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Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs

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The former head of the Pentagon program responsible for the investigation of UFOsnow known as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP)reveals long-hidden truths with profound implications for not only national security but our understanding of the universe.

Luis “Lue” Elizondo is a former senior intelligence official and special agent who was recruited into a strange and highly sensitive US government program to investigate UAP incursions into sensitive military installations and air space. To accomplish his mission, Elizondo had to rely on decades of experience gained working some of America’s most sensitive and classified programs. Even then, he was not prepared for what he would learn, and the truth about the government’s long shadowy involvement in UAP investigations, and the lengths officials would take to keep them a secret.

The stakes could not be higher. Imminent is a first-hand, revelatory account inside the Pentagon’s most closely guarded secret and a call to action to confront humanity’s greatest existential questions.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2024

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About the author

Luis Elizondo

6 books91 followers
Luis Elizondo is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence special agent and former employee of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Since 2017, he has been known for asserting that UFOs exist and are not the result of human technology.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 549 reviews
Profile Image for MacWithBooksonMountains Marcus.
353 reviews15 followers
December 10, 2024
ZERO-spoiler: This book delivers on something that most others in the genre fail at, namely believability. This is largely due to the author himself, who clearly shows that he has actually worked in the various government organizations he refers to. His credentials are verifiable and his insider knowledge did not come from casual internet searches and hearsay. And I am saying this although I find crashed UFO’s and alien corpses in the possession of the US government very hard to swallow. Yet having read this book, I am at least starting to give it a modicum of consideration. Even if one does not quite buy into those two incredible claims, the book offers insights into some very intriguing machinations of the US government, how it it has dealt with UFO sightings in past and present and theories various government institutions have come up with on the HOW, WHY, and WHO is behind the UFO phenomenon. In addition this book provides professional and rather detailed accounts of the 2004 Tic-Tac incident and the 2015 incident both with large navy groups, the most important post-millennium UFO incidents that were documented by the US navy. What puzzles me , however, is that he mentions also nuclear-powered destroyers having taken part when such don’t actually exist. That single blunder just nags introduces just a nagging doubt that weighs in disproportionately large against the credibility of the author. Also, the author mentions an unidentified phenomenon incident in his own home. Why did he not film that, was there no home-security system or a smartphone at hand to document that? Incredible claims like are very hard to believe; some kind of evidence there would really go a long way. Another negative critique of a literary choice concerning chosen content I am going to throw on the wall are various intermezzos that are about the author’s family and certain going-ons that are of a personal nature. Be that as it may, it is never truly overdone and some may not mind that at all. On a final note, to know more about the author, one could watch his interview with Ross Coulthart. It is an eye-opener
Profile Image for Arianna.
153 reviews
September 5, 2024
DNF'd at 200 pages - I could not bear reading this book any longer.

To be clear, my inability to finish "Imminent" had nothing to do with the subject matter. Are aliens monitoring us? Maybe. Elizondo certainly seems to think so. As far as conspiracy theories go, that's certainly not the most outlandish thing you could believe. Unfortunately the author immediately ditches the facade of being just a poor, misunderstood guy who wants the American public to know that aliens are real. He does this by introducing other things he believes in, like "remote viewing" and Morgellons. At some point, the author even declares that having Cherokee blood makes him predisposed to investigate paranormal phenomena.

Make no mistake, the author being untrustworthy is not the biggest problem with this book. The biggest problem is the abysmal prose. It's the worst. It's that guy who corners you while you're waiting for the bus and starts telling you an anecdote, then proceeds to go on an infinite series of tangents and never finishing the story. It's the kind of prose that makes me wish I was a native speaker of English, so I could explain exactly how awful it is.

The most bizarre thing about this book is how all the UFO talk the author does is completely devoid of any color. In the first part of the book, the only passages that are not a slog to read are the ones where the author clumsily describes his childhood and his relationship with his parents. It's only around chapter 12 that the author starts discussing the "objective" information he has about UAPs (most of which seems to have been debunked) and the "objective" theories you could make using this flawed information. The author does have a talent for turning science-speak into easily understandable information, but it's a shame he only starts doing this when the book is more than halfway through. Until then it's literally just soulless anecdotes about the people he met while working for the government. For example:

I remember a conversation about funding that I had with my new boss, Neill Tipton [...] Neill had served in the Army, and later worked sensitive programs for several of the three-letter agencies. He was a good man and a passionate deep-sea fisherman who in his work life found himself swimming in a pool of sharks.

I'm, sorry, what? Every single person this man has ever worked with has to be introduced with a similar description, even if they never come up again in the entire book. Every guy Elizondo has ever met is either the smartest person alive or a comic book villain who wants to ruin his life.

Around page 155 is when I was really taken aback. The author admits to working as a torturer in Guantanamo Bay, not to mention having an open arrest warrant in the European Union for his violations of human rights! What a great guy! It would have been great if this information was disclosed on like, page 5? Having acquired this knowledge, plus having read the stories the author tells about his own childhood, you could reasonably assume Elizondo to be a deeply mentally disturbed individual and stop taking him seriously in any way, shape or form, which is exactly what I did. It doesn't help that you can simply Google "Elizondo Imminent debunked" and be provided with evidence that, indeed, debunks at least some parts of this book.

This book is so awful it made me think it could be controlled opposition - the author was a fed, after all, and it feels wrong to believe in ayy lmaos if this guy also believes in them.

Now for some choice quotes:
In Ernest Cline’s epic science fiction novel Ready Player Two

No comment.
On the battlefield, we understood that the AK-47s pointed at us were part of a radical holy war, a jihad. I never took it personally. In the halls of the Pentagon, instead of radical Islam, we had radical Christianity, and instead of an AK-47 pointed at me, it was a briefcase and a pen, which was far more terrifying and personal.

Way to ruin one of the few inspired paragraphs in the entire book by adding a completely unnecessary specification! This is also part of a recurring theme in the book where the author introduces a subject (in this case, religious fundamentalists working for the US government) and never goes back to expanding on the topic.
A few years later, I heard a story that Alex had more confirmed kills in a period of time than the entire US Marine Corps. I never knew if the story was true, but I would not doubt it.

This is the level of investigation we can expect from someone who endeavors to tell us the truth about aliens!
Profile Image for Rich Flanders.
Author 1 book69 followers
September 8, 2024
If you are among the dwindling number of people who brush aside reports of ‘’UFO’s’’ or UAP’s (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), '’IMMINENT,'' authored by Luis Elizondo, the recently resigned head of the ‘’Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program,’’ will be a wake up call. Ever since the 2017 NY Times breakthrough article by Leslie Kean with accompanying video and the July 2023 Congressional hearings which for the first time revealed governmental admission of the reality of UAP’s, this subject has moved from the ‘’fringe’’ to serious scientific acceptance and investigation. As an experiencer, I feel heartened and hopeful that this riveting new book has jumped on the NY Times Bestseller list. In this moment of impending climate collapse and potentially catastrophic global strife, a radical shift in human consciousness is imperative. As the events recounted in ‘’’IMMINENT'' make clear, our continued survival as a species depends on it. Attaining it is directly connected to our grasp of the advanced consciousness behind UAP.

Luis Elizondo resigned in protest at the dangerous coverup by his Pentagon superiors of UAP information, and courageously decided to go public with a book. With its official, documented history of heretofore secret encounters of UAP with military and civilian personnel, Elizondo's tale is a game-changer. This is a story that goes a long way in blowing up taboos around the subject and opening minds to the new reality we find ourselves in. For that reason, it is essential reading.

The current global crises cannot be solved with our current consciousness. The phenomenon of UAP and advanced nonhuman intelligence triggers an essential reorientation in our understanding of who we are, of our place in the universe, and the very nature of reality itself. We are at a pivotal turning point in human evolution, where we as a species either evolve or die out. The presence of UAP zigzagging through the skies at impossible speeds, at home in the ocean or the air, reading minds, and appearing and disappearing at will, is a dizzying glimpse of a physics well beyond our own, opening us to a far vaster, more wondrous ‘’reality’’ than the one we have been dozing in.

While the revelations of the reality of UAP’s in ‘’IMMINENT'' are a critically important step in advancing our consciousness, we should also keep in mind that ‘’IMMINENT'' is largely colored by a military viewpoint, which is: As our species, a known violent one, comes closer to mastering the UAP’s means of propulsion, our visitors are concerned with how dangerous we potentially could be to them and other inhabitants of the universe with this technology. According to Elizondo, the military theory is that our visitors, observing our progress, are deciding whether to take the chance of humans evolving beyond warlike behavior, or whether to obliterate us before we can be a threat to theirs and other species. To avoid this dark scenario, humans must evolve, quickly, and hope our visitors will give us the benefit of the doubt.

But there could be another take on the narrative, a non-military one. Fear of the ‘’other’’ is not necessarily an accurate or productive way for us to meet the phenomenon of a formidable nonhuman intelligence. In my view, phrases in the book like ‘’invading our airspace’’ would be laughable, if they didn’t infer a dangerously primitive military response to UAP that could create disastrous consequences. Who’s '’airspace?'' If our visiting friends have co-existed with us for centuries, or even pre-existed us on this planet, as archeological evidence seems to suggest, ‘’our airspace’' is a presumptuous assertion. Why wouldn’t our nonhuman co-inhabitants think of it as our shared airspace? Likewise, the documented reports of nuclear facilities being momentarily shut down by UAP are not necessarily signs of hostility towards humanity, as Elizondo acknowledges. He suggests there are two possible reasons for these incursions and shutdowns to our nuclear facilities. Either they are probing our defenses for intelligence gathering purposes, or the shutdowns may be a warning to stay away from nuclear technology, for the good of the planet as well as for the safety of off-world civilizations, for whom nuclear blasts apparently disrupt the space-time continuum in which they live. Based on what we have observed of UAP technology, they clearly have little need to probe our defenses! I opt for the latter possibility.

Elizondo is scrupulous in sticking to what he knows and has seen, and doesn’t speculate on why there is such a coverup of alternative energy. However, others in the field, such as Dr. Steven Greer, Apollo astronauts Brian O’Leary and Edgar Mitchell, indicate that the real ‘’secret’’ has never been the existence of UAP’s, which has been known to certain government circles since at least the 1940’s. The real coverup is about the mastery of their means of propulsion, which is evidently based in the physics of the ‘’zero point’’ and ‘’anti-gravity’’and which would completely supplant the fossil fuel industry underlying the world’s economy and geopolitical order. Making public this ‘’free’’ energy source would eventually create a sustainable planet and bright future, but in the short term it would have seismic worldwide disruptive repercussions. This is the powder keg of real ‘’disclosure.''

The research of Greer (see DPIArchive.com) seems to reveal that the forces opposing ‘’disclosure’’ are a formidable, highly secret melange of military, intelligence and aerospace deep insiders, an illegal, rogue operation free from government oversight. As Elizondo’s book reveals, there is evidence that some UAP craft have actually been retrieved and have been partially or wholly reverse engineered. Although Elizondo doesn't explore this, Greer and others seem to have evidence that this ‘’free energy’’ technology has already been partially or completely mastered by this group, or groups, and that many current sightings may actually be ‘’alien reproduction vehicles,’’ not UAP’s, including the 2017 fighter wing-camera videos that exploded across TV screens a couple of years ago!

In addition to the planet saving benefits of such technology, there is a very real peril: If a nation or group held such a technology, they could weaponize it to totally dominate other nations. No doubt, the author’s urgency in getting this book out is based in good part on this concern.

At the risk of sounding far-fetched, there may be further evidence to suggest that some, if not all, ''abductions’’ may actually not be by UAP, but from ''black operations’’ staged by this illegal group within the military-industrial-fossil fuel complex to foment fear and hatred of ‘’the others’' and prevent peaceful, productive contact with our nonhuman visitors and the collapse of the fossil fuel industry. Whether the harassment and injury to natives in Brazil, as reported in ‘’IMMINENT'', involved hostile nonhumans or was a staged black operation from this covert group, is thus also in question.

In short, the subject is too immense in scope, too sensitive, and too important to be consigned solely to the military, and Elizondo would probably agree. It falls to you and me. It is now imperative for human individuals to rise to the occasion as co-equal citizens of the universe, stepping out in peace and goodwill as ‘’ambassadors,’’ as Dr. Greer puts it, to welcome and acknowledge extended family. Fear and aggression have no place here. We should be aware of projecting onto these highly advanced travelers the human frailties of our own limited consciousness. If the non-human intelligence zipping around us with impunity had wanted to enslave or annihilate us, they could have done so long ago. Perhaps when we have demonstrated that our species has evolved to a point where we are able to live in peace on this planet, our ‘’friends'’ may find it safe enough to share full knowledge of their technologies, and with this nonpolluting ‘’free’’ energy, we might create a sustainable planet at last.

Elizondo’s closing remarks reflect a consciousness far beyond that of a military warrior:

‘’This fight demands courage…We can no longer stick our heads in the sand and pretend we are alone in the universe. We know we are not alone.

‘’Will we unite as a species to communicate with these new potential friends - or will we doom ourselves through unwise policy and violence?

‘’Humanity has never been in this position or experienced what is ahead of us. If we make the wrong choices from here, we may erase humanity from the universe. If we come together and triumph, we will prosper and march into a future that no generation of humans has ever really imagined.''

‘’IMMINENT'' is a game-changing landmark on the road to full disclosure, a book that confronts humanity with evidence of the most significant development in history, written by the key governmental player in the harrowing, ongoing, behind-the-scenes push towards disclosure. Luis Elizondo has not only given us a page-turning, mind-bending book, he has rendered humanity a great service.

‘’IMMINENT'' is meant as a beginning, posing almost as many questions as it answers, and it is a must-read.

For those wishing to explore further, two books in particular not only complement Elizondo’s but greatly expand our understanding of this pivotal moment - ‘’UNACKNOWLEDGED,'' by Dr. Steven Greer, and ''THE UFO OF GOD,'' by Chris Bledsoe.

Rich Flanders
Author of ''UNDER THE GREAT ELM - A Life of Luck & Wonder''
richflandersmusic.com
Profile Image for Captain Absurd.
124 reviews11 followers
September 7, 2024
after the confession of telepathic abilities it is impossible to read the rest of the book with due seriousness
Profile Image for Dave Carrig.
68 reviews
August 23, 2024
This was fun book to read but I wasn’t sure how much of this I could take seriously. A lot of it is believable but at the same time I was skeptical. It wasn’t until I got to the pictures in the back of the book that I realized I should give Lue a little more credit. I remember when I was wrapping up a 30 year military career and writing resumes and going to interviews that I learned quickly that a lot of people weren’t buying some of the operations I spoke about or claimed in my resumes. I ultimately had to dumb the resumes down and not get too detailed on what I did in the military when asked in job interviews. Granted none of the stuff I did was as exciting as what Lue claims in this book but as I read it - it brought me back to those days when I had to start looking for a job in the civilian sector. And after reading about some of Lue’s accomplishments I figured I may have been a little too hard in my criticisms of some of those potential employers who turned me down. Not to mention I should have been more willing to believe him out of the gate. Sorry Lue - I do believe you now.

One thing that is without a doubt true was how he described the inner workings and bureaucracy of government intelligence agencies and how the government itself works and can be a pain in the ass to deal with behind the scenes. And to be honest that is really what at least 50 percent of this book deals with in regards to the UAP phenomenon. He does expand on a lot of what we already know with regards to specific UAP incidents including Roswell and comes up with some credible theories on how these things operate and what they could be up to. Most of it is about how Lue got into it, how he researched data on it, and his role in the current disclosure process we find ourselves in (despite its slow progress), not to mention his role in congressional bills that got passed with regards to UAP disclosure.

The one thing that is missing from this book as in all UFO books is who these beings are that are visiting us. I think that is what everyone really wants to know with regards to this phenomenon. Despite Lue’s efforts to make this topic be taken seriously in both the congress and the media we already know that these things exist. Claims are being made that we have been in contact with some of these things (not in the book) and the big question is who? Lue has come to the conclusion that they might be using water as a fuel source and that possibly they pose a threat - but I think he probably knows more. If not Lue then someone else more embedded in the phenomena does.

One topic that got broached in the book briefly was the belief by some that these things are demonic or maybe angelic or both. Lue fully believes that this issue should be looked at from a distinctly secular world view. But my question to him is how does he know that the secular world view is the right one - and if he doesn’t know then why does that have to be the default view? Of course if your belief is that these things are spiritual then why would you want to still not look at them and figure out what is going on? That would be my criticism of the Christians in government that Lue says tried to squash his program. Not that they believed they are demonic - but they still wanted to shut it down. They still could pose a threat regardless of whether you want to look at this through a theological worldview or a secular one. No matter where you land on that I think it is still prudent to study this and figure out what is going on and why.

Despite Lue’s roll in this I’m not surprised that the public is now more open to the idea that we are not alone. The public lives in a society dominated by a secular world view and of course would probably more willing to entertain the idea that these beings exist and are visiting us. They are not willing any longer to entertain the idea that there is a God who created the universe any longer which makes the door wide open to look at anything spectacular other than God. I get it - but limiting yourself to the secular world view could potentially put you in more danger than you imagined. Not looking into it at all though is a problem also.

Great book! I enjoyed it! I liked learning about Lue and his efforts in this and I would highly recommend it.

Thank you for your service Lue!
Profile Image for Derek Dewitt.
155 reviews7 followers
August 27, 2024
On the one hand, Elizondo seems like a guy who learned a bunch of hinky stuff and decided he'd do what he could to stop what amounts to a decades-long cover up of something important. And no, he's not a writer, but the book generally flows well enough, except for some odd bits where a paragraph basically repeats the content of the previous paragraph in different wording. A handful of times, there are redacted bits, and even a footnote explaining what redacting is, for those of us who somehow don't know. And yet, the question is, why are these in the final proof of this book? In plenty of other places, he is vague about a particular location, or says he is using a pseudonym for a particular person, so why not all the time? I can only think to make the readers feel like they're somehow in a thriller. Because that stuff should have been edited out. It detracts, not adds.

As someone else here on Goodreads noted, every person he meets along the way during this journey is either a paragon or some sort of comic book villain. But okay, those are his feelings, maybe.

The problems are really twofold. First, his only proof is his own words, and his several attempts to make the reader see him as a stand up guy, and so a trustworthy one. But this book is really about the long road to try and get the DoD and the Pentagon to start taking the topic of UAP seriously and start sharing some damned information.

It's some of the other stuff he put in here, stuff that in no way relates to his overall topic and narrative line, that make me question his veracity. He took remote viewing training and was very good at it (of course), except remote viewing is basically nonsense, or at the very least, no cases of it have managed to be replicated, and so the best you can say it is the jury is out on that. He mentions Ingo Swann, who was absolutely a scammer. He brings up Morgellons fibers, which are not real at all, but which he seems to believe are. He brings up implants put into the bodies of humans by, well, someone, and yet almost every single one of those cases that has been made public has also been shown to be nonsense. He says people with Cherokee blood, specifically, may be particularly good at psychic stuff, which is a bucket and a half of garbage (and of course, he might have a little Cherokee himself, which might be why he's so good at remote viewing).

And he praises David Grusch for his "bravery", and yet when he testified before Congress, Grusch simply said that someone told him that someone else had told them X, Y and Z. And yet, he says this is all a "nightmare" for him. Thirdhand stories are nightmarish? And after his testimony fell rather flat, he started saying some pretty outlandish things - that there's a secret agreement between the "non-human intelligences" and certain people in the government, that the government has actually killed people to keep this all quiet, and later he started going down the "they are interdimensional and maybe what we call demons" route. In short, the same litany of nonsense from all the other shysters and scammers out there in the UAP space who want attention for their increasingly outlandish claims.

So, is Luis Elizondo guilty by association, by connecting himself to the Stargate Project, and Morgellons, and dopey ideas about psychic powers being passed on racially, and alien implants and people who are almost certainly full of crap, like David Grusch? Maybe. Maybe he should be.

And maybe all that doesn't really matter. If the disclosure project is indeed moving forward (slowly - as Elizondo has said elsewhere, this whole thing isn't a sprint, it's a marathon, it's a process that will take a while yet), then time will tell if he's yet another scammer trying to get some notoriety or not. I like to think he isn't.

But then there's the nonsense, and those idiotic occasional redactions, that just make me pause and go, "wait a minute". And the frustrating things is that literally none of that needed to be in this book at all.

I hope that there's more truth than nonsense in here, and that his editors didn't really care all that much about what he said, just that he was saying it. Though, as I said, we'll just have to wait and see.
Profile Image for emma.
140 reviews4 followers
August 22, 2024
unfortunately i went into this book a mulder and came out more of a scully………. (i can say that now bc i just started watching x files)
Profile Image for Ari Damoulakis.
244 reviews9 followers
October 28, 2024
The Michael Shermer Show has an episode where he totally shreds this book and, I believe the author has, shall we say, been rather quite economical with the truth. Sorry, I just really can’t believe this book? Even the foreword? If the guy who wrote the foreword worked in US Intelligence, you can understand why sometimes they often make mistakes.
Profile Image for Sera Nova.
224 reviews14 followers
January 9, 2025
**Update** so I found out that I thought this was another book. Explains why I was confused why this was 80% sounding like a memoir. Still, the book sucked. For a memoir, it sucked. As a book about UFOs, it sucks. This dude lost all credibility with me with how much he made himself out to be a hero and the reason he was having UFO sightings was because he was 1/18 Cheerokee. Anyways, enjoy the rest of my review.**



I am a firm believer in aliens, but I am highly skeptical of humans.
This is 100% a human I am skeptical of.

I was really excited for this book. I love conspiracies and UFO's, and thought this was going to be one that was really entertaining and sharing some cool new information to play with.
Well I got about 10% that, 30% author telling us how American he is and how he needs to be the hero and share the "truth", 60% him talking about his personal life. I didn't pick up a book about UFO's and conspiracies just to read a memoir. I don't care about his relationship with his parents. I don't care about all the times he moved as a kid. I don't care about his life as he is quiting so he can release information and all that follows.

If you are not new to aliens, UFO's, and government conspiracies, you will get nothing out of this. It was more silly and stereotypically "crazy person talking about aliens". The moment that the author said him and everyone on the team that were experiencing things with aliens was because they were part Cherokee, I knew this was a crazy dude writing a fanfiction of himself.

And I an not joking about him writing fanfiction of himself. Not only is he telling us pointless information that has nothing to do with the topic of the book, but he also keeps trying to write himself as a hero that just HAS to wake humanity up to the "truth". It comes off so silly, especailly when he is quiting his job at the Pentagon. It was so theatrical and dramatic. Overall, it was comical.
**Edit** So Goodreads considere it a memoir, but I didn't see anything else advertising it was such a heavy memor that is about his life more than the topic.**
Profile Image for Kaylee Johnson.
75 reviews
September 15, 2024
Ok, when I listened to the forward I was so ready to drink the Kool-aid. But this book had me taking sips and then spitting it back out again. The author was all over the place and very little of the book actually talked about alien encounters.

I think the best part of this book was reading about UFO sightings that the Navy actually saw and recorded with military instruments. That was super fascinating. Unfortunately that only took up about 5% of the whole book. The rest of the book you get to read about Elizondo’s childhood, career, remote viewing, and mention of a million little tangents that lead nowhere.

I was shocked that the ratings for this book were so high and then I thought of my brother in law who loves conspiracy theories, and I realized that I am just not the target audience. Maybe I’ll give him this book for Christmas. He’d love it 🎅
101 reviews4 followers
August 20, 2024
Like it or not, aliens are real, they are here, and a cover up has been in place since the 1940s and the advent of the nuclear age. Much of what Lu talks about here is confirmation of that which we already know—or could aggregate from other sources—but he lays it out very concisely and directly. What was new to me, or what I’ve now seen for the first time, is that one of the core reasons for secrecy regarding alien interaction with our planet appears to be a legitimate fear that their most likely purpose is a defensive response to us becoming a nuclear power. Lu points out they don’t seem worried with preventing us from destroying ourselves when we have nuclear disasters, and that their activities are most probably an “IPB” or “initial preparation of the battlefield.” Much of the government secrecy on this subject has likely been to keep the public from massively panicking over the fact that an invasion is a highly legitimate fear.

I feel strongly Lu has other information that would lead him to believe the aliens are hostile, because he hold clearances that are active and is a patriot of the first order, but humanity needs to be more conscious of the fact that we’re dealing with an existential threat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Karen Danielson.
282 reviews
August 27, 2024
Everyone in the world needs to read this book and decide if Luis Elizondo is telling the truth. If he is, the world’s collective paradigm will shift unprecedentedly.
I have to wonder who the person was that convinced everyone that the world is not flat because Luis needs to get some advice from him.
Is it true? Do your own homework and decide for yourself. Watch the UFO Senate Hearing on YouTube and the 60 minutes episode. Read Avi Loeb’s books and follow the path your research takes because there are more and more credible people coming forward every day. It will blow your mind and your paradigm.
6 reviews
August 21, 2024
One giant leap for Humankind! Profound, thorough, gut-wrenching, and heartfelt. It leaves no doubt..

Some of the greatest heroes of our time have made the greatest leap for humankind imaginable! A leap from a quagmire of which the tendrils of muck have begun to untangle and tear itself free from the military-industral machine, hidden agendas, and even our own ignorance and preconceived ideas. This profound, thorough, gut-wrenching, and heartfelt book leaves no doubt as to whether or not we are alone in our universe, our world, but whether or not we manage to come together as a human race and we go from here with "our new potential friends". Thank you to Lou and so many other brave men, women, and families that have given up so much to provide the outlet to share our own stories in safety. to assure us there is much more to heaven and earth. And here, laid out before us is just the tip of the iceburg of proof that is out there!
Profile Image for Cameron Mulder.
17 reviews
August 30, 2024
"Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs" by Luis Elizondo is marketed as a revealing inside look at the U.S. government's research into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). Unfortunately, for those hoping for groundbreaking information or a fresh perspective on the topic, the book falls flat. Instead of new insights, Elizondo seems to rehash old UFO stories that have long been debunked or not taken seriously by credible researchers.

One of the most concerning aspects of the book is its uncritical acceptance of pseudoscientific ideas, such as remote viewing and Project Stargate. These subjects, largely dismissed by the scientific community, are treated as legitimate phenomena without offering any compelling evidence or critical examination. This not only undermines the book's credibility but also raises questions about the author's ability to discern between serious scientific inquiry and fringe theories.

While Elizondo and his team may have been earnest in their efforts to investigate UAPs, "Imminent" often feels more like an endorsement of conspiratorial thinking than a serious, evidence-based exploration. The narrative leans heavily on speculative accounts and sensational claims, offering little in the way of new or concrete evidence to advance our understanding of the phenomenon.

The one commendable aspect of the book is its call for greater transparency and openness from the Pentagon regarding its investigations into UAPs. Elizondo's plea for accountability is a sentiment many can agree with. However, the revelation that individuals with fringe beliefs—whether that UFOs are demonic entities or that people possess psychic powers—are in charge of important programs is troubling. This should concern anyone interested in maintaining rigorous standards for governmental research and oversight.

In the end, "Imminent" may appeal to those already invested in the more fantastical aspects of UFO lore, but for readers seeking credible, new information, this book will likely disappoint. The need for transparency in government is a valid point, but it's overshadowed by the book's troubling reliance on debunked theories and pseudoscience.
Profile Image for George Kanakaris.
155 reviews
September 20, 2024
This book is about Elizondo's big ego and nothing else. And who is interested in the lengthy descriptions of the bureaucratic get-togethers ? Nice cash grab Lou.
5 reviews
August 27, 2024
"Are we alone?"

It's a cliche, but it is, without a doubt, one of the most profound questions human beings have ever pondered. If the contents of this book are to be believed (and Congress seems to think so), Lue Elizondo could be the catalyst to disclosure. That would make this possibly *the most* consequential book ever published.

First, some context...

In 2017, Lue Elizondo released three videos showing military interactions with UAP that appear to defy the laws of physics as we know them. The evidence was so unprecedented that it resulted in historic, detailed coverage in the New York Times -- only after Elizondo was rigorously vetted and his credentials painstakingly confirmed.

Since that time, there have been congressional hearings featuring first-hand witnesses to these cases and an additional whistleblower named David Grusch who testified *under oath* that the U.S. military and/or particular contractors are in possession of such craft *and* non-human occupants (NHI) at known locations.

Former head of NOAA, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet has since confirmed the presence of NHI in numerous interviews. And this May, Aerospace Executive Colonel Karl Nell speaking at the Salt conference added "there's zero doubt." He paused briefly to stare down the gasping audience. "Non-human intelligence exists. Non-human intelligence has been interacting with humanity. This interaction is not new. And it's been ongoing. And there are unelected people in the government that are aware of that."

After a detailed but ongoing investigation, the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community was able to confirm that some of the claims made by Grusch are "urgent and credible." The evidence has been so convincing to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle that unprecedented UAP legislation has since been signed into law. More UAP bills and hearings are pretty unanimously confirmed to be in the works. Many additional whistleblowers have apparently come forward, but their identities are not yet known to the general public.

Since 2017, Elizondo has been very conservative about what he knows. This book, which had to pass DOPSR review by the Department of Defense (with visible redactions included in the book), expands on what he knows in profound ways that echo the sensational claims made by David Grusch.

As Carl Sagan famously said, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." Claims of NHI are definitely extraordinary and have a high burden of proof. The nature of the phenomenon inherently prevents definitive confirmation of origin. The only way to satisfy the burden of proof is to obtain the craft and bodies. Thanks to Lue Elizondo, whistleblowers are naming names and locations to Congress. It may take legislation using eminent domain to confiscate the material. Only then will we know for sure.

Personally, I have always enjoyed spooky subjects. However, I am also an atheist, a huge science enthusiast and extremely skeptical (and harshly critical) of conspiracy theories. When I read such topics, I treat them as fiction and read for entertainment purposes only. This subject is a rare exception, and this book is absolutely not a work of fiction.

That said, there are still a number of claims made in this book that I can't accept at face value. However, these are generally framed appropriately and are not fundamental to the core evidence. For those reasons, I could not justify removing a star, particularly given the magnitude of the broader, more robust revelations. I will discuss those topics towards the end of this review.

***From here on out I will be spoiling many of the key revelations for discussion.***

Elizondo specifically chose the go-fast, gimbal and tic-tac videos because he thought their *low quality* would facilitate declassification. That implies that higher quality visual evidence exists in government files. Indeed, he has explicitly confirmed that to be the case in interviews since the books release, including in his interview with Joe Rogan.

Moreover, he did not believe he would be able to obtain an unlimited declassification. For this reason, he requested a limited declassification for research purposes. However, due to a technicality the DoD advised in their response that it would have to be a general unlimited release -- presumably trusting that Elizondo would still be using the declassification for research purposes only, but not legally restricting a general release. He took full advantage.

The fact that these videos represent some of the *less definitive evidence* in government files is pretty significant. Some important notes about the tic-tac and gimbal encounters before I dive into the more controversial revelations.

Tic-Tac:

1. Prior to the tic-tac encounter, "hundreds" of UAP had been tracked in the area dropping from 80,000 feet (bordeline space) down to about 50 feet and back up "in the fraction of a second." Impossible speed.

2. The 46 foot long white "tic-tac" was first sighted by pilots above the surface of the water that appeared to be "churning" and "roiling" while moving in an odd manner "unlike anything anyone had ever seen."

3. After a close pass, the tic-tac zoomed off to the horizon at an impossible speed. Seconds later, the radar operator advised, "You're not going to believe this, Commander. Whatever that thing is, it's at your CAP point!" 60 miles away! The combat air patrol point is "a designated point that is preloaded into the aircraft and is used as a meeting point... Few people know the location... [and] it is impossible to extract from aircraft systems."

4. The power estimated to produce the kind of propulsion in the tic-tac case is 1.1 trillion watts -- 100 times the daily power generation of the entire US. It is not stated how this figure was determined.

5. It was traveling at hypersonic velocities without producing a sonic boom. As Elizondo describes later in the book, hypersonic means Mach 5. Or 5 times the speed of sound (762 mph). We only know of a few aircraft that approach Mach 5. The famous SR-71 can just about reach Mach 5, but only at very high altitudes where the air is thinner. "UAP are routinely clocked at *Mach 17*... more than 13,000 mph at low altitudes" without generating sonic booms.

6. Speaking of the SR-71, it takes half the state of Ohio to make a right angle turn. These objects stop, start and change directions at sharp angles without any resistance. The human body can only withstand about 9 g's for a couple seconds before passing out. The robust, highly maneuverable F-16 can resist 17 g's before literally disintegrating. These objects handle *thousands* of g's without any problem.

Gimbal:

1. We only see one object on the video. However, the "profanity-laced banter" on the audio makes clear that it was not alone. "Look, there's a whole fleet of them! Look on the [radar]."

2. The object resembles a classic flying saucer in appearance with a halo effect (if you look closely) that is explained in a separate chapter speculating about propulsion that may also affect the quality of camera photos. The gimbal UFO is also featured on the book cover.

3. The object "parks itself in the air" and rotates. "'Look at that thing!' a pilot says. 'It's rotating!'" Earlier in the video, before it "parked" itself, someone points out, "They're all going against the wind! The wind is 120 knots!" That's 138 mph winds, which would be classified as a *Category 4 hurricane* at ground level. These objects traveled against those hurricane force winds and at least one hovered and rotated in one spot without losing altitude at about 20,000 feet!

Again. These videos were selected for declassification because they were among the *lower quality* options! Astounding!

Now we get into the more startling revelations...

Roswell

Elizondo was informed by Dr. Hal Puthoff that Roswell was indeed a crash of two non-human vehicles. The hypothesis is that an electromagnetic pulse from a nearby base inadvertently disrupted the propulsion systems of the craft and caused them to crash.

Biological Remains

This is the shortest chapter in the book and provides only one example, but it is still a lot to unpack. Elizondo does not mention if this is the only example. He also lists a few crashes, but once again chooses not to refer to his list as being complete. Grusch has claimed that crashes are in the double digits.

The autopsy information was shared with Elizondo by "senior officials" about one of his colleagues at the CIA who reviewed a classified report about an autopsy that was performed on a deceased non-human pilot. Elizondo seems to have confirmed with that colleague who did not want his name used. Elizondo does *not* mention reviewing the report or seeing the body first-hand.

The alleged non-human pilot had a smooth brain, which would normally suggest low intelligence. That would be perplexing, if true. It also allegedly had a three chambered heart (like a reptile) and a merged gut and liver.

It seems highly improbable that a species that evolved completely independently would have similar internal organs. However, scientists have studied instances of "convergent evolution" here on earth. These are cases in which traits, organs or appendages evolve completely independently between distinct, isolated organisms. But I think it's a stretch in this instance.

If the report is true and accurate, the more likely explanation would seem to be hybridization, which would require that DNA be a ubiquitous building block for life throughout the universe. Hybridization would pose so many additional problems and questions. The "cryptoterrestrial" hypothesis (that they evolved on earth) is also probably more likely than convergent evolution on another planet, but why the complete absence of archeological evidence?

Elizondo has his own views on the smooth brain finding, which he dismisses as anthropogenic bias. He also very briefly and casually mentions the possibility that the pilot was a biological robot created by a higher race. For this he mentions that *civilian* researchers have frequently hypothesized that the "nordics" created the servile greys. However, he is quick to say that he doesn’t put much stock in such speculation. Although, it is interesting that he briefly pivots to hierarchies in nature such as bee and ant colonies.

It goes without saying that alien abductions are extremely controversial. However, if this autopsy claim is true and accurate, abduction research *may* be able to shed light on the strange biology. To extract useful information with such a dubious method of memory recall as hypnosis, it is imperative to favor researchers with large sample sizes, strict methodologies and minimal New Age or religious preconceptions. For those reasons, we should probably look to Budd Hopkins and Dr. David M. Jacobs who were among the earliest researchers in the field with by far the largest sample sizes and no clear preconceptions beyond taking UFOs seriously.

A quick word about hypnosis. On the one hand, there is a famous court case in which a witness was able to remember a license plate number with the aid of hypnosis, among other examples. Even Myth Busters found it to be useful (to their surprise) for remembering additional details of a staged event. This is not too surprising given that hypnosis simply creates a state of deep relaxation seemingly conducive to improved recall. Also, it is worth noting that stage hypnosist demonstrations are largely fake. It doesn't have that kind of power.

However, hypnosis has proven pretty unreliable in most controlled studies. It significantly heightens suggestibility and the potential for confabulation leading to false memories. If it works at all in the case of abductions for some reason, a strict methodology is absolutely crucial.

David Jacobs has long posited that the "nordics" appear to be nothing more than late stage hybrids who are subservient, but also later hypothesized that the small greys may be (early stage) intermediaries as well. The tall "praying mantis" type is the one that consistently conveys authority.

If we assume the autopsy report to be true, it could be the case that the greys really are cognitively dim -- created to be just smart enough to follow strict orders and perform required tasks, while being better equipped biologically to handle earthly conditions, but too dumb to develop independent thought.

The only thing mainstream science has been able to confirm in agreement with abduction researchers is that abductees broadly do not appear to be mentally ill, and they represent a seemingly random cross-section of our society spanning all walks of life, cultures and ethnicities (a sign of a sound scientific survey of a population, hypothetically speaking). However, elsewhere in the book, Lue Elizondo references a very informal survey of alleged abductees conducted by Garry Nolan who found that abductees appear to have higher IQ scores than the control group -- and an enlarged part of the brain that we know very little about called the caudate-putamen. Very preliminary.

If abduction research is of any value at all it is worth going back to the earliest literature when hypnosis was administered by skeptical mental health professionals, such as in the Betty and Barney Hill case. Budd Hopkins' first book "Missing Time" relied on mental health professionals to conduct hypnotic regressions on a variety of alleged abductees who did not know each other. Many did not know they were abductees (or what that would even entail) prior to regression. David Jacobs also went to great lengths to avoid confabulation, spent a lot of time writing about methodology and criticized other researchers with poor methodology in his book "The Threat" -- including the famous Dr. John Mack of Harvard University.

For anyone interested in dabbling in the very fringe topic of abductions, I would recommend starting with "Missing Time" by Budd Hopkins. Then read "The Threat" by David Jacobs. The details were still very hazy when "Missing Time" was written, which makes the work less contaminated by pop culture. By the time "The Threat" was published, patterns of apparent hybridization came into greater focus, and there is a lot of useful constructive criticism on methodology.

Alien Implants

Lue Elizondo *may* not have witnessed bodies or craft first hand, but he does claim to have handled an "alleged alien implant" that was removed from a military servicemember after a UAP encounter.

Elizondo was informed of instances in which a suspected implant seemed to evade attempts at extraction, and continued to move slightly for a short period of time while under a microscope.

The metallic "implant" is typically encapsulated within the host's own living tissue, presumably to prevent the body from rejecting it. Brightly colored fibers were commonly noted that were compared to Morgellons fibers and move under their own power. They suspected it had its own metabolism, and drew energy from the host's body.

Elizondo claims alleged implants have been sent to the CDC, FDA, NIH and US Army research facility at Fort Dietrich in Maryland.

UAP "Honeypot" -- Project Interloper

Lue Elizondo describes a plan he helped create to capture UAP. It leveraged UAP interest in nukes, open water and military activity. It would have required a lot of resources to lure UAP and "trap" them with "classified" (EMP?) equipment. Elizondo was not able to get authorization to complete the experiment.

Various Other Controversial Claims

The "hitchhiker" effect receives some attention. Elizondo believes that he "brought something home" with him. Both he and his wife witnessed green, translucent orbs in their home that would come and go. No real basis for judging these anecdotes.

The angel theory is covered a little bit. Elizondo thankfully expresses skepticism. However, there is a faction of religious extremists in the Pentagon who believe UAP are demonic. This is the "Collins Elite." Likely the same group that shook up Tucker Carlson. One likely member attempted to dissuade Elizondo from looking into UAP.

Remote viewing gets a decent amount of attention as well. This is another subject that overlaps with Garry Nolan's research on the caudate-putamen. Elizondo has personal experience and believes that remote viewing works. I can't accept it at face value as it has failed independent experiments. My view is that we can fool ourselves with the *ambiguity* of astrology and palm readings in the same way.

I'm open to being wrong, but I need to see the evidence demonstrated independently with a statistically significant success rate. Even if abduction claims are true, it would be more likely to assume that telepathic communication etc. are the product of advanced technology. As Arthur C. Clarke famously said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

There is also a weird connection with cherokee blood, but there is a good article on "bunkhistory.org" that could explain that surprising finding. The short answer is that it became popular in the mid-1800s to claim cherokee descent.

Various Final Thoughts

We should be vigilant about disinformation. In UFO history, there have been no shortage of credentialed "whistleblowers" who have proven to be liars and charlatans. Former counter intelligence office Richard Doty has made a second career out of lying and pedaling hoaxes.

That said, despite some petty nitpicking, Lue Elizondo is very clearly who he says he is. The jaw dropping visual evidence he declassified has brought out direct eye witnesses, and his efforts have put a massive congressional microscope on special access programs. If the NHI angle is an act of counter intelligence it might be the worst of all-time. That hypothesis is more absurd than alien implants and hybridization.

Some might be disappointed that there was very little discussion of ancient alien theories. Personally, I've never found the evidence particularly compelling.

There is an entire chapter dealing with a speculative analysis of the potential propulsion system. Audible listeners also receive a pdf for the illustrations in this chapter. Very cool.

The appendix includes scans of several important documents and emails pertinent to Lue Elizondo's story and credibility, including a letter from the late Senate leader Harry Reid vouching for Elizondo's participation in AATIP.

If you're a beginner, for additional reading, I highly recommend Leslie Kean's book "UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record." It covers a number of the best cases on record in an exceptionally objective manner. Kean was partly responsible for the NYT piece on Elizondo and the release of the videos. I also recommend "UFOs and Nukes" by Robert Hastings and, of course, "UFOs and the National Security State" by Richard Dolan if you want a comprehensive history.

Conclusion

Thanks in part to the heroic efforts of Lue Elizondo, for the first time in history, Congress has bought in to disclosure efforts. With significant, sustained pressure, it may be possible to pry the alleged "extraordinary evidence" out from the ossified military industrial complex. *If* that happens, this book will be referenced by historians for centuries as the pivotal moment that forever changed our trajectory as a species.
Profile Image for Elliott.
379 reviews71 followers
September 2, 2024
A quirk of language is that you can take the world’s longest sentence and simply add “____ said,” to make the sentence longer. You can then add another “____ said that,” in front of the “existing ____ said.” You can carry on forever never reaching a limit.
UFO books are just like that and this book is no different. “Luis Elizondo says that Roswell is real because so-and-so said that so-and-so said…” then of course the familiar “the government bureaucrats know more than what they’re saying!” said by a guy who was himself a former government bureaucrat. His tales of UFOs are very familiar to any UFO buff and constitute less than a Wikipedia article worth of old information. There’s no real reason to buy this book, there’s nothing that any skeptic will be convinced by, and nothing any believer will not already know.
Profile Image for britt_brooke.
1,536 reviews113 followers
September 29, 2024
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) sounds more mentally stable than UFO. Former Pentagon director of the now defunct Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, Luis Elizondo claims there is government proof of extraterrestrial life. This is all very clandestine and conspiratorial, yet some of it leaves you thinking way more about this than you maybe want to.
Profile Image for Terry Cornell.
486 reviews58 followers
December 10, 2024
I saw Luis Elizondo on Joe Rogan's podcast just about the same time I received this book as a gift. Most of the book is as described--the Pentagon's hunt for answers relating to UFOs/UAPs. As in the Rogan podcast the material Elizondo can't talk about because it is classified is probably more interesting than what he can talk about. To me some of the highlights are descriptions of some of the military pilots encounters including underwater experiences. Another revelation is top scientists describing how UAP propulsion systems likely work. Certainly hard for a non-physicist like me to wrap my head around. At the very end in the photo section is a supposed non-human biological sample, and a sheet of a composite alloy an aerospace company manufactured that may replicate some of the 'found' unfamiliar 'crash' material. Certainly more questions than answers here, but Elizondo indicates that there is some source for these sightings that is not of the earth we currently know. The Pentagon in particular is reluctant to acknowledge what it does know to the American public. Perhaps the most important question is what is the intent of the beings behind these vehicles? Are they benevolent? Scouting our planet for future takeover? Perhaps our large bodies of water are serving as galactic filling stations. I would've given the book a four star rating, but at times the writer's tone was a little off-putting when he sounded like a bit of a martyr. He resigned his government position because he could no longer be a party to keeping information from the public. Yet to preserve his high level security clearance and avoid federal prosecution there are things he can't discuss. The book includes a few photos. If you're interested in this subject matter, it's worth the read.
Profile Image for Melodi | booksandchicks .
903 reviews72 followers
September 20, 2024
Super interesting UPA info that the government has finally released. Some was more believable than others. Now I need to go watch some documentaries.
Profile Image for Jason Sass.
6 reviews
November 22, 2024
Not bad, mostly about Elizondo breaking free from the Pentagon and going public about UAP’s rather than going in depth about them. One annoying thing is whenever he gets into a juicy topic he says ‘but I’m getting ahead of myself’ and proceeds to never return to the topic. There’s one phenomenal chapter explaining a great theory about how these UAP’s (Tic Tac, GoFast, GIMBAL) move and why they are the shapes they are, as well as why they always seem to be near water. Give it a read if you’re interested in the topic, it will help solidify the idea that we are not alone.
Profile Image for Clinton.
46 reviews1 follower
September 5, 2024
This is a weird book. It tries to ground the UAP phenomenon by relegating it to layers of bureaucracy, that if Luis and friends try to overcome, may lead to laws and policy that would force the legacy UAP crash-retrieval program into the light. And it's believable. But the person reading/writing it is a soldier foremost and sees everything as a threat, including UAPs. Not only that, but he ran intelligence in Guantanamo Bay. So you have someone who is witness to video and testimony from individuals who've had encounters with NHI or UAP but whose first reaction is to perceive this unknown as a threat, and to infact have that as a first reaction to all unknowns.
Luis purports that what UAP encounters look to him over the years is reconnaissance, but don't you think aliens would have figured out the deal with Earth and the humans on it after a few years? With that sort of technology, they don't need much reconnaissance besides a quick purview of the planet to realise they can wipe us out pretty easily, so this theory seems unimaginative.
He also says that they can't be benevolent because they let us use atomic energy and develop it. But, to me, a benevolent race would let us make our own mistakes, observe, and hope that we can learn to be responsible for the power we have. Otherwise, how can we be trusted to be part of the galactic world?
Anyway, I rant, but despite this being an interesting look into the world of politics and how it may affect disclosure, I just couldn't get past Luis's threat perspective and the fact that he worked at Guantanamo.
Perhaps there's a reason that some soldiers don't have good interactions with these things. A soldier, a "hero" as every lay man likes to call a guy who holds a gun, is just a bringer of war and death, and like attracts like.
Also, Luis is one of those guys who goes on about how he believes in America, yet he is speaking out against his government's withholding of secrets, so what exactly is so great about America? What is America to this guy? If you can't trust the government, then is America just the good people in the government? Is it just the everyday citizen? It's just one of those vague things people say and don't actually define. Is it Guantanamo Bay?
One of the people he thanks at the end of the book is Tucker Carlson so I dunno. Everyone's just a dude and so is this guy at the end of the day.
I suppose I don't think it's going to be the US government to bring disclosure to the people and this book kind of convinced me of that.
2 reviews
September 12, 2024
Just go watch David Fravor's 10 minute congressional testimony and you'll get all the information of interest presented here. Read this book if you're interested in the thoroughly tedious resume of an annoying DOD meathead.
Profile Image for Maason.
526 reviews
October 31, 2024
Cannot believe this was published by a mainstream publisher

I think the lady doth protest too much! By which I mean there's such a thing as selling your "credibility" too much.

Yikes! Whack job alert.
Profile Image for Chris Palin.
9 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2024
The book lost me at “Cherokee blood makes the best remote viewers”
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