UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record

By: Leslie Kean

Narrated by: Heather Henderson

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

An Air Force major is ordered to approach a brilliant UFO in his Phantom jet over Tehran. He repeatedly attempts to engage and fire on unusual objects heading right toward his aircraft, but his missile control is locked and disabled. Witnessed from the ground, this dogfight becomes the subject of a secret report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.

In Belgium, an Air Force colonel investigates a series of widespread sightings of unidentified triangular objects, sending F-16s to attempt a closer look. Hundreds of eyewitnesses, including on-duty police officers, file reports about the incident, and a spectacular photograph of an unidentifiable craft is retrieved and analyzed.

Here at home, a retired chief of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Accidents and Investigations Division reveals the agency’s response to a 30-minute encounter between an aircraft and a gigantic UFO over Alaska, which occurred during his watch and is documented on radar.

Now all three of these distinguished men have written breathtaking, firsthand accounts about these extraordinary incidents. They are joined by Air Force generals and a host of high-level sources who have agreed to write their own detailed, personal stories about UFO encounters and investigations for the first time.

They are coming forward now because of Leslie Kean, an investigative reporter who has spent the last 10 years studying the still unexplained UFO phenomenon. Kean reviewed hundreds of government documents, aviation reports, radar data files, and case studies with corroborating physical evidence. With the support of former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta, Kean draws on her research to separate fact from fiction and to lift the veil on decades of U.S. government misinformation. Throughout, she presents irrefutable evidence that unknown flying objects - metallic, luminous, and seemingly able to maneuver in ways that defy the laws of physics - actually exist.

©2010 Leslie Kean (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“This book is bound to set the gold standard for UFO research.” (Michio Kaku, Ph.D., host of Sci Fi Science on the Science Channel and author of Physics of the Impossible)

“I was astonished by the care and precision of Leslie Kean’s research in this terrific book…. her craftsmanship in organization and writing are superb.” (Rudy Schild, Ph.D., Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

“Kean presents the most accurate, most credible reports on UFOs you will ever find.” (Miles O’Brien, PBS Newshour science correspondent)

Good content, didn't care for narration

I disagree with the first reviewer, but it may be based on that reviewer's ongoing level of interest. I am interested in the subject from all the way back in my pre-teen years, but don't read every bit of new literature. So for me the book was very informative and well written.

On the negative side, I had to work to keep my attention on the audiobook. I found myself being put to sleep by the narration. That aside, I'd still recommend.

Refreshing Perspective on a Fascinating Subject

Like many people, I have an interest in UFOs, SETI etc. but have steered clear of books on the subject for many years because because most exhibit the less-than-objective hallmarks of authors who have clearly 'swallowed the red pill' (to quote the Matrix) and surrendered their credibility to the world of conspiracy theorists.

Kean's refreshing work documents several incidents that aren't widely known and, most interesting to me, discusses the surprisingly extensive investigations that nations other than the U.S. have conducted into various sightings. Her sources are, for the most part, identified by name and possess good credentials; much of the book is actually their verbatim testimonials rather than Kean's editorial. Most reports and discussion were precise and specific, with counter arguments considered and rebutted.

I don't think that every argument was rock solid but, generally speaking, the quality was far better than any other book or documentary that I'm aware of. As a military pilot, I can say that she does a pretty good job of representing the technical aspects of many reports, though she does seem to be rather easily impressed by the "Top Secret" security clearance credentials that at least one of her interviewees possessed (these clearances are so common as to be almost taken for granted among Air Force pilots and in certain other military career fields as well).

I'm not going to completely revise my worldview based on this book, but I would say that it re-opened my eyes to the subject of UFOs to the point that I'll at least critically evaluate such reports rather than casually dismissing them as conspiracy babble.

Regarding the narration: rather than the simple expedient of using two narrators, a female and a male, to read the author's discussion and the eyewitness reports respectively, the producers employed a single, relatively monotone female voice. As a result, it's often quite difficult to distinguish between the author's discussion and the eyewitness narratives, to the point that it actually does detract from one's comprehension of the book.

Not really unbiased, typical of the genre

Despite assurances that this is scientific and unbiased, the author has essentially created a typical UFO advocacy book. You get a warning of this early on, when she admits that she believes in "advocacy journalism" which *is* advocacy, and is *not*, by definition, journalism.

Example: the author repeatedly assures us that no one is advancing the case that UFOs are of intelligent extraterrestrial origin, which would be unscientific, then proceeds to repeatedly do just that, in every single case study, lapsing back into the safe retreat that "no one is asserting their origins and direction have been scientifically established as extraterrestrial." Uh, you just did.

The cases are pretty well known. She spends some time on Rendelsham, which frankly is not a very convincing case, and on the Hudson Valley Lights, which long ago were exposed as a hoax. Despite claiming that all of the cases examined were recent, she wastes considerable time on the Trindade UFO, which is a VERY old case. Sorry, "scienc-y" people, this is another well documented hoax.

And are we still doing Roswell at this late date, seriously?

Testimony by various politicians that they've seen real UFO's is fine, and, no more worthwhile than anybody else's UFO stories. Pilots and other trained observers *do* see things. We *don't* know what they are. If she'd stuck with that, the book would have been a lot more credible. Frankly I couldn't care less what Fife Symington thinks, ditto for the kooky ravings of John Podesta.

Finally, a very minor pet peeve which plagues the entire treatment: The PLURAL of aircraft is *aircraft*. It is not aircrafts. Proof editing aint what it used to be.

Not Alone?

Leslie Kean, is the author who has spent a good 10 years or more researching this book. With the Freedom of Information Act, she was able to procure certain documents that had not been available for a very long time, back in the 1940's. The narrator, Heather Henderson does an excellent job portraying Leslie's research with all the vigor and enthusiasm that makes for for an excellent listening experience. There is no official release of an Alien presence, but the overall evidence for the last 80+ years can not be ignored especially since the US government 's ATIP Program was initiated. If you enjoy suspense, intrigue and unforgettable history, then I believe this is a good choice.

L.J.

Very interesting stories from all over the country. A must read for sure, exciting!

Interesting but mostly old news.

Nothing new if you have followed this subject. Rehash of old sightings and reports but some interesting talks with insiders who say nothing groundbreaking but that they believe UAP exist.

This Book Looks at Facts from Reputable Witnesses

The author interviewed pilots both commercial and military, as well as, police, and government officials. These witnesses to UFO's were from all over the world from Brazil, Peru, US. UK, Spain, Iran, Belgium and point in between. She goes onto show that many witnesses get smirks, or are demeaned for reporting what they say or saw. Especially pilots who lose their jobs if they indicate they saw a UFO. Her point is if so many reputable witnesses claim to have seen UFO's with evidence then why is it not a security threat? It is most likely the most severe threat to the world if these aliens have threatening intentions. Why not really take a global look at this? Many pilots have shot at UFO crafts in the past, yet governments and the media keep it under wraps. If you have interest in this mystery, I recommend this read.

Excellent reporting

You can tell immediately that Leslie Kean really known he brief.
She carried out her research on a subject which has taunted her peers for decades in a highly professional manner.
Well done and it was very well read.

Book intended for non-believers

book was great. most of the stories I've already known but was good to get a bit more insight. I appreciated the author being factual but I would have liked an occasional personal theory on her behalf.

Simply incredible.

All the proof you need is right here. UFOs exist! This is a fantastic book that doesnt bore and provides you with unbelievable evidence regarding UFOs.