first American spy service was born, one that was built by scratch in the background of WWII.
In Need to Know, former CIA analyst and trained historian Nicholas Reynolds explores the birth, infancy, and adolescence of modern American intelligence. In this first definitive account, Reynolds combines little-known history and gripping spy stories to analyze the American codebreakers’ and spies’ origins and contributions to Allied victory, revealing how they laid the foundation for the Cold War—and all other conflicts to come.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2022 Nicholas Reynolds (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about Need to Know
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- HL Atkins
- 11-23-22
Excellent US secret intelligence development
Well written look at the development of secret intelligence development in the US in and following WWII. The book also gives insight in the destructive effects of people competing for personal power at the expense of progress.
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- Nick Phillips
- 12-25-24
Text Book Like
This book is very informative and broad, names, dates. To get a lot of value, it will require multiple listens.
Great for intelligence historians, good context for people with interest in the present day intelligence space.
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- ed
- 11-17-22
Verryyyy sssllllooowww
Story was very slow, not captivating at all. Unfortunately the narrator made it worse. I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks. I hate to say this narrator was the worst.
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2 people found this helpful