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At the Center of the Storm (Abridged): My Years at the CIA Audiobook
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(3.02) - 458 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In the whirlwind of accusations and recriminations that emerged in the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq war, one man's vital testimony has been conspicuously absent. Candid and gripping, At the Center of the Storm recounts George Tenet's time at the Central Intelligence Agency, a revealing look at the inner workings of the most important intelligence organization in the world during the most challenging times in recent history. With unparalleled access to both the highest echelons of government and raw intelligence from the field, Tenet illuminates the CIA's painstaking attempts to prepare the country against new and deadly threats, disentangles the interlocking events that led to 9/11, and offers explosive new information on the deliberations and strategies that culminated in the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Beginning with his appointment as Director of Central Intelligence in 1997, Tenet unfolds the momentous events that led to 9/11 as he saw and experienced them: his declaration of war on al-Qa'ida; the CIA's covert operations inside Afghanistan; the worldwide operational plan to fight terrorists; his warnings of imminent attacks against American interests to White House officials in the summer of 2001; and the plan for a coordinated and devastating counterattack against al-Qa'ida laid down just six days after the attacks.
Tenet's compelling narrative then turns to the war in Iraq as he provides dramatic insight and background on the run-up to the invasion, including a firsthand account of the fallout from the inclusion of ""sixteen words"" in the president's 2003 State of the Union address, which claimed that Saddam Hussein had sought to purchase uranium from Africa; the true context of Tenet's own now-famous ""slam dunk"" comment regarding Saddam's WMD program; and the CIA's critical role in an administration predisposed to take the country to war. In doing so, he sets the record straight about CIA operations and shows readers that the truth is more complex than suggested in other versions of recent history offered thus far.
Through it all, Tenet paints an unflinching self-portrait of a man caught between the warring forces of the administration's decision-making process, the reams of frightening intelligence pouring in from around the world, and his own conscience. In At the Center of the Storm, George Tenet draws on his unmatched experience within the opaque mirrors of intelligence and provides crucial information previously undisclosed to offer a moving, revelatory profile of both a man and a nation in times of crisis.
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"The slam dunk confession of the former Director for the Central Intelligence Agency. A revealing testimony of the search for the Weapons of Mass Destruction that cost the DCI his job and many others, not to mention the lives of may agents and civilians throughout the globe. A carefully worded declassification factual book that gives some insight in the pressures of the most powerful cloak and dagger public servant in the world."
— Tim (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Fascinating.”
— New York Times -
“Very readable.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“[A] remarkable, important…memoir.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“The drums have been sounding for the long-awaited book by former CIA director George Tenet.”
— Washington Post -
“Compelling.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Tenet’s new book…is delicious and edifying.”
— Associated Press -
“Listeners ready to move beyond the headlines and into a wider world of nuanced complexity will be more than satisfied.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
At the Center of the Storm Listener Reviews
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" Interesting to hear the other side. "
— Glen, 2/11/2014 -
" I thought this book was interesting but not fascinating. I expected a lot more. I always thought that George Tenet would be an engaging personality but it doesn't come through in this book at all. It's not a biography but more of a book about his CIA career. I still thought it would be more about him and his thinking instead it's more about events. Yes, he does play cover his butt in it but what do you expect? I wanted more insight on how he changed the CIA, his interactions with Congress and the President with his cabinet and how he discussed things with his advisors and assistant directors. There wasn't much in there about his thoughts based on the intelligence he received about the Iraqi War. I wanted to hear about their investigations with 9/11. I just expected more from him. I enjoyed the inside view of the events but I wanted to know the thinking. I would recommend getting this book from the library or from bargain books. "
— Samantha, 2/5/2014 -
" I tend to be a very non-government intervention person, but hearing about the work that Tenet did at the CIA made me more appreciative of the type of work that they must do and the political forces that often pervert their mission. Of course this is revisionist history, but Tenet comes off as a very contentious person who tried to do the best he could. A very interesting and informative read. Read by the author, which always helps. "
— Nate, 1/26/2014 -
" neither particularly well written nor balanced, but nonetheless interesting. provides a good counterpoint for Woodward's "Bush At War" series, which in the end will have the final word on Tenet's tenure at CIA. "
— Spencer, 1/20/2014 -
" Great Book. It is interesting to learn about CIA stuff during both Clinton and Bush 43 Administrations. "
— Baden, 1/7/2014 -
" This book was one of my first real glimpses into the inner-workings of the CIA, and for that reason, was quite fascinating to me. I felt that Tenet gave quite a balanced and objective view of both the Clinton and Bush administrations...that included interesting insights on both. Worth the read! "
— Miriam, 10/8/2013 -
" Very facinating. Allowed me to really ponder the inner workings of our government. "
— Tom, 9/3/2013 -
" interesting espcially when read on this side of the pond based on our interpretation of the US coverage/UK coverage "
— Penny, 8/31/2013 -
" Not the easiest book to read, but I expanded my knowledge about the Middle East and the threat of terrorism. I tried to read Tenet's claims with an awareness that some of them may be self-serving. This is a book well worth the effort to read. "
— Cindy, 8/20/2013 -
" Easy read and offers a different perspective from the country's most secretive agency regarding 9/11 and the events leading up to it and it's aftermath "
— Hans, 3/12/2013 -
" What I learned from this book? There is a lot going on out there that I don't know about and that I am glad that there are those who are willing to take on the responsibilities to try to keep me, my loved ones and our country safe. "
— Gerald, 1/14/2013 -
" In order to gain any benefit from reading this you would need to be from a different planet and stop by Earth as a visitor. Finger pointing and a bunch of names you forget within five minutes of reading them concerning the Iraq war. I learned nothing. "
— Paul, 5/19/2012 -
" How to be a CIA Director 101. Just because he has an axe to grind (and it's clear that he does), doesn't mean that this isn't an interesting back story of how we got so screwed up in the Middle East. Read it with an open mind, but don't forget that he does have an agenda. "
— Julie, 4/29/2012 -
" It was interesting to get Tenet's point of veiw on what happened during his 7 years as CIA cheif. "
— Ellis, 4/20/2012 -
" Great book. In time this will be considered a history book and guide to the 'karma" that existed pre and post 9/11. "
— Joe, 4/12/2012 -
" It has lots of little stories that are interesting, but I cannot make up my mind about the politics of it. It was difficult for me to keep an interest in it. "
— Elaine, 3/16/2012 -
" a career of hard work and dedication destroyed by two words- 'slam dunk'. he was given the blame for helping bush to decide to invade iraq..sad. it s a good book but a bit tiring. "
— Joe, 11/24/2011 -
" pretty well written, probably ghost written actually. "
— James, 6/24/2011 -
" I didn't bother finishing it... "
— Shawn, 3/19/2011 -
" Read this years back. It wasn't terribly earth-shattering, as I recall. "
— LJh*, 3/9/2011 -
" interesting...but if ure lookin for the masala on the CIA then its kinda disappointin..... "
— Summi, 6/19/2010 -
" Interesting inside look at the CIA before and after 9-11 "
— Kristin, 1/20/2010 -
" What I learned from this book? There is a lot going on out there that I don't know about and that I am glad that there are those who are willing to take on the responsibilities to try to keep me, my loved ones and our country safe. "
— Gerald, 12/27/2009 -
" How to be a CIA Director 101. Just because he has an axe to grind (and it's clear that he does), doesn't mean that this isn't an interesting back story of how we got so screwed up in the Middle East. Read it with an open mind, but don't forget that he does have an agenda. "
— Julie, 7/13/2009 -
" Just started. Tenet was the CIA director at a particularly tumultuous time when many fingers were pointed at the intelligence apparatus for failing to counter the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Interesting so far... "
— Jeremy, 3/2/2009
About George Tenet
George Tenet was the director of Central Intelligence from 1997 to 2004. He holds a BSFS from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an MIA from the School of International Affairs at Columbia University. He was appointed to the faculty of Georgetown University in 2004 and lives outside Washington, DC, with his wife, author Stephanie Glakas-Tenet, and their son.
About Eric Conger
Eric Conger is a stage actor, voice artist, and award-winning audiobook narrator. He has narrated more than 125 fiction and nonfiction audiobooks and was a four-time finalist for the Audie Award, both as a sole narrator in 2007 and 2008 and as part of a multicast reading in 2001 and 2012. He has earned numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards. His extensive voice-over work includes more than 5,000 narrations for commercial ventures. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Paris, he also works as a writer and playwright. He has appeared in over fifty plays and has also translated plays of Molière and Feydeau for regional theaters.