RaveThe Millions... Weiner deftly and succinctly shows how the agency has navigated the first sixty years of its existence ... Among the more shocking revelations of the book are the many urban legends that are, in fact, true ... Weiner masterfully exposes the incompetence of the agency and the men who’ve led it. Using a relentless narrative style that dispenses with lengthy biographies of even the most important individuals, he pushes through a staggering amount of raw information in relatively short order. His prose is sharp, and never condescends to the reader ... For all its weight, the book has surprising moments of humor ... One can’t help but share Weiner’s frustration about the CIA’s past, as well as his fear for what its failures mean for America’s future. Legacy of Ashes is the rare book that should be read by every American, especially in an election year. Luckily, it’s also a thoroughly enjoyable book, one that’s hardly a chore to read.
