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 enlarge | Author: John Perkins
Publisher: Plume
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $6.94
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New (63) Used (79) Collectible (5) from $6.40
Avg. Customer Rating:  617 reviews
Sales Rank: 474
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7
ISBN: 0452287081
Dewey Decimal Number: 332.042092
EAN: 9780452287082
ASIN: 0452287081
Publication Date: December 27, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Confessions of an Economic Hit May June 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
 Fascinating & Shocking June 18, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
During college I came across numerous critiques and debates over the negative aspects of globalization on "emerging countries" in how often times quality of life is worsened, not improved for the local populous. In this respect, Perkins's insights are not revolutionary. However, his discussion of how unchecked personal greed leads to the intertwining of political and financial interests to create a new global empire is fascinating. This new global empire, deemed the "corporatocracy", seeks to advance the interests of unbridled capitalism (read: corporate greed) through a combination of economic and military pressures. What's truly fascinating, and frankly shocking, is that this omnipresent greed is often not the work of handful conspirators, but rather the product of a system that equates materialism and consumption with economic and social development. That's not to say there aren't appalling examples of cloak and dagger conspiracies and purposeful manipulations, such as American support of the House of Saud, the Panamanian invasion, support for the Iranian Shah, and Halliburton in Iraq, but the truly sickening examples are the pervasive and far more subtle manipulations engendered by a system driven by consumption. This book exposes how special interest groups manipulate perception to advance personal interests at the expense of long-term national security and global stability.
This book is not "political" in the sense that it is a criticism of the current administration, or favors Democrats over Republicans, but rather is an indictment of all drivers of global empire, which includes government, media, and finance heads across the political spectrum. Moreover, this is not a criticism of America as some might suggest. It is a criticism of a perversion of the American ideals of freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of ever-increasing consumption. This consumption fuels our need for natural resources, which in turn drives our foreign and economic policies leading to corruption and abuse of our power as the world's sole Super Power. It helps illuminate how this abuse has created many of America's enemies, because our dependence on foreign resources has forced us to create this global empire with little regard for those we seek to bring into our spheres of influence. This unsustainable empire building poses far greater risks to the U.S. than any individual terrorist or rogue nation threat because it is this reckless imperialism that destroys empires. Confessions of an EHM is essential reading to understand how the greed of our past continues to drive the current geopolitical instability. Open your eyes to prevent history repeating itself for the next generation!
"Film Noir" or political "third rail?" June 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Why has America's prestige in the world fallen? Why are we involved in costly international intrigues? This book's title is sensational-appearing but the subject is serious. The issues raised aren't hype they are happening today.
Mr. Perkins' experiences relate closely to my observations as a national finance and banking executive in this country. The methods that he describes ring true to what I have witnessed.
What should have been obvious to me, in the international setting, was made clear by John Perkin's book with the "film noir" title. The corprate-political machine described has no respect for national sovereignty including, I fear, our own.
Please read, share and debate this very readable book.
The Fabrications of an Emotionally UnWell Man June 13, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I wanted to like this book. And I'm really a pushover for conspiracy and behind the scene shenanigans. But by page 6, I was done. There are little things that give away a lie, i.e. inappropriate self references that sound like puffery and macho sounding titles that no actual business or agency would use. And an overall sense of vacuousness as though words are just as good as reality.
Also, making conclusions about the most innocuous events based upon a stereo-typical liberal immaturity: hatred of America and anything that relates to morals (interesting how those 2 things always are found in the same person) He used the words puritan, prudish or moralistic several times in the first 3 pages of text. Few words expose a person like those do.
A Rare Conscience in the American Empire June 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Thank you John Perkins for your insight into what the American Empire is doing to the world. It's refreshing to take a break from the TV network propaganda and get some real scoop about our own country. In fact, one of my favorite parts of your book is the following: "...We have such difficulty listening to the real story. We prefer to believe the myth that thousands of years of human social evolution has finally perfected the ideal economic system, rather than to face the fact we have merely bought into a false concept and accepted it as gospel". Because you see, Mr. Perkins, your description of the immense subtlety involved in the economic hit man business is the very cunning process referred to in Alexis De Tocqueville's book, "Democracy in America" when he writes that civilization has perfected despotism. This process is better explained in the book, Don't Weep for Me, America: How Democracy in America Became the Prince (While We Slept) May everyone read your book, and may everyone understand that the details are not the point.
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