1015:
998:
647:
34:
633:
tries hard to link psychic-spy projects from the past to today's events, and mostly fails". In many instances, he wrote, "...there isn't a link. Instead there's a progression of occurrences that don't connect in a meaningful way. The result is a strange new blend: Conspiracy theory meets Six
Degrees
300:
in 1953. Ronson spends time with Olson's son Eric as he attempts to uncover the mystery of his father's death. Eric suggests that Frank Olson was murdered, not simply because he knew too much but, rather, that he was having a crisis of conscience and seriously entertaining the notion of going public
257:, at the now-decommissioned "Goat Lab" medical training facility. He examines, and dispenses with, several candidates for the legendary "master sergeant" (Chapter 2) who was reported to have killed a goat simply by staring at it, in the earliest days of the program. A martial arts instructor named
284:
and other FBI operations. Another is the private business "franchises" and consultancies that retired members of the "psychic unit" later pursued as civilians. A connection is also proposed between these "privatized" psychics and the mass-suicide of members of the
768:, accused Ronson of "airbrushing him out of the story". While Ronson dedicated his book to Sergeant and included an afterword commending his research and guidance, the feature film did not mention his contributions.
962:
301:
with all that he knew. The narrative ends with the suggestion that the "psychic warriors" are now back in business working for the U.S. military again, possibly in support of assassinations.
819:, pg 112.: “The existence of the Star Gate project was not officially acknowledged until 1995... then became the subject of investigations by journalists Jon Ronson ...Ronson’s 2004 book,
616:
stated that "Ronson sets up his book perfectly. It moves with wry, precise agility from crackpot to crackpot in its search for the essence of this early New Age creativity....".
292:
The final section of the book (Chapters 13–16) leaps backward to the 1950s and attempts to connect the Army psychic program, and later interrogation techniques, with the CIA's
953:
268:
revelations—and attempts to make connections between the earlier (now terminated, and mostly discredited) military programs and the abuses resulting from the post-9/11
392:
Pete Brusso, martial artist and psychic; inventor/marketer of a personal self-defense weapon ("the
Predator"); Savelli's rival for US military contract work
423:
340:, retired Army major general; career military intelligence officer; proponent of psychic warfare, levitation, spoon-bending and walking through walls
461:
Lyn
Buchanan, retired Army intelligence NCO and psychic; unlike several of his colleagues, did not go on to develop a civilian "psychic franchise"
1271:
1261:
356:, retired Army colonel; proponent of non-lethal weapons and of military applications of the paranormal; introduced Channon's book to Stubblebine
493:, self-styled "soldier of fortune" and psychic martial artist; "pin up" icon for Special Forces groupies; died in a 1978 accident in Nicaragua
1276:
1150:
365:
James V. Hardt, research psychologist and expert on the electrophysiological basis of spiritual states; assisted the "men who stare at goats"
480:
Norman
Cournoyer, Ft. Detrick colleague of Frank Olson; confirmed to Frank's son Eric that, in his view, his father's death was a CIA murder
861:, Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/Greenwood Publishing Group, pg 154: “The story of Stargate was recently featured in a film based on the book
843:
Jon Ronson tells the story of this program, how it started, the bizarre twists and turns it took, and how its legacy carries on today.”
856:
810:
797:, Union-Tribune Publishing Co. : “This so-called "remote viewing" operation continued for years, and came to be known as Star Gate.”
754:
215:
The book's first five chapters examine the efforts of a handful of U.S. Army officers in the late 1970s and early 1980s to exploit
839:@ Michaelshermer.com.:”...the U.S. Army had invested $ 20 million in a highly secret psychic spy program called Star Gate .... In
527:
198:(2004)—the first episode of which is also entitled "The Men Who Stare at Goats". The same title was used a third time for a loose
757:
unit in Iraq. The film is prefaced with a title card stating "More of this is true than you would believe". The DVD release of
1142:
265:
227:
to enhance U.S. military intelligence-gathering capabilities as well as overall operational effectiveness. These include the
143:
1291:
1072:
359:
Frederick Holmes "Skip" Atwater, retired Army lieutenant; Gen. Stubblebine's "psychic headhunter"; later president of the
190:
by staring at them and stopping their hearts. The book is a companion to a three-part TV series broadcast in
Britain on
414:
286:
619:
Some critics, however, were skeptical of what they considered Ronson's shaky logic and some of his bolder assertions.
1201:
1158:
930:
708:
452:, retired Army major, intelligence officer and psychic; frequent guest on the Art Bell radio show; known as "Dr Doom"
199:
20:
1102:
908:
272:(Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, psyops in Iraq, etc.). This includes the use of the children's song "I Love You" from
1020:
526:, retired Army colonel and Internet pioneer; purportedly coined (with Channon) the Army's '80s recruiting slogan "
458:, retired Army NCO and chief warrant officer; intelligence officer and psychic; now runs a remote viewing business
385:
and psychic; recruited to work with US Special Forces by Col. Alexander; purportedly "downed" a goat and killed a
1256:
658:
413:
political scientist and paranormal proponent; allegedly barred from the Art Bell radio show after inspiring the
264:
In the middle third of the book (Chapters 6–11), the author leaps to the present day—i.e., 2004, just after the
241:, which the book never mentions by name.) Ronson is put on the historical trail of the "men who stare at goats"—
1177:
890:
730:
1266:
836:
761:
includes a bonus documentary featuring Ronson and many of the people who feature prominently in his book.
1286:
510:, late night radio host and proponent of all manner of paranormality and conspiracies; mentor to Ed Dames
406:
250:
1193:
764:
Coinciding with the release of the feature film in 2009, John
Sergeant, the producer of the TV series
1185:
806:
788:
536:, Russian psychiatrist; mind-control and thought projection expert; consulted by FBI during the 1993
583:
opined that it is "a hilarious and unsettling book.... Ronson comes off as an unusual cross between
420:
Prudence
Calabrese, psychic who worked with Courtney Brown; also banned from the Art Bell radio show
375:
consulted by the Army on how to deploy music as a weapon or for mind-control via subliminal messages
1065:
533:
316:
224:
67:
1281:
726:
19:
This article is about a book and accompanying TV series. For the movie based on the book, see
1027:
816:
554:"Dr. Bucha", U.S. Army scientist who, in the 1950s, investigated tactical uses of helicopter
523:
229:
449:
713:
A fictionalized feature film version of the book was released in 2009 under the same name.
319:
277:
234:
1014:
737:) a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime. He meets "Lyn Cassady" (
8:
1134:
1126:
1118:
1058:
545:, American bacteriologist and Army bio-weaponeer; died in 1953 in tragic CIA misadventure
273:
242:
82:
997:
568:
religious sect; subjected to musical weirdness and finally killed during 1993 Waco siege
33:
606:
337:
276:
on Iraqi prisoners-of-war. A purported linking element is the alleged use of music and
175:
551:, American chemist and CIA spymaster; dosed Frank Olson with LSD days before his death
1235:
1009:
992:
455:
353:
150:
138:
77:
852:
741:) who claims to be a former secret U.S. military psychic soldier re-activated post-
634:
of Kevin Bacon.... You're left feeling like you've been told a shaggy-goat story."
565:
410:
402:
Israeli celebrity psychic entertainer; self-described consultant to the US military
360:
238:
749:
plays "Bill Django", the founder of the psychic soldier program and Lyn's mentor.
832:
718:
555:
548:
490:
439:
738:
593:
584:
497:
382:
368:
254:
954:"Clooney caught in crossfire as war breaks out over latest film – News, Films"
504:; exploited sorcery and witchcraft to wield power; nemesis of Gen. Stubblebine
1250:
793:
734:
625:
601:
428:
399:
372:
331:
269:
1209:
750:
746:
714:
613:
579:
561:
513:
296:"mind control" research program and the notorious death of Army researcher
753:
plays "Larry Hooper" who is a former psychic soldier now running a rogue
588:
542:
517:
465:
378:
343:
297:
258:
157:
63:
1003:
986:
931:"How My Involvement with The Men Who Stare at Goats Was Erased Entirely"
646:
577:
Ronson's book was met with mostly positive, often glowing, reviews: the
1081:
784:
620:
537:
475:
442:, Jamaican-British convert to Islam; subjected to musical weirdness as
395:
281:
246:
216:
183:
171:
696:
471:
468:; lifelong activist to uncover cause of his father's mysterious death
191:
123:
118:
114:
233:(1979) and a "psychic spy unit" established by Army Intelligence at
876:
507:
293:
386:
327:
323:
245:
soldiers who supposedly experimented with psychic powers against
220:
179:
474:, American law enforcement official; incident commander at 1993
1035:
858:
Debating
Psychic Experience: Human Potential Or Human Illusion?
501:
433:
1050:
151:
1217:
1135:
The
Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
742:
722:
443:
187:
865:, by British investigative journalist Jon Ronson (2004)”.
334:; set Ronson on the trail of the "men who stare at goats"
182:
concepts and the potential military applications of the
558:; may be an urban legend as no one knows his first name
1119:
Out of the
Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness
952:
346:, retired Army lieutenant colonel; author of the
1248:
1127:What I Do: More True Tales Of Everyday Craziness
823:, was subsequently adapted into a 2009 movie...”
1151:Frank: The True Story that Inspired the Movie
1066:
888:
789:"Close your eyes and remote view this review"
237:, Maryland, in the late 1970s. (This was the
944:
1073:
1059:
1013:
996:
702:
32:
432:songwriter; song appropriated by US Army
1023:of original First Earth Battalion manual
928:
309:
348:First Earth Battalion Operations Manual
304:
230:First Earth Battalion Operations Manual
186:. The title refers to attempts to kill
1272:Military research of the United States
1262:Books about the United States military
1249:
909:"These are The Men Who Stare at Goats"
1143:Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries
1054:
950:
733:. The story centers on "Bob Wilton" (
484:
1277:Non-fiction books adapted into films
911:. ComingSoon.net. September 12, 2008
725:, but was filmed in ComerĂo Street,
685:Part 1: "The Men Who Stare at Goats"
641:
637:
837:“Staring at Men Who Stare at Goats”
13:
889:Geoff Boucher (November 1, 2009).
691:Part 3: "The Psychic Footsoldiers"
16:2004 nonfiction book by Jon Ronson
14:
1303:
980:
709:The Men Who Stare at Goats (film)
21:The Men Who Stare at Goats (film)
1103:Them: Adventures with Extremists
645:
223:philosophy, and elements of the
210:
170:(2004) is a non-fiction book by
965:from the original on 2022-06-18
891:"Jeff Bridges, psychic warrior"
855:and Harris L. Friedman (2010),
695:It was broadcast in Britain on
1178:The Secret Rulers of the World
1159:So You've Been Publicly Shamed
1080:
922:
901:
882:
868:
846:
826:
800:
778:
1:
1005:The Crazy Rulers of the World
929:Sergeant, John (2009-12-01).
812:Britain's X-traordinary Files
771:
731:New Mexico Military Institute
350:; New Age guru and consultant
133:277 (first edition, hardback)
572:
520:; mentor to Gen. Stubblebine
500:, superstitious dictator of
7:
1292:Works about Project MKUltra
951:Akbar, Arifa (2009-11-03).
27:The Men Who Stare at Goats
10:
1308:
1202:The Men Who Stare at Goats
1111:The Men Who Stare at Goats
1030:The Men Who Stare at Goats
988:The Men Who Stare at Goats
863:The Men Who Stare at Goats
841:The Men Who Stare at Goats
821:The Men Who Stare at Goats
759:The Men Who Stare at Goats
717:directed from a script by
706:
681:was aired in three parts:
315:Glenn B. Wheaton, retired
205:
167:The Men Who Stare at Goats
18:
1228:
1186:Crazy Rulers of the World
1169:
1088:
766:Crazy Rulers of the World
679:Crazy Rulers of the World
564:, American leader of the
196:Crazy Rulers of the World
149:
137:
129:
109:
99:
89:
73:
59:
51:
43:
31:
317:U.S. Army Special Forces
225:human potential movement
68:Investigative Journalism
1194:Stanley Kubrick's Boxes
794:Union-Tribune San Diego
703:Feature film adaptation
688:Part 2: "Funny Torture"
200:feature film adaptation
1257:2004 non-fiction books
528:Be All That You Can Be
450:Edward ("Ed") A. Dames
261:claims to be the one.
817:Bloomsbury Publishing
516:, self-help guru and
310:Interviewed by Ronson
1028:"Book Discussion on
933:. Huffingtonpost.com
727:BayamĂłn, Puerto Rico
305:Featured individuals
278:subliminal messaging
274:Barney & Friends
83:Simon & Schuster
1267:Books by Jon Ronson
1170:Film and television
464:Eric Olson, son of
389:using only his mind
28:
1287:Supernatural books
657:. You can help by
607:The New York Times
485:Discussed in depth
338:Albert Stubblebine
287:Heaven's Gate cult
178:'s exploration of
26:
1244:
1243:
1236:Man from Delmonte
853:Krippner, Stanley
835:(November 2009),
787:(10 April 2010),
675:
674:
638:Television series
456:Joseph McMoneagle
354:John B. Alexander
163:
162:
144:978-0-330-37547-4
100:Publication place
1299:
1229:Related articles
1075:
1068:
1061:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1045:
1043:
1017:
1000:
974:
973:
971:
970:
956:
948:
942:
941:
939:
938:
926:
920:
919:
917:
916:
905:
899:
898:
886:
880:
872:
866:
850:
844:
833:Shermer, Michael
830:
824:
804:
798:
782:
677:The 2004 series
670:
667:
649:
642:
612:
599:
566:Branch Davidians
436:soldiers in Iraq
424:Christopher Cerf
411:Emory University
373:new-age musician
361:Monroe Institute
266:Abu Ghraib abuse
239:Stargate Project
153:
91:Publication date
36:
29:
25:
1307:
1306:
1302:
1301:
1300:
1298:
1297:
1296:
1247:
1246:
1245:
1240:
1224:
1165:
1084:
1079:
1041:
1039:
1038:. 14 April 2005
1026:
983:
978:
977:
968:
966:
959:The Independent
949:
945:
936:
934:
927:
923:
914:
912:
907:
906:
902:
887:
883:
873:
869:
851:
847:
831:
827:
805:
801:
783:
779:
774:
721:. It is set in
719:Peter Straughan
711:
705:
671:
665:
662:
655:needs expansion
640:
629:was subtitled "
610:
597:
575:
556:flicker vertigo
549:Sidney Gottlieb
491:Michael Echanis
487:
440:Jamal al-Harith
312:
307:
213:
208:
174:concerning the
122:
110:Media type
104:
92:
81:
39:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1305:
1295:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1282:Parapsychology
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1242:
1241:
1239:
1238:
1232:
1230:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1222:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1173:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1164:
1163:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1115:
1107:
1099:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1085:
1078:
1077:
1070:
1063:
1055:
1049:
1048:
1024:
1018:
1001:
982:
981:External links
979:
976:
975:
943:
921:
900:
881:
867:
845:
825:
799:
776:
775:
773:
770:
739:George Clooney
707:Main article:
704:
701:
693:
692:
689:
686:
673:
672:
652:
650:
639:
636:
594:The New Yorker
585:Comedy Central
574:
571:
570:
569:
559:
552:
546:
540:
531:
521:
511:
505:
498:Manuel Noriega
494:
486:
483:
482:
481:
478:
469:
462:
459:
453:
447:
437:
421:
418:
407:Courtney Brown
403:
393:
390:
383:martial artist
376:
369:Steven Halpern
366:
363:
357:
351:
341:
335:
311:
308:
306:
303:
255:North Carolina
243:Special Forces
212:
209:
207:
204:
161:
160:
155:
147:
146:
141:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
111:
107:
106:
103:United Kingdom
101:
97:
96:
93:
90:
87:
86:
75:
71:
70:
61:
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
37:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1304:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1237:
1234:
1233:
1231:
1227:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1212:
1211:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1199:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1180:
1179:
1175:
1174:
1172:
1168:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1137:
1136:
1132:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1116:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1105:
1104:
1100:
1097:
1096:Clubbed Class
1094:
1093:
1091:
1087:
1083:
1076:
1071:
1069:
1064:
1062:
1057:
1056:
1053:
1037:
1033:
1031:
1025:
1022:
1019:
1016:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1002:
999:
994:
990:
989:
985:
984:
964:
960:
955:
947:
932:
925:
910:
904:
896:
892:
885:
879:
878:
871:
864:
860:
859:
854:
849:
842:
838:
834:
829:
822:
818:
814:
813:
808:
807:Clarke, David
803:
796:
795:
790:
786:
781:
777:
769:
767:
762:
760:
756:
752:
748:
744:
740:
736:
735:Ewan McGregor
732:
728:
724:
720:
716:
710:
700:
698:
690:
687:
684:
683:
682:
680:
669:
666:November 2015
660:
656:
653:This section
651:
648:
644:
643:
635:
632:
628:
627:
626:U-T San Diego
623:'s review in
622:
617:
615:
609:
608:
603:
602:Seymour Hersh
596:
595:
590:
586:
582:
581:
567:
563:
560:
557:
553:
550:
547:
544:
541:
539:
535:
532:
529:
525:
522:
519:
515:
512:
509:
506:
503:
499:
495:
492:
489:
488:
479:
477:
473:
470:
467:
463:
460:
457:
454:
451:
448:
445:
441:
438:
435:
431:
430:
429:Sesame Street
425:
422:
419:
416:
415:Heaven's Gate
412:
408:
404:
401:
400:spoon-bending
397:
394:
391:
388:
384:
380:
377:
374:
370:
367:
364:
362:
358:
355:
352:
349:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
332:remote viewer
329:
325:
321:
318:
314:
313:
302:
299:
295:
290:
288:
283:
279:
275:
271:
270:War on Terror
267:
262:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
231:
226:
222:
218:
211:Book synopsis
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
169:
168:
159:
156:
154:
148:
145:
142:
140:
136:
132:
128:
125:
120:
116:
112:
108:
105:United States
102:
98:
94:
88:
84:
79:
76:
72:
69:
65:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:First edition
35:
30:
22:
1216:
1208:
1200:
1192:
1184:
1176:
1157:
1149:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1117:
1110:
1109:
1101:
1095:
1040:. Retrieved
1029:
1004:
987:
967:. Retrieved
958:
946:
935:. Retrieved
924:
913:. Retrieved
903:
894:
884:
875:
870:
862:
857:
848:
840:
828:
820:
811:
802:
792:
780:
765:
763:
758:
751:Kevin Spacey
747:Jeff Bridges
715:Grant Heslov
712:
694:
678:
676:
663:
659:adding to it
654:
630:
624:
618:
614:Janet Maslin
605:
592:
580:Boston Globe
578:
576:
562:David Koresh
534:Igor Smirnov
514:Tony Robbins
427:
417:mass suicide
347:
291:
280:at the 1993
263:
228:
214:
195:
166:
165:
164:
785:Heard, Alex
729:and at the
589:Jon Stewart
543:Frank Olson
524:Frank Burns
466:Frank Olson
379:Guy Savelli
344:Jim Channon
298:Frank Olson
259:Guy Savelli
219:phenomena,
64:Non-fiction
1251:Categories
1082:Jon Ronson
969:2010-03-29
961:. London.
937:2010-03-29
915:2010-03-29
815:, London:
772:References
621:Alex Heard
538:Waco siege
518:firewalker
476:Waco siege
396:Uri Geller
282:Waco siege
251:Fort Bragg
247:de-bleated
235:Fort Meade
217:paranormal
184:paranormal
172:Jon Ronson
47:Jon Ronson
697:Channel 4
573:Reception
472:Bob Ricks
289:in 1997.
249:goats at
202:in 2009.
192:Channel 4
176:U.S. Army
124:Audiobook
119:Paperback
115:Hardcover
74:Publisher
963:Archived
895:LA Times
877:Op. cit.
809:(2014),
508:Art Bell
446:prisoner
320:sergeant
294:MK-ULTRA
158:56653467
52:Language
874:Heard,
387:hamster
328:psychic
324:5th SFG
221:New Age
206:Content
180:New Age
113:Print (
78:Picador
55:English
1221:(2017)
1213:(2014)
1205:(2009)
1197:(2008)
1189:(2004)
1181:(2001)
1162:(2015)
1154:(2014)
1146:(2012)
1138:(2011)
1130:(2007)
1122:(2006)
1114:(2004)
1106:(2001)
1098:(1994)
1036:C-SPAN
1012:
995:
755:PsyOps
502:Panama
434:PsyOps
405:Prof.
44:Author
1210:Frank
1089:Books
1042:2 May
631:Goats
611:'
598:'
496:Gen.
322:with
188:goats
130:Pages
60:Genre
1218:Okja
1044:2015
1010:IMDb
993:IMDb
743:9/11
723:Iraq
591:and
444:GTMO
330:and
152:OCLC
139:ISBN
117:and
95:2004
85:(US)
80:(UK)
1021:PDF
1008:at
991:at
661:.
604:."
587:'s
1253::
1034:.
957:.
893:.
791:,
745:.
699:.
600:s
426:,
409:,
398:,
381:,
371:,
326:;
253:,
66:,
1074:e
1067:t
1060:v
1046:.
1032:"
972:.
940:.
918:.
897:.
668:)
664:(
530:"
194:—
121:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
