Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends
by Peter Schweizer
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends by Peter Schweizer holds a exceptional rating of 4.60 out of 5, based on 4.2K reader ratings. First published in 2000. The book spans 445 pages.
About Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends
"In a brief period of explosive, top-secret innovation during the 1950s, a small group of scientists, engineers, businessmen, and government officials rewrote the book on airplane design and led the nation into outer space.
In an effort no less audacious than the creation of the atomic bomb, they designed, built, and operated the U-2 and supersonic SR-71 spy planes and Corona, the first reconnaissance satellites - machines that could collect more information about the Soviet Union's weapons in a day than an army of spies could assemble in a decade.".
"Their remarkable inventions and daring missions made possible arms control agreements with Moscow that helped keep the peace during the cold war, as well as the space-based reconnaissance, mapping, communications, and targeting systems used by America's armed forces in the Gulf War and most recently in Afghanistan. These hugely expensive machines also led to the neglect of more traditional means of intelligence gathering through human spies.".
"Philip Taubman follows this dramatic story from the White House to the CIA, from the Pentagon to Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, from the secret U-2 test base in Nevada to the secret satellite assembly center in Palo Alto and other locations here and abroad. He reveals new information about the origins and evolution of the projects and how close they came to failing technically or falling victim to bureaucratic inertia and Washington's turf wars.".
"The incredibly sophisticated spies in the skies were remarkably successful in proving that the missile gap was a myth in protecting us from surprise Soviet attack. But in some ways, the failure to detect the planning for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, can also be attributed to these powerful machines as the government became increasingly dependent on spy satellites to the neglect of human agents and informants.
Now, as we wage a new and more vicious war against terrorism, we will need both machines in space and
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Peter Schweizer |
| Published | 2000 |
| Pages | 445 |
| Kindle Price | $11.99 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction |
| Average Rating | 4.60 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 4,185 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends?
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends is categorized as Non-Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Non-Fiction.
Is Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends worth reading?
Based on 4.2K reader ratings, Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends has an average score of 4.60 out of 5.00, which is considered "Exceptional."
How many pages is Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends?
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends has 445 pages.
Who wrote Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends?
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends was written by Peter Schweizer. It was first published in 2000.
What is the ISBN for Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends?
The ISBN-13 for Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends is 9781400130894.
How much does Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends cost on Kindle?
Secret Empires: How the American Political Class Hides Corruption and Enriches Family and Friends is available on Kindle for $11.99. Pricing may vary by region and promotional offers.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
