The Moscow Rules: The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War

Antonio J. Mendez · Jonna Mendez

May 2019 · Sold by PublicAffairs

About this ebook

A “devilishly fun” (New York Times Book Review) account of a deadly serious business: the undercover spies and the tactics they developed to survive the Cold War in Moscow, from legendary former-CIA operatives.
Antonio Mendez and his future wife Jonna were CIA operatives working to spy on Moscow in the late 1970s, at one of the most dangerous moments in the Cold War. Soviets kept files on all foreigners, studied their patterns, and tapped their phones. Intelligence work was effectively impossible. The Soviet threat loomed larger than ever.

The Moscow Rules tells the story of the intelligence breakthroughs that turned the odds in America's favor. As experts in disguise, Antonio and Jonna were instrumental in developing a series of tactics -- Hollywood-inspired identity swaps, ingenious evasion techniques, and an armory of James Bond-style gadgets -- that allowed CIA officers to outmaneuver the KGB.

As Russia again rises in opposition to America, this remarkable story is a tribute to those who risked everything for their country, and to the ingenuity that allowed them to succeed.

Ratings and reviews

Imperialist garbage.

The rules eas made but people don't respect. Jahovah

About the author

Antonio (Tony) Mendez served in the CIA for twenty-five years and is a highly decorated CIA officer, one of the top fifty officers in its first fifty years. He received the Intelligence Star for Valor for the ARGO operation, the story of which was told in the 2013 movie of the same name. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling Argo, The Master of Disguise, and Spy Dust.

Jonna Mendez is a former Chief of Disguise with over twenty-five years of experience as a CIA officer working in Moscow and other sensitive areas. She participated in a number of training exercises, along with Tony, which ultimately led to the codification of the rules. She is the bestselling coauthor of Spy Dust and Argo, and author of the new, highly praised In True Face. Often cited for their expertise in the field, Jonna and Tony are much sought-after speakers and consultants.

Matt Baglio is the bestselling author who previously worked with Tony on Argo, and is also the author of New York Times bestseller, The Rite. He recently created and hosted the award-nominated true-crime podcast, Over My Dead Body.