Phenomena

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

By: Annie Jacobsen

Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen

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 best seller Area 51.

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

For more than 40 years, the US 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 best-selling 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 50 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 US 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.

©2017 Annie Jacobsen (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"As comprehensive as it is critical, this latest expose from Jacobsen is perhaps her most important work to date...Jacobsen persuasively shows that it in fact happened and aptly frames the dilemma.... Rife with hypocrisy, lies, and deceit, Jacobsen's story explores a conveniently overlooked bit of history." ( Publishers Weekly)

"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, best-selling author of The Liberator and Avenue of Spies)

"Chilling, compelling, and comprehensive accounting...Jacobsen's impressive book plumbs the dark depths of this postwar recruiting and shows the historical truths behind the space race and postwar US dominance. Highly recommended for readers in World War II history, espionage, government cover-ups, or the Cold War." ( Library Journal)

EXCELLENT but MISSES the MORE DISTURBING POINTS OF MK-ULTRA

If you seek answers regarding government agencies, their establishment, history, and declassified activities along with personal interviews, there are a number of authors that must be read in order to put together the full story. Annie Jacobsen’s tireless works are part of this catalogue of factual nonfiction. Another major book inspiring the CIA and the Nazis is PROPAGANDA by Edward Bernays. It is an instruction manual,though short in length, on how to control the masses. *****This book and operation paperclip miss the most probable unsubstantiated fact that Dr. Mengele trained the CIA in America for at least a decade in mind control or MK-ULTRA. His code names were Dr. Green/Dr.Greenbaum. Look into that ALL READERS.

Great Author, equally skilled narrator.

I first learned of Annie Jacobsen on the Joe Rogan podcast. After the podcast I immediately bought two of her audio books, Area 51 and Phenomena. Both were excellent. I just bought two others. While the content is excellent, her narration brings it to life. Thank you Joe Rogan for having her as a guest, thank you Annie Jacobsen for your great writings and narration.

Great dive in to the ESP remote projects

Very well written and narrated. It also ties together alot of what i have read in the past on this subject. But places 0 bias on one way or another and very informative look in to the remote viewing projected funded by the US goverment.

Love it!

Great book, clean production, and it's always awesome to hear the author read their work! Thank you!

wow!!!

what a story, voice, intellect, talent and humanity displayed by the author. Turned on big time 😊

An amazing eye opener

Very intriguing. The book brings the reader closer to understanding who we really are or could be.

Bravo

Annie Jacobsen has done a brilliant job in covering this monumental and mysterious subject. Bravo!

enjoyed

the author is very thorough and I respect that. I have bought all her books. it might've changed me from a goat to a sheep.

greatest ending ever too

That shit was cool at the end with the tones and the beat and what not. I absolutely loved this book. I hope there is enough information released in the coming years to create enough subject matter for a Part II. Good job Annie.

Interesting investigation, not Jacobsen's best

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book even though it took me a long time to finish. I was aware of the US governments research into ESP but this book went to another level of research. The author did a good job maintaining an objective narrative, not openly trying to sway the reader either way. This book was just a detailed review of the facts of US governments ESP programs. However, the greatest let down about this book compared to Jacobsen's other books is that unlike in her other books, there is no real definitive evidence that the research topic really exists. This hasn't been a problem in Jacobsen's other books as they are about well defined topics or institutions which have become declassified. This book follows that general narrative but the topic itself is up for debate, not only by the reader but the people involved in the story itself with testimony by former remote viewers, physics, magicians, scientists, and government officials. Some of which are true believers, some are confidence men/women, and some skeptics. If you are a fan of Jacobsen, interested in ESP, or a fan of detailed investigations of declassified programs, this is a good addition to your library.