The Pentagon's Brain
An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency
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The Pentagon's Brain
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Narrated by:
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Annie Jacobsen
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By:
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Annie Jacobsen
About this listen
Discover the definitive history of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, in this Pulitzer Prize finalist from the author of the New York Times best seller Area 51.
No one has ever written the history of the Defense Department's most secret, most powerful, and most controversial military science R&D agency. In the first-ever history about the organization, New York Times best-selling author Annie Jacobsen draws on inside sources, exclusive interviews, private documents, and declassified memos to paint a picture of DARPA, or "the Pentagon's brain", from its Cold War inception in 1958 to the present.
This is the audiobook on DARPA - a compelling narrative about this clandestine intersection of science and the American military and the often frightening results.
©2015 Annie Jacobsen (P)2015 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Julien Coullet
- 05-08-21
Great quality of information
An amazing detailed account of the agency's history and future. Factual, sometimes fun, often scary, based on decent sources, it is always interesting. I just regret the monotonous voice, much less engaging than her usual elocution in interviews or presentations.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Panda
- 17-04-21
A Superb Listen
An outstanding listen, it makes you realise just how much goes on behind the label, TOP SECRET, it also, in what this book has been able to reveal, disturbs me! Recommended!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mongan
- 22-02-21
Amazing book.
Extensive research has gone into this one. Definitely worth a go if you have interest in the subject. Needs at least two listens to get all the info. Recommended.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Neil Ferguson-Lee
- 09-02-18
Detailed but Turgid
I think this could have been shorter but - boy - is it comprehensive?! I'm afraid that the narrator's delivery was rather soporific.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- HellRazor
- 19-12-18
A Potentially Fascinating Look At Dark Tech.
A comprehensive reportage on part of the machinery that has evolved to produce the products of what, for want of a better description, has been called the American Industrial-Military Complex.
Some of the subject matter presented here simply amazes the average reader, who would find himself hard put to believe manifest, even in the most far-fetched science fiction novel. This book is certainly jammed backed with interesting detail.
The author competently investigates non-covert aspects of DARPA, the prime mover of defense related research, how and to what extent it operates and some of its more familiar, non-covert production (Internet, robots, drones, networks, cyborgs, etc.). She also almost, but not quite, speculates on what still might remain hidden under overs stamped "CLASSIFIED".
Something in the work is lacking and it is too bad that it is not there. Perhaps it is the author's career as a reporter ("just the facts, ma'am) that enforces a reluctance to colour her reports with the finishing touches of imagination.The reader can only speculate how much more edifying and entertaining this book could have been with a brighter, more science oriented author.
But perhaps, I am being unfair with this criticism, as I have read Jacobsen's earlier work "Operation Paperclip" which also, like this one, I found worth a read.
In this Audible version, the author reads her work clearly, competently and in complete monotone stolidness, from beginning to end. She never once falters from this style of delivery, making a good argument against some authors being allowed to perform their own work.
I think that this intriguing subject is still waiting for a more satisfying and eloquent work on this fascinating area of dark technology.
Do I recommend the book? Yes, for those interested in the subject.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Harry Red
- 20-06-20
Incredibly well done
Annie Jacobsen masterfully tells the story of one of the most important and least-well-known organizations in the modern world.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Caolan Smith
- 28-06-22
Very interesting
Really interesting stories but it does feel drawn out by the end, some of the stories could have been cut down a bit.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Samuel White
- 26-05-24
Brilliant!
Another mind blowing book from Annie Jacobson. Fascinating and frightening all at the same time! Loved it!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Boo Boo
- 18-05-19
Interesting, Reading Could Be Better
This is an interesting listen and reveals many details of this agency and its activities that are fascinating. A lot of research must have been carried out to produce it and that is to be applauded. The writing is also very professional.
The only detriment for me is Ms. Jacobsen's reading of her book. She has an odd, almost declamatory breathless style which I found detracted from the content. Further, some of her mangled pronunciations are very weird, e.g:
"Eggeena" for Agena
"Maykong" for Mekong
"NO rad" for "NORAD
"Psykorsky" for Sikorsky
"Beemeurs" for "BEMEWS"
"Onrico" for Enrico
I wondered if this was because of her provenance, or simply affected? I'm not sure, but these terms and their pronunciation are well-known so it does seem odd.
Overall, a good book, but would be better read by a professional narrator (like her other audiobooks in fact).
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris B
- 16-06-20
Excellent read ...
The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know. Some great insights into seldom talked about parts of American history.
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