It is incredible that someone could have written this book, given the lengths to which the US and other governments went to in order to hide the very existence of such a major organisation. But time and again Bamford slips behind the scenes, behind the walls of secrecy, to tell the world the intimate secrets of the NSA.

This, even after so many years, is the definitive history of the National Security Agency. Or at least the most definitive work ever to have been available to the general public. It starts at the start in World War One, and traces the development of what has become a monster, frequently acting beyond the law and in clear violation of basic rights of privacy and freedom of speech.

It is not a history of codebreaking or of the science of interception, but rather a history of the organisation that was set up to do this, and though we are told of the machines and systems that do the work, the tale revolves around the people who defended their secrets and sought out others.

It is fascinating reading, pitched at an average understanding, and accessible to the people who should be most concerned about the activities of the NSA. If it has a flaw it is a simple one - it needs updating.

In the wake of the S11 tragedies, it is indisputable that there is a need for such an organisation. Never let it be said otherwise. But what of the collateral damage to millions of innocent individuals, American citizens with nothing but love for their country, who are regularly spied upon by the NSA?

A disturbing and thoughtful book.

Recommended reading for anybody with an interest in codebreaking and communications security. Here you will find details of some of the leading figures in the "industry" not available anywhere else. Essential for your bookshelf.

I read the book when it was first published in 1983, and I was absolutely blown away with Mr. Bamford's detailed knowledge of the NSA and related intelligence-gathering methods of that time. At the time the book was published, I had been working in this area for the Navy and I found this book filled with (among many other things) knowledge regarding satellite intelligence capability (at the time) which -- well, frankly, I was surprised to see some of it in this book. That's why I'm astounded at some of the content.
I recommend it whole-heartedly to anyone who's interested in observing how the U.S. intelligence community (according to Mr. Bamford) conducted (and, I might suggest, still conducts) its affairs. I can't wait to read his new book!

I first read this report on the NSA (National Security Agency) in 1987 and was so moved by author James Bamford descriptions that I visited Fort Meade, Maryland to verify its existence. As it is a non-fiction work I must admit that it is rather dry reading for the reader used to spy-vs-spy fictional excitement. Nonetheless it is extremely well written and will inform (and shock) the average reader as to the depth (and history) of signal intelligence by the United States Government. It has been rumored that Bamford is working on a sequel. The Puzzle Palace was published in 1983, this is 1999, one can only imagine ...

I bought this book on a whim after realizing that Mr. Bamford also wrote The Puzzle Palace. I call it a whim because I have neither read The Puzzle Palace, nor have I ever been interested in the NSA.

The majority of the book is dedicated to the operational aspects of gathering signals intelligence. This is, by far, the most compelling subject contained therein. Mr. Bamford does a fine job of describing the sacrifices made by aircrews of RB-47s and EC-121s, along with sailors on the USS Liberty and USS Pueblo. Their mission was to collect as much communist SIGINT as possible without starting a war.

Body of Secrets is generally broken into episodes from the last half of the previous century. Some episodes are worth mentioning more than others. Mr. Bamford devotes a substantial chapter to the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty stationed in the Mediterranean in 1967. The facts speak for themselves: Israeli jets and torpedo boats launched multiple attacks on a non-hostile American vessel. As a result 34 Americans died and 171 more were wounded. Mr. Bamford's conclusion that the attack was deliberate has generated some controversy, and for good reason. Most would doubt that Israel would brazenly mount an attack to sink an American ship. I am of this opinion. The author attempts to substantiate his conclusion using SIGINT evidence gathered by an EC-121 during the attack.

The final five chapters, which deal most specifically with the organizational aspects of the NSA, make for slow reading. In fact, I found myself skipping over the majority of these pages. Mr. Bamford does little to dispel the caricature of a calculator-toting weenie, the image most would have of an NSA cryptologist. There have to be some interesting, if not eccentric, individuals working in Crypto City. I wouldn't know from this book. The only part that kept my attention was the description of polygraph exams administered to NSA employees, along some of the more unsavory techniques performed in the 1950s.

The afterword has the feel of a "Dateline" feature; it is only a summary of the events of September 11. Unfortunately, Mr. Bamford's catch phrase, "According to information obtained for Body of Secrets...", does not appear anywhere in the afterword. The reader is not presented with any new evidence regarding the terrorist plot, other than the fact that NSA can listen in on bin Laden when he uses a satellite phone to call his wife.

Bamford has trod important ground by presenting a fully-realized essay on the NSA. There are, of course, holes of information and areas where the author's viewpoint is asserted, but these should be considered within the remarkable achievement of the whole. Bamford has dared to deliver a single volume text on an organization whose currency is secrets. That he at times maintained an objective and exhaustive stance is worthy of recognition. For fans of espionage and the real-world uses of cryptography in the intelligence community, this book delivers on the promise to reveal the nuts and bolts of the NSA. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

I checked this book out by accident while expecting to get "The Puzzle Palace", and it turned out to be a wonderful mistake. The story held my attention for many days, and I was hard-pressed to put it down at any point in time.

It's a compelling story of how the NSA came to be who they are today, while bringing those of us who had no idea what they are up to speed. Technological and math expertise is not expected; it's written from the perspective of a historian, not a technician.

The author's tone is, albeit slightly critical, quite down-to-earth; much of the story is told with quotes, anecdotes, letters, and other such information. Hundreds of documentary sources are listed at the end, as well, for those who desire to verify facts or continue research into specific matters.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about one of the most secretive government agencies; it's a narrated timeline from just before the birth of the NSA to the modern-day (2001) events just after the Y2K upgrades. Definitely worth having on the shelf.

The author has attempted to expand on his knowledge of cryptology in the Navy with a lot of imagination to round out the intreging subject. The book was removed from circulation for a while by a government agency due to some of the information contained in the book.