The Determined Spy

The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner

By: Douglas Waller

Narrated by: Robert Fass

From Douglas Waller, New York Times bestselling author of Wild Bill Donovan, an intimate and expertly researched biography of little-known early CIA leader Frank Wisner, whose behind-the-scenes influence on Cold War policy--and hundreds of highly secret anti-Soviet missions--resonates with the international crises we see today.

Frank Wisner was one of the most powerful men in 1950s Washington, though few knew it. Reporting directly to senior U.S. officials--his work largely hidden from Congress and the public-- Wisner masterminded some of the CIA’s most daring and controversial operations in the early years of the Cold War, commanding thousands of clandestine agents around the world.

Following an early career marked by exciting escapades as a key World War II spy under General William “Wild Bill” Donovan, Wisner quickly rose through the postwar intelligence ranks to lead a newly created top-secret unit tasked--under little oversight--with overseeing massive propaganda, economic warfare, sabotage, subversion, and guerrilla operations all over the world, including such daring initiatives as the CIA-backed coups in Iran and Guatemala.

But simultaneously, Wisner faced a demon few at the time understood: bipolar disorder. When this debilitating disease resulted in his breakdown and transfer to a mental hospital, the repercussions were felt throughout Washington’s highest levels of power.

Waller’s sensitive and exhaustively researched biography is the riveting story of both Frank Wisner as a national figure who inspired a cadre of future CIA secret warriors, and also an intimate and empathetic portrait of a man whose harrowing struggle with bipolar disorder makes his impressive accomplishments on the world stage even more remarkable.

Essential For Understanding The Cold War

This is one of the most thoroughly researched biographies I’ve ever consumed. No details are spared by the author and the narrator gives a superb performance. The story of Frank Wisner is the missing link to the Cold War story we thought we all knew.

Detailed book of Frank Wisner at a pivotal time in US history

Douglas Waller's book about the life of CIA espionage operations pioneer, Frank Wisner, has its stand out moments but too often gets bogged down with unnecessary details about Polly's social life, Mr. Waller's obsession with Joseph McCarthy — which I'm sure had minimal impact on the capabilities of the Company — and sometimes amateurish input on successful CIA operations around the world. To his credit, Waller didn't take potshots at CIA officers like many writers have done — post-mortem of course — in the past, but the animosity is there, sometimes hidden, sometimes not. 

It is possible that some of Frank Wisner's espionage operations failed because Kim Philby alerted his Soviet masters ahead of time. This is something that needed more attention from the author, but was mysteriously left out. Had Philby not committed treason against his American allies, many of Wisner's operations against the Soviets could have been successful. The narration of the book is excellent and of high caliber, voiced by Robert Fass.

Waller's book gained strength in its detailing of Wisner's suicide due to mental illness. The idea that Wisner helped bring down the Berlin Wall made me feel both sad and proud. Wisner, the Mississippi patriot and WWII OSS veteran, finally triumphed in the espionage battle against the Soviets.