The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World

and only a secret to most Americans 2010-03-21

Reviewer: Seven Zero

John Perkins' "The Secret History of the American Empire" is NONFICTION.
He is the author of "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" and he describes himself as a former economic hitman(EHM) who worked for large corporations who exploit third world countries for the profit they can gain by privatizing their resources. Essentially the rape and ravage of people and environments on a scale that only an empire could be capable of.

John as an EHM went to many various third world countries and in a very business like fashion gave leaders an ultimatum, work with us and get rich OR we will send in the jackals. The jackals usually meant coup or assassination, and that is what has happened over and over again, Iran, Iraq, and many nations in South America. This book isn't just about one or two, here or there, it is about a secret systematic attempt to dominate and reap profits at any cost.

The only people in our world who this secret has NOT been revealed to are the American public. Comfort dulls the senses and maybe we are too comfortable with our way of life. But if you have ever wondered why America has so many people of nations around the world that regard us in a negative light when we appear to give so freely in terms of aid or support, then maybe you are one of those who do not know the secret. This book doesn't just provide a piece of a puzzle that fits in a picture that could provide a few answers to why our world never seems to climb out of the heap of turmoil and injustice that plagues it. John Perkins lets you see the picture that the corporatocracy would prefer to remain a puzzle.

There will be no doubt after reading this book that Perkins has put his life on the line to expose an empire of maniacs who exploit nations and the environment, overthrowing or assassinating democratically elected leaders of third world nations who refuse to except the temptations of instant wealth instead of serving their people. It is about wealth and greed, the kind of wealth that is beyond materialism, the kind of wealth that is power, the kind of power that not only an empire is capable of, but the kind of power that can keep the secret from us as their empire dominates our world in a quest for more wealth and power. The kind of greed that is sick, sick enough to allow millions to suffer the deprivation of hunger, loss of life, and loss of the kind of true democracy that our Declaration of Independence represents. See for yourself, the secret is written on these pages for all to see.

Perkins exposes practices that are the equivalent of a psychopath who tempts a child with candy in order to lure the child into his car, except that instead of one child at a time, these psychopaths rape and ravage whole nations of people, millions suffer because of a greedy few. They have almost ruined America's reputation beyond repair, maybe so that no argument or act of good faith can ever redeem us. Although this book sheds light on a number of events, the truth can appear very dark. When whole nations suffer, indigenous people lose their livelihoods or environments that once allowed at least a subsistent existence, the truth is not only very sad, but revolting if the only reason is that it was done solely for the profits of a few self-serving monsters.

Perkins writes in a fashion that is easy to read. He is a very reflective person who let's us in his head and shares himself in a very personal way. The book flows easily, at times in a very suspenseful fashion. This book would be a great addition to any school curriculum, especially in a social studies class where our kids might wonder why our world can't find an equitable peace among nations. But even when the empire's coercive efforts result in war, the wealthy still reap big profits and education of the masses just might hurt the bottom line. Perkins has some good answers to turn this around. Surely his courage alone gives us hope, but the rest is up to us and reading this book and sharing it can go a long way by removing the veil of secrecy so that Americans once again embody the ideals and values other nations strive for.

Impressed with the knowledge and views of the author 2009-12-29

Reviewer: AB970

Actually, I haven't read the book, just heard an interview with the author. I'm interested in what he has to say and would love to read it. However, reading is difficult for me.
I hope this book sells enough copies so that it will be recorded. Please read this book so that I can listen to it soon.

Amazing Insight to the World of Politics 2009-12-01

Reviewer: Smokey E

This book will really open your eyes as well as be a page turner. Great book love the way it was written. All I can ask for is more stories from more people in similar positions/

What is to be Done? 2009-11-28

Reviewer: T. Barham

The great value of this book by John Perkins as well as of his Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, is that, through a series of concrete and dramatic anecdotes, he gives us a feel for how our corporations (quite aptly called the "corporatocracy"), aided by "economic hit men" (IMF, World Bank, etc.),"jackals" (CIA), and the military, work to plunder the third world and working people in the first world to our material, cultural, and moral detriment.

The part of this book I must question is the last section in which Perkins deals with what we can do to make things better. He evidently believes that capitalism is reformable without losing its character as capitalism. It is true that under capitalism some good reforms do take place, perhaps attenuated or watered down over time, and generally restricted in scope, and it is equally true that in spite of the usual insufficiency of many of these reforms, earnest pursuit of reform by our citizens is generally worthwhile, in fact essential if we are not to lapse into an unhappy impoverished brain-dead police state, for in the course of participating in a reform movement we gain much of the experience, knowledge, and skill we need to work collectively for the genuinely radical political, economic, cultural, moral, and spiritual change we must bring about if we are to save ourselves and the planet we live and have our being on..

Many of the reform movements now under way are often subverted or derailed by agents of the corporatocracy in all three branches of our government as well as in our principal media, in our churches and fraternal organizations, and in our educational systems. Agents of the corporatocracy spend many millions in a form of lobbying that amounts to bribing, more millions in propaganda, propaganda usually quite effective, stoking and playing on fear or anger, increasing the ability of the corporatocracy to manipulate public opinion. The corporatocracy and their agents are good at giving the impression of supporting a reform with only some "minor" modifications, going so far at times as to advocate "red herring" reforms to distract us from what is really needed, and to make sure that whatever executive agencies are involved in instituting or managing a good reform shall be understaffed, incompetent, untransparent, and/or underfunded.

While competition among individual capitalists for markets often leads to efficiency and publicly beneficial outcomes, the long-term result of unfettered competition is the formation of monopolies and combinations of monopolies that lead to the ruthless and destructive exploitation of people, resources, and environments. On an international level, acting as more or less national blocs through their governments, these combinations form the economic bases of their respective governments. A ruthless competition among these governments, now imperial powers, develops in competition for markets, for cheap labor, and for cheap raw materials that leads inevitably to fascism and world war, a massive destruction of capital values, and a repeat of the same dreary boom-and-bust cycle-- or, if the masses are properly won over and organized, leads to revolution. Both scenarios are frightful, but one, if acted out in history, promises a better future for humanity and the earth. Still, one may ask: Is there another choice?

The immediate future, if the two scenarios I describe are the only realistic options, is not pretty. One must think through these matters. Perkins' books should definitely be included among your study materials.

Now we know 2009-09-08

Reviewer: Omar Abdelrahman

Democrats or Republicans....It doesn't matter. If you want to know who controls the world then you should read this, along with Stephen Kinzer's "Overthrow". Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq