{"product_id":"2026200008164-secondhand-the-second-oldest-profession-spies-and-spying-in-the-twentieth-century","title":"The Second Oldest Profession: Spies And Spying In The Twentieth Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good. Jacket: Very good, no tears, minimal wear. Page Condition: Good. Markings: No markings. Binding: Tight and secure. No stickers or labels visible. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA landmark work of investigative journalism, The Second Oldest Profession presents a sweeping and unflinching critique of the world's intelligence agencies across the twentieth century. Phillip Knightley argues with meticulous research that espionage, far from being the glamorous and indispensable craft of popular imagination, is largely a world of blunders, self-deception, and institutionalised incompetence. Drawing on declassified documents, first-hand accounts, and decades of investigative reporting, he chronicles the failures and follies of agencies such as the CIA, MI6, and the KGB, illuminating how their activities often undermined rather than advanced the interests of their nations. Written with sharp wit and authoritative clarity, the book strips away the mythology of the spy trade to reveal the uncomfortable truth behind the headlines of the Cold War era. Endorsed by John le Carré himself, it remains one of the most penetrating and essential accounts of modern intelligence ever written.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48956277260507,"sku":"2026200008164-SECONDHAND","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/657f5334-f51c-4c00-94f4-1d18bbc250fb.png?v=1783499338","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200008164-secondhand-the-second-oldest-profession-spies-and-spying-in-the-twentieth-century","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}