Scott Andersons The Quiet Americans is the story of these four men.

Told with narrative brio, deep research, and a skeptical eye, The Quiet Americans is the gripping story of how the United States, at the very pinnacle of its power, managed to permanently damage its moral standing in the world. Two would quit the CIA in despair, stricken by the moral compromises they had to make one became the archetype of the duplicitous and destructive American spy and one would be so heartbroken he would take his own life. By focusing on the post-World War II period and the critical early days of the Cold War, Anderson’s story raises questions. But despite their lofty ambitions, time and again their efforts went awry, thwarted by a combination of ham-fisted politicking and ideological rigidity at the highest levels of the government. But The Quiet Americans book is more than a real-life le Carr tale.

Chronicling the fascinating lives of the agents who sought to uphold American ideals abroad, Scott Anderson follows the exploits of four spies: Michael Burke, who organized parachute commandos from an Italian villa Frank Wisner, an ingenious spymaster who directed actions around the world Peter Sichel, a German Jew who outwitted the ruthless KGB in Berlin and Edward Lansdale, a mastermind of psychological warfare in the Far East. But it was clear-to some-that the Soviet Union was already seeking to expand and foment revolution around the world, and the American government’s strategy in response relied on the secret efforts of a newly formed CIA. Lying and stealing and invading, it should be said, make for captivating reading, especially in the hands of a storyteller as skilled as Anderson.” - The New York Times Book ReviewĪ NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEARĪt the end of World War II, the United States was considered the victor over tyranny and a champion of freedom.

Scott anderson the quiet americans