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Trevor Paglen
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I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World Hardcover – January 28, 2008

by Trevor Paglen (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 192 ratings
See all formats and editions
They’re on the shoulder of all military personnel: patches that symbolize what a soldier’s unit does. But what happens if it’s top secret?

Shown here for the first time, these sixty patches reveal a secret world of military imagery and jargon, where classified projects are known by peculiar names (“Goat Suckers,” “None of Your Fucking Business,” “Tastes Like Chicken”) and illustrated with occult symbols and ridiculous cartoons. Although the actual projects represented here (such as the notorious Area 51) are classified, these patches—which are worn by military units working on classified missions—are precisely photographed, strangely hinting at a world about which little is known.

By submitting hundreds of Freedom of Information requests, the author has also assembled an extensive and readable guide to the patches included here, making this volume one of the best available surveys of the military’s black world—a $27 billion industry that has quietly grown by almost 50 percent since 9/11.

Trevor Paglen is a geographer by training, and an expert on clandestine military installations. He leads expeditions to the secret bases of the American West and is the author, with A.C. Thompson, of Torture Taxi: On the Trail of the CIA’s Rendition Flights, which The New York Times praised as “the real thing . . . and not on the evening news.”

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  1. Print length
    136 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Melville House
  4. Publication date
    January 28, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6.15 x 0.52 x 7.53 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1933633328
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1933633329
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
192 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and informative. They appreciate the good pictures and find it a nice conversation starter. Readers describe it as a quick, easy read that is worth the money. However, some feel the content is limited and only focuses on Area 51.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
InterestPatch informationPicture qualityConversation starterReadabilityValue for moneyContent limitation
21 customers mention "Interest"19 positive2 negative

Customers find the book interesting and informative. They say it sparks their imagination and is a great view into the world of cults. The layout is described as excellent, and the material is interesting.

"I really liked the info and the presentation. It seems like the book is a little small for the money, but i still really enjoyed reading it...." Read more

"...or similar "black" programs themselves, and maybe even more intriguing for civilians...." Read more

"...There appears to be a rich language of symbolism in the patches' patterns, and many an afternoon could be whiled away by the reader attempting to..." Read more

"...The book is short, but it is crisp and provocative. It would make a very cool coffee-table book, even though it is pretty small for that purpose...." Read more

13 customers mention "Patch information"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the patch information in the book. They find the patches interesting and well-photographed. The book covers a variety of special operations patches and provides details about them. Some patch designs are self-explanatory, while others require flipping them upside down or in reverse. Overall, readers appreciate the detailed descriptions and photos of these patches.

"...of date and deals almost exclusively with Air Force unit's, the patches are good and the write ups are pretty well done...." Read more

"...dimensions of the book - it is very small; the patches are photographed at approximately life size and each page is not much bigger than each..." Read more

"...Some of the patch designs are self explanatory while others you turn upside down or reverse in the mirror looking a clue as to the patch might be..." Read more

"Some excellent photography of very cool patches. The book is short, but it is crisp and provocative...." Read more

5 customers mention "Picture quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers like the pictures. However, they mention there is little commentary and no organization.

"Love the pictures that go with this book" Read more

"...Quick read, mostly pictures, good coffee table book." Read more

"Some excellent photography of very cool patches. The book is short, but it is crisp and provocative...." Read more

"...Many great pics for the crap can. I put it with all the other picture books in my bathroom. Every one who comes over loves the book...." Read more

3 customers mention "Conversation starter"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a nice conversation starter that they can quickly read and pass on to friends.

"...It's a small book, quickly read, and then time to pass on to friends. (Be sure to get it back because the patches are neat.)" Read more

"It may be small in stature but it sure is a heck of conversation starter as far as coffee table books go...." Read more

"...It's a nice conversation starter, though." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They mention it's a quick read with pictures, and a good reference for non-believers.

"...Quick read, mostly pictures, good coffee table book." Read more

"...It's a small book, quickly read, and then time to pass on to friends. (Be sure to get it back because the patches are neat.)" Read more

"...Well researched and easy to read. Great reference for non-believers" Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good value for money. They say the black budget world is real and expensive.

"...of Black Ops and Special Access Program badges -- the black budget world is very real, very expensive, and growing all the time." Read more

"...It was a good buy for sure." Read more

"...I really suggest checking this product out. Well worth the money." Read more

7 customers mention "Content limitation"0 positive7 negative

Customers find the book's content limited. They say it's a one-time read with little reference potential. The scope is limited, focusing mostly on Area 51.

"...I deducted only 1 star because the book seems like a short read, and it would have been nice to have some more backstory on a few of the patches,..." Read more

"I would agree with the author that this book is not complete...." Read more

"...It's nice and I don't regret buying it, but in my opinion, it's very limited in scope, mostly focusing on Area 51 and electronic warfare patches...." Read more

"...but was very limited, as a collector there are hundreds more that were not shown, but cost to publish apparently the problem..." Read more

Interesting book
5 out of 5 stars
Interesting book
Really enjoyed this book 👽 always had a interest in the militarys black world & black projects .
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Top reviews from the United States

  • J. W. Mullins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fun and unique book and worth picked up for any patch or military enthusiast. This in the only books I have seen written on military morale patches. The cover has an actual embroidered patch affixed to it. It is a bit out of date and deals almost exclusively with Air Force unit's, the patches are good and the write ups are pretty well done. I would like to see a second version and would love to see this as the first in a series. But I don't know if the military patch collector is a big enough demographic to support it. That said if you find this at all fascinating or interesting its worth picking up.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • M. Carole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amusing and entertaining little book
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    If you are at all interested in the military, insignias, secret projects, or just good conversational pieces, buy this book. Then take it for what it's intended. The author doesn't promise a comprehensive or even consistent summary of military patches or black ops; he's picked some of the more interesting emblems and thrown a few program tidbits in where he could. It's surface level insight into the secret world of black ops, and if we all knew about it, it wouldn't be very secret or black, would it? The photos are great, the back stories are interesting, and we enjoyed it so much I'm buying more as gifts for my the history/military buffs in my family (i.e., all the guys.)
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Chris Z
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must have For military personnel
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Love the pictures that go with this book
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, but could have had more content or backstory
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked the info and the presentation. It seems like the book is a little small for the money, but i still really enjoyed reading it. I deducted only 1 star because the book seems like a short read, and it would have been nice to have some more backstory on a few of the patches, and related topics. There are a few photographs of airfields, and bases, but a little more info on the bases, programs, aircraft, or meaning of the military/intelligence organizations would have been useful and helped explain context.

    Also, in probably a minor unrelated point, the cover of the book was a bit mangled when i received it, but didn't feel the need to waste time/money returning it. Amazon just needs to be more careful packing small odd shaped books when in combined order shipping.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paige Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Little Volume
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I love this fascinating little book. It is a tiny fact-filled volume, with a patch from a different top-secret test flight or satellite reconnaissance unit on each page. Where possible, the author describes what the patch symbolism represents and where the unit was located.

    This is a thrilling little book for anyone that was involved in these or similar "black" programs themselves, and maybe even more intriguing for civilians. Not the dimensions of the book - it is very small; the patches are photographed at approximately life size and each page is not much bigger than each patch.

    This book focuses mainly on Air Force and NRO secret units. I'd love to see one of these for military intelligence and NSA units.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Juozas Deksnys
    3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, but poor page binding
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Smaller format than hoped for, poor page binding, some pages were partially detached upon delivery. Very nice cover, with actual patch on top of it. Images are in black background, information about each patch is on white background.

    Would rate it 5/5 if not for poor page binding and if it was slightly larger format.
    Customer image
    Juozas Deksnys
    3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, but poor page binding
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023
    Smaller format than hoped for, poor page binding, some pages were partially detached upon delivery. Very nice cover, with actual patch on top of it. Images are in black background, information about each patch is on white background.

    Would rate it 5/5 if not for poor page binding and if it was slightly larger format.
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    One person found this helpful
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  • thecoorslightking
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book 👽 always had a interest in the militarys black world & black projects .
    Customer image
    thecoorslightking
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
    Really enjoyed this book 👽 always had a interest in the militarys black world & black projects .
    Images in this review
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    Customer imageCustomer image
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  • Emil L. Balusek
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have collected Militrary insignia for about 60 years.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    I would agree with the author that this book is not complete. It is an excellent primer for a layman or even the experienced collector to learn the nuances of insignia design. Some of this is directly related to heraldry-or put another way, taken from the lineage of the patch or related to the mission of the unit it represents. In these cases, there is more information about areas 51 and 52, and at least some idea of their purposes. I was able to use the information in the book to give me an idea of what units might have worn patches I had thusfar been unable to identify. Thanks for writing it and I hope there are some followup volumes as more is learned.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • J.s. weir
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very high end
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  • Cesar Gutiérrez León
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy interesante
    Reviewed in Spain on April 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Si te gusta el tema de los programas militares secretos, este libro te muestra y describe los parches de estos programas.
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  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alien / A51 / Black Ops Patches
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic Book By Trevor my son Loves it and has now most patches to his Collection.
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  • JH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Trevor Paglen- I can tell you...
    Reviewed in France on June 28, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Livre inclassable sur certains badges associés à des programmes militaires noirs américains... Dans la première version, la couverture est un véritable badge !!!
    Au lecteur d'imaginer à quels types de projets secrets ils correspondent...
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  • Stefan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 14, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Für alle, die mehr über die Bedeutung diverser Patches "geheimer" Militäreinheiten wissen wollen *simply perfect!*
    Daher von mir volle 5*****
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