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Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

by John Perkins
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

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  • Synopses & Reviews

ISBN13: 9780452287082
ISBN10: 0452287081
Condition: Standard


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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

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.

 

Review

"Astonishing." Boston Herald

Review

"This riveting look at a world of intrigue reads like a spy novel....Highly recommended." Library Journal

Review

"John Perkins was for 10 years a player in a high-stakes game of global empire. Confessions of an Economic Hit Manis his very personal account of the events that forced him to choose between conscience and a glamorous life of power, luxury and beautiful women. It is also an adventure thriller worthy of Graham Green or John Le Carré that connects the dots between corporate globalization, American Empire, and the dynasty of the House of Bush." David C. Korten, Dragonfly Review

Review

"John Perkins has written a book that shakes one's confidence in the ethics of the prevailing economic system. We are in troubling times and need to understand realistically the price we are paying for the 'free' market we enjoy. Perkins has written an extraordinary tale." Jim Garrison, author of America As Empire, President of the State of the World Forum

Review

"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is a unique book, brave because it is personal....This book possesses an immediacy that separates it from the numerous studies we already have of American Empire. It comes from the heart. I highly recommend it." Michael Brownstein, author of World on Fire

Review

"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is a brave and potent book written by a man whose commitment to the truth transcends any personal concerns about revealing his own previous blindness....This is a stunning and groundbreaking book that is a must-read for anyone who cares about our world." Lynne Twist, global activist and author of The Soul of Money

Synopsis

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 and awarding lucrative contracts to American business.

Synopsis

The runaway bestseller that has generated a major movie deal — and an international dialogue — with over 170,000 copies sold in hardcover and seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list!

"Economic hit men," John Perkins writes, "are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as Empire but one that has taken on terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization."

John Perkins should know — he was an economic hit man for an international consulting firm that worked to convince developing countries to accept enormous loans and to funnel that money to U.S. corporations. Once these countries were saddled with huge debts, the American government and international aid agencies were able to request their "pound of flesh" in favors, including access to natural resources, military cooperation, and political support. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is the story of one man's experiences inside the intrigue, greed, corruption and little-known government and corporate activities that America has been involved in since World War II, and which have dire consequences for the future of democracy and the world.


About the Author

John Perkins is founder and president of the Dream Change Coalition, which works closely with Amazonian and other indigenous people to help preserve their environments and cultures. From 1971 to 1981 he worked for the international consulting firm of Chas.T. Main, where he became chief economist and director of economics and regional planning. Perkins has lectured and taught at universities and learning centers on four continents and is a regular lecturer for the Omega Center.


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Prologue xvi

Part I 1963-1971

1 An Economic Hit Man Is Born 3

2 "In for Life" 12

3 Indonesia: Lessons for an EHM 20

4 Saving a Country from Communism 23

5 Selling My Soul 28

Part II 1971-1975

6 My Role as Inquisitor 37

7 Civilization on Trial 42

8 Jesus, Seen Differently 47

9 Opportunity of a Lifetime 52

10 Panama's President and Hero 58

11 Pirates in the Canal Zone 63

12 Soldiers and Prostitutes 67

13 Conversations with the General 71

14 Entering a New and Sinister Period in Economic History 76

15 The Saudi Arabian Money-laundering Affair 81

16 Pimping, and Financing Osama bin Laden 93

Part III 1975-1981

17 Panama Canal Negotiations and Graham Greene 101

18 Iran's King of Kings 108

19 Confessions of a Tortured Man 113

20 The Fall of a King 117

21 Colombia: Keystone of Latin America 120

22 American Republic versus Global Empire 124

23 The Deceptive Resume 131

24 Ecuador's President Battles Big Oil 141

25 I Quit 146

Part IV 1981-Present

26 Ecuador's Presidential Death 153

27 Panama: Another Presidential Death 158

28 My Energy Company, Enron, and George W. Bush 162

29 I Take a Bribe 167

30 The United States Invades Panama 173

31 An EHM Failure in Iraq 182

32 September 11 and its Aftermath for Me, Personally 189

33 Venezuela: Saved by Saddam 196

34 Ecuador Revisited 203

35 Piercing the Veneer 211

Epilogue 221

John Perkins Personal History 226

Notes 230

Index 240

About the Author 248


4.9 7

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4.9 (7 comments)

`
marie speter , September 03, 2011 (view all comments by marie speter)
This book is filled with intrigue, greed, corruption and the ethics of our own economic system.....it makes you think twice about how America's actions affect the rest of the world. Corporate activities around the world get revealed by a paid professional who worked for them...A great read...

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Mateo , January 27, 2010 (view all comments by Mateo)
Merely validated what I had already suspected, but it was engaging and insightful reading nonetheless...

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`
rodamu , January 14, 2010 (view all comments by rodamu)
Perkins's description of the economic empire the United States has tried to build in the last half of the 20th Century goes a long way to explain the seeds of the current "Terrorism War" that we are engaged in. Without understanding our past and present empire building behavior and changing it, we are doomed to faced increased hostility and attacks from the underdeveloped nations that the US has been exploiting.

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paul roman , April 08, 2009 (view all comments by paul roman)
If you want to understand what just happened in America this is the book. Bechtel and KBR have been practicing in the 3rd world for decades so they could perfect it for the U.S.. The next book should be on offshore banks and how they are used to pull the caper off.

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getdriver85 , March 19, 2009 (view all comments by getdriver85)
Incredible account about the inner workings about the way business is done with countries around the world and how control is kept over weaker third world countries. Perkins explains the systematic rape of the poor and helpless it's a must read for any reader wanting to understand a little more about our world, the world bank and the IMF!

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`
frieda river reader , November 08, 2008 (view all comments by frieda river reader)
John Perkins tells us what many that have worked in the developing world have belived and the chinese whispers that have been going around for years.The IMF and World Bank are purely fronts for the US forigen policy on oil and minerals this is a gripping yarn, something that will have you wide eyed and questioning all you hear from the spin doctors. If you work in the developing world or have an intrest in the oil and mining companies read this book, see whom is doing business with you or around you and judge for yourself whats really going on. This book is worth reading and when you finish it you will no doubt read the papers a little more closley and start to listen alot more so!!!

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`
Elizabeth Claussen , August 24, 2006
I am presently only in the middle of the book, but I find everything that Perkins says VERY believable. It has been clear to me for a long time that practically everything our country does is geared to "what can we make out of it," whether our corporations exploit workers of other countries, neglecting to pay taxes either to that country or to our own, our aid for disease, birth control, and famine is always tied to strings requiring the country to kowtow to our view and control, or whether we are dealing with towns, counties, or states in our own country, all being exploited for corporation benefits. It sickens me; but it gives me hope that people like Perkins have the courage to try and expose these highly kept secrets. I highly recommend the book to anyone who cares about America and the direction we are going. The book is guaranteed to catalyze many thought provoking conversations.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780452287082
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
01/01/2006
Publisher:
PENGUIN PUTNAM TRADE
Pages:
303
Height:
.72IN
Width:
5.36IN
Thickness:
.50
Age Range:
18 and up
Grade Range:
13 and up
Number of Units:
1
Illustration:
Yes
Copyright Year:
2006
UPC Code:
2800452287084
Author:
John Perkins
Media Run Time:
B
Subject:
Biography/Business

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