Wippl Publishes Book Review of Risk Taker, Spy Maker
Joseph Wippl, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published a book review of Risk Taker, Spy Maker: Tales of a CIA Case Officer – a memoir by Barry Michael Broman – in the “International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence.”
The book recounts Broman’s career from a photographer working for the Associated Press in Southeast Asia to his time in intelligence, all complemented by many of his photographs, which include include Marines in action in Vietnam, the ravages of war in Cambodia, and opium buyers forcing growers to sell in Burma. In his review, Wippl explores Broman’s various deployments and positions in the intelligence community, the unique perspective his book offers, as well as the importance of East Asia.
An excerpt:
Broman’s energy jumps out of almost every page of the book. He has a photographer’s eye for geographical and cultural detail. His fascination for the area is boundless and, therefore, addictive. I have never been to Southeast Asia, and now I want to go.
The full review is available on “International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence’s” website.
Joseph Wippl is a former CIA officer. He spent a 30 year career as an operations officer in the National Clandestine Service (NCS). On assignments in CIA headquarters, he served as the Deputy Chief of Human Resources, as the Senior NCS representative to the Aldrich Ames Damage Assessment Team, as Chief of Europe Division and as the CIA’s Director of Congressional Affairs. Prior to his arrival at Boston University, he occupied the Richard Helms Chair for Intelligence Collection in the NCS training program. Wippl has taught at BU since 2006, and speaks and writes widely on issues regarding intelligence. Read more about him on his Pardee School faculty profile.