Amazon.co.uk synopsis:
"American military paranoia at its most extreme, insane, amusing -- and alarming Why are they blasting Iraqi prisoners-of-war with the theme tune to Barney the Purple Dinosaur? And why have 100 de-bleated goats been secretly placed inside the Special Forces command centre at Fort Bragg, North Carolina? In 1979 a secret unit was established by the most gifted minds within the US Army. Defying both military practice and the laws of physics, they believed a soldier could become invisible, pass through walls and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them. With first-hand access to the leading players in the story, Ronson has traced the evolution of these bizarre activities over the past three decades, and poses questions no-one else has yet dared to ask about which of them -- and more -- are happening still."

The quote from The Times on the back cover is the best review this book can have: "Simultaneously frightening and hilarious". The book starts with a general in the US Army trying to walk through a wall and follows the path, which start way back in and after Vietnam, as it leads to prisoner abuses by the US military in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.

There were times, especially before the book took its contemporary and darker route, that I thought us (and Jon Ronson) were being wound up by the ex-military officers he spoke to. He probably was by some of them.

A interesting, fun and sad read.

Updated 8 July: On its way to MrMustard after spotting it on his wishlist.

Arrived yesterday from Gothmarcus who very generously offered it me after spotting it on my wish list. I'll be sending 'Millennium People' by JG Ballard in the opposite direction. Looking forward to reading this.

Entertaining and, in parts, shocking investigation into the use of various psychic techniques by the US military. While much of the subject matter is so proposterous as to actually be amusing, there is a more serious, and sinister side. Some of the methods the author looks into appear to have reached their natural and terrible conclusion in the appalling photos of torture and humiliation that came out of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

On its way to KiwiinEngland.

Received with thanks.

In the business world you have a set budget and people and a clear end game.

In the army the desired results are sometimes unclear, the budget at times appears limitless, and the number of people under your comand is thousands. With these fluid boundaries ideas can spin out of control. The Men who Stare at Goats provides an outline of ideas so bizarre you think they can only be imaginary, but unfortuantely for some they appear to have been implemented by the US and UK miliary forces in recent years.

This was an interesting book, which set out well a complex history of recent military ideals. I am pleased I read this book.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This is going to perfect-circle as part of the celebrations for the Bookcrossing Un-Convention 2009, which is being held in Edinburgh. I hope you enjoy this book from your wishlist.

Found in my Uncon NSS, as well as lots of other lovely goodies. Thank you so much, kiwiinengland, I am looking forward to this one.

This is an interesting, amusing read that at times felt like a complete wind up but it also highlighted a more sinister side.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posted (surface mail) to VeganMedusa, part of the BookObsessed Reverse Wishlist relay.

Thanks, perfect-circle. :)

Holy crap. I hate books like this that are nearly ridiculous enough to be hilarious but have just enough truth to be terrifying. It's all so crazy, and yet so plausible. If Bush could be in charge of a country, then imagine the other people in positions of power - some of them are bound to be as worrying.
I'm not looking forward to his new book on psychopaths, but I'll read it anyway.
Reserved for a Southern Cross exchange participant.

Posted today to jennymidget. Sorry it's a bit late!

Thanks VeganMedusa!

Totally bizarre - just about the craziest nonfiction I've ever read. Very darkly humorous. A couple of the stories could have had a little more detail or came out of the blue and the cohesion suffered. But really fascinating stuff!

Off to France via BookMooch.

Reçu via bookmooch.

Sent this book to Japan in a bookmooch exchange.