cover image Real-World Intelligence: Organized Information for Executives

Real-World Intelligence: Organized Information for Executives

Herbert E. Meyer. George Weidenfeld & Nicholson, $0 (102pp) ISBN 978-1-55584-147-8

Meyer (The War Against Progress) was formerly vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council, which among other things advises White House security advisers. Now a Washington-based consultant, he here describes the uses and methods of intelligence-gathering for managers of ""a government or multimillion-dollar business.'' The process is highly selective: rioting in East Germany, for example, can affect the French government, an American exporter or a Wall Street brokerage house in entirely different ways. Meyer's analyses suggest that intelligence reports, by appraising the impact of events, come close to defining policy (``the intelligence outfit determines just what information the decision-maker will need'')a chilling notion. He warns that apart from the secret-spy aspect (which remains secret here), intelligence, though necessary and important, is not a particularly interesting subjectbut in this he is too modest. (January 22)