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  • Phenomena

  • The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis
  • Written by: Annie Jacobsen
  • Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
  • Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (49 ratings)

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Phenomena

Written by: Annie Jacobsen
Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
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Publisher's Summary

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

What the critics say

"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)

What listeners say about Phenomena

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phenomenal writing

amazing listen. feels like she's very invested in all of her topics. Annie is the greatest!!

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Charting the Depths of the Psychic Intelligence Iceberg

Astonishing, unbelievable, thought-provoking, and ultimately completely beyond the current horizons of both consciousness study and sociopolitical-historical study. A must-listen for anyone interested in deep politics, mind control, surveillance, paranormality, psychokinesis, (counter)intelligence operations; equally enlightening for open-minded skeptics of any these topics (myself included). Annie Jacobsen’s reporting (and narration) is excellent; thorough and well-sourced. As with any avenue of investigation into obscure intelligence circles, there are obvious limitations to available evidence. Jacobsen does not let uncertainty hold her back though—often its her speculative forays (always clearly indicated as such) which produce the most profound or lasting insights.
TL;DR: It’s not going to give hard proof of the existence PK or ESP, but it will blow your mind in ways you were not expecting (and probably lead you to believe you have received a psychic message or two during the course of listening).

5/5

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mysterious and amazing

I feel like I literally want to stand up and applaud Annie Jacobsen's work. She is one of, if not the best reporter in the business.

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