First Platoon

A Story of Modern War in the Age of Identity Dominance

By: Annie Jacobsen

Narrated by: Annie Jacobsen

From the author of NUCLEAR WAR: A SCENARIO, a powerful story of war in our time, love of country, the experience of tragedy, and a platoon at the center of it all.

This story might sound familiar at first: it is about a platoon of mostly nineteen-year-old boys sent to Afghanistan, and an experience that will change all their lives. But their part of the story folds into the next: linked to those soldiers and never comprehensively reported before is the U.S. Department of Defense’s quest to build the world’s most powerful biometrics database, with the ability to identify, monitor, catalog, and police people all over the world.

First Platoon is an American saga of technology and war that illuminates a transformation of society. It is about identity in the age of identification. About humanity in the age of biometrics, iris scans, fingerprint scans, voice patterning, detection by odor, gait, and more. And about the power of point of view in a burgeoning surveillance state.

Based on hundreds of formerly classified documents, FOIA requests, and exclusive interviews, First Platoon is an investigative exposé by a master chronicler of government secrets. First Platoon reveals a post–9/11 Pentagon whose identification machines have grown more capable than the humans who must make sense of them. A Pentagon so powerful it can cover up its own internal mistakes in pursuit of endless wars. And a people at its mercy, in its last moments before a fundamental change so complete it might be impossible to take back.

Narration

I thought the writer narrating he own work would be better than average. In this case, not so much. She pauses in the middle of sentences, as you do, but the places she choses to stop are weird. Right from the beginning of the book, her speech patterns took me right out of the story. The material is compelling, and I enjoyed it immensely. Just wish I had not done this book as "audio".

Her knowledge

Very interesting and will make you think (perhaps worry) about the current state of technological

very interesting overall

excellent narrator. story is very intertwined and pertinent to the direction of military. raises important points about surveillance

THIS IS NON-FICTION

All I have to say is this is more scary than science fiction. Everyone should understand the gravity of the situation that Annie is reporting on. This is the kind of reporting and book writing we need more of. I highly recommend you read this book if you consider it. Laws cannot keep up with technology, and we need help regulating the people that are supposed to be writing the laws. Feels more like 1984 after reading this book.

Another great investigative book by Annie Jacobson

Annie brings a complete history and story to organizations and systems that are not well known or documented. This is an enlightening book an American should read and know about it.