I finished reading The Art of Intelligence today. Henry Crumpton, the author, built his career in the CIA as an intelligence and counter-terrorism officer.
If you like spy novels and Jason Bourne style stories, you won’t find too much value in the book. Perhaps the real-world spy industry is not as exciting as Hollywood portrays.
If you want insights into how to think more clearly, you will find value in the book.
Intelligence is for helping people make better decisions. Intelligence documents are products created by observers for the benefit of a customer — a policymaker, politician, customer, CEO, friend, etc.
Good intelligence considers the objective of the customer, states what is observed, and offers an analysis (ramifications and implications) based on the customer’s objective.
I think about my work. How do I make great intelligence products for my leaders and my customers?
I think about you. How might I find better insights to share with you via this blog?
I think about music. How might our art be a form of intelligence? What are our audience’s objectives when they come to listen to us? How do we serve up an insight to them that helps them get more of what they want from us?
I wonder if good intelligence is nothing more than serving the needs of others.