State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration by

State of War delves into the controversial practices of the Bush administration, revealing how a federal agency was used to wiretap American citizens without their knowledge. The book meticulously analyzes the abuses of power and incompetence within the CIA that significantly impacted the war in Iraq and damaged America's reputation on the world stage. /n/n This investigative work sheds light on the political and ethical dilemmas that arose from these actions, providing a critical examination of the consequences of unchecked government surveillance and military strategy. It offers a compelling narrative that challenges readers to reconsider the balance between national security and civil liberties.

Reviews

The Storygraph · 2025-10-21

compelling 4.50

The book is praised for being more than just a compilation of known facts, offering deep insights into the CIA's operations and the political crossfire it faced. It is described as a good end-of-the-empire read.

The Storygraph review highlights how James Risen's book goes beyond being just a compilation of known facts. The reviewer praises the book for its depth and the author's ability to delve into the complexities of the CIA's operations and the political crossfire it faced. The book is described as a good end-of-the-empire read, offering a critical and insightful look into the intelligence community's failures and abuses of power. The reviewer notes that the book provides a compelling narrative that connects the dots between various events, making it a must-read for those interested in the secret history of the CIA and the Bush administration.

Quick quotes

A good end-of-the-empire read, this is far more than the compilation of long-known facts that many similar books have turned out to be.

Risen delves far deeper into the intricacies of the CIA's operations and the political crossfire it found itself in.

The book is well paced, excellently written and gives deep insights into the build-up to war in Iraq in 2003.

The Guardian · 2006-02-18

insightful 3.50

The book is described as an unswerving analysis of the Bush administration's misguided war on terror, offering a critical and insightful look into the CIA's operations. It is noted for its depth and the author's ability to connect the dots between various events.

In The Guardian, the review of James Risen's book highlights its unswerving analysis of the Bush administration's war on terror. The reviewer praises the book for its depth and the author's ability to connect the dots between various events, providing a critical and insightful look into the CIA's operations. The book is described as a modern Pandora's box, revealing the complexities and failures of the intelligence community. The reviewer notes that the book is not just a compilation of known facts but offers deep insights into the inner workings of the CIA and the political crossfire it found itself in.

Quick quotes

George Packer's The Assassins' Gate and James Risen's State of War are both unswerving analyses of George W Bush's misguided war on terror.

This hidden history involves domestic spying, abuses of power, and outrageous operations.

The bulk of Risen's reporting deals with the litany of intelligence failures widely attributed to ideological pressures from Bush, Rumsfeld and others.

The New York Times · Walter Isaacson · 2006-02-05

critical 4.00

The book provides a detailed and critical account of the CIA's actions under the Bush administration, highlighting significant abuses of power and intelligence failures. It is praised for its thorough research and compelling narrative.

Walter Isaacson's review in The New York Times delves into the intricate and often troubling history of the CIA's operations during the Bush administration. He emphasizes the book's thorough research and the author's ability to weave a compelling narrative from a complex web of events. The review highlights how the book reveals a disturbing pattern of abuses of power and intelligence failures, providing a critical perspective on the Bush administration's policies. Isaacson notes that the book is not just a compilation of known facts but offers deep insights into the inner workings of the CIA and the political crossfire it found itself in.

Quick quotes

Walter Isaacson reviews book State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration by James Risen; photos (M)

This hidden history involves domestic spying, abuses of power, and outrageous operations.

The overall conclusion is stark: there has been 'a disturbing breakdown' in checks and balances within the US government's executive branch

Appears in Lists

Best Of Investigative Journalism - Nonfiction