Do you like opening up a book and having a guy talk nonstop about conspiracy theories at you? No? I don't either, but that's exactly what I got when I opened up Deep Cover by Michael Levine.
I read the first page, right after acknowledgements, and all I could think as I read was, "GET ON WITH IT!"
I understand that Mr. Levine is a former DEA agent, and that he and other DEA agents have been dealt a lot of bullshit in their careers, and that they feel unsatisfied by their involvement with the 'War on Drugs', but you cannot make a book out of complaining.
There are no positives brought up in this book. Levine only continues to complain about how dissatisfied he is with the DEA and other agencies that tie into the drug market. I would think - and honestly it would be a comfort to me - that while billions of drugs are still smuggled, that while thousands of people get off on their charges, he was able to stop even one thousandth of it.
Neither you nor the system is perfect. You cannot expect it to be so.
Reading Levine's work feels like those moments when I lose my grip on sanity and my thoughts begin spiraling thanks to depression. It's a whirlwind of pessimism from a man who no longer knows how to hope and isn't interested in hearing suggestions for how he could have tried something different to be more satisfied with his work.
Aside from a few typos and that the man believes italicizing everything is a way to save this book, there is nothing else to talk about. This book makes Levine sound like a paranoid nut.
I cannot recommend this book to anyone. There's no story, there isn't a nod to those he believes are making a difference, there's not even a suggestion as to how the DEA and other government agencies can improve their anti-drug programs.
There is no happiness here, just sad.