The Perfect Kill
21 Laws for Assassins
Published on 30. October 2014
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-297-86815-6 (ISBN)
Description
An odyssey through the art, theory and brutality of modern political murder by Robert Baer: bestselling author, former CIA operative, and, yes, assassin.
What is the definition of assassination? Robert Baer's boss at the CIA once told him, 'It's a bullet with a man's name on it.'
Sometimes assassination is the senseless act of a psychotic, a bloodletting without social value. Other times, it can be the sanest and most humane way to change the course of conflict: one bullet, one death, case closed.
Assassination has been dramatised by literature and politicised by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents ever to work for the CIA, it's a source of endless fascination. Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to India and beyond. In THE PERFECT KILL, he takes us on a wildly entertaining narrative adventure through a history of political murder, interweaving his first-hand experience and his decades-long hunt for the greatest assassin of the modern age.
A true maverick with a captivating personal story, Baer pulls back the curtain to give a glimpse of the underbelly of world politics, and the quiet murderers who operate on the fringe of our society.
What is the definition of assassination? Robert Baer's boss at the CIA once told him, 'It's a bullet with a man's name on it.'
Sometimes assassination is the senseless act of a psychotic, a bloodletting without social value. Other times, it can be the sanest and most humane way to change the course of conflict: one bullet, one death, case closed.
Assassination has been dramatised by literature and politicised by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents ever to work for the CIA, it's a source of endless fascination. Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to India and beyond. In THE PERFECT KILL, he takes us on a wildly entertaining narrative adventure through a history of political murder, interweaving his first-hand experience and his decades-long hunt for the greatest assassin of the modern age.
A true maverick with a captivating personal story, Baer pulls back the curtain to give a glimpse of the underbelly of world politics, and the quiet murderers who operate on the fringe of our society.
Reviews / Votes
The Perfect Kill is a meditation on the art of political murder. Baer knows his subject. -- ED CAESAR * THE SUNDAY TIMES * This potted history of assassination, with its carefully worded anecdotes and sense of absolute autheniticity is intriguing, terrifying and occasionally lightened by the author's drily black sense of humour. -- Russel D McLean * GLASGOW HERALD *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
580 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-297-86815-6 (9780297868156)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2014
1st Edition
Weidenfeld and Nicholson
€3.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Person
Robert Baer is one of the most accomplished agents in CIA history, and a winner of the CAREER INTELLIGENCE MEDAL. He is the author of four bestselling books, including SEE NO EVIL - the basis for the acclaimed film SYRIANA, which earned George Clooney an OSCAR for his portrayal of Baer. He is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the Middle East and frequently appears on the BBC and all major news outlets. Baer writes regularly for Time.com and has contributed to VANITY FAIR, the WALL STREET JOURNAL and the WASHINGTON POST. He is the current national security affairs analyst for CNN.