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AREA 51
AREA 51
An Uncensored History of America's
Top Secret Military Base
BY ANNIE JACOBSEN
ABOUT THE BOOK:
It is the most famous military installation in the world. And it doesn't exist. Located a mere seventy-five miles outside of Las Vegas in Nevada's desert, the base has never been acknowledged by the U.S. government-but Area 51 has captivated imaginations for decades.
Myths and hypotheses about Area 51 have long abounded, thanks to the intense secrecy enveloping it. Some claim it is home to aliens, underground tunnel systems, and nuclear facilities. Others believe that the lunar landing itself was filmed there. The prevalence of these rumors stems from the fact that no credible insider has ever divulged the truth about his time inside the base. Until now.
Annie Jacobsen had exclusive access to nineteen men who served the base proudly and secretly for decades and are now aged 75-92, and unprecedented access to fifty-five additional military and intelligence personnel, scientists, pilots, and engineers linked to the secret base, thirty-two of whom lived and worked there for extended periods. In Area 51, Jacobsen shows us what has really gone on in the Nevada desert, from testing nuclear weapons to building super-secret, supersonic jets to pursuing the War on Terror.
This is the first book based on interviews with eye witnesses to Area 51 history, which makes it the seminal work on the subject. Filled with formerly classified information that has never been accurately decoded for the public, Area 51 weaves the mysterious activities of the top-secret base into a gripping narrative, showing that facts are often more fantastic than fiction, especially when the distinction is almost impossible to make.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
GUEST REVIEW:
The book by Annie Jacobsen is a compilation of first party recollections of experience in the post WW II classified programs tested at area 51 facility. It is also the story of the psychology of classified programs of atomic weaponry and stealth aviation excellence. Both the need to conceal advances in reconnaissance technology from our adversaries, the USSR and others, as well as the necessity to test and develop these technologies, spawned the need for the remote test site of subject. The book is more about the complex mix of technology and geopolitical maneuvers to best our adversaries in the quest for national security. Hype of UFO is addressed in several chapters but no new revelations revealed, just a repeat of history and vague innuendos of hidden artifacts of which the government refuses to acknowledge. Much like any conspiracy theory, the UFO story is a belief phenomenon with suspicion as a motive, which is based on prior governmental infractions in the name of national security or just inept embarrassment motivations. As reported in the text, a great portion of the UFO sightings were explainable and a portion were most likely secret projects needing cover to remain hidden from public view. During the cold war period, national security motivated the government’s psychology and behavior to quell investigation into the mix of natural phenomena and secret project artifacts.
The book is a good collection of research into the early CIA and AEC exploits during the cold war. Ignoring the unfounded assertions and sticking to the facts reported, it serves to illustrate what can be achieved when power and money are let to freely strive for knowledge and geopolitical dominance. The failures of these endeavors as well as the tragedies from the human prospective are also revealed when one speculates as to the need to risk human capital and national resources on dubious goals. With numerous threads of project developments in the technologies of manned and unmanned reconnaissance Aircraft and atomic weapons programs, the reader is drawn through the text through seemingly unrelated chapters. Area 51 history is interesting as is the references to other facilities in the remote Nevada desert, west of Las Vegas. Indeed, if one Googles topics and satellite images of the area, you will see and read of the extent of test infrastructure constructed in the remote areas of Nevada and New Mexico. One also gains new knowledge of the genius and selfless hard work of our pioneering aviation and rocket designers. Technologies evolving from these programs help foster worldwide satellite communications, reconnaissance and global reach of our military power needed for a safer world. I can recommend the book from the historical and technological prospective. If your interest is for the UFO subject matter eluded to in the first chapters, stick to fiction and conspiracy exposés.
---Review by Norm Wilcox
ABOUT MY GUEST REVIEWER:
I am thrilled to have such an expert review from Norm Wilcox whose occupation is in Aerospace Engineering and Countermeasures. He is a retired Lt. Col. with the Air Force having worked the last ten years in both maintenance and engineering career fields mostly spent at Edwards Air Force Base. Norm is married to a wonderful woman and they make their home in Southern California. Although I know they are animal lovers, they currently have no pets. Norm was pleasantly surprised to find out as he was reading that one of the people in AREA 51 was the best man at his father's wedding! Norm knows him and thought as I did what a coincidence it is. I personally know Norm and his wife very well, and thank him so much for taking time to do this excellent review for my blog and followers.
GIVEAWAY
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