Retooling material for my intel class and jumping between five books (two of which are out of print) and a raft of booklets, articles and sundry print sources; cyber buddy coincidentally mentions push on the inside to ratchet up analytic tradecraft, which reminds me …
… Non-fiction intel books - generally speaking - fall into two categories: the tell-almost and the high-level, policy-focused treatment. Clark’s books are something of an exception, but they’re not for novices. Jones’ book is great for fundamentals, but isn’t written for this audience. So …
a) anyone know a single book, readily available, that is suitable for intel analysis 101?
If a=false Then
b) what makes more sense: assemble and edit a compilation or craft something from scratch?
As a guy starting a new gig, relocating a family, a million other things on the plate the answer seems obvious, but compilations come with their own complications (copyright, etc.) and I’ll probably only get one shot at this before being overcome with the next next great if hairbrained idea.
Please to weigh in via comments.
Comments (4)
I don’t know of any books that focus on intel analysis beyond the run-up to the Iraq war. I’d imagine a compilation would be very useful - could get different authors to write about successes, failures, specific problems, etc., the kind of stuff that a single career likely couldn’t cover.
Posted by Adrian Martin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://haftofthespear.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 10, 2008 8:53 PM
Posted on May 10, 2008 20:53
“Psychology of Intelligence
Analysis” by Richards J. Heuer, Jr. is the best book available. Having spent 38 yrs in the IC I
considered it the bible for
all analysts. I used it in mentoring all of my analysts and most kept it on their desk for ready reference. If you cannot find it is is available on the CIA website under the Center for the Study of Intelligence.
Posted by Kansas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://haftofthespear.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 13, 2008 11:03 AM
Posted on May 13, 2008 11:03
I recall posting this a few days ago but it apparently didn’t take (& I don’t recall everything I said). Peter Schwartz the futurist (The Art of the Long View, right?) comes to mind. I know Sherman Kent, godfather of the DI, wrote a legendary tome decades ago that is enshrined in the analytical tradecraft course(s) at Langley, but I found it rather impenetrable. I certainly think good analysis is an art as opposed to a science. The example that comes to mind is Gen. George S. Patton who, in an offhand comment recorded in his diary in early December of 1944, his observation that there was a buildup of German forces opposite the south end of the 1st Army sector, adjacent to his 3rd Army, and he wondered why Hodges & Bradley didn’t seem too concerned about it. Or some such. Everybody had the same intelligence information, but why was he the only one of any rank who registered a threat? Go figure….
Posted by Ralph H.![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://haftofthespear.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 14, 2008 3:28 PM
Posted on May 14, 2008 15:28
See if you can find time to comment over at
The impartial intelligence analyst
http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2008/05/impartial-intelligence-analyst.html
Posted by Cannoneer No4![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://haftofthespear.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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May 16, 2008 5:18 AM
Posted on May 16, 2008 05:18