Project Mind Control by John Lisle

TL;DR: Tons of sources, lots of infuriating facts.
Source: NetGalley – Thank you to the publisher!!

Readability: Incredibly readable, I flew through this one.
Scope: This focuses in on the drug use, abuse, and absolute negligence of these folks.
Sources: A full 35% of the back end of this was notes, sources, appendixes, etc.

Summary:

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.

Thoughts:

There is a lot of conspiracy theories out there about MKULTRA and the CIA. Most of what I’ve 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 you’re interested in or you have a friend or family member who is, I’d recommend it!