A review by zana711
The Anatomy of a Spy: A History of Espionage and Betrayal by Michael Smith

5.0

Superbly written analysis of "Why Spies Spy" - supposedly the "second oldest profession in the world", the author dives into what motivates spies to spy, especially those who would be betraying their countries in doing so. From sexual gratification, money, patriotism, ego to revenge, each motivation had intriguing examples from both WWs and the Cold War to illustrate how understanding why someone would willingly risk death (or at least life in prison if caught) affects how that intelligence would be evaluated.

I found the fantasist examples to be most intriguing. Genuinely believing that they are truly James Bonds of the world, they conjure up fake intelligence which if they were believed would cause even more issues than if they were genuine intelligence.

Highly readable and enjoyable!