📖 Overview
Reading the Enemy's Mind details the U.S. military's classified psychic spy program known as Star Gate, as recounted by one of its core participants. Paul H. Smith served as a remote viewer in this secret initiative from 1983 to 1990, working on intelligence gathering operations that used paranormal abilities.
The book chronicles the program's evolution from its inception in the 1970s through its declassification in 1995, including key personalities, methodologies, and operational successes and failures. Smith provides an insider's perspective on the training processes, experimental protocols, and real-world applications of remote viewing for military intelligence purposes.
Projects described include attempts to locate hostages, track Soviet submarines, and gather information about foreign military installations using psychic means. The narrative includes Smith's personal experiences as well as documented cases from other remote viewers in the program.
This account raises fundamental questions about human consciousness, the nature of perception, and the boundaries between conventional science and unexplained phenomena. The intersection of military pragmatism with parapsychological research creates a unique lens through which to examine institutional approaches to understanding human potential.
👀 Reviews
Readers value this book as a firsthand account of the US government's remote viewing program from someone who participated directly. Many appreciate Smith's methodical documentation and inclusion of primary sources, with one Amazon reviewer noting it "separates fact from fiction without sensationalism."
Readers highlight the detailed explanations of remote viewing protocols and procedures. Multiple reviews mention the book provides context for both the program's successes and limitations.
Common criticisms include:
- Dense technical sections that slow the pacing
- Too much focus on administrative details
- Not enough examples of actual remote viewing sessions
Ratings across platforms:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (184 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (234 ratings)
Several reviewers mention the book requires patience, with one Goodreads review stating "this is more academic than entertaining." Readers seeking dramatic psychic stories express disappointment, while those interested in the program's scientific methodology and history give positive reviews.
📚 Similar books
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Former military psychic spy shares techniques and protocols used in classified government remote viewing programs.
The Seventh Sense by Lyn Buchanan A remote viewer from the US military's Stargate program details missions and training methods from his time as an operational psychic spy.
Psychic Warrior by David Morehouse A first-hand account from an Army officer recruited into a classified remote viewing unit reveals missions and inner workings of military psychic operations.
ESP Wars: East and West by Edwin C. May and Victor Rubel Scientists involved in US government psychic research programs present findings and compare American and Soviet parapsychology initiatives during the Cold War.
The Ultimate Time Machine by Joseph McMoneagle A core member of the original remote viewing program shares experiences and insights from two decades as an operational remote viewer for US intelligence agencies.
The Seventh Sense by Lyn Buchanan A remote viewer from the US military's Stargate program details missions and training methods from his time as an operational psychic spy.
Psychic Warrior by David Morehouse A first-hand account from an Army officer recruited into a classified remote viewing unit reveals missions and inner workings of military psychic operations.
ESP Wars: East and West by Edwin C. May and Victor Rubel Scientists involved in US government psychic research programs present findings and compare American and Soviet parapsychology initiatives during the Cold War.
The Ultimate Time Machine by Joseph McMoneagle A core member of the original remote viewing program shares experiences and insights from two decades as an operational remote viewer for US intelligence agencies.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 Paul H. Smith served as one of the U.S. military's premier psychic spies for nearly a decade, participating in over 1,200 intelligence collection missions through remote viewing.
🔍 Project Star Gate and its predecessors cost approximately $20 million over two decades—a fraction of the cost of a single spy satellite.
🌟 The remote viewing program was initially created in response to intelligence suggesting the Soviet Union was investing heavily in psychic research for military applications.
🎯 Remote viewers in the program successfully located downed aircraft, missing persons, and provided intelligence about foreign military installations that was later verified through conventional means.
🎓 The author went on to establish the Remote Viewing Instructional Services, Inc., and developed a systematic teaching method called Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) based on his military experience.