Synopses & Reviews
Magic or spycraft? In 1953, against the backdrop of the Cold War, the CIA initiated a top-secret program, code-named MKULTRA, to counter Soviet mind-control and interrogation techniques. Realizing that clandestine officers might need to covertly deploy newly developed pills, potions, and powders against the adversary, the CIA hired America's most famous magician, John Mulholland, to write two manuals on sleight of hand and undercover communication techniques.
In 1973, virtually all documents related to MKULTRA were destroyed. Mulholland's manuals were thought to be among them—until a single surviving copy of each, complete with illustrations, was recently discovered in the agency's archives.
The manuals reprinted in this work represent the only known complete copy of Mulholland's instructions for CIA officers on the magician's art of deception and secret communications.
Review
“A legendary ‘lost piece of magic history…Its James Bond meets Harry Houdini!” Lance Burton, Master Magician
Review
“Melton and Wallace have achieved the ultimate mastery of the shadow world where CIAs smoke and mirrors meet Hollywoods art of magic, deception and illusion. Like any good stage show, the never-before-disclosed techniques are spellbinding. The history of espionage is expanded by this factual, fascinating account.” Tony and Jonna Mendez, Masters of Disguise
Review
“Entrancing! I was amazed to see how the magicians trade can be twisted to aid in the dark arts of espionage.” Jeff McBride, Creator of The Magic and Mystery School
Review
“Espionage and magic! A special thrill to read the once-classified CIA magicians manual.” Danny Biederman, author of The Incredible World of SPY-Fi
Review
“An enchanting account of espionage and wizardry at their blackest.” Peter Earnest, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum
Synopsis
Once a top-secret training manual for CIA field agents in the early Cold War Era of the 1950s,
The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception is now available to the general public. An amazing historical artifact, this eye-opening handbook offered step-by-step instructions to covert intelligence operatives in all manner of sleight of hand and trickery designed to thwart the Communist enemy. Part of the Company's infamous MK-ULTRA--a secret mind-control and chemical interrogation research program--this legendary
document, the brainchild of John Mulholland, then America's most famous magician, was believed lost forever. But thanks to former CIA gadgeteer Bob Wallace and renowned spycraft historian H. Keith Melton,
The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception is now available to everyone, spy and civilian alike.
Synopsis
Once a top-secret training manual for CIA field agents in the early Cold War Era of the 1950s, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception is now available to the general public. An amazing historical artifact, this eye-opening handbook offered step-by-step instructions to covert intelligence operatives in all manner of sleight of hand and trickery designed to thwart the Communist enemy. Part of the Companys infamous MK-ULTRA—a secret mind-control and chemical interrogation research program—this legendary document, the brainchild of John Mulholland, then Americas most famous magician, was believed lost forever. But thanks to former CIA gadgeteer Bob Wallace and renowned spycraft historian H. Keith Melton, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception is now available to everyone, spy and civilian alike.
About the Author
H. Keith Melton, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is an intelligence historian and a specialist in clandestine technology and espionage "tradecraft." He is the author of several books, including
CIA Special Weapons and Equipment, Clandestine Warfare, and
The Ultimate Spy Book.
Robert Wallace retired from the CIA in 2003 with thirty-two years of service as an operations officer and senior executive, including an assignment as director of the Office of Technical Services. Wallace is coauthor, with H. Keith Melton, of Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda.