THE INTEL BRIEF

News and Content From Our Members





Interesting Links

Menu
Log in
Forgot password

Log in
Forgot password
FR

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 

  • The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism by Mikhail Zygar

    December 07, 2025 9:23 AM | Anonymous

    Book Review:
    The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
    by Mikhail Zygar
    November 11, 2025
    Publisher: Scribner
    The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
    by Mikhail Zygar

    From “one of Russia’s smartest and best-sourced” (The New York Times) reporters comes a gripping and urgent exploration of why the Soviet Union’s collapse was incomplete and the Cold War was never over—revealing the resurgence of imperialism in Russia and its current implications for the war in Ukraine.

    Russian-born journalist Mikhail Zygar was ten years old when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now, after nearly ten years of research, he offers a timely and compelling new approach on Russian history—one that rewrites everything we thought we knew about the fall of the Soviet Union—and argues that its ending is yet to come. Starting with the historic launch of the first human into space in April 1961, Zygar unravels a dramatic story of resistance, resilience, and resurgence that led to the Soviet Union’s dissolution—and the echoes of its legacy today.

    Zygar conducted several hundred exclusive interviews with key figures, including Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, first presidents of the independent post-Soviet republics, the last first secretaries of these republics, and leaders of independence movements within them, as well as Western politicians and diplomats who were witnesses to and participants in those events. He dives into the struggles and triumphs of figures like Andrei Sakharov, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Vladimir Vysotsky, whose defiance of totalitarianism is both inspiring and deeply relevant. Zygar explains how the “victory” over the Soviet Empire may have been short-lived, as today’s Russian regime maintains its imperial ambitions.

    A must-read for anyone looking to understand the origins of modern Russian fascism, The Dark Side of the Earth explores how imperial and nationalist ideas developed during the Soviet era and eventually gave rise to the current Putinist ideology. Zygar’s work is uniquely powerful—fueled by his personal ties to the Soviet era, access to historical archives, and interviews that crack open hidden truths, including several with individuals who had never before spoken on the record.

    More than a history lesson, The Dark Side of the Earth is a call to action and a testament to the enduring fight for truth and freedom. Zygar urges us to confront the narratives we’ve accepted and rethink how we face oppression today. Bold, brilliant, and deeply human, this is a story that demands to be heard.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    "Seasoned journalist Zygar draws from a decade of interviews with a wide array of Soviet leaders, including Mikhail Gorbachev, writers, musicians, poets, and academics, to reveal a lively underground of Russian hopes and yearning for freedom. . . . Zygar's richly specific and dynamic history sets the stage for today's Russian fascism." —Booklist

    "Exiled Russian journalist Zygar delivers a sobering portrait of Russia’s brief moment in democratic sunlight. . . . an extraordinarily revealing account of how the Russia we know from today’s headlines came into being." —Kirkus (starred review)

    "Mikhail Zygar's The Dark Side of the Earth is an idiosyncratic, insightful account of both the end of the Soviet Union and the rise of Putinism—a useful and timely reminder of how closely these two forms of dictatorship are connected." —Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag and Autocracy, Inc

    "I love books that tell the story of an entire country through the intimate, everyday lives of its people—both famous and unknown. Mikhail Zygar is one of the most thoughtful Russian writers of our time, and behind every page lies meticulous, painstaking work. You may think you know how it all ends, but still, you simply can't put it down." —Yulia Navalnaya

    "In Zygar’s book, it's people who take center stage—not messiahs; individual characters, not abstract nations. We see that it wasn't dictators who saved the world from apocalypse, but humanists. And the contrast with today's rulers makes the book all the more bitter and revealing. And yes, it's brilliantly written—with a lively, sparkling wit." —Dmitry Muratov, journalist and winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

    "Mikhail Zygar is one of the most brilliant observers of contemporary Russia. He is both a protagonist in his country's recent history and a skilled analyst of its politics. The Dark Side of the Earth showcases his unique perspectives, and considerable talent for vivid storytelling as he looks back at the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is also a deeply personal story, which makes for a particularly powerful narrative and a profoundly moving book." —Fiona Hill, former National Security Council official and New York Times bestselling author of There Is Nothing For You Here 
    See also:

    The Dark Side of the Earth as reviewed by Jean-Thomas Nicole for The Cypher Brief  -  November 11, 2025 
    The Reviewer —Jean-Thomas Nicole is a Policy Advisor with Public Safety Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of Public Safety Canada or the Canadian government

    The Dark Side of the Earth as reviewed by Kirkus Reviews  -  September 15, 2025 

    About the book: 
    The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia’s Short-lived Victory over Totalitarianism
    by Mikhail Zygar
    Scribner - 560 pages $33.99 (Kindle)
    Publication Date: November 11, 2025


    About the Author: Mikhail Zygar


    Mikhail Zygar is a journalist, historian, and best-selling author, known for his work on Russian politics, propaganda, and authoritarianism. He was the founding editor-in-chief of TV Rain (Dozhd), Russia’s only independent news television channel, which became a critical voice against state censorship until he was forced into exile.  

    Zygar is the author of several internationally acclaimed books, including "All the Kremlin’s Men," a best-seller that provides an insider’s account of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle; "The Empire Must Die," a deeply researched narrative on the fall of the Russian Empire and the revolutionary forces of the early 20th century; and "War and Punishment," which was named one of The New Yorker’s best nonfiction books of 2023. His books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely used in academic and journalistic discussions on Russia.  

    Zygar is a leading commentator on Russian affairs, regularly contributing op-eds to The New York Times, Time Magazine, Vanity Fair, Foreign Affairs, and The Washington Post. He is also a frequent guest on CNN, providing expert analysis on Russia and global politics. In 2018, he was a TED Fellow and delivered a TED Talk on history, propaganda, and disinformation.   He has lectured at leading universities, including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, and Stanford. In 2024, he taught at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and in 2025, at Columbia University.
    Biography Credit:  Yale University - School of Global Affairs
    À propos du livre :
    Le côté obscur de la Terre : la victoire éphémère de la Russie sur le totalitarisme
    par Mikhail Zygar
    Scribner - 560 pages 33,99 $ (Kindle)
    Date de publication : 11 novembre 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

  • King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation by Scott Anderson

    November 30, 2025 9:46 AM | Anonymous

    Book Review:
    King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation
    by Scott Anderson
    August 5, 2025
    Publisher: Signal
    King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation
    by Scott Anderson

    From the author of the acclaimed international bestseller Lawrence in Arabia, a stunningly revelatory narrative history of one of the most momentous events in modern times and the dawn of the age of religious nationalism.

    On November 16th, 1977, at a state dinner in the White House, President Jimmy Carter toasted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King of Kings, Light of the Aryans, Shadow of God on Earth, praising his “enlightened leadership” and extolling Iran as “a stabilizing influence in that part of the world.” Iran had the world’s fifth largest army and was awash in billions of dollars in oil revenues. Construction cranes dotted the skyline of its booming capital, Tehran. The regime’s feared secret police force SAVAK had crushed communist opposition, and the Shah had bought off the conservative Muslim clergy inside the country. He seemed invulnerable, and invaluable to the United States as an ally in the Cold War. Fourteen months later the Shah fled Iran into exile, forced from the throne by a volcanic religious revolution led by a fiery cleric named Ayatollah Khomeini. How could the United States (and other Western allies), which had one of the largest CIA stations in the world and thousands of military personnel in Iran, have been so blind?

    The spellbinding story Scott Anderson weaves is one of a dictator oblivious to the disdain of his subjects and a superpower blundering into disaster. The Shah emerges as a fascinating, Shakespearean character – a wannabe Richard III unaware of the depth of dissent to his rule, indecisive like Hamlet when action was called for, and at the end Lear-like as he raged against his fate. The Americans made terrible decisions at almost every juncture, from a secret pact designed by Kissinger and Nixon, to dismissing reports from the one diplomat who saw how hated the Shah was by the Iranian people (unlike almost all his colleagues, he spoke Farsi), to Jimmy Carter allowing the Shah to come to America for medical treatment, which set off the hostage crisis which forever damaged American influence in the world.

    Scott Anderson tells this astonishing tale with the narrative brio, mordant wit, and keen analysis that made his bestselling Lawrence in Arabia one of the key texts in understanding the modern Middle East. Based on voluminous research and dozens of interviews, King of Kings is driven by penetrating portraits of the people involved – the Iranian-American doctor who convinced American officials Khomeini was a moderate; the American teacher who learned of Khomeini’s influence long before the cleric was even mentioned in official reports; the Shah’s court minister who kept a detailed diary of all their interactions; the Shah’s wife Farah who still mourns her lost kingdom; the hypocritical and misguided Jimmy Carter; and the implacable Khomeini who outmaneuvered his foes at every turn.

    The Iranian Revolution, Anderson convincingly argues, was as world-shattering an event as the French and Russian revolutions. In the Middle East, in India, in Southeast Asia, in Europe, and the United States, the hatred of economically-marginalized, religiously-fervent masses for a wealthy secular elite has led to violence and upheaval – and Iran was the template. King of Kings is a bravura work of history, and a warning.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    "In his masterful and gripping account of the Iranian revolution, Scott Anderson gives us a page-turning history lesson that is more relevant than ever: A story of American diplomatic blunders and miscalculations that led to the loss of a vital ally and the commencement of hostilities that have roiled the world for nearly four decades. Taking us inside the fortified walls of the shah’s palaces, King of Kings lays bare the folly and hubris that led to the shah’s demise, the hostage crisis and a radical theocracy that would reshape the Middle East."
    —Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author of National Book Award finalist Imperial Life in the Emerald City

    "Instantly absorbing, King of Kings is an exhilarating plunge into the psychology of unchecked power, which secludes, blinds, and ultimately betrays its holders. Anderson is a master of the telling detail; he gives us lessons not only from the Shah’s undoing but also from Washington’s weakness for rigid assumptions—until history, as it so often does, shatters the illusion of control."
    —Evan Osnos, author of the National Book Award winner Age of Ambition

    “Anderson’s brilliant new account of the events leading to the shah’s fall is both masterful and mesmerizing. With bracing clarity, drawing from interviews with direct participants, King of Kings shows senior Iranian and U.S. officials sleepwalking into a disaster with global consequences—and one that was far from inevitable. A must-read for anyone looking to understand the origins of the Middle East’s most dangerous regime.”
    —Joby Warrick, author of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction

    “The Iranian Revolution was one of the most momentous events of the Twentieth Century, one whose reverberations continue to shape the Middle East. In this highly readable and probing book, Scott Anderson revisits the events of that critical year, and draws on previously unknown information to chart the course of events that made what seemed improbable to become inevitable: the fall of the monarchy before a triumphant revolution.”
    —Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the School of Advanced Studies of Johns Hopkins University and the author of Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
    See also:

    King of Kings as reviewed by John Simpson The Guardian  -  July 28, 2025 King of King as reviewed by Mark Bowden for The New York Times - August 2, 2025
    Author Scott Anderson shares the explosive true story behind King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution with host Kamal Al-Solaylee at North York Central Library's Concourse Event Space on October 22, 2025.

    About the book: 
    King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation
    by Scott Anderson
    Signal - 745 pages 18.99 (Indigo)
    Publication Date: August 5, 2025


    About the Author: Scott Anderson


    Scott Anderson is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. He is the author, most recently, of Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East, which was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The New York Times literary critic Janet Maslin called it ''superbly fine-tuned'' and an ''original, illuminating history that requires and rewards close attention.''

    Anderson was raised in East Asia and attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop. In his 33 years as a war correspondent, he has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka and Sudan. He and Pellegrin have been collaborating for the magazine since 1999.
    Biography Credit: Pulitzer Centre

    À propos du livre :
    Le roi des rois : La révolution iranienne : une histoire d'orgueil, d'illusion et d'erreur de calcul catastrophique
    par Scott Anderson
    Signal - 745 pages 18,99 $ (Indigo)
    Date de publication : 5 août 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com


  • Escalating Fury by Marc La Ferrière

    November 23, 2025 11:00 AM | Anonymous

    Escalating Fury, Covert Operations and Deeper Fascinations
    by Marc LaFerrière
    Published: November 2, 2025

    Critique de livre : 
    Escalating Fury :
    opérations secrètes et fascinations profondes
    par Marc La Ferrière
    Publié : 2 novembre 225

    MARC LA FERRIÈRE'S 2ND BOOK AND 1ST NOVEL ESCALATING FURY RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 2, 2025 AND AVAILABLE IN BOOK STORES NOW

    Our colleague and former co-worker, Marc Laferrière, has found a new gig - Author and it's working very well for him!  Marc published his September 2024 autobiography, "D'ici à Là" and has just followed it up with his first novel; Escalating Fury. 

    Watch for Zack Power adventures to continue in Dormant Fury (2026 release) and Resurging Fury (2027).

    As a final note, our friend Phil Gurski interviewed Marc La Ferrière in 2024 after the release of D'ici à Là.  You can listen to the interview on Phil's podcast by clicking right here.

    Available at Librairie Louis-Frechette and other locations
    E-Book / Paperback

    Escalating Fury by Marc La Ferrière


    Marc La Ferriere's Escalating Fury, the inaugural volume in a new series of high-octane espionage and adventure novellas, is a propulsive and adrenaline-fueled debut that immediately grabs the reader and refuses to let go. Spanning multiple continents and iconic global settings—from the shadowy streets of London, Moscow, and Vienna to operational zones in Germany and Middle East—La Ferrière crafts an intricate web of international intrigue set in the volatile days preceding the rise of the ubiquitous internet.

    At the center of this geopolitical whirlwind is Zack Power, a spy-extraordinaire and highly efficient operative. Power, along with his elite team, is employed by the clandestine, multinational outfit known only as Zenith. Their mission is simple yet deadly: to locate, neutralize, and make short work of the world’s most dangerous players and their nefarious intentions. The action is unrelenting, and the narrative moves at a breakneck speed, catapulting the Zenith team through the Middle East in a race against time and terror. La Ferrière masterfully engages these operations, delivering a constant stream of crisp dialogue, sharp tradecraft, and visceral action sequences.

    Escalating Fury distinguishes itself as a brief yet utterly immersive read. It is effortless to devour, thanks to its tightly plotted structure and unceasing momentum. Devotees of classic espionage thrillers, particularly the works of genre titans like Robert Ludlum, will find much to appreciate in the familiar, urgent rhythm of the plot and the focus on globe-trotting clandestine operations. The author successfully channels the golden age of spy fiction, delivering a compelling narrative without sacrificing pace or deep description.

    While the story is largely dominated by thrilling action, La Ferrière includes a single, rather steamy romance scene that adds a layer of depth and humanity to the otherwise hardened characters. Beyond this specific interlude, the novella’s focus on ethical clarity in combating global "baddies" makes it a surprisingly suitable introduction to the espionage-assassin genre for young adult readers seeking thrilling international adventure.

    If asked to distill the essence of this novella into a single word, it would undeniably be "Rollicking!" Escalating Fury is a promising start to the series, leaving readers breathless and eagerly anticipating Zack Power's next high-stakes mission.

    Escalating Fury

    Escalating Fury, le premier tome d'une nouvelle série de romans courts mêlant espionnage et aventure, est un premier ouvrage haletant et riche en adrénaline qui captive immédiatement le lecteur et ne le lâche plus. Couvrant plusieurs continents et des lieux emblématiques à travers le monde, des rues sombres de Londres, Moscou et Vienne aux zones opérationnelles en Allemagne et au Moyen-Orient, La Ferrière tisse une toile complexe d'intrigues internationales qui se déroule dans la période instable précédant l'avènement de l'omniprésence d'Internet.

    Au centre de ce tourbillon géopolitique se trouve Zack Power, un espion extraordinaire et un agent hautement efficace. Power, avec son équipe d'élite, est employé par une organisation clandestine multinationale connue uniquement sous le nom de Zenith. Leur mission est simple mais mortelle : localiser, neutraliser et éliminer les acteurs les plus dangereux du monde et leurs intentions néfastes. L'action est implacable et le récit avance à un rythme effréné, propulsant l'équipe Zenith à travers le Moyen-Orient dans une course contre la montre et le terrorisme. La Ferrière mène ces opérations de main de maître, offrant un flux constant de dialogues vifs, de techniques d'espionnage pointues et de séquences d'action viscérales.

    Escalating Fury se distingue comme un livre court mais totalement immersif. Il se dévore sans effort, grâce à sa structure rigoureuse et à son élan incessant. Les amateurs de thrillers d'espionnage classiques, en particulier les œuvres de titans du genre comme Robert Ludlum, apprécieront le rythme familier et urgent de l'intrigue et l'accent mis sur les opérations clandestines à travers le monde. L'auteur réussit à recréer l'âge d'or de la fiction d'espionnage, offrant un récit captivant sans sacrifier le rythme ni la profondeur des descriptions.

    Si l'histoire est largement dominée par l'action palpitante, La Ferrière inclut une seule scène romantique plutôt torride qui ajoute une touche de profondeur et d'humanité à des personnages par ailleurs endurcis. Au-delà de cet intermède spécifique, l'accent mis par la nouvelle sur la clarté éthique dans la lutte contre les « méchants » mondiaux en fait une introduction étonnamment appropriée au genre de l'espionnage et de l'assassinat pour les jeunes lecteurs adultes en quête d'aventures internationales palpitantes.

    Si l'on devait résumer l'essence de cette nouvelle en un seul mot, ce serait sans aucun doute « endiablé » ! Escalating Fury est un début prometteur pour la série, laissant les lecteurs haletants et impatients de découvrir la prochaine mission à haut risque de Zack Power.

    _________________

    Editor's Note: Feedback / comments are always welcome.  

    Please feel free to forward your comments directly to thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

    About the book:
    Escalating Fury
    by Marc La Ferrière
    Portfolio: 132 pages. 25.00 (Paperback)
    Publication Date: November , 2025


    About the Author: Marc La Ferrière

    Marc Laferrière is a native Montrealer who joined CSIS as an Intelligence Officer in the late 1980s, where he worked on a variety of counterintelligence and countertereorism investigations as well as a myriad of other national security tasks, both at the working level and in management. He retired as Chief of Internal Security in Ottawa after thirty years of service to Canada. He is the author of D’Ici À Là; an autobiography and has just published his first novel; Escalating Fury.

    Biography Credit: Phil Gurski / Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting


    Disclaimer:     Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors / reviewers. Republication does not infer endorsement.

    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes / auteurs / réviseurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation.


  • The Beaver and the Dragon: How China Out-Manoeuvred Canada’s Diplomacy, Security, and Sovereignty by Charles Burton

    November 16, 2025 9:55 AM | Anonymous

    THe Beaver and the Dragon: How China Out-Manoeuvred Canada’s Diplomacy, Security, and Sovereignty
    by Charles Burton
    Edited by Kevin Cavanagh
    October 22, 2025
    Publisher: Optimum Publishing International
    The Beaver and the Dragon: How China Out-Manoeuvred Canada’s Diplomacy, Security, and Sovereignty
    by Charles Burton
    Edited by     Kevin Cavanagh

    For decades, Canada believed it could gently shape China into a responsible global actor through diplomacy, commerce, and cultural exchange. But as this clear-eyed, searing account reveals, it was China that ended up reshaping us. In The Beaver and The Dragon, acclaimed sinologist Charles Burton takes readers inside Canada’s most fateful geopolitical miscalculation. Drawing on a lifetime of engagement ― from dorm rooms at Fudan University to behind-closed-doors diplomacy in Beijing ― Burton chronicles China’s strategic ascent and the naïveté that allowed it to happen within Canada's political and corporate boardrooms.

    From Tiananmen Square to hostage diplomacy, this book captures the history we lived through but failed to understand that has allowed China and Beijing's authoritarian model to quitely infiltrate all of Canada's institutions including the halls of parliament. These essays, written in real time across four Canadian governments, expose the illusions of engagement and the emergence of an authoritarian power that seeks to dominate the 21st century at democracy's expense.

    The essays combined with his new insights expose the sharp power tactics and global ambitions that define Xi Jinping’s China and how Canada has become a proving ground for its totalitarian ambitions. But Burton also leaves us with a challenge ― and a hope ― that democratic resilience can reclaim the future.

    His solution for Canadian policy makers and businesses is to understand that China is not interested in friendship for Win-Win trade but rather total dominance and global hegemony at the expense of our nation. With those lessons learned engagement must be about every element of the Chinese regimes internal and external policy dynamics.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    Charles Burton is without question one of the world’s foremost China specialist. A former colleague, he has spent decades tirelessly warning about China’s long game. His analyses often read with the intensity and suspense of a thriller writer. I hold him in the highest regard. -- Nathalie Vogel ― Research Fellow, Center for Intermarium Studies 
    See also:

    I’ve spent 50 years navigating Canada-China relations. Here’s what I’ve learned op-ed by Charles Burton as published in The Globe and Mail  -  October 17, 2025

    About the book: 
    The Beaver and the Dragon: How China Out-Manoeuvred Canada’s Diplomacy, Security, and Sovereignty
    by Charles Burton
    Edited by Kevin Cavanagh
    Optimum Publishing International - 264 pages 21.12 (Paperback)
    Publication Date: October 22, 2025


    About the Author: Charles Burton


    Charles Burton is a distinguished Canadian sinologist and senior fellow at Sinopsis, a Prague-based research platform focused on China's influence in global democratic systems. A longtime professor of political science at Brock University, Burton has specialized in comparative politics, Confucian political philosophy, and the evolving dynamics of Canada-China relations. He studied at Cambridge University before leaving for Fudan University in Shanghai, where he was among the first Canadian scholars embedded in China's academic system following the Cultural Revolution.

    Burton's career includes diplomatic service at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, where he advised on Communist Party communications and strategic developments. As a columnist and commentator, his analyses have appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, The Toronto Star, and international outlets. Fluent in Mandarin and deeply versed in Chinese political culture, Burton brings unmatched insight into the ideology, tactics, and global ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party.
    Biography Credit:  Black Bond Books


    About the Author: Kevin Cavanagh
     

    Kevin Cavanagh is an editor and former senior executive at Postmedia Network Inc., Canada's largest print and digital newspaper publisher. Over his 35-year career, he held leadership roles in some of the country's most influential newsrooms, directing coverage on national politics, foreign affairs, and public accountability. Cavanaugh's editorial expertise helps bring clarity and cohesion to complex geopolitical narratives, making him an essential voice in shaping this book's structure and public engagement.
    Biography Credit:  Black Bond Books
    À propos du livre :
    Le castor et le dragon : comment la Chine a surpassé le Canada en matière de diplomatie, de sécurité et de souveraineté
    par Charles Burton
    Édité par Kevin Cavanagh
    Optimum Publishing International - 264 pages 21,12 (broché)
    Date de publication : 22 octobre 2025

    Book Review / Revue de livres 
    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

  • Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic by Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds October 21, 2025 Publisher: Yale University Press

    November 09, 2025 9:31 AM | Anonymous

    Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic
    by Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds
    October 21, 2025
    Publisher: Yale University Press
    Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic
    by Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds

    A vital account of the state of the Arctic today—emphasising the twin dangers of climate change and geopolitical competition
     
    Nowhere is the dual threat of climate change and geopolitical contest felt more strongly than in the Arctic. Sea ice is declining rapidly, wildfires are burning, and permafrost is thawing. All the while, global interest is gathering apace as the region transforms from being a frozen desert into an international waterway. 
     
    Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds examine the state of the Arctic today, showing how the region is becoming a space of experimentation for everything from Indigenous governance to subsea technologies. Growing geopolitical competition is accompanying environmental disruption. Countries including Russia, China, and the United States are investing in the Arctic and consolidating their interests in strategic access, resource exploitation, and alliance-building.
     
    The consequences of this emerging Arctic Anthropocene are truly global—from rising sea levels due to melting glaciers to tensions between great powers determined to protect their territory and resources, and the well-being of Indigenous Peoples who have fought for centuries for rights and recognition.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    “The authors . . . are seriously well informed on Arctic affairs. This excellent book is a highly informative guide to both climate change and security issues.”―Michael Burleigh, Literary Review

    “Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds deliver a compelling and timely exploration of one of the planet’s most rapidly transforming regions. As the Arctic melts―literally and metaphorically, the authors chart the geopolitical, environmental, and cultural upheavals reshaping this once remote frontier into a global hotspot.”―Jean-Thomas Nicole, Cipher Brief

    “In this up-to-date and well-informed analysis, two highly regarded members of the Arctic community provide a clear benchmark regarding the state of play in Arctic affairs. All those seeking to understand developments in this dynamic region going forward will want to treat this benchmark as a point of departure.”―Oran R. Young, University of California, Santa Barbara

    “Unfrozen is an intelligent, bold embrace of the Arctic in the Anthropocene―a truly important contribution to the global discourse about the Arctic. Its lucid analysis gracefully weaves the urgent threats of further militarization and total climatic meltdown with the history of the region and the persistent endeavours of the Arctic peoples.”―Martin Breum, author of Cold Rush

    “A masterly survey of the history and the changing world of the Arctic with a clear lucid account of historical themes, peoples, exploration and more latterly climate change at the top of the world.”—Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Loughborough University

    “Engagingly written and full of fascinating detail, this is the perfect guide to the future of the Arctic.”—Chris Armstrong, author of Blue New Deal

    “Few books manage to inform, provoke, and enthral in equal measure―but Unfrozen does just that. Bennett and Dodds bring the Arctic to life, not as a distant frontier, but as a living, breathing mosaic of people, politics, and planet. A rare achievement.”―Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Arctic Economic Council
    See also:

    Unfrozen as reviewed by Jean-Thomas Nicole for The Cipher Brief - November 4, 2025 
    The Reviewer: Jean-Thomas Nicole is a Policy Advisor with Public Safety Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of Public Safety Canada or the Canadian government.

     Unfrozen as reviewed by Elias Thorsson for ArcticToday - September 30, 2025 

    Unfrozen as discussed by Mia Bennett for Cryopolitics -  October 8, 2025 

    What’s the future of the Arctic region?     by Paolo Valpolini for European Defence Review - February 6, 2025

    About the book: 
    Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic
    by Mia Bennett and Klaus Dodds
    Yale University Press - 352 pages 39.00 (Hardcover)
    Publication Date: October 21, 2025


    About the Author: Mia Bennett


    As a political geographer with geospatial skills, Dr. Mia Bennett researches the geopolitics of infrastructure development in two areas commonly thought of as frontiers: the Arctic and orbital space. She traces, maps, and critiques the politics, practices, and cultures of frontier-making from above earth to the depths of Indigenous lands. She does so with respect to three global transformations: Indigenous empowerment, the rise of Asia, and the dawn of satellite observations. To understand discursive and material processes of frontier-making at a range of scales, she employs experimental methods including ethnographic fieldwork, critical remote sensing, visual and discourse analysis, archival research, and geovisualization.
     
    While climate change is often depicted as the most important force reshaping the Arctic, her examinations recenter human actors within northern social and ecological transformations. A common thread throughout her scholarship is a critique of frontier development across terrestrial borders, planetary orbits, and geologic strata, which brings into relief the effects - and limits - of political agency.

    She shares her work across public and scholarly outlets, including her blog,     Cryopolitics, which she has run since 2009, and journals including World Development, Political Geography, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, and Remote Sensing of Environment. Her work has been supported by generous grants from the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, Centre for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies at the University of Heidelberg, Regional Studies Association, National Science Foundation, UW Global Innovation Fund, and International Council for Canadian Studies, among others. Her efforts to make Arctic research accessible and meaningful to wider audiences has been recognized by the Richard Morrill Public Outreach Award from the AAG’s Political Geography Specialty Group.
     
    Bennett previously taught in the Department of Geography and School of Modern Languages & Cultures (China Studies Programme) at the University of Hong Kong.
    Biography Credit:  University of Washington


    About the Author: Klaus Dodds


    Klaus Dodds is Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. He completed his PhD at the University of Bristol in 1994, and thereafter took up a position at the University of Edinburgh and thereafter joined Royal Holloway. He has held a Visiting Erskine Fellowship at Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury (2002) and been a visiting Fellow at St Cross College, University of Oxford (2010-11) and St Johns College, University of Oxford (2017-18). In 2005 he was awarded the Philip Leverhulme Prize for Geography and in 2016 was awarded a Major Research Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust (2017-2020) for a project concerned with the ‘Global Arctic’.

    He has published many books and articles concerned with the geopolitics and governance of the Polar Regions as well as the cultural politics of ice. These include: The Scramble for the Poles (2016), Ice: Nature and Culture and The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know (2019). He has served as a specialist adviser to two parliamentary select committees; the House of Lords Select Committee on the Arctic (2014-5) and the House of Commons Environment Audit Committee’s Arctic enquiry (2018). In 2019. He was appointed the UK representative of the IASC’s Social and Human Working Group. He has visited Antarctica on four separate occasions and travelled extensively in the Arctic region.
    Biography Credit:  British Antarctic Survey
    À propos du livre :
    Unfrozen : La lutte pour l'avenir de l'Arctique
    par Mia Bennett et Klaus Dodds
    Yale University Press - 352 pages 39,00 $ (couverture rigide)
    Date de publication : 21 octobre 2025

    Book Review / Revue de livres 
    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

  • Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China's Secret War Against Canada by Dennis Molinaro

    November 02, 2025 8:46 AM | Anonymous

    Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China's Secret War Against Canada
    by Dennis Molinaro
    November 18, 2025
    Publisher: Random House Canada
    Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China's Secret War Against Canada
    by Dennis Molinaro
    Forward by     Cherie Wong

    National security expert Dennis Molinaro reveals the shocking details of Beijing’s five-decades-long effort to influence and interfere in Canadian political life. From cultivating future political leaders at the end of the Cultural Revolution to the foreign-interference scandals that have shaken present-day Ottawa, this definitive book addresses one of the most urgent issues of our time.

    Amidst heightened tensions between Western nations and China, Canadians have found themselves astonished by hostage crises, cyberattacks, harassment of members of our government, and theft of intellectual property worth untold billions of dollars. Guided by Molinaro’s experience as a historian and China specialist, Under Assault focuses on the actions of the People’s Republic of China’s government and its governing party, the Chinese Communist Party, against Canada during the past fifty years.

    From Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s earliest journeys through the “Middle Kingdom” prior to his election to Parliament in the 1960s, the communist government of the PRC has perceived Canada as a staging ground for spying on and pressuring its ultimate target, the United States. When Canada’s first tech giant, Nortel, was plundered of intellectual property by digital spies; while Canada was manipulated into advocating against the independence of Taiwan; and as Chinese Canadians were targeted in the country where they thought they’d escaped Mao’s terrors, Canada’s leaders have too often seen only what they want to see in China: an emerging market of inestimable value and fertile soil for democratic change for a long-tyrannized people. Generations of Communist leadership have gladly allowed Canada’s government to labour under these misapprehensions, even when the evidence of China’s spying, theft and harassment of Canadian citizens has been happening right before its eyes. Canada has rarely allowed itself to believe what the rest of the world has long understood.

    Informed by numerous interviews with generations of Canadian politicians, diplomats and bureaucrats; members of diaspora communities targeted by China who have endured this harassment for too long; as well as by new revelations from recently declassified CSIS documents, Under Assault is a timely, eye-opening account of a country compromised by its own illusions in a time of rising global conflict and a burgeoning new world order.

    Editor's Note: Under Assault will be published on November 18, 2025. It is currently available for purchase via pre-order via bookstores or online via links below.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    "Groundbreaking… Incisive and sweeping… While Molinaro’s book is a work of history, it also serves as a guidebook to the predominant geopolitical forces that will shape the next decade—and to the evolving superpower contest between democratic Washington and autocratic Beijing…. Through newly declassified RCMP documents Molinaro digs up a number of explosive scoops… [bringing] acerbic flair [to] the book’s sharpest assessments.”
    ―Sam Cooper, The Bureau

    "A deeply unsettling account of China's systematic and subversive attempts to influence Canadians, and the failure of political and business leaders to deter it. Dennis Molinaro convincingly documents how for decades, the Chinese Communist Party has cultivated and co-opted Canada's elites, interfered in Canadian politics, stolen intellectual property and classified information, silenced criticism and suppressed Chinese dissidents and ethnic minorities.”
    ―Michael Kovrig

    “Lucid analysis from a national security expert, Under Assault unveils the hidden roots of Beijing’s decades of foreign interference in Canadian society and exposes Ottawa’s misguided beliefs—essential reading for policymakers and citizens alike. It is a fact-based must-read on how Canada arrived at this pivotal moment of reckoning with China’s decades of foreign influence activities.”
    ―Joanna Chiu, author of China Unbound, winner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing

    “Under Assault offers an urgent look at PRC foreign interference in Canada, an issue not widely understood outside of Canada’s Chinese community until recently. Dennis Molinaro reveals the extent of Beijing’s interference, from Canada’s democratic institutions to its local communities from the 1970s to the present. Drawing on his experience as an intelligence analyst, he outlines a number of actions governments can take to safeguard Canadian sovereignty. This book serves as a wake-up call for one of Canada’s most pressing national security challenges.”
    ―Hon. Michael Chong, P.C., M.P.

    "Molinaro has made a significant contribution here. CCP interference may echo Cold War strategy, but it defies easy categorization. Its genius lies in the opacity of its structures and blurring of lines between interference and legitimate―even laudable―work. Molinaro lays out the anatomy forensically, accessibly, and in context. For those in democracies grappling with the problem, this book isn't just insightful, it’s essential."
    ―Luke de Pulford, Co-Founder, Executive Director, Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China
    See also:

    Under Assault as reviewed by Sam Cooper for The Bureau -  October 27, 2025
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nKmv8utNH4U

    Short video clip providing highlights of Dennis Molinaro's findings as reported in Under Assault
    Click screen to watch.

    About the book: 
    Under Assault: Interference and Espionage in China's Secret War Against Canada
    by Dennis Molinaro
    Random House Canada - 352 pages 16.99 (Kobo)
    Publication Date: November 18, 2025


    About the Author: Dennis Molinaro


    Dennis Molinaro is a former national security analyst and policy advisor for the Canadian federal government. An author and an academic, he earned his PhD from the University of Toronto in 2015 and studies the history of security, counterintelligence and foreign interference. His research on wiretapping and the government’s use of emergency powers in the 1970s received national media coverage.

    A frequent media commentator on intelligence and foreign-interference issues, he has taught courses on modern espionage, human rights law and national security at several Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto.
    Biography Credit:  Penguin Random House
    À propos du livre :
    Sous attaque : ingérence et espionnage dans la guerre secrète menée par la Chine contre le Canada
    par Dennis Molinaro
    Random House Canada - 352 pages 16,99 $ (Kobo)
    Date de publication : 18 novembre 2025


  • China's Quest for Military Supremacy by Joel Wuthnow & Phillip C. Saunders

    October 26, 2025 10:05 AM | Anonymous

    China's Quest for Military Supremacy
    by Joel Wuthnow & Phillip C. Saunders
    March 10, 2025
    Publisher: Polity
    China's Quest for Military Supremacy
    by Joel Wuthnow & Phillip C. Saunders

    China's military has entered a new era. It has acquired modern weapons to rival the world’s finest, undergone a massive restructuring under Xi Jinping, and been on the frontlines of territorial disputes with Japan, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is readying forces to be able to seize Taiwan sometime in the next decade. It aims to be a "world-class" military on par with the United States.

    China's Quest for Military Supremacy provides a broad and accessible exploration of Chinese military power, including relations between the Chinese Communist Party and its army, the strategic worldview of Chinese leaders, military strategy and resourcing, conventional and nuclear modernization, military diplomacy and coercion, preparations for war, and the People's Liberation Army’s emerging global role. It also identifies the challenges facing China’s military and shows how its focus on supremacy in the region means that it is not yet prepared to fight with the same lethality beyond Asia. Different futures are possible, and the book concludes with a preview of what it might take for a truly "world-class" Chinese military to take the global stage.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    “As Sun Tzu once said, one must know one’s adversary as well as oneself to succeed. Today we all need a better understanding of the pacing challenge posed by the Chinese military. China’s Quest for Military Supremacy is current, comprehensive, and presents critical information in an easy-to-read style from two dedicated experts. This is a must-read for all military professionals and anyone who needs to learn about the People’s Liberation Army.”
    General James N. Mattis, USMC (ret.), 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense

    “The most comprehensive and detailed book to date on China's military development. A must-read for defense and military officials and a great reference for anyone who cares about peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
    Admiral (ret.) Lee Hsi-Min, 26th Chief of the General Staff, Republic of China (Taiwan)

    “An excellent primer on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and a must read for those trying to understand the Chinese military.”
    Bonny Lin, Center for Strategic & International Studies

    “Saunders and Wuthnow deliver an accessible, balanced, and historically grounded overview of the People’s Liberation Army, its breathtaking modernization, and the challenges it faces realizing Beijing’s vision for its role in China’s emergence as a global leader in every domain.”
    Daniel Tobin, Senior Associate (non-resident), Freeman Chair in China Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies

    “A master class on the Chinese military. Joel Wuthnow and Phillip Saunders deliver a mental accelerant for those seeking to get smart on the world’s most dangerous authoritarian war machine. Erudite and crisply written, this brilliant book shines a broad and searching light on its object, showing the PLA’s remarkable strengths ― and potential weak points that could be targeted.”
    Ian Easton, author of The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan’s Defense and American Strategy in Asia
    See also:

    China's Quest for Military Supremacy as reviewed by Elizabeth Economy for Foreign Affairs - November / December 2025 

    About the book: 
    China's Quest for Military Supremacy
    by Joel Wuthnow & Phillip C. Saunders
    Polity- 256 pages 32.99 (Kobo)
    Publication Date: March 10, 2025


    About the Author: Joel Wuthnow

     Dr. Joel Wuthnow is a senior research fellow in the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at the U.S. National Defense University (NDU). His areas of interest include Chinese foreign and security policy, Chinese military affairs, U.S.-China relations, and strategic developments in East Asia.

    He is the author or editor of several books on China and its military and his articles have appeared in journals such as The China Quarterly, Chinese Journal of International Politics, Asian Security, Asia Policy, Journal of Strategic Studies, and Joint Force Quarterly.

    Prior to joining NDU, Dr. Wuthnow was a China analyst at CNA, a postdoctoral fellow in the China and the World Program at Princeton University, and a pre-doctoral fellow at The Brookings Institution.
    Biography Credit:  Georgetown University


    About the Author: Phillip C. Saunders
     

     Dr. Phillip C. Saunders is the Director of the INSS Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs and a Distinguished Research Fellow at National Defense University. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

    He previously worked at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey from 1999-2003, where he directed the East Asia Nonproliferation Program in the Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and served as an officer in the United States Air Force from 1989-1993. Dr. Saunders received an A.B. in History from Harvard University and an M.P.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the Princeton School of International and Public Affairs. 

    Dr. Saunders is co-author with Joel Wuthnow of China’s Quest for Military Supremacy (Polity Books, 2025) and with David Gompert of The Paradox of Power: Sino-American Strategic Restraint in an Era of Vulnerability (NDU Press, 2011). He has edited nine books, including Crossing the Strait: China’s Military Prepares for War with Taiwan (NDU Press, 2022) and The PLA Beyond Borders: Chinese Military Operations in Regional and Global Context (NDU Press, 2021). Dr. Saunders also edits the INSS China Strategic Perspectives monograph series and co-authored recent monographs on China’s Military Diplomacy (June 2025) and Discerning the Drivers of China’s Nuclear Force Development: Models, Indicators, and Data (July 2023). 
    Biography Credit:  Institute for National Strategic Studies
    À propos du livre :
    La quête de la suprématie militaire par la Chine
    par Joel Wuthnow et Phillip C. Saunders
    Polity - 256 pages 32,99 $ (Kobo)
    Date de publication : 10 mars 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

    Copyright © 2025
    The Pillar Society
    La Société Pillar
    All rights reserved / Tous droits réservés

  • The Spy and the Devil by Tim Willasey-Wilsey

    October 20, 2025 8:17 AM | Anonymous

    The Spy and the Devil: The untold story of the MI6 agent who penetrated Hitler’s inner circle
    by Tim Willasey-Wilsey
    May 8, 2025
    Publisher: Blink Publishing
    The Spy and the Devil
    by Tim Willasey-Wilsey
     
    This is the forgotten tale of MI6's top spy in Nazi Germany and his bid to stop the Second World War. In the world of espionage, where the accounts of renowned spies often dominate the narrative, this is a rare gem - an untold story of a completely unknown spy.

    Baron William de Ropp, a Baltic German aristocrat, wasn't just any ordinary spy; he was MI6's top-secret agent in Nazi Germany from 1931 to 1939, managing to escape Berlin just before war broke out. This unsung hero had direct access to Adolf Hitler and an inside track on the Nazi regime. His reports, shrouded in secrecy, had the power to shape British policy toward Germany in a pivotal period of history.

    The Spy and the Devil is a riveting tale of espionage, intrigue, and the untold impact of one man's secret mission on the course of history. A journey into the shadows of Nazi Germany, where a forgotten British spy worked tirelessly to avert catastrophe, and discover the secrets that history almost left behind.
    Although aspects of de Ropp's activities appear in other books, notably the authorised history of MI6, his story has never been published in full before, adding an extra dimension to what is, by any standard, the account of a very remarkable man. Drawing on his years of service in the Foreign Office, Tim Willasey-Wilsey offers an insider's view of this enigmatic British spy.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    None currently available
    See also:

    The Spy and the Devil as reviewed by Michael Smith for The Cipher Brief - September 16, 2025 

    Michael Smith is the author of The Real Special Relationship: The True Story of How MI6 and the CIA Work Together (with a foreword by former CIA Director, General Michael Hayden, and an introduction by former MI6 Chief Sir John Scarlett).
     Tim Willasey-Wilsey CMG speaks with Richard Iron CMG OBE to discuss The Spy and the Devil. They discuss the complexities involved in uncovering the life story of a secret agent and the effects which his reporting had on British foreign policy. Australian Institute of International Affairs - October 6, 2024

    About the book: 
    The Spy and the Devil; 
    The untold story of the MI6 agent who penetrated Hitler’s inner circle
    by Tim Willasey-Wilsey
    Blink Publishing- 512 pages 10.99 (Kobo)
    Publication Date: May 8, 2025


    About the Author: Tim Willasey-Wilsey
     

    Tim Willasey-Wilsey is an author, historian, academic, and former diplomat. In addition to his role at RUSI, he is a Visiting Professor of War Studies at King’s College, London. His first book, The Spy and the Devil, was published in May 2025. He also advises a leading AI company.

    Tim served for twenty-seven years as a British diplomat in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. He worked in Angola during the Cold War, South Africa in the years just before majority rule, Central America at the time of the Sandinista/Contra war and in the Middle East following the Oslo accords. Latterly he focussed on South Asia and Northeast Asia.

    He lectures and writes on government approaches to conflict and its resolution and on terrorism and insurgency. Tim has a particular interest in the Kashmir dispute, India-Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Koreas and the survival of a sovereign and secure Ukraine.

    Tim advises international banks and large companies on geopolitical risk and on how to calibrate their risk-appetites to international clients and transactions. 

    He writes and speaks extensively on geopolitics. In the UK his main outlets are RUSI and Times Radio. Overseas he is a regular contributor to the US global security website Cipher Brief and the Indian Council on Global Relations.

    He was elected by the membership to two three-year terms on the Chatham House Council and reviewed books for their journal, International Affairs. He also lectures to overseas universities and governments.

    Tim has an MA (First Class) in Modern History from St Andrews University. He was awarded the CMG in the 2007 New Year Honours List.
    Biography Credit:  RUSI

    À propos du livre :
    L'espion et le diable ;
    L'histoire inédite de l'agent du MI6 qui a infiltré le cercle restreint d'Hitler
    par Tim Willasey-Wilsey
    Blink Publishing - 512 pages 10,99 (Kobo)
    Date de publication : 8 mai 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

    Copyright © 2025
    The Pillar Society
    La Société Pillar
    All rights reserved / Tous droits réservés


  • Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America's New Spy War by Andrew Bustamante & Jihi Bustamante

    October 12, 2025 12:34 PM | Anonymous

    Book Review:
     Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America's New Spy War
    by Andrew Bustamante & Jihi Bustamante
    September 9, 2025
    Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
    Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America's New Spy War
    by Andrew Bustamante & Jihi Bustamante
     
    INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A thrilling firsthand account by husband-and-wife CIA operatives who, against all odds, triumphed in a deadly cat-and-mouse game against a mole within the agency—an unprecedented insider account of 21st-century spycraft in the tradition of Argo and Black Ops.
     
    Andrew and Jihi Bustamante were a “tandem couple”: married spies who’d dedicated their lives to the CIA. They met as trainees at Langley, and got married while hunting terrorists across the globe. Then, suddenly, they were assigned to a mission so sensitive and explosive that the CIA still has never acknowledged it. The CIA’s source network in a country code-named "Falcon"—one of America’s most formidable rivals—had been compromised by a mole, and the agency needed a new way to collect intelligence there. Young newlyweds, the Bustamantes were considered safe choices for this daunting task precisely because they had no experience in Falcon. They were also loyal, forgettable, and completely disposable—operatives who could help to strengthen the CIA’s position in Falcon while simultaneously serving as bait for the mole.
     
    But although their superiors at the CIA didn’t realize it, the Bustamantes also brought another advantage to the table: a granular understanding of how terrorist cells operate, and how the agency could exploit those same tactics to keep America safe. Assembling a rag-tag team of fellow operatives and recruiting new sources from Falcon, the Bustamantes pioneered a new way of spying by building a cell of their own—right at the heart of the CIA.

    The propulsive, untold tale of one of history’s greatest intelligence crises and the unlikely band of agents who were sent in to clean up the mess, Shadow Cell allows us to peer behind the curtain to see how today’s spy wars are being fought—and won.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    "Shadow Cell rips the curtain off the modern spy game with the kind of insider access only two former CIA operatives could provide. It’s a rare glimpse into the shadow war of the 21st century, where loyalty is tested, trust is weaponized, and victory comes at a personal cost."―Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Sky Mourning

    “A fast-paced account of an effort to root out a mole and recruit double agents in an unnamed enemy nation...The adventures and misadventures are plentiful here, but of equally great interest to readers are the authors’ lucid explanations of how spycraft proceeds to begin with...A gripping espionage yarn that happily contradicts the authors’ advice for crafting a cover story: ‘Make it boring as hell.’”―Kirkus

    “The ‘Shadow Cell’ operation is arguably one of the most esoteric, innovative and successful by CIA to date. It is also proof of how important fresh blood is to any organization. As you will read, the selection of these two young officers was a gamble that not only paid off but also exceeded everyone's expectations. Reads like a novel, educates like a thesis. I truly enjoyed the read and even learned a trick or two."―Ric Prado, New York Times bestselling author of Black Ops, and former Chief of Operations at CIA's Counterterrorism Center

    “Nail-biting…An unusual window into the normally closed world of spies’ private lives.…Part autobiography, part true crime—or rather, true espionage—their tale of the hunt for a highly placed mole, which is also partly an exposé of the sometimes-dubious practices of CIA corporate culture, is a page-turning read.”―Telegraph (UK)

    “A pacy and fascinating read. I suspect the closest an outsider will get to sitting in on CIA training in agent-running.”―Professor Sir David Omand, former British Security and Intelligence Coordinator

    "A tense thriller in which Andrew and Jihi Bustamante are both the hunters and the hunted in a cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous double agent working in the heart of the CIA. Every page is more gripping than the last, propelling the reader to its exciting finale."
     ―Robert Verkaik, author of The Traitor of Colditz and Jihadi John

    "This is a uniquely compelling spy memoir. Two former CIA field operatives take turns to recount clandestine life in the world’s hot spots. Together they reveal the latest CIA techniques, including building their own look-alike terrorist cell. It is a behind-the-scenes story of a secret war that blends love, mystery and betrayal."―Richard J. Aldrich, author of GCHQ
    See also:

    Shadow Cell as reviewed by Kirkus Reviews - February 14, 2025
    Andrew and Jihi Bustamante speak with Chris Collins of Syndicate X Library about Shadow Cell. September 15, 2025

    About the book: 
    Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America's New Spy Warby Andrew Bustamante & Jihi Bustamante
    Little, Brown and Company - 261 pages 20.99 (Kindle)
    Publication Date: September 9, 2025


    About the Author: Andrew Bustamante
     

    Andrew Bustamante is a former covert CIA Intelligence Officer and decorated US Air Force combat veteran with deep expertise in espionage, human intelligence, and high-stakes operations. After graduating with honours from the US Air Force Academy, he began his career as an Officer-in-Residence, a leadership role that set the tone for his work in hostile environments and global conflict zones. He later rose to Officer in Charge before joining the CIA, where he led covert missions, built expertise in human behaviour, counterintelligence, and negotiation under pressure.

    Following his distinguished government service, Andrew transitioned into corporate consulting, advising Fortune 10 companies and high-performing teams around the world. Today, he is a trusted voice in strategic leadership, decision-making, and influence. Andrew is the cofounder of EverydaySpy, a one-of-a-kind global training platform he built with his wife, Jihi Bustamante. Together, they left the CIA to pursue a new mission: building their family and their company. EverydaySpy teaches spy-inspired tools for business, leadership, and personal growth.

    He is the host of the EverydaySpy Podcast, which reached the iTunes Top 100, and has been featured across major platforms including The Diary of a CEO, Lex Fridman Podcast, FOX, ABC, NBC, Forbes, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. He has also co-authored the book Shadow Cell. A regular speaker at corporate events, government forums, and academic institutions, Andrew blends real-world experience with psychological depth and a storyteller’s gift. His keynotes are known for their humour, clarity, and inspiration. He’s a perfect fit for keynote engagements, sales strategy workshops, and leadership development. Hire Andrew Bustamante via the Champions Speakers Agency today.
    Biography Credit:  Champions


    About the Author: Jihi Bustamante

    Jihi Bustamante is a former covert CIA Targeting Officer and Co-Founder of EverydaySpy. Born in Venezuela, Jihi spent her formative years living in Japan and traveling around the world as a dual-documented American and Venezuelan citizen. Her passion for service and gift for foreign language led her to work with war-torn refugees and ultimately brought her to the attention of CIA recruiters. After 7 years of dedicated service to her country, Jihi left CIA in 2014 with her husband, Andrew, to build a young family and new company. A true introvert at heart, Jihi avoids the big screen and bright lights in favor of a cozy home office, family walks on the beach, and running a fully digital company from her laptop and cell phone.
    Biography Credit:  Everyday Spy

    À propos du livre :
    Shadow Cell : un témoignage privilégié sur la nouvelle guerre de l'espionnage américaine
    par Andrew Bustamante et Jihi Bustamante
    Little, Brown and Company - 261 pages 20,99 $ (Kindle)
    Date de publication : 9 septembre 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

    Copyright © 2025
    The Pillar Society
    La Société Pillar
    All rights reserved / Tous droits réservés


  • Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy by Ronald J. Deibert

    October 12, 2025 12:33 PM | Anonymous

    Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy
    by Ronald J. Deibert
    February 4, 2025
    Publisher: Simon & Schuster
    Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy
    by Ronald J. Deibert
     
    Like a John Le Carré novel updated for the digital age, Chasing Shadows provides a gripping account of how the Citizen Lab, the world’s foremost digital watchdog, has uncovered dozens of cyber espionage cases and protects people in countries around the world. Called “essential reading” by Margaret Atwood, it’s a chilling reminder of the invisible invasions happening on smartphones and computers around the world.

    In this real-life spy thriller, cyber security expert Ronald Deibert details the unseemly marketplace for high-tech surveillance, professional disinformation, and computerized malfeasance. He reveals how his team of digital sleuths at the Citizen Lab have lifted the lid on dozens of covert operations targeting innocent citizens everywhere.

    Chasing Shadows provides a front-row seat to a dark underworld of digital espionage, disinformation, and subversion. There, autocrats and dictators peer into their targets’ lives with the mere press of a button, spreading their tentacles of authoritarianism through a digital ecosystem that is insecure, poorly regulated, and prone to abuse. The activists, opposition figures, and journalists who dare to advocate for basic political rights and freedoms are hounded, arrested, tortured, and sometimes murdered.

    From the gritty streets of Guatemala City to the corridors of power in the White House, this compelling narrative traces the journey of the Citizen Lab as it evolved into a globally renowned source of counterintelligence for civil society. As this small team of investigators disarmed cyber mercenaries and helped to improve the digital security of billions of people worldwide, their success brought them, too, into the same sinister crosshairs that plagued the victims they worked to protect.

    Deibert recounts how the Lab exposed the world’s pre-eminent cyber-mercenary firm, Israel-based NSO Group—the creators of the phone-hacking marvel Pegasus—in a series of human rights abuses, from domestic spying scandals in Spain, Poland, Hungary, and Greece to its implication in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

    Indigo / Amazon 

    Reviews:

    “[Chasing Shadows] will chill the blood of any journalist, human rights worker, or civil society activist. Or, come to think of it, any ordinary citizen who believes that criticizing your own government does not merit extra-judicial execution, and that private communications should remain private . . . an utterly gripping, petrifying read.” — The Spectator

    “Essential reading for all those interested in the digiverse, especially its underbelly!” — @MargaretAtwood on X

    “For almost a quarter of a century, Ron Deibert and his Citizen Lab team have been in the vanguard of the global struggle to protect the public internet from the schemes of criminals, autocrats, and spies. Deibert's new account of the battle to expose and combat the powerful Pegasus spyware sold by the Israeli firm NSO reads like a cloak-and-dagger spy novel, complete with high drama and a rogue's gallery of villains. Essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of the internet and the fate of freedom.”
    — DANIEL DEUDNEY, award-winning author of Dark Skies: Space Expansionism, Planetary Geopolitics, and the Ends of Humanity

    “Canada should be hugely proud of Ron Deibert and his outrageously smart team at Citizen Lab. The rest of the world should just be thankful—except, that is, the dictators, oligarchs, criminals, thugs, and those allegedly democratic governments that use the most intrusive spyware to snoop on, intimidate, troll, and even murder their opponents. Part memoir, part thriller, and part manifesto of hope, Chasing Shadows details how a small group of people committed to the truth has taken on the world’s most powerful and unscrupulous forces. My book of the year—Read it!”
    — MISHA GLENNY, multi-award-winning author of McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld and DarkMarket: Cyberthieves, Cybercops and You

    “Chasing Shadows reads like a thriller and shines light in the dark places of hacking, intimidation, and espionage. In this spectacular book by one of the world’s most brave, ethical, and skilled researchers, Ron Deibert writes with authority but without ego and unveils his journey through the invisible world of spyware and spy craft in the most engaging way.”
    — MARIETJE SCHAAKE, author of The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley

    “With the pacing of a John le Carré thriller, the rigor of world-class journalism, and the seriousness of breakthrough science, Ron Deibert tells a little-known story that every citizen of the modern world needs to know about.”
    — JOHN PALFREY, President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

    “A thrilling, terrifying, and, above all, true story of the shadowy industry that makes billions by exploiting defects in our most intimate, powerful devices, abetted by powerful autocrats and so-called democracies all around the world. Don't let this give you nightmares: rather, let it inspire you to demand action!”
    — CORY DOCTOROW, author of Little Brother, The Internet Con, and Red Team Blues
    See also:

    Chasing Shadows as reviewed by Jean-Thomas Nicole for The Cipher Brief - February 14, 2025
    Ronald J. Deibert speaks about his recent book, Chasing Shadows, for the Rotman School of Management with Michelle Shephard moderating. February 5, 2025 (Toronto)

    About the book: 
    Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion, and the Global Fight for Democracy
    by Ronald J. Deibert
    Simon & Schuster - 448 pages 20.99 (Kindle)
    Publication Date: February 4, 2025


    About the Author: Ronald J. Deibert
     

    Ronald J. Deibert is the founder and director of the Citizen Lab, a world-renowned digital security research center at the University of Toronto. The bestselling author of Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society and Black Code: Surveillance, Privacy, and the Dark Side of the Internet, he has also written many landmark articles and reports on espionage operations that infiltrated government and NGO computer networks. His team’s exposés of the spyware that attacks journalists and anti-corruption advocates around the world have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Financial Times, and other media.

    Deibert has received multiple honors for his cutting-edge work, and in 2022 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada—the country’s second-highest honor of merit.
    Biography Credit:  Simon & Schuster

    À propos du livre :
    Chasing Shadows: Cyberespionnage, subversion et lutte mondiale pour la démocratie
    par Ronald J. Deibert
    Simon & Schuster - 448 pages 20,99 $ (Kindle)
    Date de publication : 4 février 2025

    Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
    Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
    Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation. 
    Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com

    Copyright © 2025
    The Pillar Society
    La Société Pillar
    All rights reserved / Tous droits réservés


<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 

The Pillar Society Privacy Policy and Terms of Service | © Copyright 2025 The Pillar Society | All Rights Reserved