The FBI

by Ronald Kessler

The author of Inside the CIA offers an in-depth profile of the inner workings and evolving priorities of the law enforcement agency and the people who run it. 35,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Crime, Politics, Espionage, Military Fiction

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ronald Kessler is the New York Times bestselling author of 21 non-fiction books about the Trump White House, Secret Service, FBI, and CIA.

Kessler began his career as a journalist in 1964 on the Worcester Telegram, followed by three years as an investigative reporter and editorial writer with the Boston Herald. In 1968, he joined the Wall Street Journal as an investigative reporter in the New York bureau. He became an investigative reporter with the Washington Post in 1970 and continued in that position until 1985.

Kessler's new book is "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game."

Kessler has won eighteen journalism awards, including two George Polk awards--for national reporting and for community service. Kessler has also won the American Political Science Association's Public Affairs Reporting Award, the Associated Press' Sevellon Brown Memorial Award, and Washingtonian magazine's Washingtonian of the Year award. Franklin Pierce University awarded him the Marlin Fitzwater Medallion for excellence as a prolific author, journalist, and communicator. He is listed in Who's Who in America.

"Ron Kessler...has enjoyed a reputation for solid reporting over the past four decades." Lloyd Grove, The Daily Beast. "Kessler's such a skilled storyteller, you almost forget this is dead-serious nonfiction..." Newsweek. "[Ronald Kessler] is the man who broke the story about the [Secret Service prostitution] episode in Cartagena...." New York Times. "His [Kessler's] book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties." FactCheck.org. "[Ronald Kessler] is one of the nation's top investigative journalists." Fox & Friends. "Ron Kessler appears to get everything first." Slate.

Ron Kessler lives with his wife Pamela Kessler in the Washington, D.C. area. Also an author and former Washington Post reporter, Pam Kessler wrote "Undercover Washington: Where Famous Spies Lived, Worked and Loved." His daughter Rachel Kessler, an independent public relations consultant, and son Greg Kessler, an artist, live in New York.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I'm going to read this book. I'm mentioned in it even though the author said it was off the record. Never trust anyone.

Working for the FBI I had so many insights on this book.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little dated at this point and Mr. Kessler's "The Bureau" is a more up to date account of the FBI's history. I also think the Bureau is a better written work. Like all of Mr. Kessler's books it is well researched, even handed, and bolstered by unprecedented access to secretive organizations. This book contibuted to the dismissal of one of the FBI's Directors for abusing his official position, so it is difficult to accuse Mr. Kessler of holding punches or propagandizing. All in all, it is sober account that lays bare the FBI's darker moments as well as the important work the Bureau does every day to keep Americans safe from mass murderers, organized crime syndicates, foreign intelligence agencies, and terrorist networks.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating details of Director Sessions time in office, and the abuses of privilege by his wife and secretary, which don't seem to have made it to Wikipedia! If true, how on Earth did the lot of them escape prison, which they apparently did!? Laws on malfeasance in public office must be a lot slacker than in the UK! Corrupter and stinking more than a mouldy piece of roquefort cheese!
Then again, the chief exec of my own city was on trial for knifing a man to death before the trial was abandoned. "Stabber" is still in office to this day, which explains my disgust for official corruption.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but a little too dated.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. The book was written before 9/11 so it often sounds dated and may not be as reflective of the Bureau's current culture. Also, the book attempts to cover everything in the Bureau from major field offices to the profiling unit to HRT, as a result it spreads itself thin and obviously does not come across as thorough as books that have been written specifically on those topics (I recommend Mindhunder by John Douglas (about the profiling) and Cold Zero (about HRT).

The book is good in that it does give a an overview of the Bureau's culture and personality. You get a sense as to how functions differently than other law enforcement agencies, how it sees itself in the context of the US government, and how J. Edgar Hoover's vision for it continues to impact it now.

Overall, okay. I am planning to read Kessler's more recent book about the Bureau, as it may be more current.

[Tyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good although just like his Inside the CIA it is out dated and there are other novels out there that are much newer and will be from a post 9/11 perspective but overall a great book.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in 1997. It was was very informative and interesting. While I'm sure that there are other more up-to-date books out there now, I recommend this one as an intro into the subject.

[Tiểu Nhi]

very good

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating and detailed account of FBI history. The focus is largely post-J. Edgar Hoover and examines the path taken to bring forward a scientific approach first begun with the Lindbergh kidnapping case and get away from the Gestapo tactics. The era shines a light on the "Judge" Webster tenure and the troubled William S. Sessions reign with the abuses of him and his wife and a pushy assistant. Such things as jetting for personal business seems to tame, now, but the author was so moved as to present his findings the the FBI through a letter included in the backmatter. I really like the brief forensics, busts and undercover details presented in short paragraphs.

[Sean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kwon-ick-Ko NOT Quan-Tiko: Jeff Riggenback may be the worst, laziest narrator I have come across. He never bothers to check on correct pronunciation, and just simply wings it. The most egregious example is the pronunciation of the location of the FBI academy in Quantico Va.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point the book is over 27 years old and a lot of the information is obviously dated. I am curious what a book written today would say.

[Giri]

Where I read that book do you now

[Holly]

Enthralling!!!