Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base
Summary:
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. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
When a friend recommended this book, I was very leery because I am NOT a fan of conspiracy theories and the like. This book, however, was rooted in interviews and fact and clearly delineates when venturing into the areas of conjecture or speculation. I really like the mix of history with first-hand accounts and focusing on various characters throughout the history of the base.
As an Aerospace nerd, I’d say this book is very similar to reading “Skunk Works” and is in the same vein in being a history of covert and top-secret projects that are only now being made public by the government. Definitely recommended to anyone who wants to learn more about the military history of the USA and essential reading to those who want to understand the extent of domestic nuclear testing.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Fans of engineering, aerospace development and the history around Area 51.