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The Men Who Stare at Goats

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In 1979, a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the US Army. Defying all known accepted military practice - and indeed, the laws of physics - they believed that a soldier could adopt the cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them.

Entrusted with defending America from all known adversaries, they were the First Earth Battalion. And they really weren't joking. What's more, they're back and fighting the War on Terror.

The Men Who Stare at Goats reveals extraordinary - and very nutty - national secrets at the core of George W. Bush's War on Terror. With first-hand access to the leading players in the story, Ronson traces the evolution of these bizarre activities over the past three decades, and sees how it is alive today within US Homeland Security and post-war Iraq.

Why are they blasting Iraqi prisoners-of-war with the theme tune to Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Why have 100 de-bleated goats been secretly placed inside the Special Forces command centre at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? How was the US Military associated with the mysterious mass-suicide of a strange cult from San Diego? The Men Who Stare At Goats answers these, and many more, questions.

Jon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of many best-selling books, including Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie, Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries, The Psychopath Test, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Them: Adventures with Extremists. His first fictional screenplay, Frank, co-written with Peter Straughan, starred Michael Fassbender. He lives in London and New York City.

©2012 Jon Ronson (P)2016 Audible, Ltd
Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Military Middle East War

Critic reviews

"Few more earnest investigative journalists would have had the brilliant bloody-mindedness to get what he has got and hardly any would have the wit to present it with as much clarity." ( The Observer)
"Simultaneously frightening and hilarious." ( The Times)"
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Ronson has a really compelling style that draws the reader in. The audible version of this and his other books has the added dimension of his own speech pattern- something Ronson does really well. At points it's like he is say in the room with me revealing a secret he heard from someone over the garden wall. A real pleasure for the ears.

Compelling Ronson at his best

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this is an interesting book by itself but the audio book brings the whole thing to life and Jon's reading adds a layer of nuiance to it

good book. great audio book

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Normally I love Jon Ronson's really thorough and engaging style of investigative journalism. He covers really interesting and, at times, uncomfortable subject matters. I found my interest waining on a few occasions with this reading however. It just wasn't grabbing me. Sorry, Jon!

Struggled with this

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I was saving this read, as I anticipated great things. Truly excellent, weird, unbelievable yet believable & disturbing . Catch 22 meets Apocalypse Now. Savour the moment. Savour it.

Bloods marvellous

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Liked the book but the narator was terrible as rhe way he narrated this book made it appear like a children's story...with everything sounding 'tongue in cheek'.

very insightful book on US intelligence services

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