Mind Wars

Brain Science and the Military in the 21st Century

By: Jonathan Moreno

Narrated by: James Lurie

The first audiobook of its kind, Mind Wars covers the ethical dilemmas and bizarre history of cutting-edge technology and neuroscience developed for military applications. As the author discusses the innovative Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the role of the intelligence community and countless university science departments in preparing the military and intelligence services for the 21st century, he also charts the future of national security.

Fully updated and revised, this edition features new material on deep brain stimulation, neuro hormones, and enhanced interrogation. With in-depth discussions of “psyops” mind control experiments, drugs that erase both fear and the need to sleep, microchip brain implants and advanced prosthetics, supersoldiers and robot armies, Mind Wars may sound like science fiction or the latest conspiracy thriller, but its subjects are very real and changing the course of modern warfare.

Jonathan D. Moreno has been a senior staff member for three presidential advisory commissions and has served on a number of Pentagon advisory committees. He is an ethics professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the editor-in-chief of the Center for American Progress’ online magazine Science Progress.

©2006, 2012 Jonathan Moreno (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

not super good. .

reader is not engaged. subject very important though.
I wish it was read by the author in version two. Then I would probably read version 2

Insightful

Neuroscience from multiple means including drugs, ultrasound, & electrodes. Although accomplishes subject matter brilliantly it helps me to see neuroscience is not a formidable weapon in warfare with today's clandestine adversaries. It could best offer advantages in peaceful situations such as interrogation or consumer usage. My thought on huge tax dollars for helping soldiers stay alert seems overkill when the easiest cure for tired soldiers is replace a tired soldier with a rested one; solved. Coffee works well enough for focus.

There are better investments for DARPA including satellite warfare, drones, unmanned remote controlled machinery/tanks that remove the soldier completely out of harms way that seem to be the best investment. Carrying out all warfare by drones or satellites equipped with lasers or PGM to engage targets seems a much better use of DARPA funds.

Removing our soldiers from the battlefield gives the enemy no chance to score; neither physically or politically. That's the kind of weaponry we need DARPA working on.

This book helped me understand the limitations of neuroscience when applied to the military. Five Stars.