Book Review: Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis by Annie Jacobson
I enjoy non-fiction, but sometimes it really does feel more accessible in an almost 20 hour (or sometimes longer) audiobook than picking up a large physical book. I’ve only really started using Audible this year, and so far my experience has been pretty good. Phenomena was no exception. Read by the author, Phenomena details the key players involved in the US Government’s research into extrasensory perception. Whether you believe in ESP and psychic abilities or not, the truth is the US Military did see value in these ‘abilities’, and sought to discover exactly how they could use them.
This book offers a deep dive into the time and effort spent investigating the sort of things we’re used to seeing in X Files and Stranger Things (where do you think both shows got inspiration from?). There are a lot of names here, which when listening to audio can be difficult, but a number cropped up over and over, becoming recognisable. It’s a fascinating subject, and even the moments that are a little dry are brought to life by Jacobson’s narration. There’s information here only declassified in recent years, as well as an exploration around Uri Geller and his spoon-bending, the possibilities of him being a Mossad agent, and the various rumours surrounding his abilities. As well as this, Jacobson reveals a variety of different missions the US Military used people with ‘abilities’ for, including attempts to locate hostages, which perhaps inevitably, more often than not were unsuccessful.
There’s a lot of information contained, but it comes across in a way that’s easy to understand and follow, though if you’re like me, you might absorb it a little better in print rather than audio format. I found it really interesting how Jacobson avoids the debate around whether these abilities are real or not. Instead, she reports on the facts, and brings up quotes from both sides of the argument. Although it talks of things that seem pretty out of this world, it does so in a way that is factual, without becoming bogged down in ‘what ifs’. There are direct quotes from those involved, and interesting anecdotes, as well as details of those who were ‘won over’ to the idea of ESP, and those determined to prove all involved as frauds.
It's a really fascinating area, and rather than simply stating outright what is real and what is not, Jacobson does an excellent job of leaving it up to the reader to decide. And of course, the reactions and beliefs of others in the book influence this, too. Phenomena reminds the reader of the extents the US were willing to go to during the Cold War.
Whether you believe or not, Phenomena will likely have you questioning not just whether ESP is real, with convincing arguments for both sides, but how much we actually can trust our own eyes, ears and governments.
Purchase: Amazon UK - Amazon US - Bookshop - Waterstones
Grade: B
Review by Elle Turpitt
I purchased this audiobook using an Audible credit.
