Audiobook12 hours
Frozen: My Journey Into the World of Cryonics, Deception, and Death
Written by Scott Baldyga and Larry Johnson
Narrated by William Dufris
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
()
About this audiobook
At first, the job as clinical director at Alcor Life Extension Foundation was an exciting change for veteran paramedic Larry Johnson: a well-funded research facility pushing the limits of modern biotech. But as he gained the trust of his eccentric coworkers and was promoted to acting COO, Larry was thrust into a nightmare world of scandalous controversy, gruesome practices, and deadly secrets.
One secret Larry unearthed was the full, tragic, never-before-heard story of what truly happened to the body of baseball icon and American hero Ted Williams.
Compelled by this and other horrific discoveries, Larry began copying documents, taking secret pictures, and ultimately wearing a wire every day at Alcor. He started living two lives-"Alcorian" by day, whistleblower by night.
Beyond the senseless animal experiments, beyond the dumping of toxic chemicals and AIDS-contaminated blood into the public sewage system, these people saw themselves as the elite, the immortal saviors of mankind who would lead us into the future. Inside this cultlike mentality, anything seemed justified. Maybe even murder.
Then Alcor found out. The death threats began.
Fleeing from state to state, Larry was stalked and threatened again and again. They chased him through the streets. They left death threats under his windshield wipers. They terrorized his family. Larry Johnson never wanted to be a whistleblower. But he knows this story must be told.
Written in Larry's own memorable voice and verified by actual transcripts of his "secret recordings," Frozen reads like a medical thriller-but every word is shockingly true.
One secret Larry unearthed was the full, tragic, never-before-heard story of what truly happened to the body of baseball icon and American hero Ted Williams.
Compelled by this and other horrific discoveries, Larry began copying documents, taking secret pictures, and ultimately wearing a wire every day at Alcor. He started living two lives-"Alcorian" by day, whistleblower by night.
Beyond the senseless animal experiments, beyond the dumping of toxic chemicals and AIDS-contaminated blood into the public sewage system, these people saw themselves as the elite, the immortal saviors of mankind who would lead us into the future. Inside this cultlike mentality, anything seemed justified. Maybe even murder.
Then Alcor found out. The death threats began.
Fleeing from state to state, Larry was stalked and threatened again and again. They chased him through the streets. They left death threats under his windshield wipers. They terrorized his family. Larry Johnson never wanted to be a whistleblower. But he knows this story must be told.
Written in Larry's own memorable voice and verified by actual transcripts of his "secret recordings," Frozen reads like a medical thriller-but every word is shockingly true.
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Reviews for Frozen
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
13 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5A very strange and interesting story. I would consider Larry a brave person for trying to do the right thing in exposing Alcor. Unfortunately, it appears that this incident has generated serious problems for Larry and his wife. I would recommend this book. It appears that many people interested in cryogenics are either just trying to make money (scamming people) or are really stupid enough to believe that cryogenics will work for them and provide them a future life. Cryogenic research for sperm, ova, and some tissue is practical but bringing people back to life after being frozen is seriously out there. Selling eternal life and/or life extension is a big money maker.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you read most of the reviews on Amazon, they are from employees of Alcor. I stumbled upon the subject of cryonics from a mention on the Nat Geo channel, Googled it, and went from there. It's a fascinating subject, and equally fascinating are the companies that perform it and the people who undergo it (certainly it is nothing I would ever consider). Johnson gives a great overview of the process, but he is very obviously biased. I understand that is naturally the case, as Alcor treated him quite badly, but I would have loved a more balanced approach towards the cryonics process. It's either very heavily against or very heavily pro. Anyway, the pictures are indeed disturbing (but fascinating). Altogether an interesting read if you are interested in this obscure topic.