Confessions of an Economic Hitman

By: John Perkins

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the inside story of how America turned from a respected republic into a feared empire.

"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."

John Perkins should know; he was an economic hit man. His job was to convince countries that are strategically important to the U.S., from Indonesia to Panama, to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development and to make sure that the lucrative projects were contracted to Halliburton, Bechtel, Brown and Root, and other United States engineering and construction companies. Saddled with huge debts, these countries came under the control of the United States government, World Bank, and other U.S.-dominated aid agencies that acted like loan sharks, dictating repayment terms and bullying foreign governments into submission.

This extraordinary real-life tale exposes international intrigue, corruption, and little-known government and corporate activities that have dire consequences for American democracy and the world.

Listen to John Perkins discuss the book on To the Best of Our Knowledge.

©2004 John Perkins (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Almost a true fiction story

This is a very eventful book and reading this actually feels like reading fiction. The author throws some very exciting insights into the inner working of the much respected world organisation like the UN, World Bank and IMF. It is amazing to know how they work within the whims and facies of the rich nations, particulalry the US. Read this but it may be a good idea to take all this with a pinch of salt. However, a lot of it (like about the Iraq war, Saudi Arabia exploits, etc.) makes very intriguing read. Is highly recommended.

excellent

I really enjoyed this book, makes you think although it had made me even less tolerant of american policy.
I highly recommend it.

Eye-opening

As we get older most of us begin to lose some of our nievity about how our country maintains it's superpower status. Author tells some revealing stories and provides insight into events that most of us would never know existed. The book could be perceived to be more liberal than conservative but I believe he is making a statement concerning American corporations versus just a political one. Author does a good job in stating what was occurring and the reasons behind it. As with most issues I could see both sides of an issue and there was no clear winner or loser in most instances. Even though many on the receiving end of these issues would look negatively upon what the US was achieving there were also benefits as well. The question becomes did countries pay to mcuh for America's help? I found the book to be very revealing and have recommended it to others.

Important Book

Sure the book is not perfect and I don't always agree with the authors conclusions yet the work is sound, true, and important. The one negative review that I read didn't find fault with the facts but only that the author was against globalization (suggesting he must be a looney because he was not a blind faith member of the GOP). In truth the author says no such thing. He is against the term, not the concept, when it is used as an excuse to interfere and manipulate third world cultures, governments, and people.

The reader is not the best but the words are so strong you don't need a very good one.

Finally the author gets religion, so to speak, but one doesn't need religion to realize that what he talks about is evil and wrong. Also what he describes we do in the name of Democracy and Capitalism is neither and should not be tolerated.

How American Imperialism Works

This is a great listen and gives you a first hand account of the people (EHM's) who work to expand the American Empire. If you are naive and think that America only does the good and nobel than you will hate this book but if you have a worldly and open mind you will find this book well worth your time.

lost cause.

a very interesting book. Perhaps time renders it less relevant as most of us are now aware of the system he experienced. A few small things ....the narrator pronounces the name of the Saud family correctly but repeatedly incorrectly refers to Swordi Arabia. Having lived there for many years I can assure you it is s'audi...like the car owdy, in phonetic terms. like you have been hurt a little, the word ouch without the ch. Secondly, the author has little understanding of the Euro. No currency succeeds without a state behind it to properly control the finances. The EU falls far short of that. Lastly, the reference to the American war of independence . The empire was defeated not from within as such, but by a desire for statehood, backed with considerable inherent resources. it could be argued that Trump is dismantling the existing system through his own personal greed and lack of understanding by withdrawing the USA from the world stage.

Amazing inside view of real history

Pragmatic and real telling of the real history of the world and how the corporate empire took hold. A lot historical insights from angles never viewed.

Harmful

All the time I spent on this book was pain for me. Pain was caused by reality..

Good points but sometimes more fiction

There are good points in this book but some parts seem to be more factious than based on real events.

A must read!

For those who cherish life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; for those who love the human family; for those who love Mother Earth- read between the lines. Listen, and you will hear!