Persuasive Speaking: Business Discussion and Public Address Book

I had mixed feelings about this book. Bearden was a CIA operative of long-standing and well placed, and these are his reminiscences, joined with research (oral and written). It is very well informed. I found the first part fascinating -- dealing the mole hunts from Angleton to Aldrich Ames. Part II (the book was published in 2003) was a triumphalist view of Charlie Wilson's War -- the American support for the Mujahadeen in the Soviet-Afghan war -- which looks like a catastrophic blunder in hindsight. Yet Bearden, who was on the ground there, takes credit for thus winning the Cold War. Part III deals with the collapse of the Soviet Union -- has much interesting detail, but again missed the dangers inherent in the collapse of Gorbachev's regime.

Because of these complaints I found the book somewhat of a slog at time, despite the crisp writing and wealth of detail. Those who can overlook these faults will enjoy this book enormously. Those, like myself, who cannot, well...