Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIALegacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA
Score Modern
What it's about
Tim Weiner, a New York Times reporter, tells the history of the CIA from its founding in 1947 to the war in Iraq, drawing on thousands of declassified documents and interviews. He argues that the agency has mostly failed at its central job, knowing the world, through coups, botched operations, missed warnings and intelligence failures.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award. It's a gripping, damning history of American intelligence.
You'll love it if you liked
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
The Best and the Brightest
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold WarGood to know
It's long and critical; the CIA disputed parts of it. It ends in 2007.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics70 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #158 of the 198 history books we rank
- #744 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1394 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award. It ranks #1,394 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA about?
Tim Weiner, a New York Times reporter, tells the history of the CIA from its founding in 1947 to the war in Iraq, drawing on thousands of declassified documents and interviews. He argues that the agency has mostly failed at its central job, knowing the world, through coups, botched operations, missed warnings and intelligence failures.
How long does it take to read Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA?
About 18 hours (702 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA won?
National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (2007).
What should I read after Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA?
If you liked it, try The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright, The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam or The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre.