Where was this book fifteen years ago This is a must read for our new analysts before they get corrupted by the "system." That includes law enforcement and the intelligence community. In your examples you are giving the reader how to ask the right questions. Without those questions you're not collecting the data required to come up with a more in-depth analysis. Each chapter gives the reader at least one takeaway. Even someone with my 40 years in the intelligence and analysis profession (LE and IC) either validates my own convictions or makes me rethink possibilities. Thanks for the...

During my nearly 50 years of working in intelligence and crime analysis, I have compiled a list of words, acronyms, and abbreviations associated with the profession. About a year ago, it dawned on me that pulling together the most frequent terms, with their definitions, might make a useful resource for all analysts. These definitions come from a large number of United States Intelligence Community members. I do, in some instances, give alternative definitions and indicate from what area or field they come from, such as crime analysis or the military. When I found close definitions of the same...

"Why do elected officials and private citizens continue to be so blind, callous, and unwilling to analyze and gain knowledge from tragedies in order to prevent their repetition?" This is the question David Cariens addresses in this book about the murder of Angela Dales at the Appalachian School of Law on January 16, 2002. Cariens lays out the case that law enforcement and school officials failed in their responsibilities to protect students and faculty. His book details the warning signs indicating the shooter was known to be disturbed and potentially violent. He chronicles the instances...

"Critical Thinking through Writing" is an essential book for all intelligence officers, analysts, and managers who want their intelligence to be read and understood. Drawing on his extensive CIA and teaching experience, David Cariens offers salient lessons in writing, critical thinking, and ethics. The English language is complex and this book offers practical instruction designed specifically for intelligence personnel. The writing and analysis exercises are invaluable and will improve the skills of any analyst, regardless of their prior experience. With the knowledge from this book,...