I've read this book a few times through, and I can't help but come back to it often. If you want a no-fluff read, where you can quickly jump from location to location, this is the book you've been looking for.

This book covers the places like area 51, army bases and the fenced off area the goverment owns.It is scarey what goes on there and a few of the goverment programs that went on and what they cost, like when the govermentdecided to see if they could use atomic bombs for excavation and the insane results a normal person would expect .They did it more than once!!!!!

When looking at the description before ordering the book I was expecting more of a "hands-on" travel guide. By this I mean more of a personal journal of visiting (or attempting to) the sites. The book is more like a series of 2-3 page encyclopedia entries with a few photographs and black, line art type maps. Most entries lack even a photo which was disappointing.

I actually was amused at the tongue-in-cheek style and was not put off by it. The lack of even a basic list of sources renders the information suspect without further investigation yourself. Despite this, I took the history and anecdotal stories at face value and just enjoyed the quick read.

I would say the book serves as a quick overview that may entice a reader to dig on the internet for more information about the sites. I had already heard about most sites listed so there was little "new" information contained inside. What was "new" is, as mentioned above, not backed by any sort of source so it takes some of the shine off the book in my opinion.

If you want a book that is easy to read in short sections and does contain some unusual tidbits of history about these places and are not put off by a bit of coarse language then you'll get what you pay for. If you are looking for actual accounts of a personal visit to each site with lots of pictures you are looking at the wrong book.

I expected a lot more from this book. It's not really a travel guide, although it does give crude maps and textual directions to each place. There are very few pictures, and most of those are for Area 51. The text is very entertaining though, but not very useful. Each site gets at least a couple pages, but there's nothing in-depth about any site. I'm not sure how much of the information comes from the author's experience visiting the sites and how much is just hearsay. He told only a few stories about his own experience, and I would have liked to read more of a travel diary about the author's experience going to each site, even if just to look from far away.

Although the book presents nothing that you can't legally get on your own, I would have liked to see an appendix listing the source material, contact information for public affairs officers, websites, and so on. There's no bibliography for further reading on any particular site. The book's best use is its table of contents. You're going to have to do more research on your own anyway.

At times the language is coarse and I think the book would have been better served without sarcasm, but I think the author was pandering to his audience. Some naïve politcal commentary creeps in as throw-away jokes, and might have been more appropriate if the author fleshed out the history a bit more.

Despite being disappointed in the marketing and categorization of the book, I did have a good time reading it, just like I occasionally need to watch a UFO show on TV.

No wonder the publisher or author doesn't offer a "Search Inside This Book" link. If you were able to read the table of contents of this book you would see everything you've probably already seen or heard of and lots of large military installations that aren't really secret or hard to find at all. Being an Air Force brat my entire childhood and then serving in the Army myself for six years, I've been to over a dozen of the installations listed in this book and not only are they widely visible and accessible to military members and their families, they also give tours to the public and have a large civilian workforce inside them. Been inside "Cheyenne Mountain", been underground at the former "SAC headquarters" and even to this very day I do work in and around various naval facilities including a nuclear submarine base, only having to show my drivers license, signing in, letting them search my vehicle and getting an I.D. tag. Next thing you know I'm 50 feet away from the flight line or looking inside an F/A-18 hanger. No "top secret" clearance or elusive James Bond tactics necessary.

There are tens of thousands of places across America that have restricted areas regardless of what they are or what activities they do. Our local utility company's headquarters building for instance has very tight security, many restricted areas and armed guards to protect from sabotage, terrorism and people pissed off about their electric bills but that doesn't and shouldn't automatically qualify it as a "top secret" destination. There's nothing new or exciting listed at all in this book unless you haven't watched the Military or History Channel or have been without internet access for the past twenty years. There's absolutely no, "that dark brown building downtown, next to the river, looks like an old warehouse, it's actually a secret munitions cache or surveillance center", under your nose type stuff that the book's description implies. Another example before I wrap this up, in the "Florida" chapter there is only one entry, the "Wackenhut Corporation" and nothing else period. Most Florida residents, military personnel and/or their families can and would point you to places more like Eglin AFB, CENTCOM or the military section of the Kennedy Space Center versus a "rent-a-cop" headquarters.

Buy it used or even better, do a Google, Wikipedia or search any property appraiser's website for any US city for this kind of stuff and you'll get better results. Example, the current Rachel, Nevada (Area 51) official home page (Amazon doesn't allow posting links) tells you there's no gas anymore in Rachel and the next closest station is 60 miles away. Do your own homework and you'll come out ahead, trust me.

And since I totally expect the author to cry foul about this review, maybe even write himself another 5-star review (anyone else notice that?) I challenge him to post the table of contents online and let you, the would be consumer decide.

No wonder the publisher or author doesn't offer a "Search Inside This Book" link. If you were able to read the table of contents of this book you would see everything you've probably already seen or heard of and lots of large military installations that aren't really secret or hard to find at all. Being an Air Force brat my entire childhood and then serving in the Army myself for six years, I've been to over a dozen of the installations listed in this book and not only are they widely visible and accessible to military members and their families, they also give tours to the public and have a large civilian workforce inside them. Been inside "Cheyenne Mountain", been underground at the former "SAC headquarters" and even to this very day I do work in and around various naval facilities including a nuclear submarine base, only having to show my drivers license, signing in, letting them search my vehicle and getting an I.D. tag. Next thing you know I'm 50 feet away from the flight line or looking inside an F/A-18 hanger. No "top secret" clearance or elusive James Bond tactics necessary.

There are tens of thousands of places across America that have restricted areas regardless of what they are or what activities they do. Our local utility company's headquarters building for instance has very tight security, many restricted areas and armed guards to protect from sabotage, terrorism and people pissed off about their electric bills but that doesn't and shouldn't automatically qualify it as a "top secret" destination. There's nothing new or exciting listed at all in this book unless you haven't watched the Military or History Channel or have been without internet access for the past twenty years. There's absolutely no, "that dark brown building downtown, next to the river, looks like an old warehouse, it's actually a secret munitions cache or surveillance center", under your nose type stuff that the book's description implies. Another example before I wrap this up, in the "Florida" chapter there is only one entry, the "Wackenhut Corporation" and nothing else period. Most Florida residents, military personnel and/or their families can and would point you to places more like Eglin AFB, CENTCOM or the military section of the Kennedy Space Center versus a "rent-a-cop" headquarters.

Buy it used or even better, do a Google, Wikipedia or search any property appraiser's website for any US city for this kind of stuff and you'll get better results.

And since I totally expect the author to cry foul about this review, maybe even write himself another 5-star review (anyone else notice that?) I challenge him to post the table of contents online and let you, the would be consumer decide.

No wonder the publisher or author doesn't offer a "Search Inside This Book" link. If you were able to read the table of contents of this book you would see everything you've probably already seen or heard of and lots of large military installations that aren't really secret or hard to find at all. Being an Air Force brat my entire childhood and then serving in the Army myself for six years, I've been to over a dozen of the installations listed in this book and not only are they widely visible and accessible to military members and their families, they also give tours to the public and have a large civilian workforce inside them. Been inside "Cheyenne Mountain", been underground at the former S.A.C. and even to this very day I do work inside and around various naval facilities including a nuclear submarine base only having to show my drivers license, signing in, letting them search my vehicle and getting an I.D. tag. Real James Bond stuff there (sarcasm).

There are tens of thousands of places in America have restricted areas regardless of what they are or what activities they do. Our local utility company's headquarters building for instance has very tight security, many restricted areas and armed guards protect from sabotage, terrorism and people pissed off about their electric bills, but that doesn't and shouldn't automatically qualify it as a "top secret" destination.
Nothing new, nothing exciting unless you haven't watched the Military or History Channel for the past twenty years. There's absolutely no, "that dark brown building downtown, next to the river, looks like an old warehouse, it's actually a secret munitions cache or surveillance center", under your nose type stuff that the book's description implies.

Buy it used or even better, do a Google or Wikipedia on any city for this kind of stuff and you'll get better results and since I totally expect the author to cry foul about this review, I challenge him to post the table of contents and let you, the would be consumer decide.

No wonder the publisher or author doesn't offer a "Search Inside This Book" link. If you were able to read the table of contents of this book you would see everything you've probably already seen or heard of and lots of large military installations that aren't really secret or hard to find at all. Being an Air Force brat and being in the Army for six years, I've been to over a dozen of the installations listed in this book and not only are they widely visible and accessible to military members and their families, they also give tours to the public and have a large civilian workforce inside them. Tens of thousands of places in America have restricted areas regardless of what they are or what activities they do. Our local utility company's headquarters has very tight security, restricted areas and armed protection from sabotage but that doesn't qualify it as a "top secret" destination. Nothing new, nothing exciting unless you haven't watched the Military or History Channel for the past twenty years.

Buy it used or even better, do a Google or Wikipedia on any city for this kind of stuff and you'll get better results and since I totally expect the author to cry foul about this review, I challenge him to post the table of contents and let you, the would be consumer decide.

This is a really good book for those 'out of the way' vacation spots. No matter where you want to go on your vacation, there's an interesting 'little known' place nearby!

This is one of those books you have to get for the conspiracy theorists in the family. Fun book to read and have.

I'll admit it: I bought Top Secret Tourism because I loved the full title... Your Travel Guide to Germ Warfare Laboratories, Clandestine Aircraft Bases, and Other Places in the United States You're Not Supposed to Know About. It lives up to its title. Helms did his homework on this one. It's an eyeopener, just how many billions taxpayers spend on top secret facilities in this country, how World War II created what Helms calls Top Secret America when previously there was no national security state. Helms traveled all across the country to get as close to as many of these facilities as he could, including the famous Area 51 in Nevada. Particularly disturbing is the access one can get to former--and still radioactive--atomic test sites from the 1950s. Top Secret Tourism isn't for everyone, but if you're into military stuff and secret stuff, you'll love this one... and wait'll you read about HAARP!

This was a fun read. A little over the top at times with the conspiracy theory stuff but I think that is what kept it interesting. Not a lot of information on each sight listed in the book but that is a combination of the style of which the book was written as well as how little our government actually wants us to know about what is listed in the book. I found out about this book through Wired Magazine.

I gave the book 4 stars because it doesn't compare to the great works of our world, but better than your average book for the spook nut in all of us.

The only downside to this book is that now I've got Amazon convinced that I am a conspiracy nut and I can't get the spook books off my recommended page...

As I read this book, I constantly had the theme from "The X-Files" running through my head.

This book lists places in the US that are or have been significant "restricted-access" sites. Arranged alphabetically by state, each place has a several-page writeup as to the history of the place, how to find it, and also a description of the location. In most cases the sites are secure government or private facilities and visitors are not allowed.

The list of sites includes places involved in testing of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, military test sites, surveillance centers, continuity of government facilities, training grounds, etc. It is easy to speculate about all sorts of wild suspicions simply because we cannot get a look inside the perimeter. But in my opinion, most of these places are probably not doing anything nefarious or involving space aliens, etc. However, reading about all these locations one after another does impress one with the amount of covert information, control, and power being accumulated by the federal government which could easily be immune to public or constitutional oversight, and used improperly for criminal or tyrannical ends. On one hand, this is sobering. On the other, one might take comfort in knowing that the government has such extensive capacity to monitor potential threats to the country. It all depends on one's perspective and attitude toward the government.

The sites are identified by icons on each state's map. I think it would have been helpful to have a "legend" page telling what each type of icon represents. After reading about all the sites, one can make a guess what the icons represent, but it would have been nice to state it explicitly. It would also have been interesting to have a one-page map of the whole US with all the sites' icons listed, and maybe a series maps of the US listing all of the icons by type on each page.

I think it would also have been nice to have some biographical information about the author, and his credentials and background for compiling all this information. But perhaps with the amount of latent paranoia running through the book, it's understandable that this is omitted.

I would have liked to have photos for each site, at least of the sign or approach road of the site, or a bird's eye view via public satellite, etc. The only entries that contain this type of illustration are the ones for Edwards Air Force Base in California and Area 51 in Nevada. Along with this, it may have been interesting to have included online URL's for any websites regarding these locations. As I read the book I often thought that the content of the book would make a great website with links to info about each site.

Overall, I found the book very interesting. This would be the perfect gift for conspiracy theory buffs and/or those interested in UFO's, terrorism, espionage, etc. It would also make a handy source of inspiration for someone writing high-tech thriller or science fiction novels. As a travelogue, though, it has limited interest since at most of the sites there's nothing that you can see without potentially getting arrested. Some of the facilities do broadcast mysterious radio transmissions which a radio buff might be able to tune in to.

One thing that surprised me was reading about the broad powers that are available to FEMA in the event of a "state of emergency." I got a laugh, however, from the author's comment in the "getting a look inside" entry for FEMA: "FEMA's sites currently offer no public tours. When they want you to see the inside of any of their facilities, they'll know where to find you..."

If you really want to feel paranoid, read this book and then read a copy of "Inside Secret Societies: What They Don't Want You to Know," by Michael Benson.

Additional Note: readers of this book who are interested in visiting these kind of locations may want to check out Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, South Dakota. Outside the base main gate, there is a public museum with a replica B-2 bomber on display along with a retired B-52 bomber. When I was there two years ago, one could pay to take a guided bus tour onto Ellsworth Air Force Base itself. The culmination of the tour included entry into a retired Minuteman missile training facility. You can go down in the silo and look at the full-size replica of the Minuteman missile in its silo, and think about the Cold War and what might have been. (Or might be again...)

Whether or not I actually visit the germ warfare labs, clandestine aircraft bases, test sites, and missile launch complexes described here is beside the point. After reading way too many travel books' samey descriptions of cafes and museums, this thing is the antidote, and a really fun read to boot. And I do think I'll check out the suspicious Marana Airport with its "mothballed commercial jets glistening in the Arizona sun" one day!

Top Secret Tourism: Your Travel Guide to Germ Warfare Laboratories, Clandestine Aircraft Bases, and Other Places in the United States You're Not Supposed to Know About is a one-of-a-kind travel and tourist guide. Chapters cover sites in states across America such as China Lake Naval Weapons Center in California, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky, Area 51 in Nevada, Green River Missile Launch Complex in Utah, and many more. Each site has its history discussed at length, with maps and directions; all are government facilities and installations shrouded by secrecy and misinformation. Though none of the information in Top Secret Tourism is from classified sources, the public sources compiling this unusual resource sometimes required an exhaustive amount of digging and searching. Highly recommended for armchair travelers and cross-country drivers looking to see and learn about something far more ominous than a simple hiking trail or historical landmark.

This book is an outstanding guide to all the all-too-real top secret government-controlled spots in the United States, from underground bases, to nuclear testing sites, to creepy office buildings, to fortified areas built just to ensure "continuity of government" in case of an apocalypse.
It's well-written (with only the almost expected typos and tics of a first edition by a smaller publisher to mar it), funny, sarcastic, and interesting. It features maps, good driving directions, and lots and lots of very strange and interesting information.
It is NOT, as one of this book's more asinine reviewers has suggested, a handbook for terrorists full of privately obtained and otherwise unavailable information. Everything within its pages is from public files or from the author's own observations.
For New Mexico alone, my home state, I learned a ton that I had never known before---the Air Force Base in my hometown of Albuquerque has the world's largest wooden object in the world (?!) and more nuclear weapons than any other place in the country, a hippie was caught living in ca ve right on the property of Los Alamos National Labs, the residual radioactive materials at one of New Mexico's underground nuclear tests are considered to be a dangerous collection point for such materials by terrorists, and the UFO that Lonnie Zamora allegedly saw in Socorro, NM a couple of decades ago could have been a moon-landing device prototype....
(I would have liked to have seen something on WIPP though, and all that hidden nuclear waste....)
This was a great book. I'm glad I bought it, and I would recommend it to anyone---even to the guy who reviewed it here without actually reading it.

A funny, informative and thoroughly fascinating look at all the stuff we're not supposed to know about. Makes me want to get out the RV and see how close I can get to some of these places.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a nice summary of some of the strange activities our government has been involved in. I did not buy the book for travel but it's a fun read regardless. All the stuff in this book is public knowledge, so it doesn't break any security rules like one of the previous posts claimed.

Altough I was aware of most of these sites there were some new ones and interesting stories to go with them. I enjoyed the tips on how not to be arrested. The only one the author left out was the underground UFO base in Alaska.

Normally I would never seek out books about such topics but having enjoyed the originality of many other titles from the same publisher, I figured Top Secret Tourism wouldn't be some stereotypical conspiracy theory of sorts (they're all out to get us!). Having actually read this book it is anything but that.

TST is highly informative and manages to do so in a manner that educates the total novice (like myself) while never talking over one's head; like assuming the reader is a nuclear physicist. I found Helms' style a joy to read, especially his sense of humor that manages to surface in each section: ("Since it would be illegal for the military to eavesdrop on civilian communications, this rumor is undoubtedly false").

The book is organized by states, with the "tourist spots" as subcategories. Each tourist spot is organized into sections ("What's There", "Key Facilities", "Secret Stuff", "Getting a Look Inside" ("No way in hell, forget it!"), "Unusual Facts", and "Getting There"- which has neat little road maps that are helpful enough to get you about as close as you desire. TST could even be used as a guide as to where NOT to go, or in choosing a home, to make sure you don't buy one next door to radioactive waste.

For those expecting a book that "takes their side" politically, that's not what TST is about. Obviously the top secret community exists no matter who's in the Oval Office. Some of it's reassuring to know (that maybe we have the technology not to LOSE a nuclear war), some is scary (worker and civilian cancer deaths from chemical exposure that got brushed off as coincidence), but most of all highly informative and interesting (did you know those parrot-like Furby toys are banned at the NSA?).

My only criticism would be the lack of pictures, but it becomes apparant why! Actually, after reading TST I realized maybe it's a good thing I paid cash at the bookstore, so "they" can't trace that I own it! Buy it before it gets banned by the nuts who think some pizza driver might actually use the info to sneak into a "continuity of government" facility 1000 feet underground or something.

I'd like to see a Volume 2 someday, even though it would probably contain locations of "lesser importance". I didn't see my state listed and I do know of an abandoned military testing ground nearby that may or may not be of "top secret" interest.

Next time I take a road trip, I'm using this as a reference! What's great about this book is the author's nature when it comes to dealing with the lore of such fabled places as Area 51. It's refreshingly pragmatic, debunking conspiratorial fantasies as it tells you what you SHOULD expect to encounter (which is still fascinating in its own right). His insights are multi-angled, and he gives better driving directions than Mapquest!

This book may very well awaken the adventurer in you.

I have not yet read this book. I have ordered it, and when I finish reading it, I will adjust my review accordingly. However, right-wing morons like Christner who actually think there is a war going on should NOT get to improperly skew this man's overall rating so badly. WIRED magazine thought enough of this book to include it in a recent edition, and most books they review have turned out to be good. SO - don't let the right-wing nutjobs of the world get in your way, either. Ignore this man's blathering, and at least consider buying Mr. Helm's book. Look for an updated comment soon.

The doublespeak in the book description is double-plus head-spinning:

"Here is the unseen America of government facilities and installations protected by a wall of secrecy, deception, and misinformation."

So these facilities are protected by secrecy, deception, and misinformation. Yet the description continues:

"None of the intelligence here was taken from classified sources; everything was on the public record and obtained by patient digging."

So these sites are on the public record. Yet the description continues:

"Since the 9/11 attacks, much of this information was removed from public dissemination."

So we're back to these sites being protected by secrecy, deception, and misinformation. After all, since 9/11 we've been at war with radical Islamic fascists.

Yet the description continues:

"To those who think a book like this discloses vital government secrets, Helms says: "Get real. If I can find this stuff out, the Russians, Chinese, and various terrorist groups also found it out a long time before I did.""

I live right next door to Fort Detrick in Maryland and it's so comforting to know that terrorists won't have to deal with secrecy, deception, and misinformation to figure out which targets to strike. They can find it all in Top Secret Tourism!

Thanks, Harry! Spend your 30 pieces of silver wisely.

UPDATE: Harry's reply to my review says I was dishonest because I hadn't read his book before writing a review. Harry, if your book description isn't like the book, say so. Anyway, if somebody reading this is interested, I respond more fully in the comments section of Harry's review.

As an author, I understand you're always going to get some negative reviews of what you write. It comes with the territory, and I usually don't mind unless there are some exceptional circumstances, such as when someone reviews a book they haven't even read.

Like Mr. Christner did. If you look carefully at his "review," you'll notice he "reviews" the product description, not the book content. And what gives him away is his claim that potential terrorists can find out about Fort Detrick in Maryland by reading my book.

There's no listing for Fort Detrick in my book. You're busted, Mr. Christner; you got caught "reviewing" a book you haven't even read.

Are you so lazy you don't even bother to read stuff you "review"? Or are you just that dishonest with yourself and your readers? Or it both??

I plan to spend those "30 pieces of silver wisely," as you advise, Mr. Christner. I plan on purchasing some books on professional journalistic ethics and sending them to you. You obviously need them.