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Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
written by John Perkins
Studio : Plume
by Plume
Publisher : Plume
Released : 2005-12-27
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780452287082
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 616 reviews)
List Price : $15.00
Our Price : $6.94
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Americancivilwar.com |
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John Perkins started and stopped writing Confessions of an Economic Hit Man four times over 20 years. He says he was threatened and bribed in an effort to kill the project, but after 9/11 he finally decided to go through with this expose of his former professional life. Perkins, a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, says 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 and awarding lucrative contracts to American business. "Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars," Perkins writes. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an extraordinary and gripping tale of intrigue and dark machinations. Think John Le Carré, except it's a true story. Perkins writes that his economic projections cooked the books Enron-style to convince foreign governments to accept billions of dollars of loans from the World Bank and other institutions to build dams, airports, electric grids, and other infrastructure he knew they couldn't afford. The loans were given on condition that construction and engineering contracts went to U.S. companies. Often, the money would simply be transferred from one bank account in Washington, D.C., to another one in New York or San Francisco. The deals were smoothed over with bribes for foreign officials, but it was the taxpayers in the foreign countries who had to pay back the loans. When their governments couldn't do so, as was often the case, the U.S. or its henchmen at the World Bank or International Monetary Fund would step in and essentially place the country in trusteeship, dictating everything from its spending budget to security agreements and even its United Nations votes. It was, Perkins writes, a clever way for the U.S. to expand its "empire" at the expense of Third World citizens. While at times he seems a little overly focused on conspiracies, perhaps that's not surprising considering the life he's led. --Alex Roslin |
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Product Description |
From the author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, comes an exposé of international corruption— and an inspired plan to turn the tide for future generations
With a presidential election around the corner, questions of America’s military buildup, environmental impact, and foreign policy are on everyone’s mind. Former “Economic Hit Man” John Perkins goes behind the scenes of the current geopolitical crisis and offers bold solutions to our most pressing problems. Drawing on interviews with other EHMs, jackals, CIA operatives, reporters, businessmen, and activists, Perkins reveals the secret history of events that have created the current American Empire, including:
• How the “defeats” in Vietnam and Iraq have benefited big business
• The role of Israel as “Fortress America” in the Middle East
• Tragic repercussions of the IMF’s “Asian Economic Collapse”
• The current Latin American revolution and its lessons for democracy
• U.S. blunders in Tibet, Congo, Lebanon, and Venezuela
From the U.S. military in Iraq to infrastructure development in Indonesia, from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa to jackals in Venezuela, Perkins exposes a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe, with consequences reflected in our daily headlines. Having raised the alarm, Perkins passionately addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations. |
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Confessions indeed. |
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John Perkins gives a good account of his understanding of how the building blocks of empire in this new age of global finance is achieved. There is one question that I tried to answer throughout the book, but could not find the answer. John seems to feel very guilty, and attempts to purge his sins with this book. ¿Are his economic "hits" just the tip of the iceberg? For that I'll have to wait to finish reading Chalmers Johnson's book Nemesis. John fails to deliver the broader vision that Chalmers does into the working of empire building and its relation to the failing republic. |
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Should hold the label: Fiction |
John Perkins reveals his hits in the economic arena. The book narrates nicely with good description of events, places and conversations. However, it is loaded with fantasies, silly scenarios and unbelievable events. This book has no facts, when facts must have been the backbone of such allegations.
When I started reading it, I though that it might be a good read like "Fundamentalist World: The New Dark Age of Dogma" by Stuart Sim who talks about the the economic fundamentalism of the World Bank. However, I was totally disappointed by the:
1)Lack of facts
2)Missing to tell us how he could convince other economists who were reviewing his work and did not agree on his economic growth arguments. What were his arguments against theirs?
3)His conversations with different locals and his apologetic behaviour through out the book
4)The fact that he told Claudine (his coach) that he will someday reveal all and she did not even rise an eyebrow. Logically, she would contact her superiors and terminate Mr. Potential Hitman.
5)On one hand he says that the House of Saud does what it sees appropriate and does not tolerate other Saudis refusing the mentioned deal/contract with the States, and on the other hand he had to buy a Saudi through providing him with blondes.
6)Other and other pieces in his narrative that makes the whole story seems not related to his true life.
I stopped reading at page 98.
This economic hit man thing might be a factual thing, but it definitely did not have John Perkins on its payroll.
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Whether you believe Perkins or not, this book should be read. |
Have you ever wondered how the world really, really, really works? Perkins attempts to show insight into the secretive world of global finance, emphasis on markets, and the quest for American Empire.
I really wanted to love this book, yet at times it felt more than a bit shallow. It is hard to know what is true and what may be distorted. Perhaps Perkins cannot come completely clean.
Having lived abroad for several years in the 1990's I can attest to the "Ugly-American" syndrome, and how some have contempt for foreign cultures.
Debt burden and the rise of the Corporatocracy are true and attestable. If you don't believe it, search for "Project for a new American Century" on Google. Take a look at the membership, and you will find many of the cast of characters within Perkins book.
Remember, "The greatest trick the Devil ever performed, is convincing the world he doesn't exist."
Cheers!
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A must-read |
Although this book is a highly self-centred and personal account of his role in the "corporatocracy", Perkins' account is an eye-opener and a great introduction into the current state of our world. Perkins has been criticised for publically airing his guilt over his actions, however this is his way of coming to terms with his actions. I don't believe this is fair criticism, as this book is a personal account. It is engaging because it is about John Perkins. It's like criticising an apple for being an apple. However, I do admit that including a three page resume about himself was a bit much. That's way too much ego! That said, I would still recommend this book to people seeking answers to why the world is in the state that it's in, and for anyone else in fact!
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an extraordinary story of a modern man facing his inner demons, with the backdrop of a world gone mad. Highly recommended! |
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Confessions of an Economic Hit May |
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This is one of the worst books I have read in a long time. All his mistakes in life are someone elses fault (ie, his parents, school, wives, employer,etc.) It amazes me he stayed with the organization for 3 decades and FINALLY decided it was evil. He takes no responsibility for his actions. Sour grapes to me. |
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