Communicating with Intelligence: Writing and Briefing in the Intelligence and National Security Communities(1 Security and Professional Intelligence Education)

Since September 11, 2001, colleges and universities nationwide have expanded their curricula to include intelligence and national security studies, many offering degrees in the subjects. Curiously, no book exists for classroom use in teaching the important skills needed by these professionals to ensure their products/papers/reports are properly written or briefed. Communicating with Intelligence fills that gap and is aimed primarily at faculty and students pursuing studies in intelligence, national security, homeland security, or homeland defense; but it also has considerable value for working intelligence professionals who simply wish to hone their "rusty" writing or briefing skills. Designed to provide essential information regarding the preparation of written products or intelligence briefings, the book is divided into two parts. Part One, "Writing with Intelligence," contains material on reading intelligence publications and on the basics of writing in the intelligence profession. Part Two, "Briefing with Intelligence," deals with the fundamental principles of an intelligence briefing and includes information on gaining--or regaining--self-confidence behind the podium. Every chapter ends with exercises, many of which can be completed in the classroom to facilitate group activity or by an individual pursuing the study independently. Five appendixes provide additional information for quick reference and an annotated bibliography points toward further sources that can be used.

About the Author :
James S. Major spent 40 years in intelligence, serving in both military and civilian capacity, in assignments at the tactical, operational, strategic, and national levels. He has previously written 15 books, all published by the U.S. Government, and in 1997 he was awarded the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement.

Review :
James Major has written an absolutely indispensable reference on intelligence writing and briefing, one that will become to the emerging Intelligence Studies discipline what Kate Turabian's work has become to the academic profession in general. Mr. Major's work should be made required reading for every graduate and undergraduate Intelligence Studies degree program in the nation. I intend to make it required reading for all of my Intelligence Studies students at American Military University.--Jonathan Lockwood "International Association for Intelligence Education" Major's glossary is particularly comprehensive, and he includes helpful exercises and checklists.-- "Book News, Inc. " Although the context is military and political, the advice and exercises will be useful for other disciplines.-- "Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie" If I could assign people in search of a national security writing guide one book to read, it would be this one. . .This book excels at its mission for three reasons. The first is that it is written in a Goldilocks-style fashion that is not too pedantic for students or other writers new to the field, while remaining not too patronizing for seasoned professionals. . .The second reason for this book's success is the way in which Major teaches the same information several times in myriad fashions, such as descriptions, charts, visual aids, and exercises. . .The third and final reason for this book's success is that nothing in it is really new; it is just packaged into a new pedagogical style. . .Major has found an effective way to teach a very boring topic in such a way that even people who think they already know everything about it will still continue reading. . .Communicating with Intelligence also includes an excellent discussion of one particular type of writing that is not mentioned in the others.-- "American Intelligence Journal" More than forty years in the intelligence field has provided Major with a deep understanding of the interconnections between communication and intelligence, resulting in a book useful to both practitioners and scholars. A valuable contribution.--Hamilton Bean, University of Colorado, Denver "International Journal Of Intelligence" A welcome addition to intelligence literature and will be valuable to students and the teachers. -- "Association Of Former Intelligence Officers" I highly recommend Communicating with Intelligence to anyone involved with competitive intelligence who has to convey the findings of that intelligence to clients or end users.--2008 "Competitive Intelligence Magazine"