Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
Book Review: Hard to read, made me angry and feeling powerless.
Summary: 5 Stars
In this last year, I've read many political books, including Al Franken's "Liars.." to Amy Goodman's "Exception to the Rulers." Each was well written, topical, and informative. However, this book had more of an impact on me than all the others combined.
Perkins was an agent for American businesses in their quest to globalize. This was not simply a salesperson calling on foreign leaders, it involved the creation of a network of US government agencies such as the CIA, NSA, and the military, large engineering firms like Bechtel, US media, World Bank, IMF, and USAID, to intentionally manipulate foreign economies and governments to create ideal business climates for American businesses. This involved, providing arms to "rebels", staging coups, stirring up dissent, and waging disinformation campaigns, not to mention the more mundane methods such as bribery, pimping, and assassinations.
He carefully explains 9/11 as a "blowback" event; he exposes the coups in Panama and the attempted coup in Venezuela. He actively participated in the intentional destruction of the economies of third world nations by having the World Bank loan them more than they could possibly pay back, and then extracting austerity measures that deeply impoverished their already-poor citizens. In Ecuador alone, the "industrialization" brought by loans that resulted in their poverty level increasing from 50% to 70%, their foreign debt increased from $240 million to $16 billion, and now devotes nearly 50% of its national budget to paying off its debt - instead of helping its poor. Huge tracts of Ecuador's rain forest were ceded to oil companies; indigenous people were forcibly relocated or had no choice when their water sources were poisoned.
This book was hard to read, as it made me angry but left me feeling powerless. The last chapter is devoted to helping the reader focus on what can be done. The book is terrifying, shocking, and too often conveys a feeling of hopelessness. But it's truthful, and that's more than we're getting from the mainstream media.
Book Review: A MUST read...
Summary: 5 Stars
What is exposed in this book is the reality of the world today. It is about the author, but it is about me and you as much. It is an eye opener that helps lift the veil we have been made to look through, so we may see the world clearer. It should impact the world view of most of its readers.
I urge every one of you to read it; the sooner the better.
With peace.
Book Review: Required Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a courageous book, a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important historical developments of the 20th century, and a compelling personal story.
"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" should be required reading in every business school where international business is taught and in every institution where U.S. candidates for overseas service study the history of their chosen work.
Over the years, I have traveled in nearly 100 countries, and I have witnessed the fruits of the ill-conceived policies that John Perkins helped to promote as an Econoic Hit Man. I have spoken with hundreds of people who have learned, through bitter personal experience, the truth of his assertions. Still, I found this book to be hugely revealing. There were surprises for me in John Perkins' artful exposition of his personal experience.
This book makes a major contribution to public understanding of the true nature of the U.S.' role in the world over the last third of the 20th century.
Book Review: Riveting Revelation
Summary: 5 Stars
"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" is a must-read, not just for scholars of modern imperialism but also for anyone who values truth. In this well-told story Perkins reveals the inner workings of a new imperialism and illustrates how corporations, the U.S. government, and the World Bank and IMF combine to chain less developed countries to the world economy in such a way as to guarantee their governments' compliance with the industrialized countries whose laissez-faire visions of economics drove and shaped 19th-and 20th-century European empires. Indeed, the portrait of the coporatocratic empire jibes perfectly with the history of the modern empires of the previous two centuries . . . its crafters' vision extended by military might, political will, and technological advances in mobility and communications. The United States has inherited the imperial mantle. But, where 19th-century imperial powers used military might and gunboat diplomacy to ensure their hegemony in their colonies, the U.S. uses economic hit men to extend its control over less developed countries through gargantuan loans made to their corrupt and/or na?ve leaders. Mr. Perkins was part of this system; and this confession, an insider's snapshot into the workings of the IMF, the World Bank, and modern imperialism, is his expos?.
I very much enjoyed reading this book, it is a portrait well painted. Perkins's prose is clear and his story compelling. As a scholar of modern world history, this book connected many dots for me. True American patriots will heed the warning implicit in Mr. Perkins's book: if the United States is to become a model republic and a moral as well as economic leader in the world, then informed citizens must help to change the way we do business. Education is key to changing the future. In his closing, Perkins offers some suggestions on how to effect real, positive change.
As a student, I learned much from "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." As a teacher, I will be using it as part of an imperialism class that I teach in high school. Kudos, Mr. Perkins, for your enlightenment and confession, may it have the positive impact you desire.
Book Review: True insider reveals inner workings of world empire
Summary: 5 Stars
Dear John,
Thank you for your Confessions, and for your work
to expose the true nature of the world ruling system.
While reading your conclusion I was struck by the
parallels between what you were saying and Bucky
Fuller's ideas as set down in Critical Path. In many
ways you are working toward common ends. Many
of Fuller's insights regarding what he termed the
invisible power structure or the Grunch of Giants
are confirmed by your work.
I have studied the world ruling system for over 30
years. Your book has given me great hope that
even the inner servants of this monster can still
have a conscience.
I like your characterization of the system you supported
as being not simply a conspiracy. I see it in some respects
as a class war, in other ways as simply human nature in
action, the wolves taking the sheep. There are some excellent
authors that have done great work in detailing the nature of
the system. I think your definition and that of Bucky Fuller
are both very good, that's one reason I'm curious if you've read
him. The other thing is that both he and you offer positive,
optimistic views of the future while taking these forces into
account.
Thank you again for your work.