Remote Viewers: The Secret History of America's Psychic Spies

Remote Viewers chronicles the U.S. government's decades-long research into psychic phenomena and remote viewing during the Cold War. The book follows key figures in the military and intelligence communities who developed and championed psychic intelligence gathering programs from the 1970s through the 1990s. The narrative tracks the evolution of remote viewing from its origins at Stanford Research Institute through its implementation at Fort Meade and various intelligence agencies. Schnabel documents the processes, protocols, and personalities involved in attempting to harness psychic abilities for national security purposes. The investigation draws from declassified documents and firsthand accounts from the remote viewers, scientists, and military personnel who participated in these classified programs. Government funding, scientific validation attempts, and real-world intelligence operations form the core of this historical account. The book raises fundamental questions about consciousness, human potential, and the intersection of fringe science with national security imperatives. Its examination of how establishment institutions approached paranormal phenomena reflects deeper tensions between conventional wisdom and radical possibilities.

Readers found this to be a balanced account of the U.S. government's psychic spying programs, backed by extensive research and interviews with key participants. Many noted the author's neutral tone in presenting both successes and failures. Positive reviews highlighted: - Clear explanations of remote viewing protocols - Behind-the-scenes details of specific operations - Profiles of major figures like Ingo Swann and Pat Price Common criticisms: - Too much focus on personalities over techniques - Lack of technical depth about methodologies - Some sections drag with administrative details Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (268 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) Multiple readers praised Schnabel's "journalistic approach" and "careful documentation." As one Amazon reviewer noted: "Neither sensational nor dismissive - just the facts about what happened in these programs." Some readers wanted more analysis of whether remote viewing works. A Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Tells what happened but doesn't really tackle the bigger questions."

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PSI Spies by Jim Marrs The book documents the CIA's psychic espionage program through interviews with the original remote viewers and declassified government files.

ESP Wars: East and West by Edwin C. May and Victor Rubel This account compares the Soviet and American psychic research programs during the Cold War through first-hand experiences of the scientists involved.

Mind Wars by Jonathan D. Moreno The text examines the Pentagon's research into paranormal phenomena, brain science, and mind control techniques from the Cold War to present day.

The Stargate Chronicles by Joseph McMoneagle This memoir from one of the U.S. government's primary remote viewers details his experiences in the military's psychic espionage program from 1978 to 1984.

🔮 Author Jim Schnabel spent two years interviewing former military psychics and intelligence officers to compile first-hand accounts of the U.S. government's remote viewing programs. 🌟 The remote viewing program, codenamed Project Stargate, cost American taxpayers approximately $20 million over its 20-year run before being declassified in 1995. 🎯 One of the most famous remote viewers, Pat Price, allegedly helped locate a crashed Soviet bomber in Africa before the Russians could recover it, providing U.S. intelligence with valuable technical information. ⚡ The book reveals how researchers at Stanford Research Institute developed specific protocols and methods to train ordinary people to access their supposed psychic abilities. 🔍 Several remote viewers described in the book, including Ingo Swann and Joseph McMoneagle, claimed success rates of 65% or higher in their psychic intelligence gathering missions, though these figures remain disputed.