Legacy of Ashes: The History of The CIA

Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA is a 2007 book by Tim Weiner. Legacy of Ashes is a detailed history of the Central Intelligence Agency from its creation after World War II, through the Cold War years and the War on Terror, to its near-collapse after 9/11. The book is based on more than 50,000 documents, primarily from the archives of the CIA itself, and hundreds of interviews with CIA veterans, including ten Directors of Central Intelligence.

Legacy of Ashes won the 2007 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Famous quotes containing the words legacy, history and/or cia:

    What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.
    Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)

    If man is reduced to being nothing but a character in history, he has no other choice but to subside into the sound and fury of a completely irrational history or to endow history with the form of human reason.
    Albert Camus (1913–1960)

    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
    —Bible: New Testament John 8:32.

    These words of Jesus are inscribed on the wall of the main lobby at the CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia.