📖 Overview
The Cover-Up Exposed, 1973-1991 is the second volume in Richard Dolan's series on UFO history and government secrecy. This installment focuses on UFO encounters and related phenomena during a critical period marked by advances in technology, heightened Cold War tensions, and growing public awareness.
Dolan examines hundreds of UFO cases while tracking the parallel development of covert government programs and official responses. The book incorporates declassified documents, witness testimonies, media reports, and internal government communications to construct a timeline of events and policy decisions.
The narrative covers multiple perspectives including military personnel, civilian witnesses, politicians, scientists, and intelligence officials. This period saw significant developments in UFO research methodology and documentation standards, as well as the emergence of organized civilian research groups.
The book raises fundamental questions about institutional power, technological secrecy, and the relationship between government agencies and public knowledge. These themes remain relevant to current discussions about transparency and official disclosure policies.
👀 Reviews
Readers highlight Dolan's thorough research and detailed documentation of over 300 UFO events between 1973-1991. Many reviewers point to his methodical sourcing through FOIA documents, military records, and contemporary news articles.
Likes:
- Clear writing style that presents complex information systematically
- Focus on military and government records rather than personal accounts
- Extensive citations and references
- Coverage of lesser-known UFO incidents
Dislikes:
- Some sections become repetitive with event descriptions
- High price point for hardcover edition
- Academic tone can feel dry for casual readers
- Few photographs or visual materials included
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (183 ratings)
Amazon: 4.6/5 (126 reviews)
A common theme in reviews is that this works better as a reference book than a cover-to-cover read. Multiple readers note it has "encyclopedic" qualities best suited for research purposes.
"More of a scholarly work than UFO entertainment" - Amazon review
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The FBI-CIA-UFO Connection by Bruce Maccabee The text details declassified FBI and CIA documents related to UFO investigations spanning from 1947 to 1990.
The Day After Roswell by Philip J. Corso A first-hand account from a former Army Intelligence officer describes the military's reverse-engineering program of recovered alien technology.
UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-up 1941-1973 by Richard Dolan The book chronicles government documentation and military encounters with UFOs during the early Cold War period.
Top Secret/Majic by Stanton T. Friedman The book examines classified government documents and witness testimony regarding the Majestic 12 group's involvement in UFO investigations.
The FBI-CIA-UFO Connection by Bruce Maccabee The text details declassified FBI and CIA documents related to UFO investigations spanning from 1947 to 1990.
The Day After Roswell by Philip J. Corso A first-hand account from a former Army Intelligence officer describes the military's reverse-engineering program of recovered alien technology.
UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Cover-up 1941-1973 by Richard Dolan The book chronicles government documentation and military encounters with UFOs during the early Cold War period.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔍 The book is Volume 2 of Richard Dolan's "UFOs and the National Security State" series, which is considered one of the most comprehensive historical analyses of the UFO phenomenon.
🏛️ Dolan meticulously examined thousands of declassified government documents and interviewed numerous military personnel, making this work one of the most thoroughly researched UFO books of its time.
📊 The author holds an MA in History from the University of Rochester and previously taught at Nazareth College, bringing academic rigor to a subject often treated sensationally.
🗂️ The book reveals how the U.S. government's approach to UFO incidents shifted from Project Blue Book's public investigations to a more covert handling of cases through various intelligence agencies.
🌐 This volume specifically covers the period when personal computers and video cameras became widely available, leading to a significant increase in civilian UFO documentation and changing how these incidents were reported and investigated.