The insider's guide to the secret world of espionage.

An inconspicuous figure in a raincoat... border crossings at midnight... living under constant threat of betrayal and torture. Are these images from the movies -- or reality? Secretive and shadowy, the world of the spy is one that only a privileged few have understood. Now The Ultimate Spy Book gives you a unique opportunity to enter that world. Keith Melton, an adviser to United Stated intelligence agencies, reveals some of the best-kept secrets of espionage.

Famous Spying Operations. Stranger than fiction, the true history of spying includes colorful characters, tales of intrigue, and exciting exploits. From the Civil War to both world wars and into the Cold War, The Ultimate Spy Book reveals what really happens in some of the most daring spying operations in history.

Spy Equipment and Techniques. Keith Melton has amassed a dazzling collection of spy devices, many never before seen by those outside the world's elite spying agencies. Cameras that look like a pack of cigarettes are just the beginning: this book reveals listening devices, suitcase radios, hidden messages, microdots, assassination devices, and concealed weapons -- everything the well-equipped spy could ever need.

How to be a spy. Discover the combination of quick wits and nerves of steel that makes a good spy. Learn about how spies are chosen and recruited, the training they receive, and the tricks of the trade. All the risks are revealed -- and all the rewards. For anyone who loves a good spy story -- or wants a glimpse into the world behind today's headlines -- The Ultimate Spy Book uncovers the clandestine activities that oil the wheels of international relations.

• Espionage