Unmanned, William M. Arkin
Unmanned, William M. Arkin
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Unmanned
Drones, Data, and the Illusion of Perfect Warfare

Author: William M. Arkin

Narrator: William M. Arkin

Unabridged: 11 hr 38 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/28/2015

Synopsis

Unmanned is an in-depth examination of why seemingly successful wars never seem to end. The problem centers on drones, now accumulated in the thousands, the front end of a spying and killing machine that is disconnected from either security or safety.

Drones, however, are only part of the problem. William Arkin shows that security is actually undermined by an impulse to gather as much data as possible, the appetite and the theory both skewed towards the notion that no amount is too much. And yet the very endeavor of putting fewer human in potential danger places everyone in greater danger. Wars officially end, but the Data Machine lives on forever.

Throughout his career, Arkin has exposed powerful secrets of so-called national security and intelligence. Now he continues that tradition. The most alarming book about warfare in years, Unmanned is essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of mankind.

About William M. Arkin

William M. Arkin is one of America’s premier military experts. His investigative work has appeared on the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, and has won many awards. He served as an NBC News analyst and reporter for thirty years and is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books, including Top Secret America and History in One Act: A Novel of 9/11. Arkin served in Army intelligence in West Berlin during the Cold War and has been a consultant to wide-ranging organizations, including the US Air Force, the United Nations Secretary General, Human Rights Watch, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Erik on June 17, 2015

**Received as a Goodreads giveaway** As I read this, I kept thinking it would have worked better as an article. It's a quick read and only 290 pages sans notes, but it still felt much longer. There's far too much on the history of drone production and what they're capable of instead of how they're ac......more

Goodreads review by Alberto on June 12, 2019

I was initially discouraged by the high verbosity of the writer but eventually, I found this book a fascinating one about modern warfare and how tech is changing the world. Would avoid the last scaremongering chapter though.......more

Goodreads review by Dani on November 25, 2015

Good research. Do not agree with author's analysis.......more

Goodreads review by Paul on November 23, 2018

Excellent read in which the author focuses on modern ISR, specifically emphasizing “black boxes” and drones. While most chapters have an exhaustive description and history of specific platform development, I found the end of most chapters to have great thoughts for future analysis and discussion. I......more

Goodreads review by John on June 29, 2019

A fascinating read. A bit technical in parts but nonetheless informative and interesting.......more

Quotes

Praise for AMERICAN COUP:

"Bill Arkin has a knack for stirring our national pot on uncomfortable issues that must be addressed. Today's world demands unconventional views on unconventional security challenges facing the United States. Bill asks tough questions of our security institutions, and the right answers demand a delicate balance between national-security preparedness and constitutional protections afforded to our citizens."—General Victor E. Renuart, Jr., USAF (Ret), commander of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. 2007-2010

"If anybody else had written this book, I would urge caution. But Bill Arkin has explored every nook and cranny of American national-security policy for decades, from nuclear-weapons targeting to war plans for the invasion of Iraq, and his reputation for sober accuracy is rock solid."—Thomas Powers, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Intelligence Wars: American Secret History from Hitler to Al-Qaeda

"If Bill Arkin doesn't know it, it isn't worth knowing."—Thomas E. Ricks, author of The Generals

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