How Spies Think

LONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2021'One of the best books ever written about intelligence analysis and its long-term lessons. Brilliant, lucid and thought-provoking' Christopher Andrew, author of The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5'An invaluable guide to avoiding self-deception and fake news' Melanie Phillips, The TimesFrom the former director of GCHQ, learn the methodology used by the British intelligence agencies to reach judgements, establish the right level of confidence and act decisively.Intelligence officers discern the truth. They gather information - often contradictory or incomplete - and, with it, they build the most accurate possible image of the world. With the stakes at their absolute highest, they must then decide what to do. In everyday life, you are faced with contradictory, incomplete information, too. Reading the news on social media, figuring out the next step in your career, or trying to discover if gossip about a friend i