About this title: An extraordinary, real-life tale of international intrigue and corruption, "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" reveals the hidden mechanics of imperial control behind such major international events as the fall of the Shah, the death of Panamanian president Omar Torrijos, and the invasions of Panama and Iraq, as well as providing an inside view of ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Plume Book, U. S. A.
Date Published: 2006
Description: Very Good. * Very Good Octavo(8vo), approx.8" Trade sized paperback, in a near very good condition. Clean and tight copy with flat uncreased spine and minimal creasing to covers. We answer questions and, if required, supply scanned images or further info, within 24 hours. read more
Edition: NEW ED
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: EBURY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780091909109ISBN:0091909104
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 256 pages. (256 pages) as an ehm in the '60s and '70s, covertly recruited by the us national security agency, john perkins helped further american imperial interests in countries such as ecuador, panama, indonesia and saudi arabia. he tried to write this book four times but was threatened or bribed each time to halt. the events of 9/11 forced him to reveal the truth. portraits edition new ed (Paperback) read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin USA
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780452287082ISBN:0452287081
Description: Paperback. May include moderately worn cover, writing, markings or slight discoloration. May include moderately worn cover, writing, markings or slight discoloration. SKU: 25360193 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money back guarantee ISBN: 9780452287082 May include moderately worn cover, writing, markings or slight discoloration. May include moderately worn cover, writing, markings or slight discoloration. SKU: 25360193 All orders shipped within 1 business day. 14 day money ... read more
Description: Good. Used copy-Because of our high volume, we can not accurately describe each book, so we list the MINIMUM condition you can expect; most are better than the condition listed. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ebury Press
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780091909109ISBN:0091909104
Description: New. As an EHM in the '60s and '70s, covertly recruited by the US National Security Agency, John Perkins helped further American imperial interests in countries such as Ecuador, Panama, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. He tried to write this book four times but... read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: PLUME
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780452287082ISBN:0452287081
Description: New. Perkins, a former chief economist at a Boston strategic-consulting firm, confesses he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinationals cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy... read more
"My short review is this: 'Confessions' is a good introduction to the darker side of foreign policy and the effects of globalization.
My slightly longer explanation is this: Paradoxically, what makes the book more accessible is also what turns many people off to it. It takes a chunk of history about a particular topic, and describes it in largely narrative form. Much of this is due to the book being an 'account' of Perkins' career during that time. Admittedly, it becomes somewhat taxing at times to slog through Perkins attempt at literary description (I doubt I'd read a fiction novel from him). However, the book is still mostly content, and important content at that. The topic is mainly about how the altruism of globalization is a hoax, and how our government does some quite terrible things to maintain its interests. I've heard many people complain about not being able to sympathize with the author, but I don't really think that's the point. If you're looking for a good fire-side read, this isn't it. Additionally, I'm amazed how many people have simply brushed the book off with an "I don't buy it". The book is meant as a spring-board, not a road-map. Agree or not, at least go out and do some research on the topic. To simply disagree with an idea because it's hard to swallow is a level of self-denial that keeps therapists in business. So, ultimately, if you're new to the field of globalization and global politics, this is a good, radical, introduction (even though it may be counter to the view you hold right now, it's always good to know what the other side's argument is). If you're already well versed in the subject, you can probably skip this one. Read more Chomsky."
"I love the whole conspiracy theory, hiding behind the ignorant veil the masses, theme that this book so intelligently portrays. This book takes a unique approach to the entire world of cloak and dagger showing how the economic pressures placed upon many of the world's struggling nations through the devious actions of America, in cooperation with many other superpowers, are actually more devastating than even our military ones. This book made me excited, sad, and angry all at once. It is a great read. It left me wanting to find a way to get involved in changing the world into a more ideal place to live and be."
"At the end of Three Days of the Condor the guy who is not Robert Redford, the guy who is the evil CIA operative who has been trying to 'bring him home' throughout the film - which we have guessed is a euphuism for 'take him out' - is talking about why the CIA does bad, manipulative things in the world. He tells Redford that it is simple economics and anyway, what would Redford expect them to do? Redford says he should ask the American people first. The CIA man looks at Redford in the way so many people do when confronted with the naivety of the person they are talking to, but finally replies, "Ask them when there's no heat and they're cold. Ask them when their engines stop. Ask them when people who have never known hunger start going hungry. Want to know something? They won't want us to ask them. They'll want us to get it for them."
The whole way through this most remarkable book I found myself thinking of that line and that last scene from Three Days of the Condor. This is one of the most fascinating books I've read in quite a long time. It reads like a Le Carre novel or something by Graham Green, and yet it is autobiographical.
A young man becomes drawn into international finance and has the role of convincing third world countries (particularly the leaders of these countries) to take out loans that are so huge their countries will never be able to repay them. They do this so as to ensure that these countries become satellites orbiting the American Empire. His job was to make these countries compliant, dependent, and endlessly economically exploitable.
Perkins asserts that the economic hit men were potentially only phase one of what could become a three phase attack on the democratic rights and independence of foreign nations. If bribing the leaders of countries with massive loans they could never repay didn't work, then the jackals were sent in to kill selected targets and to create mayhem that would ensure the 'right' people would be put into power. If this didn't work, then US troops were sent in. He gives instance after instance of where this pattern was applied in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia over a period of about three decades. It would be hard to imagine someone from the US reading this book without a growing sense of shame. It is hard to read this book from anywhere in the first world without feelings of responsibility, disgust and self-loathing. He reminds us continually that our lavish and unsustainable life style is only possible by the exploitation unto death of large parts of the globe.
This is also a remarkably well written autobiography - if Noam Chomsky was to make up a character who walked the path of evil before converting and walking the path of righteousness, he's have come up with someone pretty much like John Perkins. Perkins does not come out of this book a saint, but he does come out of it a bit of a hero - I think.
It surprises me more I can say that this book ever got published. I believe we live in times when global capitalism is so cocksure of its pre-eminence and unassailability that it doesn't even bother to cover up its deeds. I think I preferred it when the rulers of the world at least pretended they were concerned we might overthrown them if we caught them at their cheating. I think I preferred it when they would lie to us, if for no better reason than purely out of shame. Now they don't even bother to treat us to that level of respect. We have become completely contemptible. Where they can do whatever they like and then rub our noses in it and we will only shake our heads and complain about how powerless we are.
This really is a fascinating book, fascinating in the literal sense of having one's attention stolen as we read. Like I said, this reads like a spy novel, but made even more compelling by it being true.
"This is a TERRIFYING, DEPRESSING but MUST-READ book giving an insider's perspective into American corporate amorality.
I appreciate that the author wrote this book and honestly detailed his role in the exploitation of less-developed countries. The author's company worked on the assumption that everyone in power is corruptible; heartbreakingly, this turned out to be almost entirely accurate. I strongly disliked the author for the irreparable damage he's done to countless innocent people in less-developed countries. Damn greedy Westerners like him have ruined the world!"
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