From the outside, the CIA seems pretty exotic, but from the inside, it's a big, bureaucratic place. Think 'post office with spies.' Barry Eisler bigbureaucraticcia Change image and share on social
When I wrote my eighth thriller, 'Inside Out,' in 2009, the villains were a group of CIA and other government officials who colluded to destroy a series of tapes depicting Americans torturing war-on-terror prisoners. Barry Eisler americanciacollude share on social
Stephen King has inspired me with his humor and honesty, and his admonition that the author's job is to tell the truth. Barry Eisler admonitionauthorhonesty Change image and share on social
I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to heroes who do bad things and to villains who think they're the good guys, but I do find that moral ambiguity and conflict makes for great characters. Barry Eisler ambiguitybadcharacter Change image and share on social
The difference between being a victim and a survivor is often a low level of situational awareness. You can't be a super-spy, watchful and paranoid every day. But I am more watchful than the average American. Barry Eisler americanaverageawareness share on social
When I think of a story, somehow it just always seems to come out involving spooks and spies and government skullduggery. Barry Eisler governmentinvolveskullduggery Change image and share on social
I have a long-standing interest in what I like to think of as 'forbidden knowledge:' methods of unarmed killing, lock picking, breaking and entry, spy stuff, and other things that the government wants only a few select individuals to know. Barry Eisler breakentryforbid share on social
Publishing for me is a business, not an ideology. Barry Eisler businessideologypublish Change image and share on social
The strangest thing about the low quality of Internet argument is that effective argument isn't really so difficult. Sure, not everyone can be Clarence Darrow, but anyone who wants to be at least competent at argument can do it. Barry Eisler argumentclarencecompetent share on social
I read pretty eclectically - fiction, non-fiction, and poetry - and I've been inspired and influenced by a number of writers. Barry Eisler eclecticallyfictionhave Change image and share on social