I Led Three Lives: Citizen, Communist, Counterspy

by Herbert A. Philbrick

I Led Three Lives: Citizen, Communist, Counterspy, first published in 1952, is a fascinating account of the author's infiltration into the American Communist party in the 1940's as a counterspy who then passed on his information to the FBI. Beginning as an advertising executive in Boston, Philbrick was inadvertently drawn into a front organization of the Communist Party. He was subsequently recruited by the U.S. Government to document Soviet efforts, operations and plans in the U.S.A. The book concludes with his testimony at the 1949 trial of the top eleven Communist Party-USA leaders. I Led Three Lives was a bestseller after its 1952 release, and was made into a popular television series of the same name. This new kindle ebook is the complete, unabridged edition of 1952 and includes five pages of illustrations.

Genres: History

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Herbert Arthur Philbrick was a Boston-area advertising executive who was encouraged by the FBI to infiltrate the Communist Party USA between 1940 and 1949. His autobiography was the basis for the 1950s television series " I Led 3 Lives."

Reviews

[Richard Croner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book that is as applicable today as it was in the 1950"s. Mr. Philbrick was an insider within the Russian/Communist activities in the United States. What was being done was creating divisiveness within our country. Looking at the current climate in the US it is impossible not to think that Russia is extemely pleased with the fruit of their efforts. Every citizen needs to read this book and THINK!

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just old enough to remember when Richard Carlson played Philbrick in the TV series. When I had a chance to watch it again in the early Nineties, the show became one of my guilty pleasures: a fascinating glimpse into the paranoid mindset of American authoritarians in the McCarthy era. I was lucky to find the original book at the library, and it stands in remarkable contrast to the show. Philbrick was fairly liberal in his attitudes, and was troubled by the way that pre-war idealism had curdled into a strict adherence to the Party line. But then, toiling undercover, he also had to face some troubling questions about the anti-Communist side that he was working for. A surprisingly even-handed book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the TV shows of I Led 3 Lives, and found they were more thrilling. The book tells the facts which are in themselves chilling, to think of communists plotting to over throw are government. It was a worthwhile book to read.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of Herb Philbrick who led three lives. It began when he volunteered for a group trying to keep America out of the war in 1940. When he came to realize it was a communist front organization he went to the FBI and spent the next 9 years gathering intelligence for them. His account is straightforward without the embellished suspense you would expect in such a story. And yet it's as gripping as if he were chased through alleys.

The book explains how well organized these little blocks were and how they used front organizations to funnel money to the party and recruit new members. Philbrick was several years volunteering in various groups before he was made an actual party member. They didn't take any chances they didn't have to take.

Probably the strangest thing was the willingness to oppose the war while Germany and Russia were dividing Poland and then call for all out war when Germany invaded Russia. It was a moment where you knew which groups were pro-Soviet and which were sincere. It's also the part of history that gets very little play in the public discussion. The casual observer might think communist infiltration was someone's imagination. Arthur Miller's the Crucible all but suggests it with his allegory to the Salem Witch Trials. But other than Whitaker Chambers and Witness I couldn't name another communist expose from the inside out. Now I can name two. I wish I could have met Herb Philbrick. He must have been some raconteur in his later years.

[Linda Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read for our time

A thorough account of Herbert Philbrick's years of experience with the Communist Party --- including those organizations openly acknowledged by the Party and those organizations used as fronts to promote their goals. While his experience was in late 1940s, following WWII, it provides good insights into Communist philosophy and methods as stated by its chief proponents (Marx, Lenin, Engles and Stalin) as well as those he encountered who worked to bring those goals to fruition. Besides this, Philbrick's book is a completely engaging read that was difficult to put down. I particularly appreciated his outlined of the distinctions between a liberal and a communist at the end of his book. At this time in U.S. history when political name calling is rampant (all liberals are communists and all conservatives are nazis), this book reminds how this kind of division can be used to undermine our government --- making this book and important read for our time as well. It also helped me better understand the type of people who are attracted to communism.

[John Roylance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be a hard to find book> It's well worth the time. It's very interesting to see that the play book hasn't changed much from the 40's to now. If you like politics you'll love this book.

[STEVE RHODES · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life as a communist

An excellent example of what it was like and I assume probably still is to be a communist. 70 years later the
progressives, AKA communists are still attempting to destroy the country and convert it into a socialist statist dream. Read the book The devil and Bella Dodd by kengor to see how education has been infiltrated and is currently being used to further historical Communist goals.

[John Arciniega · Rating 5 out of 5]

well, worth the read

I first became aware of this book by seeing reruns of the old black-and-white TV show. They they made me want to read the book and find out more about what was going on during this era. I looked for the book in libraries and bookstores. I am so glad. I finally found it on Amazon. I find the book much better than the TV show. Since I’m a lover of history, I found this book a very good read and I’m glad it is a part of my permanent Library.

[BarbG Gudgeon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot say I enjoyed this book, it was poorly written, full of grammar and spelling errors (no editing, I guess), but it was interesting to read about how he ended his foray into communist cells. Reading it opened my eyes as to how unrest like in today's environment leads to the end of democracy. Weak government and very poor leadership in a country leaves it wide open for a big upheaval.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book by chance and thought I might like it. I had been reading books about spies. This is so informative about how the Communist Party operated in the United States. The organization needed to be a spy is incredible. Good read for anyone interested in a job as a spy.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the time.

A good read. Note that the electronic version is a scanned copy - typos abound. The app requires five more words, so here they are.

[Mike Harnish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't seen the movie, but this account of Philbrick's activities help people understand the thought process of the era.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking book about a civilian spy.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still relevant today. I'd like to find a more recent book covering more recent decades. Very Highly recommend!

[Connieh]

This is a very good book to gain an insight into what was actually happening in the US in the fight against Communism during the 1950s. Strongly recommend the book.

[John Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as it was when I read it in 1972.

[Steve]

Original title: I Led Three Lives: Citizen, 'Communist', Counterspy.

Inspired the 50s TV series "I Led Three Lives" which was young L. H. Oswald's favorite TV show:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Led_Th...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_...

[Rebecca M. Mountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chiling

Still pertinent today.

God bless Herbert Phil brick. His heroism should inspire this generation.
A must-read book. Enjoy it now