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U.S. Landmark Books #46
The F.B.I.
This book for young people has a forward by J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the F.B.I. It was published by Landmark Books, Random House, New York with a copyright date of 1954. The book outlines how the F.B.I. works and details some of its famous cases. There are 12 black and white photographs inserted in the book. It has 180 pages.
180 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
About the author
Quentin Reynolds
87 books16 followersBorn in the Bronx, New York, on April 11, 1902, to a school principal and his wife, Quentin James Reynolds grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Manual Training High School. He enrolled at Brown University and excelled in football, boxing, and swimming. In fact, after earning his Ph.D. he spent a year on a professional football team. Going from job to job, Reynolds couldn't find a career he enjoyed. His father suggested law school, and by the time he earned his degree, Reynolds had finally figured out what he wanted to do.
Journalism, not law, appealed to Reynolds, and he worked as a reporter and then a sports columnist. In 1933 he was sent as a feature writer to report on Germany and the rise of Hitler. At that time, Reynolds was writing for the International News Service. The Germans didn't approve of Reynolds's slant against the Third Reich and national socialism; however, from the article Reynolds gained employment at Collier's Weekly for whom he eventually penned 384 articles and short stories over a fifteen year span, eventually rising to the position of associate editor. A prolific writer, Reynolds's fame came during an assignment to cover the erupting World War II.
Reynolds spent time in France and then fled to England. While there he came to appreciate and respect the British. In account after account he portrayed the strong will and determination of a nation fighting for its very survival. He penned seven books about the war, broadcasted for the British Broadcasting Company, narrated two film documentaries, and lectured in the United States. Reynolds's popularity soared as people learned of his bravery and the risks he took to get the story.
Unfortunately for Reynolds, not everyone found him admirable. A Hearst columnist disputed his claims and suggested Reynolds was cowardly. After five years in the court system, Reynolds won over $175,000 in the libel judgement. This wasn't his only time he was brought to the public's attention for questionable acts. In 1952 Reynolds had penned a book about a Canadian spy, only to later find out that he had been duped and misled into believing a false tale. The publisher in turn changed the book from nonfiction to fiction.
When Reynolds traveled to Manila, Philippines, to research the president for a biography, he became ill with abdominal cancer. He passed away on March 17, 1965 at the age of sixty-two.
Journalism, not law, appealed to Reynolds, and he worked as a reporter and then a sports columnist. In 1933 he was sent as a feature writer to report on Germany and the rise of Hitler. At that time, Reynolds was writing for the International News Service. The Germans didn't approve of Reynolds's slant against the Third Reich and national socialism; however, from the article Reynolds gained employment at Collier's Weekly for whom he eventually penned 384 articles and short stories over a fifteen year span, eventually rising to the position of associate editor. A prolific writer, Reynolds's fame came during an assignment to cover the erupting World War II.
Reynolds spent time in France and then fled to England. While there he came to appreciate and respect the British. In account after account he portrayed the strong will and determination of a nation fighting for its very survival. He penned seven books about the war, broadcasted for the British Broadcasting Company, narrated two film documentaries, and lectured in the United States. Reynolds's popularity soared as people learned of his bravery and the risks he took to get the story.
Unfortunately for Reynolds, not everyone found him admirable. A Hearst columnist disputed his claims and suggested Reynolds was cowardly. After five years in the court system, Reynolds won over $175,000 in the libel judgement. This wasn't his only time he was brought to the public's attention for questionable acts. In 1952 Reynolds had penned a book about a Canadian spy, only to later find out that he had been duped and misled into believing a false tale. The publisher in turn changed the book from nonfiction to fiction.
When Reynolds traveled to Manila, Philippines, to research the president for a biography, he became ill with abdominal cancer. He passed away on March 17, 1965 at the age of sixty-two.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 13, 2018
Let’s get this out of the way up front: this book was propaganda. This is an uplifting, inspiring book for young boys who were meant to want to join the FBI and believe that nothing ever went wrong in our great nation of America.
It’s written in that 50’s style optimism and enthusiasm for the system that I never get tired of. I think that since our actual system sucks so much, with all the injustice and politics and whatever else, it’s refreshing to read this stuff and escape to this fantasy world where the G-men always catch the crooks and the cops always help little old ladies across the street.
The fact that there’s a foreword by J. Edgar Hoover is pretty damn awesome. He seems like a nice guy here, and not at all like a crazy paranoid nut.
In the beginning, the book goes into some detail about the creation and function of the FBI, although of course all the bad parts have been thoroughly removed. We follow a man only referred to as “J— S—” as he tries out for the FBI, gets accepted, and starts working cases. It’s a great little side story.
Then we move on to actual cases. We see how the feds dealt with various kidnappers, bank robbers, and other unsavory gangs, even including cop killers:
I’m sure they spoke just like that. No foul language at all.
There’s also this paragraph about Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One. When he was a child, according to this book, he and a bunch of other school children were invited to join the fun and healthy YMCA. But he chose not to, which of course directly led to his life of crime. This comes after he was caught:
It’s fascinating how this whole book reads.
After those cases, we move onto spy capers of international intrigue – German saboteurs during World War II and Communist spies. There are definitely seeds of the Red Scare planted here.
The book ends with a sentence I would like to be true. “Every American, young or old, can be proud of his F.B.I.”
It’s written in that 50’s style optimism and enthusiasm for the system that I never get tired of. I think that since our actual system sucks so much, with all the injustice and politics and whatever else, it’s refreshing to read this stuff and escape to this fantasy world where the G-men always catch the crooks and the cops always help little old ladies across the street.
The fact that there’s a foreword by J. Edgar Hoover is pretty damn awesome. He seems like a nice guy here, and not at all like a crazy paranoid nut.
In the beginning, the book goes into some detail about the creation and function of the FBI, although of course all the bad parts have been thoroughly removed. We follow a man only referred to as “J— S—” as he tries out for the FBI, gets accepted, and starts working cases. It’s a great little side story.
Then we move on to actual cases. We see how the feds dealt with various kidnappers, bank robbers, and other unsavory gangs, even including cop killers:
[Machine Gun Kelly] stood trembling in a corner of the room. He was brave only when he could point his machine gun at unarmed people. It was different now. He raised his hands above his head and whimpered, “Don’t shoot, G-men! Don’t shoot!”
[The FBI agents] didn’t shoot, for they hate to waste bullets on cowardly rats like Kelly. As they put handcuffs on him and took him away, one of the agents asked, “What’s that you called us, Kelly?”
“G-men,” Kelly replied. “You fellows are government men, aren’t you? So I call you G-men for short.”
I’m sure they spoke just like that. No foul language at all.
There’s also this paragraph about Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One. When he was a child, according to this book, he and a bunch of other school children were invited to join the fun and healthy YMCA. But he chose not to, which of course directly led to his life of crime. This comes after he was caught:
Alvin Karpis, spending the rest of his life in prison, must wonder now and then how different his life would have been if he had accepted the invitation of the Y.M.C.A. secretary. Mr. Hoover was curious about how the other members of the original teen-age gang had turned out. He investigated and discovered that all of the boys who had joined the Y.M.C.A. are respected citizens of Topeka. They are lawyers, doctors, businessmen – not one has ever been accused of any crime. The Y.M.C.A. had benefited them. Mr. Hoover later told Karpis how well his teen-age pals had done.
“I guess,” Karpis said bitterly, “they were the smart ones. I was the dope.”
It’s fascinating how this whole book reads.
After those cases, we move onto spy capers of international intrigue – German saboteurs during World War II and Communist spies. There are definitely seeds of the Red Scare planted here.
The book ends with a sentence I would like to be true. “Every American, young or old, can be proud of his F.B.I.”
July 13, 2017
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a G-man, or maybe if you have the right stuff to join the FBI Quentin Reynolds will set you straight. J Edgar Hoover's inspiring forward kicks the Landmark Classic off with this message: "When a young man files an application with the FBI, we do not ask if he is the smartest boy in the class. We want to know if he is truthful, dependable, and if he played the game fair. We want to know if he respects his parents, reveres God, honors his flag and loves his country. We can teach the recruit many things, but we must have a substantial individual to begin with in order to make a G-man."
So true! I got like most of that in the "yes" column so I was wondering do I have the stuff to be a G-man?
Even with cool intros from Jedgar, Quentin Reynolds really takes the ball deep into the end zone with some inspirational writing. Here's an example: "This was perhaps the most important meeting the top G-men had ever attended. Who had given these secrets to the Russians? Every man there expressed his views. All were convinced that this had been an inside job. Every man agreed sadly that the spy must have been one of the scientists in the inner circle of atomic research. Only really great physicists and mathematicians would be able to understand the various formulas. The top G-men came to the conclusion that some scientist had turned traitor. Some scientist had made copies of the secret informations and had passed it on to someone else who in turn had sent it to Russia..."
Atomic secrets? Check. Top G-men? Check. Traitors? Check. Russians? Check. Inside job? Check. Respectful turn taking and sharing of opinions? Check I mean it has everything you could want.
He goes on to illustrate the savvy the G-men had in taking down commie sympathizer Klaus Fuchs, weirdo loner and betrayer of atomic secrets.
Well there are other cool examples of how you can learn to do fingerprint analysis, ways to use a magnetic billboard, how to shoot from the hip, or take down some half-beat kidnappers or dirty Nazis hellbent on sabotaging the USA...
So true! I got like most of that in the "yes" column so I was wondering do I have the stuff to be a G-man?
Even with cool intros from Jedgar, Quentin Reynolds really takes the ball deep into the end zone with some inspirational writing. Here's an example: "This was perhaps the most important meeting the top G-men had ever attended. Who had given these secrets to the Russians? Every man there expressed his views. All were convinced that this had been an inside job. Every man agreed sadly that the spy must have been one of the scientists in the inner circle of atomic research. Only really great physicists and mathematicians would be able to understand the various formulas. The top G-men came to the conclusion that some scientist had turned traitor. Some scientist had made copies of the secret informations and had passed it on to someone else who in turn had sent it to Russia..."
Atomic secrets? Check. Top G-men? Check. Traitors? Check. Russians? Check. Inside job? Check. Respectful turn taking and sharing of opinions? Check I mean it has everything you could want.
He goes on to illustrate the savvy the G-men had in taking down commie sympathizer Klaus Fuchs, weirdo loner and betrayer of atomic secrets.
Well there are other cool examples of how you can learn to do fingerprint analysis, ways to use a magnetic billboard, how to shoot from the hip, or take down some half-beat kidnappers or dirty Nazis hellbent on sabotaging the USA...
February 19, 2019
In an attempt to relive my childhood, I'm rereading Landmark history books. I recall that this one was one of my favorites first read nearly 60 years ago. Sadly, this is one Landmark history book that does not hold up to the test of time. This book was written during the Commie-scare period of the '50's. It is a book for boys about J. Edgar Hoover and his "G-men". There's not a "G-woman" to be found. Some 6,000 men, but not a single female FBI agent at the time of this book's publication in 1954.
Quentin Reynolds touts that during WWII a total of 16,062 "enemy aliens" were apprehended in America by the FBI. He then further touts that the cases of these "enemy aliens" were heard on an individual basis by Enemy Alien Hearing Boards which resulted in more than 3,200 of these "enemy aliens" being interned. Only 3,200 internees? That means the other 12,862 "enemy aliens" were found innocent of any criminal activities. In other words, 80% of those individuals charged by the FBI as "enemy aliens" were found innocent. That is no record to be proud of, let alone to be touted in a book about FBI accomplishments.
Overall, this book is nothing short of a propaganda piece on the FBI. It is very much outdated. It's a disappointing read equal to the lamentable fact that a public tour of FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. no longer ends with an FBI agent demonstrating firearms usage by firing of pistols and a Tommy gun.
Quentin Reynolds touts that during WWII a total of 16,062 "enemy aliens" were apprehended in America by the FBI. He then further touts that the cases of these "enemy aliens" were heard on an individual basis by Enemy Alien Hearing Boards which resulted in more than 3,200 of these "enemy aliens" being interned. Only 3,200 internees? That means the other 12,862 "enemy aliens" were found innocent of any criminal activities. In other words, 80% of those individuals charged by the FBI as "enemy aliens" were found innocent. That is no record to be proud of, let alone to be touted in a book about FBI accomplishments.
Overall, this book is nothing short of a propaganda piece on the FBI. It is very much outdated. It's a disappointing read equal to the lamentable fact that a public tour of FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. no longer ends with an FBI agent demonstrating firearms usage by firing of pistols and a Tommy gun.
May 14, 2010
I really liked this book becouse it told me a lot about the F.B.I that I did not know. I like reading about J__ S__ and how he be came port of the F.B.I. and about his first case. I also injoyed reading about how the F. B. I. touk douwn the Mo Baker gane. But what I think is the most exsiting part in the book is wen the fromla for the Atomec boum was stolen and how the F.B.I. cot the people who did it.
September 15, 2014
Devoured this one when I was twelve-ish. Have been semi-obsessed with the FBI ever since.
November 20, 2012
I think this is the right book. I just deleted a different one I added after remembering I received an FBI book for Xmas long ago. Lots of cool stuff and great pictures too. Date read is approximate.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews