Episode · Behind the Bastards · 2022-10-11
Books mentioned on Part One: MKUltra: When The CIA Tried to Destroy Free Will
Robert is joined by Jason Pargin to discuss the CIA's secret illegal mind control experiment, Project MKUltra. (Four Parts) FOOTNOTES: https://newsinteractives.
Jason Pargin discussed John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin and others. Robert Evans discussed Poisoner In Chief by Stephen Kinzer and Brain-washing in Red China by Edward Hunter.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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John Dies at the End
Jason Pargin’s John Dies at the End is a surreal horror-comedy novel that blends supernatural terror with deadpan absurdist humor.
Discussed“There are are now four books in that series for those of you who have read some of them or have just seen the movie that's out there on streaming. Uh it came out a decade ago.”
Where to get it
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Poisoner In Chief
Poisoner in Chief by Stephen Kinzer is a historical nonfiction book detailing the life of Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA’s clandestine efforts to develop mind control and chemical weapons during the Cold War.
Discussed“And in his excellent book, Poisonerin Chief, Steven Kinzer writes, quote, they focused on the way Menzanti had behaved during his trial. He appeared disoriented, spoke in a flat monotone, and confessed to crimes that he had evidently not committed.”
Where to get it
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Brain-washing in Red China
Discussed“Um, and longer article for a newspaper called The New Leader, which is also funded by the CIA. The CIA is funding a shitload of newspapers at this time, including a lot of left-wing ones. Um, and then he winds up writing a book because the panic he ignites is so such a big deal called Brainwashing in Red China.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“The one that is coming out, the one that I am here promoting is the sixth uh called If This Book Exists, you're in the wrong universe. It is part of the John Dies at the End franchise.”
Passing A Game of Thrones
“It's it's not it's not a Game of Thrones situation where you have to have read all of the books. They're they're episodic.”
Passing Fifty Shades of Grey
“No, but [laughter] but people hear famous examples of like, oh, this guy's Twitter account got turned into a TV series or whatever. like you hear I mean I often describe you to people as the first 50 Shades of Gray.”
“Jason, you want to give them context as to how they can buy your book? Anywhere. Anywhere that sells books aside from like grocery stores and stuff. Again, the title is If This Book Exists, you're in the wrong universe.”
Plugged After the Revolution
“People should check it out. Um and uh I have a book, too. It's called After the Revolution. You can also find it wherever books are sold.”