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Blind Man's Bluff  By  cover art

Blind Man's Bluff

By: Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew
Narrated by: George Wilson
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Publisher's summary

No espionage missions have been kept more secret than those involving American submarines. Now, Blind Man's Bluff shows for the first time how the navy sent submarines wired with self-destruct charges into the heart of Soviet seas to tap crucial underwater telephone cables. It unveils how the navy's own negligence might have been responsible for the loss of the USS Scorpion, a submarine that disappeared, all hands lost, 30 years ago. It tells the complete story of the audacious attempt to steal a Soviet submarine with the help of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes and how it was doomed from the start. And it reveals how the navy used the comforting notion of deep-sea rescue vehicles to hide operations that were more James Bond than Jacques Cousteau.

Blind Man's Bluff contains an unforgettable array of characters, including the cowboy sub commander who brazenly outraced torpedoes and couldn't resist sneaking up to within feet of unaware enemy subs. It takes us inside clandestine Washington meetings where top submarine captains briefed presidents and where the espionage war was planned one sub and one dangerous encounter at a time. Stretching from the years immediately after World War II to the operations of the Clinton administration, it is an epic story of daring and deception. A magnificent achievement in investigative reporting, it feels like a spy thriller but with one important difference: Everything in it is true.

©1998 Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew with Annette Lawrence Drew (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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best Cold War documentary...

I seldom write reviews, but this book is an exception...
Growing up during Cold War Era in Soviet Union few people knew what's going on, on ether side...
Attempts to raise my generation with ideology of US as an enemy failed miserably, this book confirms gut feelings of young kids of 70s and 80s...
Very well written, excellent narration, captivating story, I just couldn't put this one down...
Highly recommend!

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16 people found this helpful

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Outstanding piece of history

I was told about this book by a submariner. I found the stories spell binding and really enjoyed learning some of the history within this book. Highly Recommend

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Great story

The story was great. The audio was very easy to hear. I ride a motorcycle and I had no problem hearing him.

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Great Book!

This book has been out for about 20 years and has received a lot of praise. It is well-deserved. This book reads like a novel, or, perhaps more accurately, a great collection of short stories about particular missions and boats. The characters are compelling and the stories are well-told. The narration is excellent. If you are interested in the Cold War or submarines, this will be a great book for you.

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Good History

Well-researched from the American side. The story needs to be completed with storied and perspectives from the Russian side (a few were collected here).



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Fascinating

Loved this audio book. Even the interview at the end with the author.

There was a few where my mind wandered but loved it overall.

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Outstanding historical recount

Outstanding historical recount of untold Cold War stories and events presented in a riveting story.

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Surprising to say the least

Most Americans are not aware of what activities were really happening during the Cold War. This book fills in the knowledge gap and keeps the reader firmly engaged. Excellent book!

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Incredible

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those interested in the submarine service or submarine history.

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great book

very detailed book about events i've never heard about any place eles. very well researched and a great listen. narrator did a good job and was enjoyable. a great listen.

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