Books

The Best Books About the CIA

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Updated December 15, 2024 48.6K views 34 items
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394 votes
240 voters

Delving into the world of espionage and intelligence, the best books about the CIA offer unparalleled insights into the covert operations, political intrigue, and clandestine missions carried out by America's premier spy agency. Expertly penned by seasoned authors with deep knowledge of the subject, these books enthrall readers with captivating tales from the shadows, shedding light on the complex inner workings of the Central Intelligence Agency. 

Exceptional in their depth and authenticity, the best CIA books entice readers with profound stories that probe the clandestine world of intelligence gathering and political manipulation. As they unravel the secretive nature of intelligence gathering, readers are spellbound by the thrilling accounts of spycraft and daring exploits. These masterpieces not only provide an intimate look into the lives of spies and their handlers but also reveal the profound impact of their actions on global events. 

Among the top picks for best CIA books, A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency by Richard Helms offers a riveting account of his time as a spymaster, while Stephen Kinzer's Overthrow delves into the tumultuous history of US-backed regime changes. Tim Weiner's Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA provides a comprehensive examination of the agency's role in shaping international affairs. Each of these exemplary works stands out for its meticulous research, gripping narrative, and thought-provoking revelations, earning them a rightful place in the pantheon of great books about the CIA. 

By exploring the various facets of espionage through these exceptional books about the CIA, readers develop a profound appreciation for the hidden dynamics at play in shaping our world. As readers immerse themselves in the thrilling tales of spies and secret missions, they gain an appreciation for the dedication, courage, and ingenuity displayed by those who serve in the shadows. Ultimately, these books provide a fascinating lens through which to view the complex tapestry of modern history, offering a deeper understanding of the intricate web of intrigue that lies beneath the surface. 

Most divisive: Harlot's Ghost
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Books About the CIA
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  • A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency
    1

    A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency

    William Hood, Richard Helms
    49 votes
    A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency is a book by Richard Helms and William Hood.
    • First Published: 2003-04
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Richard Helms
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Creating the Secret State: The Origins of the Central Intelligence Agency, 1943-1947
    2

    Creating the Secret State: The Origins of the Central Intelligence Agency, 1943-1947

    David F. Rudgers
    24 votes
    Creating the Secret State: The Origins of the Central Intelligence Agency, 1943-1947 is a book by David F. Rudgers.
    • First Published: 2000
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Overthrow
    3

    Overthrow

    Stephen Kinzer
    15 votes
    Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change is a book published in 2006 by New York Times foreign correspondent and author Stephen Kinzer about the United States's involvement in the overthrow of foreign governments from the late 19th century to the present. His examples include mini-histories of the U.S.-sponsored or encouraged overthrow in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the alleged Central Intelligence Agency backed coups d'état in Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Some examples used in the book refer to American support for local rebels against the existing national governments that lead to a change in power. For example, in 1898, the United States helped overthrow the government of Cuba by supporting local rebels who were already fighting their government. In other circumstances, such as in Iran, Guatemala and Chile, Kinzer argues the United States initiated, planned and orchestrated the regime change.
    • Subjects: International relations, Military, United States of America, Foreign relations of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Killing Hope
    4

    Killing Hope

    William Blum
    11 votes
    Killing Hope: U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions since World War II is a history book on covert CIA operations and United States military interventions during the second half of the 20th century. It was written by former State Department employee William Blum. The book takes a strongly critical view of American foreign policy. The book covers various US foreign policy ventures from just after World War II onward. Its basic premise is that the American Cold War-era activities abroad were done with imperialist motives. It is an updated and revised version of one of Blum's previous works, The CIA - A Forgotten History.
    • First Published: 2003
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): History
  • Age of Secrets
    5

    Age of Secrets

    20 votes
    Age of Secrets: The Conspiracy that Toppled Richard Nixon and the Hidden Death of Howard Hughes is a biography on Howard Hughes personal advisor, and former U.S. Senate Candidate, John H. Meier and written by newspaper reporter Gerald Bellett. The book argues that Meier was one of the people who played a role in affecting President Richard Nixon's resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It also details how Meier was apparently pursued for 20 years by the CIA, the Hughes organization, as well as Nixon sympathizers.
    • First Published: 1995
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Biography
  • The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence
    6

    The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence

    John D. Marks
    20 votes
    The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence is a 1974 controversial non-fiction political book written by Victor Marchetti, a former special assistant to the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and John D. Marks, a former officer of the United States Department of State. The authors purport to expose how the CIA actually works and how its original purpose had been subverted by its obsession with clandestine operations. It is the first book the federal government of the United States ever went to court to censor before its publication. The CIA demanded the authors remove 399 passages but they resisted and only 168 passages were censored. The publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, chose to publish the book with blanks for censored passages and with boldface type for passages that were challenged but later uncensored. The book was a critically acclaimed bestseller whose publication contributed to the establishment of the Church Committee, a United States Senate select committee to study governmental operations with respect to intelligence activities, in 1975. The book was published in paperback by Dell Publishing in 1975.
    • First Published: 1974-06-12
    • Subjects: Cold War, Espionage, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence
    7

    Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence

    Stansfield Turner
    5 votes
    Burn Before Reading: Presidents, CIA Directors, and Secret Intelligence is a book by Stansfield Turner.
    • First Published: 2005-10
    • Subjects: President of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State
    8

    No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State

    Glenn Greenwald
    7 votes

    No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State is a book by investigative reporter Glenn Greenwald. This book takes an in-depth look at the NSA scandal that triggered a national debate over national security and information privacy.

    • First Published: 2015
    • Subjects: Politics and social sciences, Politics and government
  • The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America
    9

    The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America

    Hugh Wilford
    7 votes
    The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America is a book by Hugh Wilford.
    • First Published: 2008-01
    • Subjects: Cold War, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • From the Company of Shadows
    10

    From the Company of Shadows

    Kevin Michael Shipp
    7 votes

    From the Company of Shadows is a book by Kevin Michael Shipp. Read firsthand accounts of fascinating events inside the CIA and learn how the CIA conducts operations, recruits agents and protects defectors from assassination.

    • First Published: 2012
  • The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World
    11

    The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World

    Douglas Valentine
    9 votes

    The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World is a book by CIA researcher Douglas Valentine. This book covers Valentine's research into the CIA's involvement in drug operations, population surveillance and Vietnam.

    • First Published: 2017
    • Subjects: Political corruption & misconduct, Terrorism, National Security
  • A Spy for All Seasons: My Life in the CIA
    12

    A Spy for All Seasons: My Life in the CIA

    Duane R. Claridge
    9 votes

    A Spy for All Seasons: My Life in the CIA is an espionage true account novel from Duane R. Claridge. This book follows Clarridge on his trajectory through the CIA and his alleged involvement in the Iran-contra affair.

    • First Published: 1997
    • Subjects: CIA
    • Genres (Book): Autobiography
  • All the Shah's Men
    13

    All the Shah's Men

    Stephen Kinzer
    9 votes
    All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror is a book written by American journalist Stephen Kinzer. The book discusses the 1953 Iranian coup d'état backed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in which Mohammed Mossadegh, Iran's prime minister, was overthrown by Islamists supported by American and British agents and royalists loyal to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
    • First Published: 2003-07-18
    • Subjects: Espionage, Foreign relations of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters
    14

    The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters

    Frances Stonor Saunders
    4 votes
    The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters is a book by Frances Stonor Saunders.
    • First Published: 2000
    • Subjects: Office of Strategic Services, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man Who Caused a War
    15

    Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man Who Caused a War

    Bob Drogin
    5 votes
    Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man Who Caused a War is a book by Bob Drogin.
    • First Published: 2007-10
    • Subjects: Iraq War, Curveball, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Harlot's Ghost
    16

    Harlot's Ghost

    Norman Mailer
    10 votes
    Harlot's Ghost, a fictional chronicle of the Central Intelligence Agency by Norman Mailer. The characters are a mixture of real people and fictional figures.
    • First Published: 1991
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Fiction
  • Reflections of a Cold Warrior: From Yalta to the Bay of Pigs
    17

    Reflections of a Cold Warrior: From Yalta to the Bay of Pigs

    Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
    6 votes
    Reflections of a Cold Warrior: From Yalta to the Bay of Pigs is a book by Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
    • First Published: 1996
    • Subjects: Richard M. Bissell, Jr., Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Memoir
  • Mary's Mosaic
    18

    Mary's Mosaic

    Peter Janney
    2 votes

    Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, and Their Vision for World Peace is a book by Peter Janney. The book explores the murder of Mary Pinchot Meyer and her connection to President Kennedy.

    • First Published: 2016
    • Subjects: Hoaxes and Deceptions, Political corruption
  • See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism
    19

    See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism

    Robert Baer
    11 votes
    See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War Against Terrorism is a 2003 memoir by Robert Baer, a former CIA case officer in the Directorate of Operations. Baer begins with his upbringing in the United States and Europe and continues with a tour of his CIA experiences across the globe. Approximately the first two-thirds of the memoir focus on the various experiences of Baer's two-decade career at the CIA, while the last third depicts the growing cynicism brought on by the corruption and obliviousness encountered in Washington. One of the main focal points of the story is Baer's obsession with uncovering the perpetrators of the unsolved 1983 United States Embassy bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. Baer's memoir describes his own solution of the mystery. The overall theme around which the memoir is built is his view of the CIA losing its prowess due to increasing diplomatic sensitivity in Washington's foreign policies in the aftermath of political fiascoes from active American involvement in foreign politics in the 1970s and 1980s.
    • First Published: 2003-01-07
    • Subjects: Politics of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), United States of America, Espionage, Current events
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction, Autobiography, Memoir
  • Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life
    20

    Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life

    Jason Hanson
    5 votes

    Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life: A Former CIA Officer Reveals Safety and Survival Techniques to Keep You and Your Family Protected is a book by former CIA officer Jason Hanson. The book details techniques from escaping handcuffs to improvising a self-defense weapon and honing "positive awareness" for defense and prevention.

    • First Published: 2015
  • From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War
    21

    From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War

    Robert Gates
    5 votes
    From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War is a book by Robert M. Gates.
    • First Published: 1996
    • Subjects: Cold War, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • The Secret Agent
    22

    The Secret Agent

    Francine Mathews
    3 votes
    The Secret Agent is a book by Francine Mathews.
    • First Published: 2002
    • Subjects: Bangkok, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Jim Thompson
    • Genres (Book): Thriller
  • The CIA and September 11
    23

    The CIA and September 11

    5 votes
    The CIA and September 11 is a controversial 2003 non-fiction book by Andreas von Bülow, a former state-secretary in the German Federal Ministry of Defence and an SPD member of the German parliament from 1969 to 1994. The book has enjoyed considerable commercial success in Germany, where it is published by Piper Verlag, and has sold over 100,000 copies. However, it has faced allegations ranging from absurdity and fostering anti-Americanism, to anti-Semitism, while the quality of its sourcing and the timing of its publication have given rise to debate within the German publishing industry. In subsequent media appearances, Bülow has defended his work, and strongly denied that its content is anti-Semitic.
    • Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), September 11 attacks, Terrorism
  • Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy and Other Misadventures
    24

    Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy and Other Misadventures

    Lindsay Moran
    9 votes
    Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy and Other Misadventures is a book by Lindsay Moran.
    • First Published: 2005-01
    • Subjects: Espionage, Lindsay Moran, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction, Autobiography
  • Charlie Wilson's War
    25

    Charlie Wilson's War

    George Crile
    4 votes

    Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times is a book by vetran 60 Minutes producer George Crile. The book tells the story of the covert operation by the US to arm the Afghans in their fight against the Soviet Union.

    • First Published: 2007
  • Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA
    26

    Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA

    Jefferson Morley
    4 votes
    Our Man in Mexico: Winston Scott and the Hidden History of the CIA is a book by Jefferson Morley.
    • First Published: 2008-02
    • Subjects: Winston Mackinley Scott, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA
    27

    Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA

    John Rizzo
    1 votes

    Company Man is a book by lawyer John Rizzo. After serving under eleven CIA directors over his 34-year career, Rizo writes about virtually every significant CIA activity and controversy over a tumultuous, thirty-year period.

    • First Published: 2014
  • The Way of the World
    28

    The Way of the World

    Ron Suskind
    1 votes
    The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism is a 2008 non-fiction book by Ron Suskind, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, describing various actions and policies of the George W. Bush administration. Most notably, it alleges that the Bush administration ordered the forgery of the Habbush letter to implicate Iraq as having ties to al Qaeda and the organizers of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The book, published on August 5, 2008, by Harper, met mixed critical reviews but inspired considerable media attention and controversy. Anticipation for the commercial success of the book was high, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that it was the "biggest release" of a crop of late-summer "big titles".
    • Subjects: George Bush, Politics of the United States, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Terrorism
  • The Black Tulip: A Novel of War in Afghanistan
    29

    The Black Tulip: A Novel of War in Afghanistan

    Milton Bearden
    7 votes
    The Black Tulip: A Novel of War in Afghanistan is a book by Milton Bearden.
    • First Published: 1998-05-01
    • Subjects: Espionage, Afghanistan, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
    • Genres (Book): Fiction, Novel
  • Battleground Berlin: CIA vs. KGB in the Cold War
    30

    Battleground Berlin: CIA vs. KGB in the Cold War

    David Murphy, George Bailey, Sergei A. Kondrashev
    3 votes
    Battleground Berlin: CIA vs. KGB in the Cold War is a book by David Murphy, George Bailey and Sergei A. Kondrashev.
    • First Published: 1997-08-19
    • Subjects: Berlin Wall, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), KGB
    • Genres (Book): Non-fiction
  • At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA
    31

    At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA

    George Tenet, Bill Harlow
    6 votes
    At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA is a memoir co-written by former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet with Bill Harlow, former CIA Director of Public Affairs. The book was released on April 30, 2007 and outlines Tenet's version of 9/11, the War on Terrorism, the 2001 War in Afghanistan, the run-up to the 2003 Iraq war, rough interrogation and other events.
    • First Published: 2007-04-30
    • Subjects: 2003 invasion of Iraq, George Bush, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), September 11 attacks, Terrorism
    • Genres (Book): Memoir
  • Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath
    32

    Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath

    Ted Koppel
    0 votes

    Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath is a book by investigator Ted Koppel. The book covers what would happen in a major cyberattack on America's power grid.

    • First Published: 2016
  • The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal
    33

    The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal

    David E. Hoffman
    1 votes

    The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal is a novel by David E. Hoffman. Drawing on previously classified CIA documents and on interviews with firsthand participants, it tells the story of Adolf Tolkachev, one of the most valuable spies ever for the US.

    • First Published: 2016
    • Subjects: Politics and social sciences, Politics and government
  • Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence
    34

    Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence

    James R. Clapper, Trey Brown
    4 votes

    Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence is a book by James R. Clapper the former Director of National Intelligence. In this book, Clapper traces his career through the growing threat of cyberattacks, his relationships with Presidents and Congress, and the truth about Russia's role in the presidential election.

    • First Published: 2019