A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal book. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who. The pulitzer pricewinning russian affairs expert zooms in on the true saga of a soviet engineerthe spy of the titlewho passed the cia billions of dollars worth of top secret intel right under the nose of the kgb. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The pulitzer pricewinning russian affairs expert zooms in on the true saga of a soviet engineerthe spy of the titlewho passed the cia billions of dollars worth of top secret intel right under the nose of the kgb, passing off notes into waiting cars and employing other bondworthy tactics to help the u. The title the billion dollar spy refers to the research and manufacturing costs saved by the united states as a result of mr. David hoffman tells tolkachevs story in his new book, the billion dollar spy. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history even the footnotes are informative and then becomes something more, a shrewd character study of spies and the spies who run. Hoffman the singular traitor the cold war was certainly a time in human history where unconventional warfare became the norm, where battles between the worlds two greatest superpowers were no longer fought openly on battlefields but rather behind the secrecy of closed doors. A washington post notable book of the year it was the height of the cold war, and a dangerous time to be stationed in the soviet.
The billion dollar spy navy general library program. Courtesy of david rolphfrom the book the billion dollar spy david rolph, on his first cia tour, took over as tolkachevs case officer in 1980. One evening, while the chief of the cias moscow station was filling his gas tank, a stranger approached and dropped a note into the car. The billion dollar spy the billion dollar spy audiobook, by david e. Mar 29, 2016 footnotes 1 dino brugioni, the million dollar photograph, studies in intelligence 23, no.
Such is the conclusion of david hoffmans account of perhaps the most productive spy in cia history. Hoffman i received this book through the goodreads first reads program. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly. Billion dollar brain is a 1966 cold war spy novel by len deighton. The billion dollar spy pinnacle digital consortium overdrive. It follows the ipcress file 1962, horse under water 1963, and funeral in berlin 1964. Smashwords the billion dollar spy summary a book by. Nov 05, 2016 hoffmans look into the story of tolkachev, the billiondollar spy, is exciting and thrilling, while also being a tragic emotional roller coaster. Jul 05, 2015 david hoffman tells tolkachevs story in his new book, the billion dollar spy. Every meeting, whether between tolkachev or another of the spies featured in the book. From the pulitzer prizewinning author of the dead hand comes the riveting story of the cias most valuable spy in the soviet union and an evocative portrait of the agencys moscow station, an outpost. It was the height of the cold war, and a dangerous time to be stationed in the soviet union. Learn about americas most valuable spy in a fraction of the time it takes to read the actual book hoffmans look into the story of tolkachev, the billiondollar spy, is exciting and thrilling.
From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the d. Learn about americas most valuable spy in a fraction of the time it takes to read the actual book hoffmans look into the story of tolkachev, the billiondollar spy, is exciting and thrilling, while. The billion dollar spy reads like the most taut and suspenseful parts of tinker tailor soldier spy or smileys people. In a tale that reads more like a novel than a piece of nonfiction, hoffman takes his audience through the moment that adolf tolkachev, a soviet designer and engineer, first approaches moscows cia station chief to defect to the united states, all. Book discussion on the billion dollar spy internet archive. The billion dollar spy is the true story of an electronics engineer at a secret military aviation institute in moscow who for almost seven years provided the cia with a huge volume of sensitive and valuable. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal david e. Jul 06, 2015 the title the billion dollar spy refers to the research and manufacturing costs saved by the united states as a result of mr. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war. It is a gripping story of courage, professionalism, and betrayal in the secret world. Hoffman presents the events in such a way the raises the stakes of each operation to its peak. He married a young woman at his institute, his topsecret military institute, and her parents had been purged by. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait. The winner of the pulitzer prize for his previous book.
A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by hoffman, david e isbn. The billion dollar spy summary by summary station nook book. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal book online at best prices in india on. On this channel talk about what i have learned from the billionaires, about my book project and. The winner of the pulitzer prize for his previous book, the dead hand. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by david e. Waterstones nonfiction book of the month august 2018 and a sunday times bestseller an astonishingly detailed picture. From the pulitzer prizewinning author of the dead hand comes the riveting story of the cias most valuable spy in the soviet union and an evocative portrait of the agencys moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the c. Hoffman immerses his readers in the deception of cold war espionage in his book, the billion dollar spy. In a tale that reads more like a novel than a piece of non.
Hoffman perhaps the only thing more engrossing than a cold war spy novel is the truth behind the tales. The billion dollar spy tolkachev was one of the cias most productive agents of the cold war, providing the united states with intelligence no other spy had ever obtained. He is the author of the oligarchs and of the dead hand, about the end. A washington post notable book of the year it was the height of the cold war, and a dangerous time to be stationed in the soviet union. The billion dollar spy is the true story of an electronics engineer at a secret military aviation institute in moscow who for almost seven years provided the cia with a huge volume of sensitive and valuable intelligence on soviet research and development r%d activities concerning radars, avionics, aa missiles, and other technologies.
On january 12, 1977 around 6 pm, an averagelooking soviet man leaned into. Footnotes 1 dino brugioni, the million dollar photograph, studies in intelligence 23, no. In his third book, he recreates the secret cold war career of adolf tolkachev, a soviet engineer who became one of the cias most valuable. Read the billion dollar spy a true story of cold war espionage and betrayal by david e. Jun 17, 2015 the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of. The billion dollar spy central intelligence agency. Every meeting, whether between tolkachev or another of the spies featured in the book is supplemented by the exact right amount of background information. This book is a well referenced account of the cias work in moscow during the cold war and not only is it an enlightening book explaining how espionage was carried out during the 1970s and 1980s, but it is. The billion dollar spy is one of the best spy stories to come out of the cold war and all the more riveting, and finally dismaying, for being true. Hoffmans new book adds more details about how and why the soviet radar expert adolf tolkachev secretly sided with the c. Hoffman the singular traitor the cold war was certainly a time in human history where unconventional warfare became the norm, where battles.
The billion dollar spy is one of the best spy stories to come out of the cold war and all the more riveting. This book is a well referenced account of the cias work in moscow during the cold war and not only is it an enlightening book explaining how espionage was carried out during the 1970s and 1980s, but it is also an enthralling story containing suspense, love, duty, professionalism, ingenuity, jealousy and lots of betrayal. I call it the billion dollar secret and thats what this channel and my book is going to be about. Hoffmans look into the story of tolkachev, the billiondollar spy, is exciting and thrilling, while also being a tragic emotional roller coaster. The billion dollar spy reads like the very best spy fiction yet is meticulously drawn from real life. Jul 07, 2015 a thoroughly researched excavation of an astoundingly important and sadly sacrificed spy for the cia during the low point of the 1970s. He provided a road map to the united states for compromising and defeating two critical soviet weapons systems. As is the style of histories published these days, the billion dollar spy opens not at the beginning of the story but with a dramatic event briefly recountedin this case, a cia officers attempt in december 1982 to recontact. On january 12, 1977 around 6 pm, an averagelooking soviet man leaned into the car that the cia station chief, robert fulton, was filling at a gas station. Hoffman will describe this singularlyimportant operation, based on declassified cia cables and his new book, the billion dollar spy, and argue. How the cia ran a billion dollar spy in moscow the. The billion dollar spy reads like the very best spy fiction yet is meticulously. Learn about americas most valuable spy in a fraction of the time it takes to read the actual book hoffmans look into the story of tolkachev, the billiondollar spy, is exciting and thrilling, while also being a tragic emotional roller coaster.
The untold story of the cold war arms race and its dangerous legacy 2009, washington post contributing editor hoffman has strong credentials to tell the unheralded story of adolf. A thrilling true account of doubleagent, adolf tolkachev this is a revelatory account of cold war. It is a mustread for historians and buffs of that era, as well as aficionados of espionage. The soviet asked if fulton was american and then said that he wanted to. The title of david hoffmans excellent new book, the billion dollar spy, unintentionally i think evokes a famous item from studies in. Its worth the clenched jaw and upset stomach it creates. The billion dollar spy reveals the gripping story of. The true story of a man who became the pentagons most valuable spy during the last years of the cold war. It was the fourth to feature an unnamed secret agent working for the british woocp intelligence agency. Billiondollar brain is a 1966 cold war spy novel by len deighton. Jul 07, 2015 from the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the cold war while driving out of the american embassy in moscow on the evening of february 16, 1978, the chief of the cia.
Chicago turabian author date citation style guide hoffman, david e. A true story of cold war espionage and betrayal from the worlds largest community of readers. A thoroughly researched excavation of an astoundingly important and sadly sacrificed spy for the cia during the low point of the 1970s. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history. Christian science monitor the billion dollar spy packs valuable insights into the final decade of the cloakanddagger rivalry between the united states and the former soviet union, which came undone in 1989. The riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias moscow station, an outpost of. Christian science monitor the billion dollar spy packs valuable insights into the final decade of the cloakanddagger rivalry between the united states and the former soviet union, which came undone.
As is the style of histories published these days, the billion dollar spy opens not at the beginning of the story but with a. It hits the sweet spot between pageturning thriller and solidly researched history even the footnotes are informative and then becomes something more, a shrewd character study of spies and the. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning history the dead hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the cias. He is the author of the oligarchs and of the dead hand, about the end of the cold war arms race, and winner of a 2010 pulitzer prize.
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