I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World

A beautiful collection of US military black ops and departments patches. They represent units, events/tests, technologies, and the like with Latin, dragos, symbolism, stars, ETs and more from Area 51 and mostly other American southwest organizations. Paglen presents each in a full plate with a page of text recto discussing, interpreting, or merely surmising on the stitched mysteries.

The book summary listed does not describe this book. It is some publisher's hype, but not accurate. What this book does contain is a smattering of about 40 black world (or not) patches. The projects were not code named "None of your F-ing Business" as the synopsis states...those were just unofficial mottoes on some of the patches.
The author admits this is a very haphazard sampling of some patches, heavy on Area 51 projects. Not comprehensive. Not a historical record. Not even necessarily accurate. But a fun glimpse, nonetheless.
I can't help but think the guy hired to write the synopsis hated either the subject matter or the author...or both. If you are interested in militaria, this may interest you. Do not expect to be educated or show more informed, simply entertained. show less

This is a very short book containing photographs of patches from secret projects and attempts to correlate the patch to particular secret projects. Obviously, there is not a lot to go on here besides conjecture. It's still a very interesting book worth a look.

Absolutely fascinating look at the secret world of patches in the military. Paglen did an amazing amount of investigation and work to uncover these patches, and, more importantly, the world they represent. This book -- with its title on the cover on a real patch -- is fascinating even if you don't care at all about patches, the military, secret operations...

ICTYBTYWHTBDYM is nearly shorter than its title. A collection of Air Force patches as "seen" by the author near Area 51. Paglen details some of the symbolism and meaning behind the myriad of patches that--somewhat inexplicably--are worn by individuals working for black ops projects. A nice little insight into an otherwise obscured sub-culture.

A collection of over 70 military patches tied to secret government operations. Some are explained, some are still technically classified and are eerily vague, like the one with an alien's head over a strange symbol with the message written in Latin "Let them hate so long as they fear."

Great little book, highly recommended.

A look at the uniform patches used by various secret projects of the (mainly) U.S. Airforce.

Quick read. But absolutely unique information and a patch-focused presenation. A nice little book for military buffs.