Some people have 10 years of experience. Others have 1 year of experience 10 times.
Do not fall into the error of the artisan who boasts of twenty years experience in his craft while in fact he has had only one year of experience — twenty times.
Most probably Trevanian has drawn upon some other source, tough I've never been able to track that.
If you haven't read this fantastic book I strongly recommend it.
It's also impossibly incorrect politically -- so transparently so that I think it's essentially harmless. But if you don't understand why some people would feel that why you really should watch your step.