Phenomena

The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis

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Phenomena

By: Annie Jacobsen

Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen

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About this listen

The definitive history of the military's decades-long investigation into mental powers and phenomena, from the author of Pulitzer Prize finalist The Pentagon's Brain and international bestseller Area 51.

This is a book about a team of scientists and psychics with top secret clearances.

For more than forty years, the U.S. government has researched extrasensory perception, using it in attempts to locate hostages, fugitives, secret bases, and downed fighter jets, to divine other nations' secrets, and even to predict future threats to national security. The intelligence agencies and military services involved include CIA, DIA, NSA, DEA, the Navy, Air Force, and Army-and even the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Now, for the first time, New York Times bestselling author Annie Jacobsen tells the story of these radical, controversial programs, using never before seen declassified documents as well as exclusive interviews with, and unprecedented access to, more than fifty of the individuals involved. Speaking on the record, many for the first time, are former CIA and Defense Department scientists, analysts, and program managers, as well as the government psychics themselves.

Who did the U.S. government hire for these top secret programs, and how do they explain their military and intelligence work? How do scientists approach such enigmatic subject matter? What interested the government in these supposed powers and does the research continue? Phenomena is a riveting investigation into how far governments will go in the name of national security.

Annie JacobsenAnnie JacobsenLittle, Brown & Company

Military

Critic reviews

Praise for Phenomena

One of The Washington Post's most anticipated books of 2017

One of USA Today's New and Noteworthy Picks!

"With Phenomena, Annie Jacobsen has once again produced an utterly absorbing and brilliantly reported chronicle that truly breaks new ground. This is a boundary-breaking story of mental phenomena-extra sensory perception techniques-that is truly a pleasure to read. A mind-bending triumph!"—Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The Liberator and Avenue of Spies

"In her latest eye-opening work of investigative journalism, Jacobsen digs deeply into the rich vein of information gleaned from declassified U.S. government documents that catapulted her previous books, Area 51 (2011) and The Pentagon's Brain (2015), to best-seller status.... Jacobsen offers a smorgasbord of captivating and often-surprising facts unearthed from more than four decades of secret investigations... A fascinating peek at a little-seen side of national security."—Carl Hays, Booklist

"Compelling....This is an excellent read that gives evidence on both sides of the argument that extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis exist, complementing suchworks as W. Adam Mandelbaum's The Psychic Battlefield and Ann Finkbeiner's The Jasons. Highly recommended for those interested in the military and the paranormal."

—Library Journal (starred review)

"Jacobsen journeys into the realm where the paranormal and the bureaucratic meet.... she looks into the men-who-stare-at-goats investigations of the government, programs born of the Cold War and the need to combat the Red Menace on all fronts, including the extrasensory.... entertaining reading... The occultly inclined will by duly enchanted."—Kirkus

"Journalist Jacobsen continues her disturbing excavations of the inner workings of the American defense and intelligence establishment in this fascinating exposé of governmental research into 'anomalous mental phenomena'....Jacobsen artfully deals card after dutifully researched card in her enthralling reportage on one of America's most curious defense endeavors."—Publishers Weekly

"Richly researched.... Jacobsen shows that, in the face of inexplicable events, even 'the most pragmatic, commonsense thinkers found themselves uncertain.'"—The New Yorker

Most relevant

I thought this was great. Based on interviews with remote viewers, scientists -such as Hal Puthoff, James Randi, Uri Gellar, Edgar Mitchell. This Pulitzer Prize finalist book is balanced and well researched.