Nemesis

The Last Days of the American Republic

By: Chalmers Johnson

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In Nemesis, Chalmers Johnson shows how American imperialism is undermining the republic, both economically and politically.

Drawing comparisons to empires past, Johnson explores in vivid detail the likely consequences of dependence on a permanent war economy, and what it will mean when the globe's sole "hyperpower" is no longer capable of paying for the vaulting ambitions of its leaders - and becomes the greatest hyper-debtor of all time. In his stunning conclusion, Johnson suggests that the crisis of a financial breakdown could ultimately prove to be the only path to a renewed nation.

©2006 Chalmers Johnson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] biting, often effective indictment of some ugly and troubling features of America's foreign policy and domestic politics." (Publishers Weekly)

Necessary reading for all who love Democracy

This is not light bedtime reading.

Johnson has made a compelling case that the United States is headed for a catastrophic fall from power sooner or later. The power or the military/industrial/congressional complex has twisted the life out of republican institutions and made a mockery of constitutional checks and balances. We are not that different from Rome or the Soviet Union. Bankruptcy and profound instability are likely in our future if drastic changes do not happen in the very near future. Also, those changes are not likely to happen.

This is a call to action.

A fine read for all who think the U.S. May be on a bad path.

I did not particularly like the reading but found myself addicted to it. This book is a must read or listen for those who believe the U.S. may be on a dangerous path. There are great examples given throughout woven with delicate care into philosophical conversations about where the U.S. is and where it is going. The very final example of what Great Britain did to avoid the inevitable is interesting but not the only alternative. Listen to it.

2 previous were better

the 1st 2 books in the series are better. This was redundant. Still a clearly written and damning book. Long live Putin.

Well Presented

Though this is a book length diatribe against the Bush administration Johnson is a serious researcher and has a very good reputation for knowing what he is talking about. I have read some other things he has written, but they dealt with other issues. He really digs in and goes beyond the silly chanting you hear at rallies and explains what he is furious about...though after a while it is obvious that he is coming from the far left at which point it is difficult to take him as serious.

The Book Bill O'Rielly Doesn't Want You To Read!

Sad but true, the US is not the wandering do-gooder it's made out to be by FoxNews. We've got a long, rich history of meddling in the affairs of other nations with catastrophic results. Chalmers Johnson pulls no punches in explaining why. He details the parallels of the American empire with those of Rome and Britain. Truly scary stuff. You must read this BEFORE appearing on Bill O'Rielly.

Part factual, very biased

I found this book to be somewhat interesting but very biased in its political stand.
Mr. Johnson makes some good point about the basis of our economy being artifically held up by military spending, but he seems to place the vast majority of the blame on Republicans. I am not an expert in these matters, but I will go out on a limb and say that Democrat administrations have contributed to the military industrial complex also.
Mr. Johnson repeatedly beats the drum about the CIA wanting secret bases so they can torture people. Mr. Johnson does not define what he means by torture, and given the tone of his work he could mean that making people listen to Rush Limbaugh counts as torture.
After I had listened to this book I did some research and found that this is the third volume in a trilogy. I have not had an opportunity to listen to the other two volumes, so it is possible that in those books he takes Democrat administrations to task for spreading American bad will around the globe.
The book makes some good points concerning American involvement in other countries' political affairs and how our economy is tied to endless war, points that other writers have made. I would be a little more inclined to believe some of his assertions if it were not so obvious that he was gringing an axe.
If I have an opportunity to read some of his other works I will either regard this book as more reliable or as just another screed.

Mr Johnson needs an editor

Very informative and well-researched book and the narrator is very clear and easy to understand. However too one-sided and Mr. Johnson is often in internally contradictory in his efforts to demonize (He criticizes the Americans for both ignoring the language of written agreements and treaties and then later for insisting on strict readings of those same written agreements) There is a fertile area to research and Mr Johnson is an admirable researcher and writer but his impersonation of an left wing version of FOX NEWS heavily damages his credibility.

good read

loved it very much information in this book!
hope your ready to learn the truth of our diseased country the disease of money!!

very informative

explains another aspect of the Busch years and why we entered into Iraq and Afghanistan

The Tone is too harsh

I agree with everything the author writes, and then some. It's infuriating, what this country's become. The author's self-righteous tone will appeal mostly to the convinced. In his telling, the US is always bad, bad, and has never done anything on the world stage that's the slightest bit altruistic. While this is mostly true, and while the author has his facts perfectly in line (the account of the US soldiers guarding the Iraqi Oil Ministry while allowing Iraq's irreplaceable historical tresures fall to looting - is especially harrowing), I would probably look elsewhere if you are giving this to someone who already thinks liberals can't stop the reflexive America-bashing.