Book Information

Book ID Asin: 0099436728
Book Title: Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5
Book Author: Stella Rimington
Book Format and Price:
Book Format Name: Kindle
Book Format Price: $8.71
Book Format Name: Hardcover
Book Format Price: $8.96
Book Format Name: Paperback
Book Format Price: $17.30
Book Price: $17.30
Book Category: Books, History, Europe and unknown
Book Rating: 527 ratings

Book Product Detail

• Best Sellers Rank: #719,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #542 in Espionage True Accounts
  • #1,337 in England History
  • #3,683 in Political Leader Biographies

• Customer Reviews:
  4.1 out of 5 stars 527 ratings

Book Review

Name: prisrob
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The First Woman
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 7, 2017
Review: An extraordinary woman who considers herself an ordinary woman. Stella Rimington became the first woman Director General Of MI-5. This was a very big deal, and Stella worked hard for this role. From a lowly secretary in MI-5 she became a perfect spy.

Stella had an ordinary childhood, went to college when many women were being prepared for marriage. She and her par3nts though5 she would get married and have children. That she did, but she also got a taste of a professional life and loved it. The marriage floundered, and they went there separate ways. Stella continued her work for MI-5, all the while caring for and bringing up her two girls. She had many child helpers, but she worked long hours and felt the mother guilt. She worked her way up to the top role.

Once Stella became the Top Woman, her professional life became public. Not Much thought had gone into making this role public for the first time. The question of safety from enemies, and the press came to light. The children were placed in a very difficult situation that made their lives difficult. Stella persisted, she changed the manner in which MI-5 was run, she liked the colleague approach, work8ng as a team. She streamlined the process of spying, and they moved into a new building. She was well liked.

One of her most roles was meeting with the KGB group once the Cold War was over. Not much changed, it she met her contemporaries on the other side. This is one of the best parts of the book. Her meetings and her philosophies of change. She made it possible for more women to enter into the world of spies.
A remarkable woman who has gone on to write superb spy novels.

Recommended. prisrob 12-06-17

Name: Ulmus
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Who is the real Stella?
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 24, 2013
Review: When I first read one of Rimington’s novels, I was unsure whether she was a novelist employed by MI5 or a former Director General living out her fantasies as a spy-catcher. I am still not sure. If this autobiography was the work of a former business chief it would be somewhat routine. But it is not. Rimington rose through the ranks of MI5 to become DG. At the same time, she raised two teenage daughters, after she separated from her husband, John
.
Reading about the challenges of everyday life in England allows the reader to empathize with Rimmington. As an ex-pat living in the US, I was quite fascinated to find out how the Brits lived over the last 40 years, while I have been away.
At work, Rimington aptly points out that she was involved in a business. That business happened to be domestic intelligence. You also get to understand the way that MI5 grew from a derelict organization into a modern sophisticated intel operation (at least I hope it is). She was a key part of that evolution from scattered buildings with hand written index cards and typed documents in files. Today they located in modern facilities at Thames House, along with sophisticated databases. (She does not tell you that. But think Google and Facebook).

How is MI5 organized? You get a glimpse of key functions, like counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, surveillance and agent-running. You can assume there is a huge amount of security surrounding a database of individuals and organizations. If you want to know more, read her novels. Rimington also points out that as a business, MI5 is now much more open and accountable to the government and public. There is for example, an importance distinction be between subversion (to be monitored) and opposition to the government (be careful not to invade privacy).

I am pretty sure that she has not told the whole story. Doubtless there are rooms within rooms and misinformation. And, like any other organization, there are trade secrets.

Name: Eliza N.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Even better the second time around.
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 27, 2017
Review: I bought this book several years ago and read it before reading her Liz Carlyle novels. Then I took a mini-course on Brexit, and learned a great deal about the EU, which, as an American, I was deficient on. Now I have started over (while waiting for the next novel...), and enjoyed it even more than before.
Within the parameters of what could be included, she includes a good feel for what MI5 is about, but for those who expected it to be a "tell all," your expectations are your disappointment. I expected it to be a professionally written recounting of her journey, and she delivered completely. Perhaps some of those readers don't remember a time when we were expected to be wives and mothers: Dame Stella made that transition without protesting or demonstrating, but by being a competent and effective professional. Meanwhile, she also gives insight into the changing world situation - from the Cold War to the end of the Soviet Union - and some of the impact on their work in the Security Services.
Well worth reading, at least once. For myself, I suspect that I'll read it yet again.

Name: Jane Arrol
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Stella Rimington--Star Player of "The Game."
Date: Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 31, 2016
Review: An amazing woman, Ms. Rimington started as an MI5 clerk and rose over the years to Director General of that agency. Her memoir mentions incidents and situations and persons in passing, but focusses on the agency's progress in accepting change and oversight, becoming more transparent to both lawmakers and the public, and accepting the viewpoint and contribution of women in its ranks. She does this with humor, warmth, and grace, and not a trace of bitterness through many ups and downs. Gives readers the flavor of the years 1970 to mid-1990s in international events and incidents. She is a very smart woman's woman--as much as she is a star player in what has been traditionally a man's "Game."

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