On Killing Remotely
The Psychology of Killing with Drones
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Matt Kugler
About this listen
A “can’t-miss for anyone interested in current military affairs", On Killing Remotely reveals and explores the costs - to individual soldiers and to society - of the way we wage war today (Kirkus Reviews, starred).
Throughout history society has determined specific rules of engagement between adversaries in armed conflict. With advances in technology, from armor to in the Middle Ages to nerve gas in World War I to weapons of mass destruction in our own time, the rules have constantly evolved. Today, when killing the enemy can seem palpably risk-free and tantamount to playing a violent video game, what constitutes warfare? What is the effect of remote combat on individual soldiers? And what are the unforeseen repercussions that could affect us all?
Lt Col Wayne Phelps, former commander of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft unit, addresses these questions and many others as he tells the story of the men and women of today’s “chair force”. Exploring the ethics of remote military engagement, the misconceptions about PTSD among RPA operators, and the specter of military weaponry controlled by robots, his book is an urgent and compelling reminder that it should always be difficult to kill another human being lest we risk losing what makes us human.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2021 Wayne Phelps (P)2021 Little, Brown & CompanyCritic reviews
"An essential read.... We have crossed a new frontier in the age-old story of war.” (P. W. Singer, author of Wired for War and Ghost Fleet)
"The most impressive and comprehensive account of 21st-century remote air warfare.... A mesmerizing read: I was gripped from the first page to the last.” (Professor Peter Lee, author of Reaper Force)
"A crucial 360° look at how remote warfare affects the crews fighting from afar.” (Major Scott Swanson, USAF (retired))
Related to this topic
-
Army of None
- Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War
- By: Paul Scharre
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paul Scharre, a Pentagon defense expert and former U.S. Army Ranger, explores what it would mean to give machines authority over the ultimate decision of life or death. Scharre's far-ranging investigation examines the emergence of autonomous weapons, the movement to ban them, and the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. Through interviews with defense experts, ethicists, psychologists, and activists, Scharre surveys what challenges might face "centaur warfighters" on future battlefields.
-
-
Robots, weapons, and AI oh my!
- By Tyler Quinn on 07-24-18
By: Paul Scharre
-
The Air Force Way of War
- US Tactics and Training after Vietnam
- By: Brian Laslie
- Narrated by: Robert J. Eckrich
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Air Force Way of War, Brian D. Laslie examines the revolution in pilot instruction that Red Flag brought about after Vietnam. The program's new instruction methods were dubbed "realistic" because they prepared pilots for real-life situations better than the simple cockpit simulations of the past. In addition to discussing the program's methods, Laslie analyzes the way its graduates actually functioned in combat during the 1980s and '90s in places such as Grenada, Panama, Libya, and Iraq.
-
-
Enlightening!
- By NAWestbrook on 02-14-17
By: Brian Laslie
-
Wired for War
- The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century
- By: P. W. Singer
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A military expert reveals how science fiction is fast becoming reality on the battlefield, changing not just how wars are fought, but also the politics, economics, laws, and ethics that surround war itself. Singer’s previous books foretold the rise of private military contractors and the advent of child soldiers - predictions that have proved all too accurate. Now he explores the greatest revolution in military affairs since the atom bomb: robotic warfare. We are now seeing a massive shift in military technology....
-
-
Good book of fact sprinkled with left-wing opinion
- By Jeffrey on 04-13-13
By: P. W. Singer
-
Drone Wars
- Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future
- By: Seth J. Frantzman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drones are transforming warfare through the use of artificial intelligence, drone swarms, and surveillance - leading to competition between the US, China, Israel, and Iran. Who will be the next drone superpower?
-
-
The sound of S as scratching chalk boards.
- By Amazon Customer on 11-19-24
-
Counterinsurgency
- By: David J. Kilcullen
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kilcullen brings together his most salient writings on this vitally important topic. Here is a picture of modern warfare by someone who has had his boots on the ground in some of today's worst trouble spots - including Iraq and Afghanistan - and who has been studying counterinsurgency since 1985. Filled with down-to-earth, common-sense insights, this book is the definitive account of counterinsurgency, indispensable for all those interested in making sense of our world in an age of terror.
-
-
CounterInsurgency Insights
- By JenFox on 12-21-21
-
Kill Chain
- The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins
- By: Andrew Cockburn
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This essential, pause-resister narrative on the history of drone warfare by the acclaimed author of Rumsfeld explores how this practice emerged, who made it happen, and the real consequences of targeted killing.
-
-
Introduction
- By Batman on 03-24-15
By: Andrew Cockburn
-
Army of None
- Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War
- By: Paul Scharre
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paul Scharre, a Pentagon defense expert and former U.S. Army Ranger, explores what it would mean to give machines authority over the ultimate decision of life or death. Scharre's far-ranging investigation examines the emergence of autonomous weapons, the movement to ban them, and the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. Through interviews with defense experts, ethicists, psychologists, and activists, Scharre surveys what challenges might face "centaur warfighters" on future battlefields.
-
-
Robots, weapons, and AI oh my!
- By Tyler Quinn on 07-24-18
By: Paul Scharre
-
The Air Force Way of War
- US Tactics and Training after Vietnam
- By: Brian Laslie
- Narrated by: Robert J. Eckrich
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Air Force Way of War, Brian D. Laslie examines the revolution in pilot instruction that Red Flag brought about after Vietnam. The program's new instruction methods were dubbed "realistic" because they prepared pilots for real-life situations better than the simple cockpit simulations of the past. In addition to discussing the program's methods, Laslie analyzes the way its graduates actually functioned in combat during the 1980s and '90s in places such as Grenada, Panama, Libya, and Iraq.
-
-
Enlightening!
- By NAWestbrook on 02-14-17
By: Brian Laslie
-
Wired for War
- The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century
- By: P. W. Singer
- Narrated by: William Hughes
- Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A military expert reveals how science fiction is fast becoming reality on the battlefield, changing not just how wars are fought, but also the politics, economics, laws, and ethics that surround war itself. Singer’s previous books foretold the rise of private military contractors and the advent of child soldiers - predictions that have proved all too accurate. Now he explores the greatest revolution in military affairs since the atom bomb: robotic warfare. We are now seeing a massive shift in military technology....
-
-
Good book of fact sprinkled with left-wing opinion
- By Jeffrey on 04-13-13
By: P. W. Singer
-
Drone Wars
- Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future
- By: Seth J. Frantzman
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drones are transforming warfare through the use of artificial intelligence, drone swarms, and surveillance - leading to competition between the US, China, Israel, and Iran. Who will be the next drone superpower?
-
-
The sound of S as scratching chalk boards.
- By Amazon Customer on 11-19-24
-
Counterinsurgency
- By: David J. Kilcullen
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kilcullen brings together his most salient writings on this vitally important topic. Here is a picture of modern warfare by someone who has had his boots on the ground in some of today's worst trouble spots - including Iraq and Afghanistan - and who has been studying counterinsurgency since 1985. Filled with down-to-earth, common-sense insights, this book is the definitive account of counterinsurgency, indispensable for all those interested in making sense of our world in an age of terror.
-
-
CounterInsurgency Insights
- By JenFox on 12-21-21
-
Kill Chain
- The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins
- By: Andrew Cockburn
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This essential, pause-resister narrative on the history of drone warfare by the acclaimed author of Rumsfeld explores how this practice emerged, who made it happen, and the real consequences of targeted killing.
-
-
Introduction
- By Batman on 03-24-15
By: Andrew Cockburn
-
The Shadow War
- Inside Russia's and China's Secret Operations to Defeat America
- By: Jim Sciutto
- Narrated by: Jim Sciutto
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
CNN’s chief national security correspondent reveals the invisible fronts of 21st-century warfare and identifies the ongoing battles being waged - often without the public’s full knowledge - from disinformation campaigns to advanced satellite weaponry.
-
-
Informative and interesting, but incomplete.
- By ZenBowman on 05-25-19
By: Jim Sciutto
-
Team of Teams
- New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World
- By: General Stanley McChrystal, Tantum Collins, David Silverman, and others
- Narrated by: Paul Michael
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The retired four-star general and and best-selling author of My Share of the Task shares a powerful new leadership model. Former General Stanley McChrystal held a key position for much of the War on Terror, as head of the Joint Special Operations Command. In Iraq, he found that despite the vastly superior resources, manpower, and training of the US Military, Al Qaeda had an advantage because of its structure as a loose network of small, independent cells. To defeat such an agile enemy, JSOC had to change its focus from efficiency to adaptability.
-
-
excellent book, very informative.
- By J.J. Gardona on 08-24-15
By: General Stanley McChrystal, and others
-
Modern American Snipers
- By: Chris Martin
- Narrated by: Peter Larkin
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most people think of snipers as shooters perched in urban hides, dealing out death unseen from a considerable distance. But this description barely scratches the surface. Special operations snipers are men with stacked skill sets who have the ability to turn the tide of battles, even when they aren't pulling the trigger. Snipers have played an outsized role in the War on Terror that has earned them the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and countless other honors.
-
-
More detail on stories you've already read
- By Steve on 03-09-15
By: Chris Martin
-
The Sniper Mind
- Eliminate Fear, Deal with Uncertainty, and Make Better Decisions
- By: David Amerland
- Narrated by: Jonathan Cowley
- Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Snipers are exceptional. The trained sniper is a complex fusion of hard skills such as weapons knowledge, situational awareness, knowledge of ballistics and physics, and soft skills such as emotional stability, empathy, and a stoic acceptance of the hardships associated with a particular set of circumstances. There are countless instances where a single sniper, embarking on a secret mission, would have to improvise, operate beyond any hope of support, and yet still manage to carry out the mission and get back home unharmed.
-
-
Very good listen, a wealth of information.
- By Bill on 01-23-20
By: David Amerland
-
Out of the Mountains
- The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla
- By: David Kilcullen
- Narrated by: Christopher Kipiniak
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Americans think of modern warfare, what comes to mind is the US army skirmishing with terrorists and insurgents in the mountains of Afghanistan. But the face of global conflict is ever-changing. In Out of the Mountains, David Kilcullen, one of the world's leading experts on current and future conflict, offers a groundbreaking look at what may happen after today's wars end.
-
-
Insightful analysis
- By Anon on 11-06-19
By: David Kilcullen
-
The ISIS Solution
- How Unconventional Thinking and Special Operations Can Eliminate Radical Islam
- By: Jack Murphy, Brandon Webb, Peter Nealen
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ISIS Solution takes a look at the current geopolitical situation, organizational structure of ISIS, and provides new thinking and strategies for dealing with the Islamic State in the Middle East. Its authors and contributors have over 50 years of combined experience in the intelligence, analyst, and Special Operations communities. Leadership and a new philosophical conversation of action is needed to eliminate violent terrorism. This book starts the conversation.
-
-
Short, to the point, crammend full of information.
- By Joseph on 11-27-14
By: Jack Murphy, and others
-
Call Sign Chaos
- Learning to Lead
- By: Jim Mattis, Bing West
- Narrated by: Danny Campbell
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Call Sign Chaos is the account of Jim Mattis’ storied career, from wide-ranging leadership roles in three wars to ultimately commanding a quarter of a million troops across the Middle East. Along the way, Mattis recounts his foundational experiences as a leader, extracting the lessons he has learned about the nature of warfighting and peacemaking, the importance of allies, and the strategic dilemmas - and short-sighted thinking - now facing our nation.
-
-
A pleasant surprise
- By Fountain of Chris on 09-06-19
By: Jim Mattis, and others
-
Lemay
- By: Barrett Tillman
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Packed with breathtaking air battles and ground tactics, this new addition to the Great Generals series features the controversial command and strategies of the former Air Force Chief of Staff. Curtis LeMay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general. In World War II, he ordered the firebombing of Tokyo and was in charge when atomic bombs were dropped on Japan.
-
-
A Biased Look at A Great Air Force Leader
- By Bishop on 02-11-20
By: Barrett Tillman
-
Game Changers
- Going Local to Defeat Violent Extremists
- By: Scott Mann
- Narrated by: D. Scott Mann
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The storm gathers as we sleep. Despite vast amounts of blood and treasure expended since 9-11-2001, America and her allies are losing the war against Islamist violent extremists. For the first time since the War on Terror began, Green Beret Scott Mann, an original architect and implementer of this strategic program, reveals an immediately useful strategic framework to defeat ISIS, al-Qa'ida, and even criminal elements here at home.
-
-
Changing the nation-building strategy
- By Dicy on 07-24-23
By: Scott Mann
-
Left of Bang
- How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life
- By: Patrick Van Horne, Jason A. Riley
- Narrated by: Danny Campbell
- Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You walk into a restaurant and get an immediate sense that you should leave. You are about to step onto an elevator with a stranger, and something stops you. You interview a potential new employee who has the résumé to do the job, but something tells you not to offer the position. These scenarios all represent "left of bang", the moments before something bad happens.
-
-
Easier to follow when read
- By Chris Hutchinson on 04-29-16
By: Patrick Van Horne, and others
-
The Accidental Guerrilla
- Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One
- By: David Kilcullen
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 15 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
David Kilcullen is one of the world's most influential experts on counterinsurgency and modern warfare. A senior counterinsurgency advisor to General David Petraeus in Iraq, his vision of war dramatically influenced America's decision to rethink its military strategy in Iraq and implement "the surge."Now, in The Accidental Guerrilla, Kilcullen provides a remarkably fresh perspective on the War on Terror.
-
-
Not What I Expected
- By John on 12-12-10
By: David Kilcullen
-
Hunting the Caliphate
- America's War on ISIS and the Dawn of the Strike Cell
- By: Dana J.H. Pittard, Wes J. Bryant, General David Petraeus - Foreword by
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain, Shawn Compton
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this vivid first-person narrative, a Special Operations Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and his commanding general give fascinating and detailed accounts of America's fight against one of the most barbaric insurgencies the world has ever seen. In the summer of 2014, three years after America's full troop withdrawal from the Iraq War, President Barack Obama authorized a small task force to push back into Baghdad. Their mission: protect the Iraqi capital and US embassy from a rapidly emerging terrorist threat.
-
-
Disconnected and Dry
- By Anthony on 12-19-19
By: Dana J.H. Pittard, and others
What listeners say about On Killing Remotely
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- millbill
- 06-20-21
Eye Opening & Thought Provoking
The book provides a view into a new warfighter community b I highly recommend it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jeffrey Epsteindidntkillhimself
- 01-26-22
Great compilation of facts
Dave Grossman’s On Killing/Combat was great. LtC Phelps book narrows the scope to RPA life in like fashion. It has been long in coming for an in depth review of the RPA world and the true unseen hardships endured by their crews.
EVERY decision maker of the military MUST READ!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- KYerke
- 08-11-21
A thorough look into RPA culture.
Well narrated.
This book was a deep look into RPA culture up to the present day. However, I was disappointed by the echo of Grossman's anti-video game rhetoric.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joshelyn
- 06-19-21
Easy read, that’s insightful
On Killing Remotely is the perfect book for anyone looking to get into the mind of an RPA warrior. The book does an excellent job of recapping the development and current state of RPA systems, then deep dives into the stresses that the operators are placed under. The book's four sections help structure the difficult conversation that is killing remotely.
Having recently reread Dave Grossman's "On Killing,"; this book takes the next step by discussing the emotional and physical stress amplified by today's remote technologies. I would highly recommend this book to family and friends of anyone associated with unmanned systems. Even if not associated with RPAs, this is still an eye-opener for all of humanity.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 06-13-22
perfection
for someone that was in the community, he got all the points correct. I had even learned a few things I can pass on. phenomenal book, and well organized.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- McDaniel
- 11-23-22
Absolute must read
Excellent insights into the Remote Pilot Aviation. Well written and captures the reality and challenges of remote air vehicles operations.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!