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Phenomena

US Government Investigations into ESP and Psychokinesis

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Phenomena

By: Annie Jacobsen
Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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 Jacobsen 2017 (P) Hachette Audio 2017

Military Military & War World War II Government Espionage National Security Air Force Extrasensory Perception
All stars
Most relevant
“Spooky” stuff such as remote viewing, ESP, telekinesis and the like has fascinated man since time immemorial. Thus it has inevitably been investigated by numerous defence, intelligence and military outfits the world over. Perhaps though it was the USA who really pushed the boundaries of what might be possible the furthest and it is primarily the various characters involved in the post-war rush to conquer the unknown powers of the mind who feature here.
As in her other books, Annie Jacobsen is extremely thorough in her research and goes into great detail as she relates the history of this controversial subject from early beginnings up to and beyond the (publicly-acknowledged) cancellation of the most recent studies.
This is a good grounding in the subject yet those with a serious interest in the subject will possibly still learn something new here, as Jacobsen’s latest research (as of 2016 when the book was published) turned up some interesting and previously classified documentation in the archives. Perhaps what’s more interesting though are the huge tranches of files still sealed after all this time..
There are a few things about the author’s narration which grate a tad - primarily mispronunciation of names of people, places and companies being particular bugbears - as per her other audiobooks I’ve found - but the subject matter and quality of writing outweigh these and they do not seriously detract.
In all, a most enlightening and entertaining glimpse into the world of the weird and the attempts by various agencies to harness the power of the mind.

(Third) eye-opening.

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