The bestselling author of All the Shah’s Men and The Brothers tells the astonishing story of the man who oversaw the CIA’s secret drug and mind-control experiments of the 1950s and ’60s.
The visionary chemist Sidney Gottlieb
was the CIA’s master magician and gentlehearted torturer―the agency’s “poisoner in chief.” As head of the MK-ULTRA mind control project, he directed brutal experiments at secret prisons on three continents. He made pills, powders, and potions that could kill or maim without a trace―including some intended for Fidel Castro and other foreign leaders. He paid prostitutes to lure clients to CIA-run bordellos, where they were secretly dosed with mind-altering drugs.
To purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Hudson Booksellers | iBooks
Hi Mr. Kinzer. I’ve just finished listening to your interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air and plan on reading your book. What I’m wondering is whether any part of the financing and support –albeit understanding that this was a CIA project– fell under the umbrella of DARPA? Whether you can answer that or not, thank you for providing a most fascinating interview and story.
Jack Frydenlund
Does the book mention Ted Kazinsky, the UNABOMBER? His Harvard education perhaps?
A good read, fleshes out the picture and complements a lot of the other recent works on these nefarious projects.
The most interesting single takeaway?
FOIA requests in the 1970’s came back with Gottlieb’s name unredacted.
If that was intentional, it begs a question. If it was a mistake, it was a consistent one.
Any further evidence or speculation?
[…] Joining our guest host George Freund for today’s show is Stephen Kinzer to discuss his book POISONER IN CHIEF: SIDNEY GOTTLIEB AND THE CIA SEARCH FOR MIND CONTROL. […]
[…] Joining our guest host George Freund for today’s show is Stephen Kinzer to discuss his book POISONER IN CHIEF: SIDNEY GOTTLIEB AND THE CIA SEARCH FOR MIND CONTROL. […]
Just finished your book on Sid Gottlieb – well done. Surprised you didn’t mention TV Series “The Prisoner” – talk about brain washing gone amuck !!
A masterfully researched book based on the remarkable story. I hope you’ll expose the unholy alliance between the Vatican and the CIA next time!
[…] is Stephen Kinzer, a journalist and the author of Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control. Now, you have probably heard of MK-Ultra. I know that before reading Stephen’s book, I had kind […]
[…] E-book Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control […]
[…] E-book Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control […]
I am curious if any of your research directed you to the last director of the SO division, Dr. Andrew Cowan. I would be interested in knowing his involvement with Gottlieb if any.
Was project MK-Ultra ever used by the ‘Boys Club’ at the CIA to discredit woman before forcing sexual intercourse that was unwanted & should count as rape charges? And what happens if it jeopardizes security projects under DARPA or other programs that Cost American lives: bio-defense?
#LangLey