How to Learn Spy Stuff

You don't need CIA training to learn the art of espionage.

The life of an international intelligence agent is one of the most romanticized and glamorized in fiction and film. With the travel, suspense, cool gadgets, slick cars and a sizzling love life, who wouldn't want to be a spy for a day? Whether your inspiration is James Bond or Maxwell Smart, there are plenty of resources that can teach you the history and basics of spying. Training camps can test your performance in spy scenarios and, oh yes, there are spy gadgets galore.

Instructions

Spy Education

1. Read up on the history of spies and their methods. There are numerous books on the subject ranging from tongue-in-cheek instructional guides to serious studies of martial arts, subterfuge and international relations. The following books are a few examples, and a visit to your local library or favorite bookstore will yield many more. There are also a number of websites on the subject as well as The International Spy Museum, based in Washington, D.C. Check Resources below for links.

   "International Spy Museum's Handbook of Practical Spying" by Jack Barth

   "The Spy's Handbook" by KMS Publishing

   "The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception" by H. Keith Melton and Robert Wallace

2. Practice your spy skills. Entertainment companies like the Spy Skills Training Academy and the Stiletto Spy School provide fun and informative spy simulations for groups and individuals. If you are actually serious about becoming a spy, Luigi Di Serio --- who runs a number of spy and intelligence-related websites --- has an informative website full of links to the information pages of both the CIA and FBI, as well as to defense and intelligence job databases. (See Resources.)

3. Get spy gear. Admit it, you really just want to play with the gadgets. An ever-increasing amount of spy stuff is available for purchase. Home surveillance equipment, night-vision goggles, GPS tracking devices, phone tappers and more can be yours from stores such as The Spy Store and Spy Gadgets. There is also a blog, Coolest Gadgets, which offers reviews of newly released spy gear.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that your right to spy ends where another person's right to privacy begins. When using any publicly available spy gadgets, be sure to familiarize yourself with local laws regarding surveillance and privacy, as you can easily break them if you are not careful.

References

• TopSpySecrets.com; How to Become a Spy
• International Spy Museum

Resources

• Spy Skills Training Academy
• Stiletto Spy School
• How to Be a Spy (Probably Not); Luigi Di Serio
• The Spy Store
• Spy Gadgets
• Coolest Gadgets Blog