Seduced by Secrets: Inside the Stasi's Spy-Tech World
"Thoroughly researched, Seduced by Secrets gives us an important, unmatched, insider account of East German intelligence. Kristie Macrakis writes with a scholar's eye and novelist's skills, revealing secrets and spy tradecraft never meant for public disclosure."Pete Earley, best-selling author of Comrade J: The Untold Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America After the End of the Cold War"This book on the vaunted GDR secret service provides a fascinating inside view of the Stasi's spying efforts as well as technologies. Written in an accessible style, it is nonetheless based on exhaustive research in the Stasi files and many oral interviews. The first part paints vivid pictures of some of the major spy cases of the Cold War. The second part, which will gladden the heart of any espionage aficionado, discusses spy technology from invisible ink to smell samples. The result is a remarkable and readable synthesis of the East German spying operations."Konrad Jarausch, Lurcy Professor of  European Civilization, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"Easily the most detailed, painstaking research yet undertaken on the Stasi's techniques and secrets. Certainly the most absorbing analysis of an organization hitherto steeped in mystery."Nigel West, Director of Counterintelligence Studies, The Center for Counterintelligence and Security Studies, Washington DC"Seduced by Secrets makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of how the Stasi did what it did..." -Daniel Johnson, Commentary"Drawing upon declassified documents seized from STASI files (it is  now defunct) and interviews with former officers, Ms. Macrakis has  produced a first-rate read...[This book] deserve[s] a five  cloak-and-dagger rating. Good reading for the specialist and the  layman alike." - Joseph C. Goulden, The Washington Times"...fine scholarship and a valuable and unique contribution to  intelligence literature. " -Hayden B. Peake, Studies in Intelligence"Rarely does an intelligence book come along that offers unique  insights on spy gadgetry beyond what has already been written, and the  importance of Western technology...[for] the outcome of the Cold  War...But then Kristie Macrakis is not your usual writer/author. Her  Harvard doctorate in the history of science and technology, along  with...teaching intelligence, and a life-long interest in the spy  technology of the Cold War, has yielded a book that needed to be  writtenŠThe book is assuredly a must for those spy literature  aficionados interested in real, as opposed to fictional, spy stories." -Gene Poteat, The Intelligencer"Seduced by Secrets is, and will likely remain, the best book on the former  East German Ministerium fu¨r Staatssicherheit (Ministry for State  Security or MfS) and its foreign intelligence service , the  Hauptverwaltung Aufkla¨rung (Main  Directorate Intelligence or HV A)." -Benjamin Fischer, Journal: International Journal for Intelligence and Counterintelligence."...the depth of the author's research and her superior understanding of the German  psyche are definite enablers for an astute reader." -John R. Arpin, Naval War College Review"Macrakis provides a fascinating view inside the spy technology of the  Stasi...sources have allowed her to paint a rich picture of the  Stasi's quest for Western technology and its struggles to make use of  acquired information.../Seduced by Secrets/ offers a revealing look at  the difficult-to-observe history of a modern intelligence agency. It  provides scholars with an insightful analysis and a new perspective  for thinking about the relationship of technology and the Cold War..." -John Laprise,Technology and Culture"...a powerful volume. It objectively details some  of the MfS's most closely guarded secrets...Macrakis does not single  out the Stasi and its East Bloc counterparts for condemnation.  Instead, she clearly shows that many of these agencies' actions and  techniques were "strikingly similar" to methods used by Western  intelligence...In an era when Congress has often taken a back seat to  an increasingly secretive executive branch, Macrakis' historical  account offiers a potent reminder of the need for democratic oversight  of intelligence agencies." -German Studies Review"A brilliantly written report that is based on the evaluation of new  files from the Birthler-Office [for the Stasi files] and the Rosenholz  data. It is written with a detective's nose and the precision of  passion." -Urs Rauber  /Neue Züricher Zeitung /am Sonntag (NZZ am Sonntag)"Macrakis has written a terrific book that will  make fascinating reading for general audiences as well  as experts.... the author should be lauded for  her willingness to move beyond the well-trodden path  of Stasi research, especially to consider the material  culture and scientific aspects of GDR spying, and the  elegance with which she does it.../Seduced by Secrets/ provides  fascinating insights into the role of technology at the East German  Ministry of State Security (MfS)...highly recommended for anyone  interested in espionage." -H-Net Review, Katrin Paehler"...a revealing look at the difficult-to-observe history of modern intelligence agency." -John Laprise, Techonology and Culture"Undergraduate students will delight in the writing style and the sensational revelations." -Gary Bruce,  Journal of Cold War Studies