From the author of the prophetic national bestseller Blowback, a startling look at militarism, American style, and its consequences abroad and at home.

In the years after the Soviet Union imploded, the United States was described first as the globe's "lone superpower," then as a "reluctant sheriff," next as the "indispensable nation," and in the wake of 9/11, as a "New Rome." In this important national bestseller, Chalmers Johnson thoroughly explores the new militarism that is transforming America and compelling us to pick up the burden of empire.

Recalling the classic warnings against militarism — from George Washington's Farewell Address to Dwight Eisenhower's denunciation of the military-industrial complex — Johnson uncovers its roots deep in our past. Turning to the present, he maps America's expanding empire of military bases and the vast web of services that support them. He offers a vivid look at the new caste of professional militarists who have infiltrated multiple branches of government, who classify as "secret" everything they do, and for whom the manipulation of the military budget is of vital interest.

Among Johnson's provocative conclusions is that American militarism is already putting an end to the age of globalization and bankrupting the United States, even as it creates the conditions for a new century of virulent blowback. The Sorrows of Empire suggests that the former American republic has already crossed its Rubicon — with the Pentagon in the lead.

"A provocative summons to the task of reining in a runaway military." Booklist

"Impressive...a powerful indictment of U.S. military and foreign policy." Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Johnson's superbly researched book is also an angry book. But who can blame him?" San Francisco Chronicle

"A Ciceronian indictment of our nation's transformation from lone superpower to imperial bully....[D]eeply unsettling..." Kirkus Reviews

"In Chalmers Johnson the American empire has found its Jeremiah. He deserves to be heard; but the proper response to his gloomy message is not despair, but thought followed by action." Andrew J. Bacevich, The Washington Post

"Johnson assumes his readers know sufficient history or have traveled widely enough to follow his warning....Precisely because he's probably right, Johnson's Sorrows is as maddening as it is important." San Diego Union-Tribune

"[P]rovocative....Fans of Blowback will be pleased despite Johnson's lack of remedies..." Publishers Weekly

"Johnson is an engaging and provocative writer....Despite its ideological excesses, Sorrows of Empire is a book worth reading. Its warnings are serious, and its arguments should certainly be considered in the ongoing debate over American foreign policy." Houston Chronicle

"Mr. Johnson has unfortunately gone over to the dark side of conspiratorial explanations of American foreign policy....For anyone who has served in the government and seen how our foreign policy is made, they don't pass the reality test." Ronald D. Asmus, The New York Times Book Review

Impressive . . . a powerful indictment of U.S. military and foreign policy.

-Los Angeles Times Book Review, front page

In the years after the Soviet Union imploded, the United States was described first as the globe's lone superpower, then as a reluctant sheriff, next as the indispensable nation, and in the wake of 9/11, as a New Rome. In this important national bestseller, Chalmers Johnson thoroughly explores the new militarism that is transforming America and compelling us to pick up the burden of empire.

Recalling the classic warnings against militarism-from George Washington's Farewell Address to Dwight Eisenhower's denunciation of the military-industrial complex-Johnson uncovers its roots deep in our past. Turning to the present, he maps America's expanding empire of military bases and the vast web of services that support them. He offers a vivid look at the new caste of professional militarists who have infiltrated multiple branches of government, who classify as secret everything they do, and for whom the manipulation of the military budget is of vital interest.

Among Johnson's provocative conclusions is that American militarism is already putting an end to the age of globalization and bankrupting the United States, even as it creates the conditions for a new century of virulent blowback. The Sorrows of Empire suggests that the former American republic has already crossed its Rubicon-with the Pentagon in the lead.

Chalmers Johnson, president of the Japan Policy Research Institute, is a frequent contributor to the London Review of Books and The Nation. His previous books include the national bestseller Blowback, as well as MITI and the Japanese Miracle. Johnson lives near San Diego. In the years after the Soviet Union imploded, the United States was described first as the globe's lone superpower, then as a reluctant sheriff, next as the indispensable nation, and, in the wake of 9/11, as a New Rome. Here, Johnson thoroughly explores the new militarism that is transforming America and compelling its citizens to pick up the burden of empire.

Recalling the classic warnings against militarism--from George Washington's Farewell Address to Dwight Eisenhower's denunciation of the military-industrial complex--Johnson uncovers the deep war-mongering roots of our past. Turning to the present, he maps America's expanding empire of military bases and the vast web of services that support them. He also offers a vivid look at the new caste of professional militarists who have infiltrated multiple branches of government, who classify as secret everything they do, and for whom the manipulation of the military budget is of vital interest.

Among Johnson's more provocative conclusions is that American militarism is already putting an end to the age of globalization, and bankrupting the United States even as it creates the conditions for a new century of virulent blowback. The Sorrows of Empire suggests that the former American republic has already crossed its Rubicon--with the Pentagon in the lead. From the author of Blowback comes this bestselling and timely critique of American-style militarism.

An] enormously useful study.--Ronald Steel, The Nation

Impressive . . . A powerful indictment of U.S. military and foreign policy.--Los Angeles Times Book Review Exhaustive . . . Johnson, an Asia scholar and onetime consultant for the CIA, produces] voluminous research on the many United States military and intelligence outposts unknown to most Americans, and weaves a frightening picture of a military-industrial complex grown into exactly the powerful, secretive force that Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against--made more dangerous by an aggressive executive branch, creating a state of perpetual war and economic bankruptcy. His assessment is chilling.--Serge Schmemann, The New York Times Book Review

Johnson devotes most of his book to examining the numerous foreign bases (which have proliferated since the end of the Cold War), the often legitimate reasons for their initial establishment, the outrages that American servicemen from them perpetrate on their hosts, as well as the comforts and benefits of empire and militarism that prevent their abandonment. Johnson believes that the initial post-Cold War base expansion was aimed at supporting America's century-old economic imperialism, now called 'globalization.' But with the election of the 'boy emperor' and the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, 'the United States shifted decisively from economic to military imperialism, ' which undermined international law and organizations, weakened democracy at home, replaced truth with propaganda, and courted financial ruin. Johnson's superbly researched book is also an angry one]. But who can blame him?--Walter C. Uhler, San Francisco Chronicle

A scathing and scary indictment of America's military expansion to all corners of the globe.--John Wilkens, The San Diego Union-Tribune

An] enormously useful study.--Ronald Steel, The Nation

s26Every page of The Sorrows of Empire burns with fierce indignation at the sacrifice of American rights, values, and economic well-being in the name of conquest and empire. Johnson has produced a blistering critique of the Bush Administration's militaristic foreign policy and its dangerous infatuation with high-tech weaponry. Everyone who cares about the survival of American democracy should read Johnson's stunning indictment.--Michael T. Klare, author of Resource Wars

Johnson's relentless logic, authoritative scholarship, and elegantly biting prose distinguish The Sorrows of Empire, like all his other work. Anyone who reads it will have a much sharper sense of the costs of America's new world-girdling commitments--and I hope it is widely read.--James Fallows, author of Breaking the News

Johnson has given us a polemic, but one soundly grounded in an impressive array

Chalmers Johnson, president of the Japan Policy Research Institute, is a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times and The Nation. His previous books include the national bestseller Blowback, as well as MITI and the Japanese Miracle. He lives near San Diego.