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Area 51

An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base

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Area 51

Written by: Annie Jacobsen
Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen
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About this listen

This "compellingly hard-hitting" best seller from a Pulitzer Prize finalist gives listeners the complete untold story of the top-secret military base for the first time. (New York Times).

It is the most famous military installation in the world. And it doesn't exist. Located a mere s75 miles outside of Las Vegas in Nevada's desert, the base has never been acknowledged by the US 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 19 men who served the base proudly and secretly for decades and are now aged 75-92, and unprecedented access to 55 additional military and intelligence personnel, scientists, pilots, and engineers linked to the secret base, 32 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.

©2011 Annie Jacobson (P)2011 Hachette
Military United States Air Force Nuclear Weapon Nevada Espionage US Air Force Aviation Fiction Transportation War Cold War
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What listeners say about Area 51

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Annie Jacobsen is a Real One

This takes a deep dive into the history of Area 51 and the uses from it's inception to the skepticism of today. Great book

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Completely changed my opinion on Area 51

A thorough and convincing story of Area 51 that has changed my opinion on what’s really happened at the base.

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Always wanted to get back into it!

really enjoyed the storyline, and Annie is a fantastic narrator! She makes the individual stories riveting, and they all come together so well!

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Great Book

This was a captivating read. Like pulling on a thread just want to know more. Was hoping for a bit more about the Lazar story.

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A great look into top secret military operations

So happy to hear the author reading their own book. Great insight into the secret military operations of the past. And makes your mind go crazy thinking of what they could be doing now!

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Amazing in every way!

Not only is this book expertly written, but the narrator’s voice is very easy to listen to.

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Astonishing & Worrisome

Area 51, a huge swath of land in Nevada is where nefarious nuclear weapon projects were undertaken often with little regard for safety. It is also where military aircraft of incredible capability were designed and built. And then there is the true story of the Roswell event - as much as this incredible author was able to uncover in her extensive research. it is certainly a worrisome lesson of secretive projects - some even unknown by presiding presidents, which gives pause about the dangers of runaway military men, scientists and high level government officials who can do highly dangeriys projects sometimes with little or no input from representatives of the people. I had to read the book in spurts - it is all too much to take in at once.

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best audio book I've ever listened too!

I don't know how to say great book in 15 words so this is what I'm goin to say. highly suggested 5 stars

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Excellent

Annie's work on Area 51 should be a must for anyone who is interested on the secret military base. Excellent reading by the author herself is definitely a bonus. I will be getting her other works in the next few days.

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Connects a lot of dots.... But

I enjoyed the book and the many historical details revealed. I don't doubt that any of it is truth, or some version of the truth.

The one detail I can't help but get hung up on is the technology behind the roswell incident, as presented. Specifically, if the technology existed then and was subsequently reverse engineered at area 51, i have trouble believing that was the end of practical application of this technology by the inventors, the perpetrators of the roswell incident or the Americans.

Was this technology what was being employed during the Washington fly by incident and who was behind that event.

This does not detract from my enjoyment of the book but after listening a second time, this is all I can think about.

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