Fascinatingly interesting facts!

However, they are presented in such a mind-numbingly boring style.

The way they are laid out makes it extremely hard to follow and keep focused.

It's as if the author is determined to make the reader's experience as dull as possible.

Despite the potentially captivating nature of the facts themselves, the lackluster presentation undermines their appeal.

One can't help but wonder if a more engaging style would have made all the difference.

Perhaps a more vivid description or a more dynamic approach would have held the reader's attention and made the facts truly come alive.

As it stands, it requires a great deal of effort to wade through the text and extract the interesting bits.

It's a shame that such fascinating information is buried beneath a layer of boredom.

Based on Mitrokhin's extensive notes from the classified KGB archives, Andrew undertakes a comprehensive study of Soviet intelligence activities. This study spans from the founding of the Soviet intelligence agency until the fall of the USSR and even beyond. Andrew adopts a balanced approach that combines both chronological and topical/geographical perspectives. This enables him to provide a full and detailed coverage of the subject matter. However, at times, this approach makes the story a bit difficult to follow.

One of the notable strengths of Andrew's work is his inclusion of the KGB's internal functions. He not only delves into the agency's foreign intelligence-gathering operations but also explores its activities related to sabotage and assassination. By doing so, he presents a more complete and nuanced picture of the Soviet intelligence apparatus. This comprehensive examination helps readers to better understand the complex and far-reaching nature of Soviet intelligence activities during this significant period in history.

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A Monumental Effort: The History of Soviet Intelligence Service

There is a remarkable and detailed exploration into the history of the Soviet Intelligence Service. It spans from its very conception within the CHEKA to the present-day with the FSB. It's rather amusing to think that the Russians, due to their allegedly backwards economic system, are seen as leeching off the progress of other nations. Yet, they manage to persuade numerous bright young individuals to join their cause. Interestingly, the Russians themselves seem not to trust the technology they developed. However, it must be remembered that the brave men of the NKVD stood firm like walls of stone in the face of the onslaught of the Nazi Panzer divisions. Their sacrifices are worthy of remembrance, as are their deeds within the Lubyanka. This complex and often controversial history continues to be a subject of great interest and study, shedding light on the inner workings and strategies of one of the world's most significant intelligence services.

Whiney McCarthyists have been given access to secret archives.

This has led to a decent narrative emerging about Soviet espionage efforts. It includes details of assassinations, first of monarchists and then Trotskyists.

However, it should be noted that this volume does not cover certain operations. For example, it does not deal with the overthrowing of foreign governments. This aspect is the meat of the allegations made in the second volume.

The access to the secret archives by the McCarthyists has opened up a new line of inquiry into the complex world of Soviet espionage. While the current volume provides some interesting insights, it leaves many questions unanswered. The full picture of Soviet activities will likely only emerge as more information is revealed in subsequent volumes.

It is important to approach this information with a critical eye and to consider multiple perspectives. The actions of the Soviet Union during this period were complex and multifaceted, and a one-sided view may not provide an accurate understanding of the situation.

As more research is done and more volumes are published, we can hope to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Soviet espionage and its impact on the world.

A massive infodump indeed.

Regrettably, unless one already possesses expert knowledge of European history, the random barrage of facts and snippets presented without much context or explanation can prove extremely challenging to fit into any meaningful whole.

There is very little in the way of comment or analysis; it is mostly just dry facts. I, unfortunately, do not have sufficient historical knowledge, and this book fails to assist in this regard. Strangely enough, it starts to offer some semblance of this near the end when explaining the fall of the USSR, yet some prior knowledge is still necessary.

There is a modicum of analysis and comment in the summary of the last chapter, but for it to be of any real use, such elements should be present in every chapter.

Perhaps I will return to this book at a later stage when I have become more well-read in history.

Comprehensive, dense, and accessible, this is an amazing tour of one of the greatest archival treasure troves of the Cold War.

Cambridge historian Christopher Andrew leads readers through the history of the Mitrokhin Archive, which pertains to the KGB and its predecessor organizations. He vividly describes their operations against Western nations abroad and dissidents at home and within the Warsaw Pact.

The archive has a vast temporal span, stretching back to the early days of Soviet intelligence during the Russian Civil War and extending forward until the mid-80s.

The descriptions provided are highly nuanced, enabling readers to gain a clear understanding of the KGB's strengths and weaknesses in both tradecraft and administration. Additionally, the book touches on the frequent inability of Soviet leaders, from Stalin to Andropov, to effectively utilize the agency's findings due to ideological blinders.

However, my one complaint is that I initially approached the book with the anticipation of seeing a detailed account of the KGB's involvement in the Third World during the Cold War. As it turns out, Andrew's follow-up book, The World Was Going Our Way, is entirely dedicated to the Mitrokhin archive's material on this specific topic.

Overall, this book offers a fascinating and in-depth exploration of the KGB's history and operations, albeit with a slight disappointment regarding the lack of detailed coverage of its Third World activities.

Those poor, hapless KGB agents!

They were engaged in some rather absurd antics. They threw bombs at Trotsky’s grandson, but unfortunately missed.

Then, they got drunk and ended up losing their microfilm nickels to Brooklyn newsboys.

As if that wasn't enough, they fell in love so hard that they gave up their contacts to the Canadian Mounties.

It was truly unexpected to find this situation funny, but it was absolutely hilarious.

Their bumbling and misadventures made for a comical and entertaining story.

One can't help but laugh at the absurdity of their actions and the unfortunate consequences that followed.

It shows that even in the world of espionage, there can be moments of sheer hilarity and unexpected twists.

These KGB agents may have been trying to carry out their duties, but their attempts ended up being more comical than successful.

Overall, it's a story that brings a smile to one's face and makes for an enjoyable read.

Finishing this book after 2 years feels like a real accomplishment.

It was truly fascinating to access all kinds of information directly from the KGB archives. However, it was also an extremely dense read, as if one was delving right into the archives themselves.

Keeping track of all the spies was no easy feat, given the sheer number and their code names.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, it also serves as a sort of playbook for the actions that Russia still seems to be undertaking, particularly in the realm of influence campaigns, or what they apparently refer to as "active measures."

It was astonishing to read about the influence campaigns during the Carter administration and then fast forward to 2016 and beyond and realize that virtually nothing has changed.

There were many other interesting tidbits as well, such as the Kremlin's manipulation of Poland in the 70s and 80s, its arming of the IRA, or the KGB's infiltration of the church.

This book is definitely worth reading, but it's not for the faint of heart! I must admit, it has definitely set me on a spy novel binge, as now I'm eager to compare all the spy stories to these archive notes!

One of the best History books I've ever read is truly a remarkable piece of work.

It delves deep into the annals of the 20th century, uncovering a wealth of information that is both enlightening and eye-opening.

The details and insights provided offer a fresh and unique perspective on every major military, political, and economic event of that era.

From the two World Wars to the rise and fall of empires, from political upheavals to economic booms and busts, this book leaves no stone unturned.

It presents a comprehensive and nuanced view of a century that was filled with both great achievements and terrible tragedies.

Whether you are a history buff or simply someone who is interested in understanding the world we live in today, this book is a must-read.

It will expand your knowledge, challenge your assumptions, and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the complexity and significance of the 20th century.

A handbrake of a book is like a vehicle that suddenly screeches to a halt due to a disjointed dump of information.

It lacks the narrative momentum that is essential for keeping the reader engaged and eager to turn the pages.

Instead of a smooth flow of events and ideas, the book presents a jumbled mess of facts and details that seem to have no connection or purpose.

This can make it difficult for the reader to follow the story or understand the author's intended message.

Without narrative momentum, the book fails to create a sense of anticipation and excitement, leaving the reader feeling bored and frustrated.

In order to be successful, a book must have a clear and engaging narrative that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked until the very end.

This book presented some interesting aspects, yet it lacked a certain degree of structure.

It cannot be regarded as a comprehensive history of the KGB. Instead, it offers a survey of the intelligence disclosed by the Mitrokhin archive.

That's interesting in its own right. However, the author failed to clearly distinguish when the information was new and when it was already established.

A significant portion of it consists of the typical accounts of agents' operations that one can find in numerous books about Cold War espionage.

Nonetheless, I particularly enjoyed the final sections that detailed the KGB's harassment of Soviet dissidents.

It is a good read for those who are genuine espionage enthusiasts or have a profound interest in Soviet intelligence and foreign policy.

Nevertheless, it doesn't quite measure up to books such as The Spy and the Traitor or The Billion Dollar Spy.

Overall, it has its merits but also has some areas that could be improved upon.