In 1979 a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the U.S. Army. Defying all known accepted military practice -- and indeed, the laws of physics -- they believed that a soldier could adopt a 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.
With firsthand access to the leading players in the story, Ronson traces the evolution of these bizarre activities over the past three decades and shows how they are alive today within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in postwar Iraq. Why are they blasting Iraqi prisoners of war with the theme tune to Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Why have 100 debleated goats been secretly …
In 1979 a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the U.S. Army. Defying all known accepted military practice -- and indeed, the laws of physics -- they believed that a soldier could adopt a 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.
With firsthand access to the leading players in the story, Ronson traces the evolution of these bizarre activities over the past three decades and shows how they are alive today within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in postwar Iraq. Why are they blasting Iraqi prisoners of war with the theme tune to Barney the Purple Dinosaur? Why have 100 debleated goats been secretly placed inside the Special Forces Command Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? How was the U.S. 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.
Ronson's Them: Adventures with Extremists, a highly acclaimed international bestseller, examined the paranoia at the fringes of hate-filled extremist movements around the globe. The Men Who Stare at Goats reveals extraordinary and very nutty military secrets at the core of George W. Bush's War on Terror.
I recall having watched, and forgotten about, the movie of the same title. The book is far more interesting. The characters are as entertaining as you’d expect when profiling New Age inspired warriors, and Jon’s conversations help make them come alive.
But the heart of the book is about the ways this line of thinking has influenced a number of military and law enforcement disasters, from Waco to Heaven’s Gate to Abu Ghraib. The long tail of how an idea can be officially jettisoned, but still influential, rings true to this day.
This is a weird, funny, and often times disturbing book about the U.S. military's research into and application of the paranormal.
Chock full of interesting tid-bits, this reads more like a road-trip through a paranormal carnival, where everyone seems to know each other, rather than a straight-laced, well-cited research book.
Still, this was a very good and interesting read that showcases the sort-of unreal, ridiculous, and idiotic endeavors of a military apparatus.
I remember getting lost in all the details of who, where and when of the film of this book so hoped it would all become clearer in the written version. Unfortunately, I still feel none the wiser. I like a good conspiracy theory - and my next read, House of Rumour, is a fantastic conglomeration of many - but the book just didn't grab my attention. Perhaps the writing is too segmented so I didn't get a sense of an overall narrative, more a selection of varied events that, despite the best efforts and research of the author, didn't convincingly hang together.
Review of 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Sooo... I picked up this audiobook because I remembered seeing the trailer for the movie by the same name, and assumed it was a comedy. To my surprise, the original book is neither a comedy nor fiction - it's a completely serious and slightly horrifying true story of an English journalist very persistently attempting to uncover the history of the US military trying to create "psychic warriors" who can use mind powers to fight.
It's horrifying BECAUSE it's true, and so incredibly stupid in so many ways that it's mind-boggling that so much time, money, effort, and belief were spent on some of the things the author described. And in light of that, it's quite the opposite of a comedy, although there are obviously some humorous elements because the entire topic is so absurd. Clearly, the movie by the same name took elements of the story and put a set …
Sooo... I picked up this audiobook because I remembered seeing the trailer for the movie by the same name, and assumed it was a comedy. To my surprise, the original book is neither a comedy nor fiction - it's a completely serious and slightly horrifying true story of an English journalist very persistently attempting to uncover the history of the US military trying to create "psychic warriors" who can use mind powers to fight.
It's horrifying BECAUSE it's true, and so incredibly stupid in so many ways that it's mind-boggling that so much time, money, effort, and belief were spent on some of the things the author described. And in light of that, it's quite the opposite of a comedy, although there are obviously some humorous elements because the entire topic is so absurd. Clearly, the movie by the same name took elements of the story and put a set of fictional characters and a fictional story on top; still haven't seen the movie but no doubt it's more amusing.
The audiobook is actually read by the author himself, Jon Ronson, and while I appreciate him authentically telling his own story, his slightly lisping English accent just seemed a little bit mismatched for a book mainly about the American military, and made it even harder not to take seriously.
Overall not what I was expecting at all, so I guess read it if this kind of history interests you, but if not then probably give this one a miss.
Review of 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This book is like a long, strange conversation. It is sometimes amusing, sometimes serious, and often disturbing. There are pieces of undeniable truth throughout the book, but it is sprinkled with hearsay. Or perhaps it is the hearsay that is sprinkled with truth. Regardless, I am disturbed that the military might try to 'influence livestock from afar' and all the further implications of that practice.
