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Frozen: My Journey into the World of Cryonics, Deception, and Death
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.
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.
424 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2009
8 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Larry Johnson
251Ìýbooks9ÌýfollowersLARRY JOHNSON is a corporate culture expert and professional speaker. Together, as the Johnson Training Group, their clients include American Express, Harley-Davidson, Nordstrom, Dairy Queen, and many others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 13, 2019
People are weird about death…which, I suppose, means that being ‘weird about death� is actually quite normal. So, in some ways, having people dole out money to have their bodies frozen on the off chance that future technology will be able to resurrect them in a couple of decades isn't all that different from your workaday televangelist imploring ‘true believers� to send in checks in order to ensure their place in a city in the sky. Author
Larry Johnson's
exposé isn't a condemnation of the concept of cryonics, or the viability of the science � it's about the bizarre (and often times super shady) inner workings he observed while working at the
Alcor Life Extension Foundation.
The semi-journalistic aim of this book felt like sort of a mashup of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank , and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (both of which I happened to read earlier this year). However, in style and content, it was inferior to each and/or both–and this is the reason for my 2.5/5 star rating.
Why tell you this at all? Well, because there's quite a bit of controversy around the legitimacy of the book, its author, the criminal allegations…the list goes on. However, not being an expert myself, and feeling insufficiently interested to dig deeper into the book's veracity, I'm not equipped to give this truthiness score.* Long of the short is that this is a he-said/she-said corporate whistleblower case with the added allure of celebrity affiliation (primarily Ted Williams, but there are others to be sure).
Of Anesthetic Drugs & Butt Plugs
Larry, a veteran paramedic, wasn't a delicate flower when it came to the death business. He'd spent the last several years on-call in Vegas (where insanity often reigns), and was even on-hand as a chopper paramedic for the Branch Davidian debacle in Waco. And yet, pretty much from day one he was a bit surprised at what he found kicking around the Alcor compound.
In addition to the expired paralytic drugs (why would you need to paralyze a dead person?), the butt plugs (umm...maybe those come in handy), and a diaspora of pizza boxes and tuna cans (turns out tuna cans make excellent pedestals for frozen human heads), the cast of characters he met seemed a bit off.� Examples?
- A woman who wears a bicycle helmet while in her car to protect her brain (not exactly sound science there)
- A CEO (Larry Johnson) and COO (Charles Platt) constantly sniping at one another (in battles dubbed ‘c°ù²â´Ç·É²¹°ù²õâ€� by Alcor staffers) via company-wide emails
- Oh, and a lurking hunchbacked computer scientist who inspired the observation made by Charles Platt below
For my money, the most egregious things Larry observes deal with bad lab protocol (e.g. removing Ted Williams' head when he was supposed to be a full-body patient), and the kind of gross environmental and worker-safety negligence that occur when an industry lacks any form of oversight (e.g. if a body pretty much decays in a van, you shouldn't just hose the thing out before returning it to the car rental company).
Yes, referring to death as the end of a patient's “first lifecycle� is a little odd, and helping a patient to reach that end point is (in most states) illegal, but it also doesn't sound like that was the norm. Threatening Johnson's life is definitely not cool, but there's just not much for me to say about that.
As far as Ted Williams goes, it sounds like Alcor (at most) aided and abetted Williams' greedy scoundrel of a son, John Henry Williams. I haven't been able to find the full-length piece on this that Johnson wrote for Sports Illustrated in 2003 (you can get the gist from of the saga), but what likely made for a fascinating magazine article was just too drawn out in book form.
______________________________________________
* So, if all that death threat business from the cryo-fanatical fringe turns out to be true, feel free to just blame Larry.
� As for the obvious questions as to why Larry wouldn't make an immediate b-line for the exit, he chalks this up to being a bit of an adrenaline junkie. But, yes, I too was confused about this aspect of Larry's tale.
The semi-journalistic aim of this book felt like sort of a mashup of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank , and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief (both of which I happened to read earlier this year). However, in style and content, it was inferior to each and/or both–and this is the reason for my 2.5/5 star rating.
Why tell you this at all? Well, because there's quite a bit of controversy around the legitimacy of the book, its author, the criminal allegations…the list goes on. However, not being an expert myself, and feeling insufficiently interested to dig deeper into the book's veracity, I'm not equipped to give this truthiness score.* Long of the short is that this is a he-said/she-said corporate whistleblower case with the added allure of celebrity affiliation (primarily Ted Williams, but there are others to be sure).
Of Anesthetic Drugs & Butt Plugs
Larry, a veteran paramedic, wasn't a delicate flower when it came to the death business. He'd spent the last several years on-call in Vegas (where insanity often reigns), and was even on-hand as a chopper paramedic for the Branch Davidian debacle in Waco. And yet, pretty much from day one he was a bit surprised at what he found kicking around the Alcor compound.
In addition to the expired paralytic drugs (why would you need to paralyze a dead person?), the butt plugs (umm...maybe those come in handy), and a diaspora of pizza boxes and tuna cans (turns out tuna cans make excellent pedestals for frozen human heads), the cast of characters he met seemed a bit off.� Examples?
- A woman who wears a bicycle helmet while in her car to protect her brain (not exactly sound science there)
- A CEO (Larry Johnson) and COO (Charles Platt) constantly sniping at one another (in battles dubbed ‘c°ù²â´Ç·É²¹°ù²õâ€� by Alcor staffers) via company-wide emails
- Oh, and a lurking hunchbacked computer scientist who inspired the observation made by Charles Platt below
“I suppose the most curious thing about Michael Perry,� Charles continued, “is that he removed his own testicles with a razor blade.�
For my money, the most egregious things Larry observes deal with bad lab protocol (e.g. removing Ted Williams' head when he was supposed to be a full-body patient), and the kind of gross environmental and worker-safety negligence that occur when an industry lacks any form of oversight (e.g. if a body pretty much decays in a van, you shouldn't just hose the thing out before returning it to the car rental company).
Yes, referring to death as the end of a patient's “first lifecycle� is a little odd, and helping a patient to reach that end point is (in most states) illegal, but it also doesn't sound like that was the norm. Threatening Johnson's life is definitely not cool, but there's just not much for me to say about that.
As far as Ted Williams goes, it sounds like Alcor (at most) aided and abetted Williams' greedy scoundrel of a son, John Henry Williams. I haven't been able to find the full-length piece on this that Johnson wrote for Sports Illustrated in 2003 (you can get the gist from of the saga), but what likely made for a fascinating magazine article was just too drawn out in book form.
______________________________________________
* So, if all that death threat business from the cryo-fanatical fringe turns out to be true, feel free to just blame Larry.
� As for the obvious questions as to why Larry wouldn't make an immediate b-line for the exit, he chalks this up to being a bit of an adrenaline junkie. But, yes, I too was confused about this aspect of Larry's tale.
June 9, 2016
I was searching the Audible website for something different and found this.
I remember watching a documentary about cryonics a few years ago. I could not understand why an intelligent, though slightly delusional person would want to freeze their old, diseased body in the hope of being resurrected maybe 100 of years later. Because of this I was interested in why someone would want this done.
Larry Johnson was a paramedic living in Las Vegas who wanted a change. He applied for a job as Clinical Director at Alcor Life Extension and was pleased when he was offered the job. Larry's colleagues sounded eccentric, the head of membership who wore a crash helmet when she drove her car, the old man who slept in a chair at reception, the computer geek who lived in Alcor and the hypochondriac CEO who would not leave his home during the SARS outbreak.
The CEO liked Larry and was in the process of grooming him to become CEO in the future. As part of Larry's job description he attended people whose 1st life cycle had ended. He discovered Out of date drugs being used and contaminated blood poured into drain. Alcor used rental lorries that were used to transport the parient back to the institute in Arizona. The lorry was full of blood and other matter, Alcor just hosed the van down and sent it back.
When Larry heard a couple of cases where Alcor volunteers 'helped' a person end their first life cycle, he knew he had to go to the authorities. He turned whistleblower and started going to work with a hidden wire, and photocopied the victim's file.
When he approached Sports Illustrated with the story his life turned upside down. Larry and his wife started receiving silent phone calls, then some Alcor volunteers turned up outside his flat and threatened to kill him. Alcor accused Larry of stealing a laptop and withheld his final months salary.
I found the subject interesting and could stop listening. If you like true life crime with a twist, you will enjoy this book.
I remember watching a documentary about cryonics a few years ago. I could not understand why an intelligent, though slightly delusional person would want to freeze their old, diseased body in the hope of being resurrected maybe 100 of years later. Because of this I was interested in why someone would want this done.
Larry Johnson was a paramedic living in Las Vegas who wanted a change. He applied for a job as Clinical Director at Alcor Life Extension and was pleased when he was offered the job. Larry's colleagues sounded eccentric, the head of membership who wore a crash helmet when she drove her car, the old man who slept in a chair at reception, the computer geek who lived in Alcor and the hypochondriac CEO who would not leave his home during the SARS outbreak.
The CEO liked Larry and was in the process of grooming him to become CEO in the future. As part of Larry's job description he attended people whose 1st life cycle had ended. He discovered Out of date drugs being used and contaminated blood poured into drain. Alcor used rental lorries that were used to transport the parient back to the institute in Arizona. The lorry was full of blood and other matter, Alcor just hosed the van down and sent it back.
When Larry heard a couple of cases where Alcor volunteers 'helped' a person end their first life cycle, he knew he had to go to the authorities. He turned whistleblower and started going to work with a hidden wire, and photocopied the victim's file.
When he approached Sports Illustrated with the story his life turned upside down. Larry and his wife started receiving silent phone calls, then some Alcor volunteers turned up outside his flat and threatened to kill him. Alcor accused Larry of stealing a laptop and withheld his final months salary.
I found the subject interesting and could stop listening. If you like true life crime with a twist, you will enjoy this book.
September 24, 2015
I finished this book in 2-days, as it was, literally, hard to put down. Growing up in Phoenix, I'd been familiar with Alcor in nearby Scottsdale for decades, watching periodic profiles on the cryonics company on local TV news shows, and reading stories about it in the local newspaper.
I'd always been morbidly fascinated with the "real" inner workings of the place, so I was happy to discover this insider's account of the nefarious goings on behind the walls.
The author, a former paramedic, with the help of a writer, wrote a compelling indictment of the operation that existed when he was employed at Alcor in the early 2000s. There was a cast of kooky and creepy characters that worked at the place, along with potentially more dangerous, fringe characters devoted to cryonics that were potentially dangerous, in a cultish sort of way.
Lastly, the chapters devoted to baseball legend Ted Williams were especially sad. It was made fairly clear that cryogenic suspension was not what he wanted, but was more of a way for his scheming son to market his dad's DNA, down the road (before the son himself succumbed to cancer).
The book flowed fairly well, and was VERY graphic (especially the photos). It is definitely not a book that I'd recommend for the squeamish. According to contemporary sources, the author has apparently been sued into bankruptcy by Alcor, but there haven't been any retractions to his allegations (that I'm aware of).
I'd always been morbidly fascinated with the "real" inner workings of the place, so I was happy to discover this insider's account of the nefarious goings on behind the walls.
The author, a former paramedic, with the help of a writer, wrote a compelling indictment of the operation that existed when he was employed at Alcor in the early 2000s. There was a cast of kooky and creepy characters that worked at the place, along with potentially more dangerous, fringe characters devoted to cryonics that were potentially dangerous, in a cultish sort of way.
Lastly, the chapters devoted to baseball legend Ted Williams were especially sad. It was made fairly clear that cryogenic suspension was not what he wanted, but was more of a way for his scheming son to market his dad's DNA, down the road (before the son himself succumbed to cancer).
The book flowed fairly well, and was VERY graphic (especially the photos). It is definitely not a book that I'd recommend for the squeamish. According to contemporary sources, the author has apparently been sued into bankruptcy by Alcor, but there haven't been any retractions to his allegations (that I'm aware of).
February 16, 2018
Larry Johnson was a paramedic who got stressed out by his job and took an interest in "speculative" medicine. This led him to be employed by Alcor Institute, which has a number of laboratories in the United States. Larry was assigned to the one in Scottsdale, Arizona.
After just a little time spent there he noticed some eccentric practices--which of course he should have expected, as an Alcor facility houses silver tubes full of dead bodies and "cryogenic" boxes with frozen heads in them. But it went beyond that; Alcor cannot prove what it wants to prove, that is, that they hold the key to immortality. After awhile, as scientist Michio Kaku points out, the human body is just a collection of dead cells.
Even Ted Williams, the baseball legend will not be able to afford to use these services to "wake up" from the nitrogen bath. Johnson has picture after picture of Alcor employees standing with the box that contains Ted's head, and Ted's head itself (unnecessary), and just generally a culture of derangement.
The Campbell's soup incident had to be the most stomach churning. The "scientists" at Alcor stick the frozen heads of those meagre, more impoverished individuals who cannot dole out 80,000 dollars for the full body suspension treatment in their "tubes", or, I mean, their "thermoses". (They use this same variety of bastardized language to distance themselves from, say, removing a human head and “incubating� it: they call that "detachment.")
The whole thing has a demented ambiance of science fiction to it. It is as though, indeed, every employee of Alcor was given a tinfoil hat but to no purpose, with no signification. But who could not sympathize with the plight of, say, Kim Suozzi, only wanted to live past her 23rd year?
A heart wrenching story of a girl so innately intelligent she was already reading Richard Brautigan at age 23. A science major at Columbia, she likely understood the absurdities involved in Cryonics, but saw no reason to negate this "option". What this translates into: Kim Suozzi had to go on Reddit to beg for money to be "frozen for a short time" and get all the money from strangers, then use her life insurance money. (And they only "detached" her.)
While Larry Johnson is odd, that doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth and he has tons of evidence to back it up. Recordings, photocopies of documents, and pictures. This started in 1978. So basically there are trucks filled with heads and hands going all over the place to Alcor institutions. ???
This is worth the read, especially if one is into Weird Fiction, like Lovecraft and Machen.
After just a little time spent there he noticed some eccentric practices--which of course he should have expected, as an Alcor facility houses silver tubes full of dead bodies and "cryogenic" boxes with frozen heads in them. But it went beyond that; Alcor cannot prove what it wants to prove, that is, that they hold the key to immortality. After awhile, as scientist Michio Kaku points out, the human body is just a collection of dead cells.
Even Ted Williams, the baseball legend will not be able to afford to use these services to "wake up" from the nitrogen bath. Johnson has picture after picture of Alcor employees standing with the box that contains Ted's head, and Ted's head itself (unnecessary), and just generally a culture of derangement.
The Campbell's soup incident had to be the most stomach churning. The "scientists" at Alcor stick the frozen heads of those meagre, more impoverished individuals who cannot dole out 80,000 dollars for the full body suspension treatment in their "tubes", or, I mean, their "thermoses". (They use this same variety of bastardized language to distance themselves from, say, removing a human head and “incubating� it: they call that "detachment.")
The whole thing has a demented ambiance of science fiction to it. It is as though, indeed, every employee of Alcor was given a tinfoil hat but to no purpose, with no signification. But who could not sympathize with the plight of, say, Kim Suozzi, only wanted to live past her 23rd year?
A heart wrenching story of a girl so innately intelligent she was already reading Richard Brautigan at age 23. A science major at Columbia, she likely understood the absurdities involved in Cryonics, but saw no reason to negate this "option". What this translates into: Kim Suozzi had to go on Reddit to beg for money to be "frozen for a short time" and get all the money from strangers, then use her life insurance money. (And they only "detached" her.)
While Larry Johnson is odd, that doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth and he has tons of evidence to back it up. Recordings, photocopies of documents, and pictures. This started in 1978. So basically there are trucks filled with heads and hands going all over the place to Alcor institutions. ???
This is worth the read, especially if one is into Weird Fiction, like Lovecraft and Machen.
April 12, 2020
Wow! This book opens the eyes for cryogenics or cryonics and at least one particular company. The idea of cryonics is potentially attractive � doesn't want to keep going forever? But a lot is pointed out concerning the total inappropriateness of the field as it now stands, and it points out the egos and unacceptable deviance of those trying to carry out the procedure without any real knowledge! The lack of respect for individuals whose bodies will theoretically be reanimated in time is astonishing, and the lack of concern for people and their wishes is mind-boggling!
I have looked up Alcor as well as Alan Kunzman in order to fill in their histories and that of Alcor. I have found that some of the impressions I got from the book itself would not totally factual, but enough checks out with Police Departments and history, that is totally believable!
Fortunately, I am not a famous person who would be a great attribute to a slimy, lawless, and unethical Corporation of this type, so I'm not likely to end up in their hands. I have long said and continue to say "I wanna feed worms!" But I know that there are many people who cherish the idea of freezing and reanimation. I hold nothing against them! But this book makes it clear that we are not ready for that, yet, and individuals employed for that goal need to keep in mind that they are still people � both the clients and the employees!
I have looked up Alcor as well as Alan Kunzman in order to fill in their histories and that of Alcor. I have found that some of the impressions I got from the book itself would not totally factual, but enough checks out with Police Departments and history, that is totally believable!
Fortunately, I am not a famous person who would be a great attribute to a slimy, lawless, and unethical Corporation of this type, so I'm not likely to end up in their hands. I have long said and continue to say "I wanna feed worms!" But I know that there are many people who cherish the idea of freezing and reanimation. I hold nothing against them! But this book makes it clear that we are not ready for that, yet, and individuals employed for that goal need to keep in mind that they are still people � both the clients and the employees!
August 9, 2022
This book was one I couldn't put down but also couldn't wait to finish. Both the concept of cryonics and everything that happened in this story are like a bad accident - you can't help but watch with a horror fascination. The book gave a lot of interesting details about the history of cryonics. I really enjoyed the first half of the book.
My least favorite part of the book was toward the end, after Larry Johnson "blows the whistle". He turns from a decent author documenting his story to a defensive, finger-pointing man of questionable character. He constantly writes about how upset he is at how Alcor (the cryonics company that he worked for and whistleblew against) lies and makes accusations against him. Really?! This company is guilty of theft and murder and you don't think they're going to try and lie their way out of your accusations? Another example is how he is in hiding so he wants to avoid TV interviews, but finally decides to do one because "I figured the whole nation must be thinking I was a crank or a thief... I just had to tell my side of the story." So you'll sacrifice your safety for... what? Your bruised ego? Yes, he did the right thing, which takes a lot of courage and I respect him for that. But it started to feel like he expected to profit from his whistleblowing.
In the end though, he seems like the type of guy I would like to sit down and have a beer with. I hope wherever he and his wife are today, they are safe and able to enjoy their lives.
My least favorite part of the book was toward the end, after Larry Johnson "blows the whistle". He turns from a decent author documenting his story to a defensive, finger-pointing man of questionable character. He constantly writes about how upset he is at how Alcor (the cryonics company that he worked for and whistleblew against) lies and makes accusations against him. Really?! This company is guilty of theft and murder and you don't think they're going to try and lie their way out of your accusations? Another example is how he is in hiding so he wants to avoid TV interviews, but finally decides to do one because "I figured the whole nation must be thinking I was a crank or a thief... I just had to tell my side of the story." So you'll sacrifice your safety for... what? Your bruised ego? Yes, he did the right thing, which takes a lot of courage and I respect him for that. But it started to feel like he expected to profit from his whistleblowing.
In the end though, he seems like the type of guy I would like to sit down and have a beer with. I hope wherever he and his wife are today, they are safe and able to enjoy their lives.
January 16, 2018
Wow! This book opens the eyes for cryogenics or cryonics and at least one particular company. The idea of cryonics is potentially attractive � doesn't want to keep going forever? But a lot is pointed out concerning the total inappropriateness of the field as it now stands, and it points out the egos and unacceptable deviance of those trying to carry out the procedure without any real knowledge! The lack of respect for individuals whose bodies will theoretically be reanimated in time is astonishing, and the lack of concern for people and their wishes is mind-boggling!
I have looked up Alcor as well as Alan Kunzman in order to fill in their histories and that of Alcor. I have found that some of the impressions I got from the book itself would not totally factual, but enough checks out with Police Departments and history, that is totally believable!
Fortunately, I am not a famous person who would be a great attribute to a slimy, lawless, and unethical Corporation of this type, so I'm not likely to end up in their hands. I have long said and continue to say "I wanna feed worms!" But I know that there are many people who cherish the idea of freezing and reanimation. I hold nothing against them! But this book makes it clear that we are not ready for that, yet, and individuals employed for that goal need to keep in mind that they are still people � both the clients and the employees!
I have looked up Alcor as well as Alan Kunzman in order to fill in their histories and that of Alcor. I have found that some of the impressions I got from the book itself would not totally factual, but enough checks out with Police Departments and history, that is totally believable!
Fortunately, I am not a famous person who would be a great attribute to a slimy, lawless, and unethical Corporation of this type, so I'm not likely to end up in their hands. I have long said and continue to say "I wanna feed worms!" But I know that there are many people who cherish the idea of freezing and reanimation. I hold nothing against them! But this book makes it clear that we are not ready for that, yet, and individuals employed for that goal need to keep in mind that they are still people � both the clients and the employees!
August 24, 2022
I had never heard of cryonics before, and saw this book on a library sale shelf and thought it sounded interesting. The story was pretty interesting, but could have been a bit better organized (suddenly he tells us something else that happened in the past when it could have been included in the section of the book dealing with that timeframe, since it was mostly chronological.) It never really got that exciting, even though it's a true story of an unregulated industry/company hiding its misdeeds and going after the whistleblower. Took me a while to read it, as I often chose to read other books instead.
After finishing it, I am shocked that the cryonics industry is unregulated or even allowed to continue, given what they are doing. And even more shocked that people pay them for the "service."
Be forewarned: barbaric descriptions of how they freeze people's bodies, with some nasty photos included.
After finishing it, I am shocked that the cryonics industry is unregulated or even allowed to continue, given what they are doing. And even more shocked that people pay them for the "service."
Be forewarned: barbaric descriptions of how they freeze people's bodies, with some nasty photos included.
May 1, 2020
I felt the book could have been half as long- lots of repetition. I was listening which made that even harder for me to stay with the book. With that said, I learned a lot about the cryonics world and it revealed an overwhelming criminal element that continues to go unchecked. I have no judgement if people want to freeze themselves. But I do have problems with murder, medical waste going down sinks, and death threats... crazy unregulated field that is horrifying. The author of this book was a true hero for blowing the whistle. It is a shame that it seems nothing has come of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
Like Elsa in Frozen turning everything she touches into ice, everything Alcor touches turns into a disaster. This story is rivetingly weird, if not the best writing you've ever seen. You won't anticipate the depths of depravity until you're a good way into the book, but it's also not just voyeuristic gross-out thrills. I found the narrator's self-assessment lacking and more than a little boring, but the rest of the book more than makes up for that. Decent audiobook narration.
March 17, 2023
Is this book a literary gem deserving all the literary prizes for exceptional writing? Well, no. Based on the cryonics community’s response to the book, is it 100% factual? Well, also, probably no. Is this book fascinating and am I fixated on learning more about cryonics now? Yes. This book is a juicy behind the scenes look into America’s most famous cryonics facility. A must read if you’re interested in cryonics.
August 11, 2023
This book was wild and totally unexpected. The author definitely seems a little gassed up on himself at times but his story if fking crazy as hell and the fact that most of it occurred all within only 7 months is even crazier.
Don't think I'd buy this one though, grabbed it out of one of those little leave a book take a book boxes they got on the sides of the road. I'd recommend this one to anyone into science fiction (even though this book is non-fiction) or just wild ass true stories.
Don't think I'd buy this one though, grabbed it out of one of those little leave a book take a book boxes they got on the sides of the road. I'd recommend this one to anyone into science fiction (even though this book is non-fiction) or just wild ass true stories.
August 10, 2024
This was my first time doing any kind of deep dive into the topic of cryonics. I've since found a few reddit communities and find the community morbidly fascinating. Book was reasonably well assembled; now that it's 15 years later, I'm curious if any of this has been addressed by the courts, and if so, what the outcome was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
Really well written! I liked it!
October 5, 2022
A book of lies, the main ones having been recanted in court by the author.
September 4, 2018
If I hadn't done some follow-up research to verify that this story is really true, I would have thought it was some crazy pseudo-science fiction story. It is almost too incredible to comprehend.
The book provides a first-person insider account of Alcor Life Extension Foundation's facility, mission, and operations. Alcor runs a cryonic suspension facility which, in layman's terms, means that they freeze people shortly after death in the hope that some day science and medicine will advance to the point that these "suspended" people can be "reanimated", or thawed out and brought back to life.
The book is well written and very engaging. Mr. Johnson, a life-long paramedic, decides to change careers and takes an intriguing job heading up Alcor's rapid response teams who, he learns, are responsible for securing Alcor's recently departed members' (referred to at Alcor as "Alcorians") bodies and preparing them for cryo-suspension. As he learns more about Alcor and their operations, he realizes that they are extremely cult-like and that their operations and procedures range from flippant to downright dangerous. The most disturbing thing he realizes is that there is a lot of evidence that Alcor has "helped along" the deaths of several of its dying members.
As if this whole story wasn't weird enough, he also discovers that the body of baseball giant Ted Williams is being held in cryo-suspension against his last wishes in the Alcor facility, wrapped up in a legal battle between his children and Alcor.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At first I just couldn't believe it was non-fiction and did a little research on the Internet to verify some of the things that it was saying and found out it was true. I had to continuously force myself not to dig deeper in my research until I finished reading it because I didn't want to spoil the book, which did a very good job of telling this outrageous story in an entertaining and suspenseful way.
In the end, this book fits the observation that "This has to be true...nobody could make anything this crazy up and expect anyone to believe it", or more succinctly, "Truth is stranger than fiction".
I recommend this book.
If you enjoy this book, you may also like the following nonfiction books:
The book provides a first-person insider account of Alcor Life Extension Foundation's facility, mission, and operations. Alcor runs a cryonic suspension facility which, in layman's terms, means that they freeze people shortly after death in the hope that some day science and medicine will advance to the point that these "suspended" people can be "reanimated", or thawed out and brought back to life.
The book is well written and very engaging. Mr. Johnson, a life-long paramedic, decides to change careers and takes an intriguing job heading up Alcor's rapid response teams who, he learns, are responsible for securing Alcor's recently departed members' (referred to at Alcor as "Alcorians") bodies and preparing them for cryo-suspension. As he learns more about Alcor and their operations, he realizes that they are extremely cult-like and that their operations and procedures range from flippant to downright dangerous. The most disturbing thing he realizes is that there is a lot of evidence that Alcor has "helped along" the deaths of several of its dying members.
As if this whole story wasn't weird enough, he also discovers that the body of baseball giant Ted Williams is being held in cryo-suspension against his last wishes in the Alcor facility, wrapped up in a legal battle between his children and Alcor.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At first I just couldn't believe it was non-fiction and did a little research on the Internet to verify some of the things that it was saying and found out it was true. I had to continuously force myself not to dig deeper in my research until I finished reading it because I didn't want to spoil the book, which did a very good job of telling this outrageous story in an entertaining and suspenseful way.
In the end, this book fits the observation that "This has to be true...nobody could make anything this crazy up and expect anyone to believe it", or more succinctly, "Truth is stranger than fiction".
I recommend this book.
If you enjoy this book, you may also like the following nonfiction books:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2014
This book was far funnier and more enjoyable than I expected - I enjoyed it immensely. Told by a former employee of Alcor, the primary Cryogenics provider for those that wish to be frozen in liquid nitrogen after death (sorry - "de-animating") and be revived in the future once medical science can cure their damaged bodies and re-animate them. Johnson's descriptions of the odd misfit personalities and crazy events that occurred during his time there were hilarious in the telling and amazing in their brazenness. His initial time there meeting everyone and their quirks, plus his recollection of the Ted Williams case were high points.
I listened to the audiobook during my commutes - the narrator did a great job of bringing the personalities to life and reflecting the author's emotional detachment from the true-believers. The first two thirds were the best with all the characters and stories. In the last third, it really bogged down as he blew the whistle on the company's infractions, then left and worried for his personal safety thanks to anonymous internet posts (really??) and threatening phone calls. There was a bit too much indignation and he started to overplay his hand as he get repetitive and started to over-dramatize minor infractions.
You'll notice a lot of negative reviews from cryonics supporters as well as those with "no personal interest in cryonics" who are claim to refute the author's stories, often using the tried-and-true rhetorical trick of disputing one detail on a perceived technicality and then concluding that everything is totally made up. Don't let that deter you. While I found the tales surreal, yet believable, my enjoyment of the book was not dependent on the absolute veracity of the stories. It is an amusing view into a corporation and group of "believers" that don't fit well with society and evolved their worldview to accommodate their beliefs.
I listened to the audiobook during my commutes - the narrator did a great job of bringing the personalities to life and reflecting the author's emotional detachment from the true-believers. The first two thirds were the best with all the characters and stories. In the last third, it really bogged down as he blew the whistle on the company's infractions, then left and worried for his personal safety thanks to anonymous internet posts (really??) and threatening phone calls. There was a bit too much indignation and he started to overplay his hand as he get repetitive and started to over-dramatize minor infractions.
You'll notice a lot of negative reviews from cryonics supporters as well as those with "no personal interest in cryonics" who are claim to refute the author's stories, often using the tried-and-true rhetorical trick of disputing one detail on a perceived technicality and then concluding that everything is totally made up. Don't let that deter you. While I found the tales surreal, yet believable, my enjoyment of the book was not dependent on the absolute veracity of the stories. It is an amusing view into a corporation and group of "believers" that don't fit well with society and evolved their worldview to accommodate their beliefs.
November 16, 2012
A fascinating book on the world of Cryogenics. The author, Larry Johnson, was a whistle blower for the company Alcor located in Scottsdale, AZ. A few things:
1. They illegally have Ted Williams body. A lawsuit ahas been brought against them, but due to shady practices on Alcor's part and mess ups with lawyers, they never produced a body, and therefore have not relinquished the body.
2. Alcor has no regulations from the government whatsoever. They dump AIDS and cancer contaminated blood and body fluids in the sewers behind their building.
3. They are cult-like and powerful and rich. When a government official tried to impose a regulation, he and his family received so many death threats, that he finally pulled the bill that would have enforced some sort of regulation.
4. The author is in hiding as him and his wife have received death threats for blowing the whistle on this company.
5. Cryogenics is pure nuttery.
Dislikes:
The author states numerous times that he is an adrenaline junky. I don't care, this has nothing to do with the book. He also seems a little full of himself as he was a paramedic and was there during the Davidian Branch drama in Waco, TX. He mentions this SEVERAL times. We get it...you were there, please stop tooting your own horn.
1. They illegally have Ted Williams body. A lawsuit ahas been brought against them, but due to shady practices on Alcor's part and mess ups with lawyers, they never produced a body, and therefore have not relinquished the body.
2. Alcor has no regulations from the government whatsoever. They dump AIDS and cancer contaminated blood and body fluids in the sewers behind their building.
3. They are cult-like and powerful and rich. When a government official tried to impose a regulation, he and his family received so many death threats, that he finally pulled the bill that would have enforced some sort of regulation.
4. The author is in hiding as him and his wife have received death threats for blowing the whistle on this company.
5. Cryogenics is pure nuttery.
Dislikes:
The author states numerous times that he is an adrenaline junky. I don't care, this has nothing to do with the book. He also seems a little full of himself as he was a paramedic and was there during the Davidian Branch drama in Waco, TX. He mentions this SEVERAL times. We get it...you were there, please stop tooting your own horn.
June 10, 2014
If 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.
October 22, 2010
I was constantly amazed through out the reading of this book at the things these people are doing in Arizona and getting away with. As intelligent as the people written about at Alcor are, all I can think of was "what a bunch of losers." These people definitely have issues that no one can help them with. They will be in for a huge surprise when they DIE and go to HELL for their crimes against humanity. I found the book very interesting and very sad. Larry Jhonson does repeat alot of things through out the telling of his story but that still did not take away from the book itself. Definitely an intersting read.
December 15, 2010
A lot of repetition. He does point to some areas of concern in the world of cryonics that definitely require attention and regulation. However, he does blow stories out of proportion for dramatic effect. Moreover, he repeats a lot of points multiple times as if trying to force the reader into admission of his point of view. He did not strike me as an honest, oppressed whistle blower but rather a disgruntled ex-employee of Alcor with some valid but not shocking points.
December 27, 2009
A facinating read. A real, behind-the-scenes at this cryonics lab. I really don't want to be a part of this, after I've stopped animating! The book was very interesting, but some parts were repeated too often, needed a little more editing I think. The info was worth the somewhat lack of writing skills though. This would make a great TV show, like THE OFFICE, only creepier!
August 22, 2010
Well, I go through a lot of books, fiction and non, and most of them are excellent in one way or another. And a few of them are strange. 'Wesley the Owl' comes to mind.Well, this book wins the prize so far - cryogenics - the idea that one can be frozen and then revived many years from now. This book is about the guys who do the freezing.
August 11, 2013
Interesting book. A little repetitive and gives details that aren't exactly necessary about people as well as painting most people as Disney villains. However photos and quotes seem to hold some veracity.
August 8, 2012
The book is pretty much what you'd expect - a glimpse into the very creepy world of frozen bodies and frozen heads. The characters described are actually weirder than the things they do to dead people. A bunch of ghouls, author included, if you ask me.
June 8, 2013
Starts out laugh out loud funny, gets more intense at the end.
Great inside look at this nutty cult.
Authors do repeat stories several times. First discovery, second person, then his own conclusions.
Great inside look at this nutty cult.
Authors do repeat stories several times. First discovery, second person, then his own conclusions.
January 3, 2013
Let's just say substance over style for this one. My favorite book of 2011, I can't remember a page that wasn't an eye-opener.
October 22, 2010
Pretty interesting. I didn't feel that he was out to "get them" and the entire Cryogenics community are REALLY "out there"!
October 28, 2010
True story of a man that worked in cryogenics. Tells the horrors involved in the field .Contains pictures.
June 7, 2011
free Ted Williams!
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