Listen to Baseless: My Search for Secrets in the Ruins of the Freedom of Information Act by Nicholson Baker
Enjoy this audiobook with MP3 Audiobook Player - the ultimate iOS audiobook experience
“Staggeringly good.” —CounterpunchA major new work, a hybrid of history, journalism, and memoir, about the modern Freedom of Information Act—FOIA—and the horrifying, decades-old government misdeeds that it is unable to demystify, from one of America's most celebrated writersEight years ago, while investigating the possibility that the United States had used biological weapons in the Korean War, Nicholson Baker requested a series of Air Force documents from the early 1950s under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Years went by, and he got no response. Rather than wait forever, Baker set out to keep a personal journal of what it feels like to try to write about major historical events in a world of pervasive redactions, witheld records, and glacially slow governmental responses. The result is one of the most original and daring works of nonfiction in recent memory, a singular and mesmerizing narrative that tunnels into the history of some of the darkest and most shameful plans and projects of the CIA, the Air Force, and the presidencies of Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. In his lucid and unassuming style, Baker assembles what he learns, piece by piece, about Project Baseless, a crash Pentagon program begun in the early fifties that aimed to achieve "an Air Force-wide combat capability in biological and chemical warfare at the earliest possible date." Along the way, he unearths stories of balloons carrying crop disease, leaflet bombs filled with feathers, suicidal scientists, leaky centrifuges, paranoid political-warfare tacticians, insane experiments on animals and humans, weaponized ticks, ferocious propaganda battles with China, and cover and deception plans meant to trick the Kremlin into ramping up its germ-warfare program. At the same time, Baker tells the stories of the heroic journalists and lawyers who have devoted their energies to wresting documentary evidence from government repositories, and he shares anecdotes from his daily life in Maine feeding his dogs and watching the morning light gather on the horizon. The result is an astonishing and utterly disarming story about waiting, bureaucracy, the horrors of war, and, above all, the cruel secrets that the United States government seems determined to keep forever from its citizens.
🎶 Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! 🎶📖 Audiobook joy made simple – this app's ease of use is commendable. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Streamlining my audiobook journey – this app's design is top-notch. This app has completely transformed my daily routine. I can't imagine my commute without it!
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. ListenBook has given me the gift of time – turning daily tasks into moments of inspiration. The app is super intuitive. I was up and running in minutes.
Audiobooks have become my go-to gift for friends – and they all love it! With ListenBook, I've found a way to make the most of my free time while indulging in my love for audiobooks. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars! Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout.
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. I love how this app's user-friendly interface allows me to navigate through chapters and controls effortlessly. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's the perfect way to stay engaged and informed. I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily activities more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. ListenBook’s support for CarPlay is great. I can listen to audiobooks in my car easily.
I can't get enough of this app's user-friendly interface – it's a true delight. 🧘♀️☕ Sipping tea and getting lost in stories – the ultimate way to unwind! 🍵📖 📱 A world of books at my fingertips – this app's user-friendly design makes it a true reading companion. 📚📱 Audiobooks made easy – this app's functionality is truly a gift. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts.
Plays MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod with seamless integration
Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 3.0x for your listening preference
Import audiobooks via iTunes, cloud services, or direct downloads
Get your favorite audiobooks in supported formats from various sources
Import audiobooks to MP3 Audiobook Player using multiple methods
Control playback from your device, headphones, Apple Watch, or CarPlay
Join thousands of users who enjoy audiobooks with MP3 Audiobook Player daily
Download Now