Area 51

An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base

By: Annie Jacobsen

Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen

Length: 16 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Great Book

It was a great listen and most definitely worth the time. I went out and got the rest of her books before this one ended.

Comprehensive weaving of unclassified secrets

The author uses "area 51" as a fulcrum to summarize many of America's clandestine operations during the past 80 years. I take everything like this with a grain of salt--just like I do statements from the U.S. Government about its own "secrets." Nevertheless, this provides thousands of documented "facts" that are woven into known U.S. history in a very intriguing way. This isn't a late-night a.m. radio rant on governments secrets, but a well-researched, well-documented presentation that is probably "on the money" a good deal of the time. But even if there are errors in attributing recently unclassified "secret" documents to exactly where they fit, it is not the author's fault primary, but that of the U.S. Government for keeping vast quantities of documents 'classified.' I considered this well-worth the listen. Regardless of whether you agree with everything, it will contribute to your knowledge base, making you better able to evaluate stories you "hear" about black ops. I give kudos to the author for reading it herself. What little she may lack in comparison to Audible's "best" professional narrators she surely makes up in passion and expert knowledge about the content. I prefer a good reading by an author to an academy award winning reading by an unaffiliated narrator.

Annie Jacobsen compelling Narrator and Author

Where does Area 51 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I thought I wouldn't get over not being able to listen to another Game of Thrones book, but when I started Area 51 I realized our reality in America can be even more intriguing than a fantasy novel.

What other book might you compare Area 51 to and why?

Havent listen to enough books to compare

What about Annie Jacobsen’s performance did you like?

She has a soothing, calm voice entrancing the listener into the world of the secret American Military Facility, nuclear testing, the cold war with Russia, the space race, etc.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Americas dark military secret uncovered

Great book, not so great audio book

Would you listen to Area 51 again? Why?

Yes.

Would you be willing to try another one of Annie Jacobsen’s performances?

Annie Jacobsen should have a real voice talent read her books.
I think her book and the story of Area 51 is awesome and has so much great hidden history within it, but I cringed time and time again when Ms. Jacobsen mispronounced words over and over again or spoke the same word differently each time it came up in her reading. Next time get someone with voice over talent that can bring all the intensity out from the book and into the spoken word properly.

very well written, sexy voice!

really enjoyed the narration, very suitable to the theme of the book. provided great insight into furthering the understanding of what's going on inside Area 51.

GREAT to hear the details of what REALLY happened!

Loved this book, learned SO much and will be listening to it again and again!

Interesting dive into Area 51

I’ve read several of Annie Jacobsen’s books since seeing her on Joe Rogan. She has a melodic voice and she chose to do her own Audiobook, which I think is a good choice.

This book charts the test pilot skunk works stuff that went on at Area 51 from its inception until the late 90’s or so. I’m a former US Airman, and I find her story to be as accurate as it really can be.

The book is a perfect example of why the “Raid Area 51” phenomenon was utter lunacy. It’s a test base for nuclear weapons, aircraft, and radar.

Annie tells the story in an easy to follow and compelling way. I really enjoyed it and I’d strongly recommend it.

Engrossing and stimulating

Jacobsen knocked it out of the atmosphere with this one. I beg her to do a follow up regarding the EG&G engineer source and his full story now that he’s passed on. Keep it up, Annie! Looking forward to Surprise, Kill, Vanish and Operation: Paperclip which will be my next two reads.

Annie Jacobsen is a national treasure!

Highly recommend. Her even handed analysis is a refreshing voice in the world of conspiracy theories.

Very Interesting Book

When I first purchased this book I thought it was going to be mainly about the Roswell UFO incident. After all, that is what all the press and reviews have been talking about. Well, the press must not have read 99% of the book.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the book was actually about the history of Area 51. Very interesting to listen to. I can't imagine what kind of technology we are working on in 2011 based on what was developed and came out of Area 51 since the 1950's.

If you are at all interested in learning about the history of the U.S. nuclear and stealth fighter programs than buy this book. You will be amazed. I highly recommend it.