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cullenr_d's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
taffy_sea's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly well researched, organized, and written. Stomach churning account. Raises excellent questions about where to draw the line between protection and integrity, fear and morality. Is living in an era of existential fear justification for torture and murder? For human experimentation without informed consent? I know how I’d answer that; this book shows how the CIA during the Cold War responded.
This is a meticulous narrative about wild CIA/US government activities, and the death and despair they caused in countless people’s lives. I learned a lot reading this; memorably, all of the Nazi and Japanese doctors and scientists who conducted horrible human experiments in WWII and then were recruited by the US to continue their sinister research postwar, conveniently circumventing war crimes trials. Grim.
This is a meticulous narrative about wild CIA/US government activities, and the death and despair they caused in countless people’s lives. I learned a lot reading this; memorably, all of the Nazi and Japanese doctors and scientists who conducted horrible human experiments in WWII and then were recruited by the US to continue their sinister research postwar, conveniently circumventing war crimes trials. Grim.
boipoka's review against another edition
4.0
I have heard a lot of podcasts covering the absolute lunacy that was the MK Ultra program and the other shenanigans of the CIA from during the era - so this book didn't exactly shock me. There were still some new details for me - but most of the bigger picture atrocities, I knew well. However that didn't diminish this book for me - it is a comprehensive listing of Gottlieb's legacy, and it does a good job of providing context. It was a fascinating listen.
jonathanfs's review against another edition
3.0
This book talks frankly about brutal torture, so be prepared. I read this for a book club, or else I probably would have put it down. The subject matter is deeply disturbing and tragic. America committed truly heinous crimes domestically and abroad because of a few sick men's curiosity cloaked in patriotism. I had heard about MK-ULTRA throughout the 90's in cheesy conspiracy documentaries but had no idea how far it went. Just awful.
The three-star rating is not for the content. The book could have used a few more rounds of editing; some sections, especially in the final quarter, read as though the author was trying things out in different ways and forgot to choose one to keep. I also had to balance my appreciation of the vast amount of research and synthesis that must have gone into this with my lack of enjoyment of reading it. Having said that, I am curious to try the author's works regarding US intervention in Latin America.
The three-star rating is not for the content. The book could have used a few more rounds of editing; some sections, especially in the final quarter, read as though the author was trying things out in different ways and forgot to choose one to keep. I also had to balance my appreciation of the vast amount of research and synthesis that must have gone into this with my lack of enjoyment of reading it. Having said that, I am curious to try the author's works regarding US intervention in Latin America.
wikxoxo's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Super informative, loved it - didn't like the audiobook's reader, but his voice seemed fitting (though annoying)
sawyergolden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0