The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception (Paperback)

The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception By H. Keith Melton, Robert Wallace Cover Image

The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception (Paperback)

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Once a top-secret training manual for CIA field agents in the early Cold War Era of the 1950s, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception—a key component of the infamous MK-ULTRA campaign—is now available to the general public. 

An amazing historical artifact, this eye-opening handbook offered step-by-step instructions to covert intelligence operatives in all manner of sleight of hand and trickery designed to thwart the Communist enemy. Part of MK-ULTRA, the CIA's secret mind-control and chemical interrogation research program, this legendary document, the brainchild of John Mulholland, then America’s most famous magician, was believed lost forever. But thanks to former CIA gadgeteer Bob Wallace and renowned spycraft historian H. Keith Melton, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception is now available to everyone, spy and civilian alike.

H. Keith Melton, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is an intelligence historian and a specialist in clandestine technology and espionage "tradecraft." He is the author of several books, including CIA Special Weapons and Equipment, Clandestine Warfare, and The Ultimate Spy Book.



Robert Wallace retired from the CIA in 2003 with thirty-two years of service as an operations officer and senior executive, including an assignment as director of the Office of Technical Services. Wallace is coauthor, with H. Keith Melton, of Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda.

“An enchanting account of espionage and wizardry at their blackest.” — Peter Earnest, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum

“Melton and Wallace have achieved the ultimate mastery of the shadow world where CIA’s smoke and mirrors meet Hollywood’s art of magic, deception and illusion. Like any good stage show, the never-before-disclosed techniques are spellbinding. The history of espionage is expanded by this factual, fascinating account.” — Tony and Jonna Mendez, Masters of Disguise

“A legendary ‘lost’ piece of magic history…It’s James Bond meets Harry Houdini!” — Lance Burton, Master Magician

“Entrancing! I was amazed to see how the magician’s trade can be twisted to aid in the dark arts of espionage.” — Jeff McBride, Creator of The Magic and Mystery School

“Espionage and magic! A special thrill to read the once-classified CIA magician’s manual.” — Danny Biederman, author of The Incredible World of SPY-Fi