Spy

DK Eyewitness Books

by Richard Platt

Discover the world of espionage -- from the early spymasters to the electronic surveillance of today.

Everybody knows that spies wear white dinner jackets, drive sports cars, like their drinks shaken not stirred, and carry electric saws disguised as watches. Or do they? Certainly, some real spies are sophisticated members of the diplomatic service, but most are ordinary people from all walks of life. Spy is a journey through the history of espionage, from biblical spies who helped bring down the walls of Jericho to today's technological intrusions on the internet. Real-life spying equipment and gadgets are as amazing as those designed by Q for James Bond. Eyewitness Spy shows how, after the Cold War, and despite the new spirit of international cooperation, there is still a place for the spy in the modern world. Written by Richard Platt, author of the best-selling Cross-sections! Man-of-War and Eyewitness Pirate, Spy is a unique introduction to the dangerous lives of those who exist in the shadowy world of espionage.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Espionage

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

(1953–)

Richard Platt is the author of more than sixty informative books for young readers, and he also writes for innovative multimedia projects. Some of his most popular works have been collaborations with illustrator Stephen Biesty on the "Cross-Sections" series. After a failed attempt to forge a career as a photographer, Platt discovered that he had a knack for writing. "I started writing about photography: first magazine articles, then books," he explained on the Walker Books Web site. "I got a job editing children's books, then went on to write them."

In the 1990s, Platt teamed up with popular juvenile illustrator Biesty for several books, beginning with Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Book, published in 1992. The following year, a second volume in the series, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Man-of-War, proved equally interesting for late-elementary-age readers, especially those enchanted by seventeenth-century battleships. Alongside Biesty's cutaway illustrations, Platt provides explanatory text that indicates the purpose and activities in each section of the ship. The hardships of life aboard such vessels for their often 800-member crews are not overlooked, either, and the drawings depict food rations crawling with maggots and a doctor's pail containing severed limbs. Ellen Mandel, writing for Booklist, asserted that Platt's "intriguing text" serves to make "this meticulously presented book a treasure of factual content and visual imagery."

For Stephen Biesty's Incredible Everything, Platt provides informative paragraphs to accompany the illustrations for many everyday products, such as athletic shoes and compact discs. Much of the text revolves around the manufacturing process. Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body is a lesson in human anatomy, with sections on each of the body's systems and several major organs; the digestive system alone takes up four pages. Platt has also worked with the illustrator on Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle and Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions.

Working with publisher Dorling Kindersley, Platt has authored several titles in their "Eyewitness" series, some of which have appeared in the United States under the Knopf/Borzoi imprint. Pirate details the world of corsairs, privateers, and crime on the high seas throughout history. A reviewer for Science Books and Films, Richard B. Woodbury, praised the work as "a veritable miniencyclopedia or minimuseum" and "a pleasure to look at." Spy chronicles the history of espionage and the decisive role intelligence-gathering triumphs have played in history. Of particular emphasis are the code-breaking endeavors by Allied intelligence networks during World War II. Shipwreck, also part of the "Eyewitness" series, investigates famous sea disasters and rescues. Like the other books in the popular series, Shipwreck is lavishly illustrated. Chris Stephenson, writing in School Librarian, called it "an excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information."

Platt has also written several books about inventions. His The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions, which appeared in 1994, won praise from reviewers for its comprehensiveness. Platt divides the development of technology throughout the ages into five sections, including agriculture, conquest, and communication. The timeline begins at 600,000 BCE, around the time humans likely began using fire, and includes predictions for innovations that may occur in the near future. Cathryn A. Camper, reviewing The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions for School Library Journal, praised Platt's skilled use of illustration and text, which the critic felt "teaches a sophisticated form of literacy similar to" that provided with multimedia learning tools—an area in which Platt already had a great deal of writing experience. "Readers will delight in the colorful pictures and the text, which gives just enough information to satisfy curiosity," opined Voice of Youth Advo

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK I know these are supposed to be kid books but they are awesome! Great pictures and just enough text to make you want to learn more. Great choices for a beginning reader or to start an older reader out in a new area. Every time I pick one of these up and read it I learn new things. Highly Recommended

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided useful information for my WWII project on the Enigma code.

[Mollie Harrison Pennock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eyewitness Books series target audience is middle school children. I bought it years ago at the International Spy Museum for my son for whom it was age appropriate at the time. While sorting through books recently, I decided to read it. Although I am an adult, I still found this book interesting. It provides a good overview of the subject and gave me focus areas where I want to read deeper. I was especially intrigued with spies from the WWII era. Until I read this book, I thought espionage techniques in television shows and movies were fiction! I recommend this book for middle school children at a high reading level or older readers who want a book that is quick to read and provides a wide overview of the subject.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Eyewitness book contains pictures of a lot of interesting cool spy gadgets, like dead drops and cypher machines. It talks about things real spies do, like wiretapping, instead of what only goes on in unrealistic movies. Nevertheless, I got the edition with the poster, and the poster had James Bond about to shoot you on it.

[Mackenzie Melichar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oddette Samson is so interesting! But I found it so stange that at 12 she was outted by a double agent - she was so young! If she was born in 1931 and caught in 1943 then she wasn't even in her twenties ...

[Emerson D'Agostino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Book, some of the pages on coding I did not really understand though.

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gives lots of information.But...I wonder how you got that information.

[Shokhrukh]

this book very interesting for me, because I like spy

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spy – Just saying the word out loud gives you a feeling of excitement and suspense. Who are they? How do you become a spy? What is a mole? What kinds of exciting gadgets do spies use in their work? Find the answers to these questions and more in the book Spy by Richard Platt. This Eyewitness book is full of amazing photographs of spies and their gadgets. Read about real secret weapons, famous spies from history and visit the useful spy websites found in the back of the book. You never know where a spy will turn up next.

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was younger, my brother and I studied this book like it was the be-all end-all book to spying.
Like every Eyewitness book, it has large white pages filled with diagrams, small captions, and many photos. Because of its publisher, I have confidence that the information is as accurate as it could be.
This book is a good book for kids who are interested in spies because it gives them the facts without scaring them.

[Lettervreter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een verrassende en boeiende nieuwe Ooggetuigen over de geheimzinnige wereld van spionnen. Schitterende kleukrenfoto's van vindingrijke spionagegadgets en onthullende verhalen over topspionnen geven een uniek beeld van mensen die in schaduw werken.

[Luca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one a little off my interist.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

DK Eyewitness books are great for giving a well-illustrated overview of a topic. This one on Spying is no exception and does the job until a visit to the International Spy Museum can be arranged.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info! thank you to the author for not demonizing Muslims or Islamic countries when mentioned in this book.

[Theo · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was ok. it wasn't long enough to have good detail, however. my only complaint.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it was good. I just detest this topic. I feel spying is dishonest and they should be shot.