"The crisp 200-page result is engagingly written, with a dose of modesty unusual in a profession notorious for its boastfulness." Foreign Policy
"Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putins Secret War is well written, informative, and entertaining to read. It should be on the professional reading list of defense leaders, Russia specialists, enthusiasts, and those considering a career in the IC. It would also be an excellent addition to undergraduate and graduate school syllabi for courses on intelligence or Russian history." Parameters
"Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks is a fascinating story of Russian spycraft that details the double agents, honey traps, and murders that have marked Soviet and now Russian foreign policy for decades. Sean Wiswesser spent his CIA career studying, teaching, and confronting Russian spies all over the globe; in his book on Russian intelligence, he spills the beans on what Russian spies did and do, to challenge freedom and the West. Hard to put down, and harder to forget when falling asleep at night."John Nagl, author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam
"Sean Wiswesser has written the rare book that pairs rigorous tradecraft insight with lived experience. Drawing on decades countering Russias services, he maps how espionage, disinformation, and corruption actually work, and how to blunt them. The Ukraine case study is especially clarifying, but its the human stories that stay with you. Essential reading for practitioners, policymakers, and citizens alike who want to understand (and perhaps resist) Putins secret war."Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation
"Sean Wiswessers personal reminiscences about encounters with Russian officers add authenticity to his narrative that is rare in books about Russian intelligence. His career as an operations officer lays a credible foundation for his interpretation and critique of Russian operations. Seans experiences allow him to give personal tribute to several Soviet and Russian defectors with whom he worked, introducing readers to otherwise unknown people who supported U.S. intelligence in the 1990s and 2000s."Kevin Riehle, Lecturer in Intelligence and International Security, Brunel University London
"Sean Wiswesser lifts the lid on the inner workings of the Russian security services. This is not a detached, scholarly account, but a plain-spoken, deeply authoritative, and often humorous exposé of an implacable foe by an experienced officer possessing a rare combination of Russia-oriented tradecraft, language, and cultural skills. Readers will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the dangers and weaknesses of these organizations, so reflective of the tragic paradox of Russia itself."Gregory Sims, former CIA Station Chief
This is an excellent book about the Russian Intelligence Services and the threat they pose to the West. It is informative, approachable and compelling, containing many illustrative examples from the authors career. Written by a true expert, it should be mandatory reading for everyone in the U.S. Intelligence Community. Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks will be useful to experts but it is written with a style and clarity that recommend it to the interested citizen.Rob Dannenberg, former CIA Central Eurasia Division Chief and Chief of Russian Operations
If you dont understand the Russian intelligence and security services, you simply cant understand Russia. In Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks, Russian intelligence and Putins Secret War Sean Wiswesser richly and perceptively illustrates the root cause of Russian aggression, oppression, and destruction in the 21st Century the unchanging nature and powerful influence of the modern Russian heirs of the Soviet KGB. Filled with authoritative and compelling detail, welcome clarity, and insightful nuance, Wiswessers book is required reading for any policymaker, intelligence officer, academic, or businessman dealing with Russian issues. Paul Kolbe, former Chief CIA Central Eurasia Division, Senior Fellow at Harvard Belfer Center Intelligence Project
"Wiswesser's book is an outstanding contribution to our understanding of the tradecraft utilized by what remain our most professionally skilled intelligence adversaries: the Russian foreign intelligence and security services. It provides unique insight into the history, cultures, and operations of the organizations that undergird the Putin regime and should be mandatory reading, not only for intelligence professionals, but also for any American interested in the security of our country." Mark Kelton, former CIA Chief of Counterintelligence
Wiswessers book will surely become an essential resource for national security professionals, students of the Russian government, and citizens interested in international affairs. Perhaps more importantly, it may serve as a primer for future FBI and intelligence officials. SpyTalk
