A vivid and gripping portrait of a spy at every stage of his life and career, from the son of a spymaster who became a spy himself.

Larry Kolb was born into a house of spies. Raised all over the world as the son of a high-ranking American spymaster, Kolb was taught by his father to think, look, and listen like a spy. But when Kolb himself was recruited to join the CIA, he declined, choosing instead to pursue a career in business. He became, among other things, Muhammad Ali's agent, a role that turned out to be a circuitous route back to the world of espionage.

At Ali's side, Kolb had invitations to the parties, palaces, boardrooms, and bedrooms — especially in the Middle East — of many of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people. At one of those parties, Kolb befriended Adnan Khashoggi, then the richest man in the world, and the world's most prominent arms dealer; Kolb ended up marrying one of his daughters. Kolb's extraordinary access made him irresistible to legendary spymaster and CIA cofounder Miles Copeland. Beginning with secret negotiations with the Ayatollah Khomeini and a covert mission to Beirut with Ali to negotiate the release of an American hostage, Kolb found his way back to the family business, becoming Miles Copeland's eyes and ears and sometimes mouth in Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

Unlike any book before it, Overworld captures what it genuinely means and feels like to be a spy — from the practical to the emotional, revealing how the world of espionage and covert statecraft actually works — and exposing the dark heart of a life spent betraying confidences. In itself an adventure story of the highest order, Overworld reads like the best of John le Carré — but it's all true.

"As Kolb spins a tale of international intrigue in which he does everything from accompany Muhammad Ali on a mission to free American hostages in Beirut to introduce Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega to an Indian holy man, it's awfully tempting to consider him a hoaxster la Chuck Barris — but all it takes is a little online research to produce corroborating details. Kolb actually is connected to international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi by marriage; stories in Indian newspapers confirm that government wants him in connection with a plot against a former premier involving that same holy man. Pretty soon, a reader will believe that Kolb, the son of a Cold War intelligence operative who grew up in post-WWII Japan and Germany, really was recruited by legendary spy Miles Copeland because his jet-setting lifestyle put him in all the right places. Slangily written from a safe house 'on a sunny shore,' Kolb's recollection of his training in the fundamentals of spycraft is a particularly engrossing section that will leave readers convinced they know enough to run their own clandestine operations. It's the centerpiece around which he weaves a slew of anecdotes stretching back to WWII, producing a cumulative effect that renders the whole story so amazing that readers will conclude that even the wildest bits — like his taking credit for rewriting the blueprints for the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages deal — have got to be true. Agent, Joel Gotler. Forecast: As Bond-like as Kim Philby, but with a decidely American accent, Kolb could turn out to have a sleeper hit; film rights have been bought by Mark Canton of Atmosphere Entertainment." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"A terrific memoir. Larry Kolb explicates the world of espionage and secrets with sagaciousness and savvy. This book is a stand-alone original." James Ellroy, author of L.A. Confidential

An adventure of the highest order, Kolb's life story of espionage and covert statecraft — not to mention managing Muhammad Ali — reads like the best of John le Carré — but it's all true.

Larry J. Kolb was, until recently, stuck in a safe house in Florida with nothing to do but listen to the waves roll in, and put down on paper the extraordinary story of his life so far. Visit his web site at http://www.larryjkolb.com.