Wife, Mother, Spy - An Extraordinary Life Filled with Ordinary Days
by Ann E Butler
Many mothers shuttle their kids to dance lessons and sports practice, coordinate playdates, read bedtime stories, and struggle to get dinner on the table after a long day at the office. Very few do all this while secretly meeting with spies, carrying a purse retrofitted to conceal a Glock, and tasked with protecting the security of the United States. For several decades, this was the life of Ann Butler - wife, mother of five, and operations operative for the CIA.
From New York to Paris to Sarajevo, from Northern Africa to Central Europe, Wife, Mother, Spy provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the rewarding, chaotic, exhausting, often challenging, but always exciting life of a CIA spy who also happens to be a wife and mother.
Juggling parenthood, aliases, transatlantic moves every few years with five children and a dog, and going into labor during a clandestine meeting isn't for the faint of heart. But with determination, a sense of humor, and unflappable optimism, Butler takes readers along on an inspiring journey that knits together a life full of the dailiness, hopes, and fears all parents share with an exhilarating career few can imagine.
Discussion Questions for Wife, Mother, Spy
- In what ways did being a woman shape Ann’s career in the CIA? Did she subvert expectations, or try to play them to her advantage?
- What does this memoir reveal about the sacrifices and compromises working mothers make, especially in high-pressure careers? How does Ann’s story compare with your own experiences or expectations of parenthood?
- How do you think keeping such a significant part of her life secret from her children affected Ann's relationships with them, both during their childhood and later in life?
Food Pairing for Wife, Mother, Spy
One-Pot Pasta with Ricotta and Lemon
This quick and easy pasta dish is perfect for busy moms juggling deadlines, dinners, and double lives. Creamy ricotta and bright lemon add a touch of sophistication to a comforting classic that’s sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients:
- Salt and black pepper
- 1pound short, ribbed pasta, like gemelli or penne
- 1cup whole-milk ricotta (8 ounces)
- 1cup freshly grated Parmesan (2 ounces), plus more for serving
- 1tbsp freshly grated lemon zest plus ¼ cup lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)
- Red-pepper flakes, for serving
- ¼ cup thinly sliced or torn basil leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Return the empty pot to the stove and add the ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper; stir until well combined.
- Add about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and stir until the sauce is smooth. Add the drained pasta and stir vigorously until the noodles are evenly coated; add more pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
- Divide among bowls and garnish with extra Parmesan, freshly ground black pepper, red-pepper flakes, and basil, if using. Serve immediately.
Easy Weeknight Dinners: 100 Fast, Flavor-Packed Meals for Busy People Who Still Want Something Good to Eat
by Emily Weinstein - New York Times Cooking New York Times Cooking
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - IACP AWARD WINNER - Take the stress out of weeknights with 100 easy, quick, and flavorful recipes from NYT Cooking.
It's Tuesday, 4 p.m. What's for dinner? For busy people who want something good to eat, culinary powerhouse New York Times Cooking makes meal planning easy, with thousands of recipes to explore in the app. In Easy Weeknight Dinners, editor in chief Emily Weinstein has curated some of the greatest hits--100 favorite dishes that you can make in as little as 10 minutes, from trusted writers Melissa Clark, Eric Kim, Yewande Komolafe, Ali Slagle, and more, served with mouth-watering photos and notes from the NYT Cooking community.
Beverage Pairings for Wife, Mother, Spy
Vesper Martini
Made famous by 007, the Vesper Martini has become synonymous with espionage and elegance. One sip of this crisp, classic drink will have you channeling your inner secret agent.
Ingredients:
- 3oz gin
- 1oz vodka
- ½ oz Lillet Blanc or dry vermouth
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc in a cocktail shaker with ice
- Shake well until drink is ice cold (about 15 seconds)
- Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with lemon peel
Earl Grey Tea
A staple of European cafés and afternoon teas, Earl Grey is the perfect drink for quiet meetings and coded conversations.
Ingredients:
- 1 Early Grey tea bag or 2 tsp loose-leaf tea
- 1 cup water
- Sugar (optional)
- Lemon or milk (optional)
Instructions:
- Pour near-boiling water over tea and steep for 3-5 minutes
- Remove bag or tea leaves and add sugar to taste
- Serve with lemon or milk
What to read next
If you’re craving more real-world espionage, this historical deep dive explores the vital role women have played at the CIA from the agency’s founding through modern times.
The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA
by Liza Mundy
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE - A FOREIGN POLICY AND SMITHSONIAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Created in the aftermath of World War II, the Central Intelligence Agency relied on women even as it attempted to channel their talents and keep them down. Women sent cables, made dead drops, and maintained the agency's secrets. Despite discrimination--even because of it--women who started as clerks, secretaries, or unpaid spouses rose to become some of the CIA's shrewdest operatives.
The Unexpected Spy: From the CIA to the Fbi, My Secret Life Taking Down Some of the World's Most Notorious Terrorists
by Tracy Walder - Jessica Anya Blau
A highly entertaining account of a young woman who went straight from her college sorority to the CIA, where she hunted terrorists and WMDs
When Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or that she'd fly to the Middle East under an alias identity.