“I have compiled the following reading list to facilitate and promote the understanding of the Defence Intelligence profession. DIO’s recent history shows the organisation has changed dramatically in the way it processes and disseminates its intelligence product to customers. As a result, DIO’s analysts have adapted to become proficient across a range of skills which includes expertise in management and business processes and not just in their core role as intelligence analysts. The reading list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide a foundation for improving our knowledge and forcefully test our way of thinking.”
Major General Maurie McNarn, AO
Director
Defence Intelligence Organisation
Unless noted, all titles are available from most good on-line book stores.
The Art of War – Sun Tzu
Written around 400 B.C. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is a military classic and is considered the principle publication on warfare theory that today’s students of military strategy continue to read and study. Most of the concepts that Sun Tzu discusses have a variety of applications and not just in a military context. This is because The Art of War primarily examines the nature of competition. It is therefore as applicable to aspects of business or sport as it is to war. In the intelligence profession, it is highly regarded because it is continually referred to as a tool when assessing the military power of a nation, its leadership and future intent.
On War – Carl Von Clausewitz (Edited by Michael Howard and Peter Paret)
Clausewitz’s interpretation of war has become a fundamental means for understanding the complex and disorded nature of conventional conflict. Although his complete works were never finished, Clausewitz managed to dissect each aspect of war to help improve a leaders situational awareness on the battlefield. More broadly, Clausewitz also discusses how war is an instrument of politics and describes how, under certain conditions, nations will engage in war by being forced to do so under economic or social changes. Even for an expert in military strategy, On War is a challenging read. However, intelligence analysis becomes an easier task when the analyst can understand the actions that are made by nation states and their military forces.
The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis – Richards J. Heuer
Those wishing to pursue a career as an Intelligence Analyst, should, in the first instance, read Heuer’s book to familiarise themselves with the analysis process. Intelligence Analysts have access to a wealth of intelligence but they are ineffective if they don’t know how to interpret and use the intelligence to form assessments. Heuer explores many analytical concepts that are used in DIO as well as discussing methodologies for improving analytical techniques for more experienced analysts.
This book can be read on-line at: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/psychology-of-intelligence-analysis/index.html
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy - Mark M. Lowenthal
Although slightly critical in its approach, this title provides an excellent overview of the intelligence profession as well as the challenges it can face as a function of government. Written for a US audience, Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy will provide readers with a base-line understanding of how intelligence is used by Government to form and shape policy. It is also useful for understanding what ‘intelligence’ actually is and how it is turned into assessment by intelligence organisations.
Military Intelligence Blunders – COL. John Hughes-Wilson
DIO constantly challenges its analysts to come up with justifications for their assessments. My senior analysts play ‘Red Team’ by exploring alternate conclusions on a particular topic. DIO does this to minimise the chances of incorrect judgments in its assessments as well as to mitigate the risks of complacent thinking. Military Intelligence Blunders describes what happens when intelligence agencies overestimate the confidence in their assessments. Intelligence failures can have disastrous consequences on the battlefield and this book explains why some victories of war resulted from poor interpretations of critical information.
Knowledge Management in the Intelligence Enterprise - Edward Waltz
Retaining corporate knowledge in an organisation is an enduring problem that changes with technology and new business practices. Data mining and extraction, information systems integration and compatibility issues are all key to the function of an intelligence organisation. This book is unique in that it discusses these issues from an intelligence perspective. DIO is run similar to a business in that it must account for all its information as well as be able to archive it and retrieve it when needed. I consider DIO at the forefront of this field in terms of being able to use data effectively, and this book reflects on the processes that we have adopted to improve our systems for both our analysts and our customers.
The Fog of War – Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara (DVD version)
McNamara was a brilliant global security architect despite the controversy surrounding his decisions. I have listed this title because of his ‘11 Lessons’ which reflect on the challenges he faced as a military leader throughout the Cold War. McNamara did an excellent job of condensing his life experiences into a few short hours for this DVD documentary. His insight into some of his failures and successes, which are accompanied with archival footage, should be remembered when considering the events that may shape our global future.
Winning - Jack Welch
I was initially tempted to place this book under ‘Essential Reading’. Often being in charge of large intelligence teams, senior Analysts also have to serve a dual role as managers and leaders. Welch provides excellent advice on leadership, organisational re-engineering, recruiting, organisational best practice and business strategy. Welch is undoubtedly the greatest business genius of the modern era and most of his advice applies to the function of an intelligence organisation. His first book Jack is also recommended.
A Dictionary of Diplomacy: Second Edition - G. R. Berridge and A. James
The underlying aim of this book is to explain the profession of Diplomacy in a clear and logical format. In DIO, many of our analysts are required to travel overseas, which sees them engaging in defence diplomacy with representatives from other governments. A Dictionary of Diplomacy defines much of the terminology associated with diplomacy and lists the many protocols and treaties that bind nation states internationally.
The Oxford Companion to Military History – Richard Holmes (ed.)
This book should be on the desk of every professional defence analyst. Comprehensive and well researched, The Oxford Companion to Military History catalogues a variety of military subjects including wars, weapons and great military leaders. This book provides excellent summaries on each topic and it contains a detailed bibliography should the reader want to undertake research in more detail.