
Basing all your spying know-how in James Bond lore won’t get you very far in the real world. Read nonfiction spy and espionage books.

The more you know, the more you can follow potential sources of information. That way, when your target says something like, "I just love everything from Picasso's blue period," you can chime in with something pertinent, sustaining the conversation and getting you further with your lead. It isn't called "gathering intelligence" for nothing! Expand your skill set and become a master of all trades. This is more than just a thinly-veiled reference to the 60s spy TV show - you need to be of superior intellect to actually get any good spying done and done well.
