A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA's Secret Cold War Experiments
by H.P. Jr. Albarelli
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Following nearly a decade of research, this account solves the mysterious death of biochemist Frank Olson, revealing the identities of his murderers in shocking detail. It offers a unique and unprecedented look into the backgrounds of many former CIA, FBI, and Federal Narcotics Bureau officials--including several who actually oversaw the CIA's mind-control programs from the 1950s to the 1970s. In retracing these programs, a frequently bizarre and always frightening world is introduced, show more colored, and dominated by many factors--Cold War fears, the secret relationship between the nation's drug enforcement agencies and the CIA, and the government's close collaboration with the Mafia. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
My running mantra throughout this book... "Wow."
I am not naive to our government's misdeeds, but I had no idea just how appalling the behavior could be - all in the name of national security. This book left me wondering what secrets they're burying now for this same reason.
The research is thorough and the content well-written. For the most part, we take a hard look at the 1940s through the 1960s. In trying to understand one man's death, we're taken through a labyrinth of secrets, lies, and cover-ups by the CIA, military, and our government.
I have to emphasize that this is not a light read. Aside from the hefty weight of the 800+ pages, the material requires concentration and commitment. We get to know the key players in the drug and show more mind control experiments, and we follow their careers as the pieces of the puzzle are fit together.
This is the kind of book that should be required reading in history or social science classes. The dark history of our government needs to be acknowledged and understood, or we are doomed to allow the secrecy and deplorable behavior to repeat itself. show less
I am not naive to our government's misdeeds, but I had no idea just how appalling the behavior could be - all in the name of national security. This book left me wondering what secrets they're burying now for this same reason.
The research is thorough and the content well-written. For the most part, we take a hard look at the 1940s through the 1960s. In trying to understand one man's death, we're taken through a labyrinth of secrets, lies, and cover-ups by the CIA, military, and our government.
I have to emphasize that this is not a light read. Aside from the hefty weight of the 800+ pages, the material requires concentration and commitment. We get to know the key players in the drug and show more mind control experiments, and we follow their careers as the pieces of the puzzle are fit together.
This is the kind of book that should be required reading in history or social science classes. The dark history of our government needs to be acknowledged and understood, or we are doomed to allow the secrecy and deplorable behavior to repeat itself. show less
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Author Information
9 Works 132 Members
H.P. Albarelli Jr. is an investigative journalist who lives in Florida and London. His novel The Heap was published by Peredur Publications in 2005, and a theatrical adaptation of the novel was produced in March 2013 in Oxford, England. Albarelli's nonfiction book, A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA's Secret Cold War show more Experiments was published by TrineDay in 2010. His biography of George Hunter White will be released by TrineDay in 2014 show less
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Frank Olsen
- Important events
- Death of Frank Olsen
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Politics and Government, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 327 — Society, government, & culture Political science International Relations: Spies
- LCC
- JK468 .I6 .O463 — Political Science Political institutions and public administration (United States) Political institutions and public administration United States Government. Public administration
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 67
- Popularity
- 464,821
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 3
