The Company We Keep

Robert Baer and his wife Dayna tell their story of meeting and falling in love while working as CIA operatives. The memoir alternates between their perspectives as they recount their experiences in the agency during the 1990s. Both served in dangerous locations across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe while attempting to balance their personal relationship with the demands of espionage work. Their assignments involved intelligence gathering, cultivating assets, and navigating complex geopolitical situations during a pivotal period between the Cold War and 9/11. The narrative captures the realities of life as CIA officers - from mundane paperwork to high-stakes operations - while exploring the challenge of maintaining human connections in a profession built on secrets. Their story illuminates the personal cost of choosing duty to country over conventional relationships, and questions whether both can coexist.

Readers praise the unique dual-perspective format, with Robert and Dayna Baer alternating chapters to tell their CIA love story. Many note the book provides an authentic look at CIA operations and the personal toll of espionage work. What readers liked: - Raw, honest portrayal of CIA relationships and marriages - Insights into tradecraft and intelligence operations - The parallel narratives showing both sides of their relationship What readers disliked: - Uneven pacing, especially in later chapters - Less action than expected from ex-CIA officers - Some found the relationship details overshadowed spy elements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (180+ ratings) Reader quotes: "More of a love story than a spy memoir" - Goodreads reviewer "Fascinating look at how spies maintain relationships" - Amazon reviewer "Expected more espionage, got mostly romance" - Barnes & Noble review

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🔍 Author Robert Baer spent 21 years as a CIA case officer in the Middle East before becoming a bestselling writer and intelligence commentator. 💑 The book is a dual memoir, written by both Robert Baer and his wife Dayna, detailing how they met and fell in love while working as CIA operatives. 🌍 During their CIA careers, Robert and Dayna worked in some of the world's most dangerous locations, including Beirut, Sarajevo, and Tajikistan. 🎬 Robert Baer's earlier book, "See No Evil," was the inspiration for the 2005 film "Syriana," starring George Clooney, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of a character based on Baer. 📚 Unlike most CIA memoirs, this book had to pass through minimal CIA censorship because it focuses primarily on the personal relationship between the authors rather than classified operations.