Most Popular Books by Tim Weiner

New York Times Bestseller * A New Yorker Best Book of 2025 * A New York Times Editors'' Choice "No one has opened up the CIA to us like Weiner has, and The Mission deserves to win Weiner a second Pulitzer." —The Guardian A masterpiece of reporting based on-the-record interviews with six former CIA directors and scores of spies, station chiefs, and top operations officers: The Mission is a gripping and revelatory history of the modern CIA, reaching from 9/11 through its covert operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to today’s secret battles with Russia and China, concluding with the Agency''s own fight for survival under the current president of the United States Tim Weiner''s epic successor to Legacy of Ashes, his National Book Award–winning classic about the CIA''s first sixty years At the turn of the century, the Central Intelligence Agency was in crisis. The end of the Cold War had robbed the agency of its mission. More than thirty overseas stations and bases had been shuttered, and scores that remained had been severely cut back. Many countries where surveillance was once deemed crucial went uncovered. Essential intelligence wasn’t being collected. At the dawn of the information age, the CIA’s officers and analysts worked with outmoded technology, struggling to distinguish the clear signals of significant facts from the cacophony of background noise. Then came September 11th, 2001. After the attacks, the CIA transformed itself into a lethal paramilitary force, running secret prisons and brutal interrogations, mounting deadly drone attacks, and all but abandoning its core missions of espionage and counterespionage. The consequences were grave: the deaths of scores of its recruited foreign agents, the theft of its personnel files by Chinese spies, the penetration of its computer networks by Russian intelligence and American hackers, and the tragedies of Afghanistan and Iraq. A new generation of spies now must fight the hardest targets—Moscow, Beijing, Tehran—while confronting a president who has attacked the CIA as a subversive force. From Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner, The Mission tells the gripping, high-stakes story of the CIA through the first quarter of the twenty-first century, revealing how the agency fought to rebuild the espionage powers it lost during the war on terror—and finally succeeded in penetrating the Kremlin. The struggle has life-and-death consequences for America and its allies. The CIA must reclaim its original mission: know thy enemies. The fate of the free world hangs in the balance. A masterpiece of reporting, The Mission includes exclusive on-the-record interviews with six former CIA directors, the top spymaster, thirteen station chiefs, and scores of top operations officers who served undercover for decades and have never spoken to a journalist before.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • With shocking revelations that made headlines all across the country, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Tim Weiner gets at the truth behind the CIA and uncovers why nearly every CIA director has left the agency in worse shape than he found it, and how these profound failures jeopardize our national security. "For anyone interested in the CIA or American intelligence since World War II.” —The Washington Post A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century For years, the CIA has managed to maintain a formidable reputation in spite of its terrible record, burying its blunders in top-secret archives. Its mission was to know the world. When it did not succeed, it set out to change the world. Its failures have handed us, in the words of President Eisenhower, “a legacy of ashes.” Now Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tim Weiner offers a definitive history of the CIA—and everything is on the record. LEGACY OF ASHES is based on more than 50,000 documents, primarily from the archives of the CIA itself, and hundreds of interviews with CIA veterans, including ten Directors of Central Intelligence. It takes the CIA from its creation after World War II, through its battles in the cold war and the war on terror, to its near-collapse after 9/ll. Here is the hidden history of the CIA: why eleven presidents and three generations of CIA officers have been unable to understand the world; why nearly every CIA director has left the agency in worse shape than he found it; and how these failures have profoundly jeopardized our national security.

Following his award-winning history of the CIA, Legacy of Ashes, Tim Weiner has now written the first full history of the FBI as a secret intelligence service. Drawn entirely from first-hand materials in the FBI''s own files, Enemiesbrilliantly brings to life the entire story, from the cracking of anarchist cells to the prosecution of the ''war on terror''. The United States is a country founded on the ideals of democracy and freedom, yet throughout the last century it has used secret and lawless methods to destroy its enemies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the most powerful of these forces. Since its creation before the First World War the FBI has been a secret intelligence service, a fact few outsiders know. It has made war on Russian spies, Italian anarchists, Nazi saboteurs, American Communists, the civil-rights and anti-war movements and, for forty years, Islamic jihadists. Presidents have used the FBI as a personal instrument of political warfare against Americans, using illegal wiretaps, electronic surveillance and burglaries. At the heart of its story lies J. Edgar Hoover, who ran the FBI with an iron fist for forty-eight years, and whose legacy still haunts American today. ''Such creatures of passion, disloyalty, and anarchy must be crushed out. The hand of our power should close over them at once.'' President Woodrow Wilson, 1919

Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of articles, this is a thorough, astonishing expose of the "Black Budget"--a 36-billion-dollar cache used by the Pentagon to fund its own agenda of top-secret weapons and wars.

The National Book Award–winning author of Legacy of Ashes delivers "a devastating account of Nixon''s presidency . . . powerful [and] extraordinary" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review). Drawing on newly declassified documents, One Man Against the World paints a devastating portrait of a tortured yet brilliant man who led the country largely according to a deep-seated insecurity and distrust of not only his cabinet and congress, but the American population at large. In riveting prose, Tim Weiner illuminates how the Vietnam War and the Watergate controversy that brought about Nixon''s demise were inextricably linked. From the hail of garbage and curses that awaited Nixon upon his arrival at the White House, to the unprecedented action Nixon took against American citizens, to the infamous break-in and the tapes that bear remarkable record of the most intimate and damning conversations between the president and his confidantes, Weiner narrates the history of Nixon''s anguished presidency in fascinating and fresh detail. A crucial new look at the greatest political suicide in history, One Man Against the World leaves us not only with new insight into this tumultuous period, but also into the motivations and demons of an American president who saw enemies everywhere, and, thinking the world was against him, undermined the foundations of the country he had hoped to lead.

From Tim Weiner, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, an urgent and gripping account of the 75-year battle between the US and Russia that led to the election and impeachment of an American president With vivid storytelling and riveting insider accounts, Weiner traces the roots of political warfare—the conflict America and Russia have waged with espionage, sabotage, diplomacy and disinformation—from 1945 until 2020. America won the cold war, but Russia is winning today. Vladimir Putin helped to put his chosen candidate in the White House with a covert campaign that continues to this moment. Putin’s Russia has revived Soviet-era intelligence operations gaining ever more potent information from—and influence over—the American people and government. Yet the US has put little power into its defense. This has put American democracy in peril. Weiner takes us behind closed doors, illuminating Russian and American intelligence operations and their consequences. To get to the heart of what is at stake and find potential solutions, he examines long-running 20th-century CIA operations, the global political machinations of the Soviet KGB, the erosion of American political warfare after the cold war, and how 21st-century Russia has kept the cold war alive. The Folly and the Glory is an urgent call to our leaders and citizens to understand the nature of political warfare—and to change course before it’s too late.

La primera historia completa de la CIA. Durante los últimos sesenta años, la CIA ha conseguido mantener una excelente reputación a pesar de su terrible trayectoria, escondiendo sus errores en archivos de alto secreto. Ahora, Tim Weiner, ganador del Pulitzer por sus trabajos periodísticos sobre los servicios secretos estadounidenses, nos ofrece la historia definitiva de la CIA. A partir de más de cincuenta mil documentos y cientos de entrevistas, Legado de cenizas reconstruye la apasionante historia de la agencia secreta más famosa y temida del mundo, desde su creación tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial hasta el colapso del 11 de septiembre. Una obra fundamental para entender la segunda mitad del siglo xx. ** Ganador del National Book Award de no ficción. ** Mejor libro de historia de 2007 para Los Angeles Times. ** Finalista del National Book Critics Circle Award de no ficción Reseñas: «Sin este Legado de cenizas no se puede entender el siglo XX; seguramente, tampoco el siglo XXI.» El País «El relato trepidante y documentado de una realidad que supera a cualquier ficción.» ABC «Realmente extraordinario, el mejor libro que se ha escrito nunca sobre espionaje.» The Wall Street Journal «Magistral, un trabajo brillante.» Los Angeles Times «Apasionante, no deja cabos sueltos.» The New York Times «Un triunfo tanto del periodismo como de la historia.» Washington Post

La historia de la CIA, del 11-S a la actualidad. El periodista ganador del Pulitzer retoma su investigación sobre el servicio de inteligencia más famoso del mundo. «Escalofriante. Un testimonio documental crucial de la actualidad». Publishers Weekly A principios de siglo, la CIA estaba en crisis. Tras el final de la Guerra Fría se había quedado sin una misión clara. Más de treinta bases y centros de operaciones en el extranjero habían cerrado, y los que quedaban habían sufrido graves recortes. En los albores de la era de la información y de la revolución digital sus oficiales y analistas trabajaban con tecnología anticuada, esforzándose por distinguir qué señales eran significativas entre la cacofonía causada por el ruido que invadía el mundo. Entonces llegó el 11 de septiembre de 2001. Tras los atentados, la CIA se transformó en una letal fuerza paramilitar responsable de prisiones secretas, durísimos interrogatorios y mortíferos ataques con aviones no tripulados, todo muy lejos de sus misiones tradicionales de espionaje y contraespionaje. Las consecuencias fueron terribles: la muerte de decenas de agentes, el robo de archivos por espías chinos, la infiltración de la inteligencia rusa y de hackers estadounidenses en sus redes informáticas y las tragedias de Afganistán e Irak. Ahora, una nueva generación de espías debe afrontar objetivos aún más difíciles —Moscú, Pekín, Teherán— al tiempo que se defiende de un presidente decidido a atacar y acusar de forma persistente a la Agencia: Donald Trump. Tim Weiner, ganador del Premio Pulitzer y del National Book Award, retoma su apasionante historia de la CIA para contarnos qué ocurrió durante el primer cuarto del siglo XXI en las entretelas de la lucha interna por reconstruir su identidad después de varios desastres consecutivos. Este combate ha tenido y tiene consecuencias directas en el destino de Estados Unidos y del mundo entero, y pasa por recobrar el sentido de la misión original sobre la cual se cimentó la CIA: conocer y radiografiar al enemigo. La misión es una obra maestra del reportaje periodístico, fruto de un riguroso análisis y de entrevistas exclusivas con seis exdirectores de la CIA, trece jefes de base y decenas de espías de alto nivel, testimonios que nunca habían hablado con ningún escritor. La crítica ha dicho... «Este relato nuevo y magistral debería ser historia de lectura obligada». Kirkus Reviews «En esta triunfante continuación de Legado de cenizas, Weiner, ganador del National Book Award, continúa su historia de la CIA. Escalofriante. Un testimonio documental crucial de la actualidad». Publishers Weekly Y sobre Legado de cenizas... «Sin este Legado de cenizas no se puede entender el siglo XX; seguramente, tampoco el siglo XXI». El País «El relato trepidante y documentado de una realidad que supera a cualquier ficción». ABC «Realmente extraordinario, el mejor libro que se ha escrito nunca sobre espionaje». The Wall Street Journal «Magistral, un trabajo brillante». Los Angeles Times «Apasionante, no deja cabos sueltos». The New York Times «Un triunfo tanto del periodismo como de la historia». The Washington Post

Aan het begin van deze eeuw raakte de cia in een zware crisis. Na de Koude Oorlog was de inlichtingendienst zijn oorspronkelijke doel kwijtgeraakt; buitenlandse posten werden gesloten, er werd gewerkt met verouderde technologie en cruciale informatie werd over het hoofd gezien. Later, na de aanslagen van 9/11, verschoof de focus naar paramilitaire activiteiten, met geheime gevangenissen en dodelijke drone-aanvallen, waarmee de kernmissie, het verzamelen van informatie, nog verder naar de achtergrond verdween. Dit had ernstige gevolgen: talloze buitenlandse agenten vonden de dood, personeelsdossiers werden gestolen door Chinese spionnen en computernetwerken werden door de Russische inlichtingendienst en Amerikaanse hackers geïnfiltreerd. In De missie onderzoekt Tim Weiner de strijd van de cia om na deze jaren van mislukkingen zijn verloren spionagecapaciteiten te herstellen. Dit is de onthullende geschiedenis van de cia in de eenentwintigste eeuw, van 9/11 en de oorlogen in Afghanistan en Irak tot de huidige conflicten met Rusland en China.

Cei mai mulți cred că principala sarcină a FBI-ului constă în combaterea infracționalității, dar de fapt misiunile de bază ale Biroului sunt cele de antiterorism și contrainformații. După cum era firesc, cea mai mare parte a cărții se concentrează în jurul figurii emblematice a lui J. Edgar Hoover, cel care a condus Biroul aproape jumătate de veac. Hoover a fost și este un personaj controversat, chiar demonizat de-a lungul timpului, în principal din cauza metodelor neortodoxe de investigație – cum ar fi plantarea de microfoane, interceptarea convorbirilor telefonice, intrările prin efracție, detențiile ilegale –, de care FBI-ul abuza în numele securității naționale. Deși nu sare în apărarea sa, autorul spune că el nu a fost un „monstru“, ci mai degrabă un „Machiavelli american“, cu siguranță un maestru al manipulării opiniei publice, care a luptat cu ardoare împotriva comunismului și a terorismului.

Do combate aos gangsters ao terrorismo. A história complexa de uma das mais importantes e influentes instituições norte-americanas, o FBI O FBI tem como sua principal missão hoje, e há pelo menos cem anos, o trabalho de espionagem e inteligência secreta contra terroristas. A pesquisa de Tim Weiner baseia-se em mais de 7 mil páginas de documentos recentemente liberados, incluindo uma extraordinária coleção de arquivos de J. Edgar Hoover, e mais de 2 mil entrevistas registradas por agentes que serviram durante e após os 48 anos de Hoover como chefe do FBI. Por meio do registro de prisões e detenções ilegais, entradas forçadas, invasões de domicílio, grampos telefônicos e aparelhos de escuta, Weiner aborda brevemente casos famosos da justiça criminal – como a guerra contra os gângsteres durante a Grande Depressão e o sangrento confronto com o culto do Ramo Davidiano – para focar nas operações secretas do FBI.

"Personne ne nous a ouvert les portes de la CIA comme l''a fait Tim Weiner. La Mission mérite de lui valoir un deuxième Pulitzer. " The Guardian Depuis sa création en pleine Guerre froide jusqu''aux conflits les plus brûlants du XXIe siècle, la CIA n''a cessé de façonner –; et parfois d''enflammer –; le destin du monde. Dans La Mission, le prix Pulitzer Tim Weiner dévoile les dessous explosifs de cette agence mythique, entre idéalisme patriotique, manipulations géopolitiques et désillusions sanglantes. Au fil d''une enquête captivante, nourrie de documents inédits et de témoignages exclusifs, Weiner retrace l''engagement de la CIA dans des guerres secrètes, ses échecs retentissants, mais aussi les dilemmes moraux auxquels ses agents ont été confrontés. Du chaos du Moyen-Orient aux coulisses de Washington à l''ère Trump, une vérité s''impose : la mission que s''est donnée l''Amérique pour "sauver le monde" a parfois conduit à sa perte. Une enquête implacable, entre thriller géopolitique et autopsie d''une idéologie.

Malgré ses nombreux échecs la CIA a réussi à garder une formidable réputation durant ces soixante dernières années et à dissimuler ses erreurs sous le sceau du Secret Défense. Sa mission première était de connaître le monde. Quand elle n''y parvenait pas, elle s''arrangeait pour le changer. Elle n''a laissé derrière elle, pour reprendre les mots du président Eisenhower, que " des cendres en héritage ". Tim Weiner, lauréat du Prix Pulitzer, nous présente pour la première fois une histoire intégrale de la CIA basée sur plus de 50 000 documents, essentiellement tirés des archives mêmes de la CIA, et sur des centaines d''interviews d''anciens agents de la CIA, y compris celles de dix anciens directeurs de la " Centrale ". Il nous fait assister à la création de la CIA au lendemain de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, puis aux batailles de la guerre froide et à la guerre contre le terrorisme, jusqu''à son anéantissement presque complet au lendemain du 11 Septembre. Il nous révèle l''histoire secrète de la CIA : pourquoi onze présidents des Etats-Unis et trois générations d''agents de la CIA ont été incapables de comprendre le monde, pourquoi chaque directeur de la CIA a laissé l''Agence dans un état pire qu''elle n''était quand il arrivait, et comment ces échecs successifs ont gravement compromis la sécurité nationale des Etats-Unis.