Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA, and the Tragedy of MKULTRA
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The inside story of the CIA’s secret mind control project, MKULTRA, using never-before-seen testimony from the perpetrators themselves.
Sidney Gottlieb was the CIA’s most cunning chemist. As head of the infamous MKULTRA project, he oversaw an assortment of dangerous—even deadly—experiments. Among them: dosing unwitting strangers with mind-bending drugs, torturing mental patients through sensory deprivation, and steering the movements of animals via electrodes implanted into their brains. His goal was to develop methods of mind control that could turn someone into a real-life “Manchurian candidate.”
In conjunction with MKULTRA, Gottlieb also plotted the assassination of foreign leaders and created spy gear for undercover agents. The details of his career, however, have long been shrouded in mystery. Upon retiring from the CIA in 1973, he tossed his files into an incinerator. As a result, much of what happened under MKULTRA was thought to be lost—until now.
Historian John Lisle has uncovered dozens of depositions containing new information about MKULTRA, straight from the mouths of its perpetrators. For the first time, Gottlieb and his underlings divulge what they did, why they did it, how they got away with it, and much more. Additionally, Lisle highlights the dramatic story of MKULTRA’s victims, from their terrible treatment to their dogged pursuit of justice.
The consequences of MKULTRA still reverberate throughout American society. Project Mind Control is the definitive account of this most disturbing of chapters in CIA history.
“Listeners will be transfixed”—AudioFile on The Dirty Tricks Department
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
6 reviews for Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA, and the Tragedy of MKULTRA
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Jose Arturo Melendez Yanez –
Excelente lectura
Acabo de terminar Project Mind Control de John Lisle y sinceramente me pareció un libro muy interesante. Creo que a cualquiera que le gusten las teorÃas conspirativas (de esas que resultan no ser tan conspirativas después de todo) y el periodismo de investigación bien hecho, le puede parecer fascinante.Lisle, que es historiador, dedicó varios años a investigar a fondo el proyecto MK-Ultra de la CIA. Con acceso a documentos desclasificados, entrevistas y archivos que estuvieron ocultos por mucho tiempo, logra construir un relato bastante completo de cómo operó este programa durante décadas. Es impresionante ver cómo algo que parece salido de una pelÃcula en realidad fue parte de la historia reciente.Lo más fuerte es descubrir hasta dónde llegaron. Se realizaron experimentos con drogas como el LSD, hipnosis y otros métodos de manipulación mental, muchas veces sin el consentimiento de las personas involucradas. Y no fueron casos aislados: hubo consecuencias reales y graves, tanto para los sujetos de prueba como para la ciencia médica misma.El libro está escrito de manera bastante clara, sin tecnisismos innecesarios, lo que facilita seguir la trama aunque no se tenga mucho conocimiento previo del tema. Eso sÃ, hay partes que pueden resultar un poco densas por la cantidad de datos, pero en general mantiene el interés.En resumen, es una lectura que vale la pena si te interesa entender hasta qué punto puede llegar el poder del Estado cuando actúa en las sombras. Es entretenido, inquietante y te deja con ganas de seguir investigando más sobre estos temas. Muy recomendado.
SMS –
Tons of sources, lots of infuriating facts.
There is a lot of conspiracy theories out there about MKULTRA and the CIA. Most of what Iâve heard is what the show Stranger Things was based on – psychics, remote viewing, etc. Project Mind Control however shows us what is easily accessible in the records and interviews that remain and that was wild drug abuse.Project Mind control breaks down the situation, the reasoning, and then the actions that these folks took during the lifespan of this project. The bulk of the book focuses on the abuse of LSD and the experiments the department performed. Many of these were on unwilling, unaware, or unwell individuals. There was abuse of personal and public trust, and more than a few deaths as a result.We also look at possibly linked crimes and events. Credit where credit is due though, our author makes a point of focusing on only what he has sources for and even goes out of the way to advise the reader against falling for the conspiracy theories and wild stories that float around with no proof.This one was quick, it was easy, and it really is an approachable book on the topic while also infuriating the reader. If youâre interested in or you have a friend or family member who is, Iâd recommend it!
Randall E Ingalls –
MK-Super Ultra
This is a wonderful study in the personality of one of the biggest psychiatrists in the history of MK-Ultra and contrasts his beliefs and thoughts with his actions.
Pezhead28 –
Interesting read
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Iâd heard of MKULTRA and knew a little bit about it; this book was very in-depth as to what happened when it first started along with the lengths to which they carried out the missions and other happenings in the CIA. It was interesting to read about the various gadgets that were used. Itâs crazy to think there was really no oversight on MKULTRA and other projects happening in the CIA. If youâre into CIA history and the like, this book is right up your alley.
Angie Boyter –
Fascinating and very informative
Project Mind Control explores the history of CIA efforts to develop techniques to control the behavior of and gain information from a wide spectrum of people. There were so many varied fascinating and surprising incidents in this book that it is hard to give examples, but they ranged from taking poisons to the Congo for the purpose of assassinating Patrice Lumumba to learning that Fidel Castro was a scuba diver to giving prisoners who participated as subjects in some MKULTRA projects their choice of either reduced sentences or heroin as payment (Most chose heroin!) to plans to use cats as mobile spy devices in order to listen in on a cat-loving Asian head of state. As you might guess from these examples, the book made me want to laugh and to cry.As you probably can glean from the examples, the book covers much more CIA activity than merely MKULTRA. The title and book description may lead readers to expect a more narrowly focused book, but if you go in with an open mind, you will not be disappointed! CIA wanted to develop good methods to extract information from a subject as well as to prevent such extractions from our own people. They also wanted improved techniques for controlling a subjectâs actions. Many of these were very science-based, using experts from other federal agencies as well as CIA, but low-tech techniques such as sex were also found to be successful.Although the focus is on the research and the techniques tested, the book is more character-driven than I had expected, with interesting insights into the researchers and their targets. Indeed, many of these were definitely characters!By the way, kudos to the author for the impressive research that produced this book. CIA and similar records are not exactly easy sources to acquire.I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martins Press.
JJ –
This book is a cover up. This person mocks survivors of ritual abuse and SRA on his podcast. There is no way a person could get an PHD in researching this topic and not understand the truth and reality of organized abuse happening today. He is obviously being willfully deceptive.