This is the book the CIA does not want you to read. For over sixty years, the CIA has maintained a formidable reputation in spite of its terrible record, never disclosing its blunders to the American public. It spun its own truth to the nation while reality lay buried in classified archives. Now, Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times reporter Tim Weiner offers a stunning indictment of the CIA, a deeply flawed organization that has never deserved America’s confidence.
Legacy of Ashes is based on more than fifty thousand documents, primarily from the archives of the CIA. Everything is on the record. There are no anonymous sources, no blind quotations. With shocking revelations that will make headlines, Tim Weiner gets at the truth and tells how the CIA’s failures have profoundly jeopardized our national security.
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"I feel like a better citizen for having read this. I really was naive on how much our foreign policy was dictated by covert actions. It's no surprise to me that we have the reputation that we do internationally; a conclusion that I came to after reading this book. MUST READ for my friends. "
— Katia (5 out of 5 stars)
“For an important book like this one, it’s important for an audiobook narrator to have a certain gravitas, and Rudnicki has plenty…Rudnicki is one of the best narrators in the business and he’s in top form here—Legacy of Ashes is one of the best audiobooks of the year.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred audio review)“Deeply researched…Impressively studied…Provides new insights and details.”
— New York Times“The best…ever written on a case of espionage.”
— Wall Street Journal“The epigrammatic style, hard edge and caustic bite of a first-rate detective novel.”
— Chicago Tribune“Tough, fair-minded…Exceptional in the annals of spy literature for not citing a single anonymous source.”
— Playboy“[An] absorbing study…Weiner musters extensive archival research and interviews with top-ranking insiders…to present the agency’s saga as an exercise in trying to change the world without bothering to understand it…The result is a credible and damning indictment of American intelligence policy.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Narrator Stefan Rudnicki’s attention to the many quotes enhances the text…His comfort with many languages strengthens the continuity of the production.”
— AudioFile“Similar to first-rate fiction, which is generally driven by narrative thrust and strong characters, good nonfiction usually has a unique and identifiable tone. It’s the audiobook narrator’s job to suss out that tone, and to locate its counterpart in his own vocal repertoire. I found Tim Weiner’s tone to be one of profound authority tempered with a delicious sardonic edge. It made the book great fun to read.”
— Stefan Rudnicki, narrator" Wow, things I'd never imagine about the CIA, how it came to be and things we "might" have done. Great book to read. Kept my attention well. "
— Tina, 2/19/2014" If you ever wanted to know here it is, sort of. "
— Mikey, 2/15/2014" This is quite an eye opener. A definite read for anyone studying modern history. "
— Levi, 1/26/2014" This book will scare the bejeezus about of you. Essentially, this book chronicles all the blunders, coverups, miscalculations, lies, deception, organizational mismanagement, and incompetence during the CIA's early history and how many of the flaws of its operations have survived through to today. "
— Djnoll, 1/20/2014" Crap. Total Crap. Utter propaganda. "
— Barrett, 1/18/2014" pretty interesting. weiner makes the cia sound like a cross between a fraternity, FEMA, and loony toons. interestingly, the presidents that came off best on handling intelligence were eisenhower and carter. "
— dead, 1/17/2014" A very clear and precise story of CIA and its questionable activities around the globe. "
— Pujan, 12/29/2013" Engrossing, comprehensive, and scary. After the first chapter or so, you won't be shocked or surprised by anything the CIA has done or hasn't done. The book shows that there isn't one single reason why the agency isn't as effective as it should be. It also shows that there's no easy fix. "
— Emilyrs, 12/18/2013" a well researched book but one sided in presentation. "
— Zazu, 12/17/2013" Overall a good book - lays out clearly the strengths and weaknesses of the CIA - a recommended read for those interested in history "
— Kaarthik, 12/6/2013Tim Weiner is the author of six books. Legacy of Ashes, his history of the CIA, won the National Book Award. His journalism on secret government programs received the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. As a correspondent for the New York Times, he covered war and terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Sudan, and other nations. He directs the Carey Institute’s nonfiction residency program in upstate New York and teaches as an Anschutz Distinguished Fellow in American Studies at Princeton.
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.