Hoodwinked

An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the Global Economy IMPLODED -- and How to Fix It

De: John Perkins

Narrado por: David Ackroyd

John Perkins has seen the signs of today's economic meltdown before. The subprime mortgage fiascos, the banking industry collapse, the rising tide of unemployment, the shuttering of small businesses across the landscape are all too familiar symptoms of a far greater disease. In his former life as an economic hit man, he was on the front lines both as an observer and a perpetrator of events, once confined only to the third world, that have now sent the United States—and in fact the entire planet—spiraling toward disaster.

Here, Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real cause of the current global financial meltdown. He shows how we've been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy—those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe—and the politicians they manipulate. These corporate fat cats, Perkins explains, have sold us all on what he calls predatory capitalism, a misguided form of geopolitics and capitalism that encourages a widespread exploitation of the many to benefit a small number of the already very wealthy. Their arrogance, gluttony, and mismanagement have brought us to this perilous edge. The solution is not a "return to normal."

But there is a way out. As Perkins makes clear, we can create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large.

We can create a society that fosters a just, sustainable, and safe world for us and our children. Each one of us makes these choices every day, in ways that are clearly spelled out in this book.

"We hold the power," he says, "if only we recognize it." Hoodwinked is a powerful polemic that shows not only how we arrived at this precarious point in our history but also what we must do to stop the global tailspin.©2009 John Perkins; (P)2009 Random House

Reseñas de la Crítica

"John Perkins has been in and out of the world of high finance and low ethics, and in Hoodwinked he not only illuminates that world with dramatic stories and keen insights, but suggests what we might do to create a better society."

—Howard Zinn, bestselling author of A People's History of the United States



"Another thriller from the master storyteller with an insider view. Perkins takes us once again into the dark netherworld of corrupt bankers and economic hit men who lure the unsuspecting into financial ruin and reveals the connection between the folks who for decades enriched themselves at the expense of the world's poor and those who now reap billions at the expense of America. Same people, same scams."

—David Korten, author of Agenda for a New Economy and The Great Turning, and board chair of YES! magazine

"John Perkins' engaging narrative draws us into a brilliant analysis of capitalism's shadow side, and points us to a hopeful path to a better future. Hoodwinked is a must-read for anyone who cares about our economic welfare, social justice, and our collective well-being."


—DANIEL GOLEMAN, bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence and Ecological Intelligence



Acclaim for Confessions of an Economic Hit Man



"Here are the real-life details—nasty, manipulative, plain evil—of international corporate skullduggery spun into a tale rivaling the darkest espionage thriller."
—Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy



"[A] gripping tell-all book."
—Rocky Mountain News



"Astonishing."
—Boston Herald



"A bombshell. One of those rare instances in which someone deeply entrenched in our governmental/corporate imperialist structure has come forward to reveal in unequivocal terms its inner workings. A work of great insight and moral courage."

—John E. Mack, Harvard professor and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Prince of Our Disorder: The Life of T. E. Lawrence



"Stunning and groundbreaking. . . . A must-read for anyone who cares about the world."

—Lynne Twist, global activist and author of the bestselling The Soul of Money



"With unflinching honesty, Perkins narrates his moral awakening and struggle to break free from the corrupt system of global domination he himself helped to create. This book . . . comes from the heart. I highly recommend it."

—Michael Brownstein, author of World on Fire

Bubble burst!

My entire view of economics thru Hayek and Friedman has burst!
Incredibly written. And challenging!!!

Hoodwinked is what our government has done to us.

If you could sum up Hoodwinked in three words, what would they be?

Very good

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hoodwinked?

The corruption of governments including the us.

What does David Ackroyd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Puts life to the story.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The deception of the American people.

Any additional comments?

Wake up to who is really running the Our Government.

Enough with the holier than thou, already

Any additional comments?

I am probably one of the last people outside the USA who actually admire American culture, ingenuity and creativity. However, moral superiority trips really creep me out. Belief in moral absolutes puts Perkins in the same category as Chairman Mao. Mao was right that the "olds" were holding China back. However, he nearly destroyed his country and their people by insisting on the instant destruction of the "olds" and set the country back many decades and caused much unnecessary suffering with the cultural revolution.

Except, Perkins wouldn't want that kind of moral absolutism for his own country. In his own country, gradualism would suffice.

At least Mao did it to his own people, he did not preach to the rest of the world to destroy the "olds" while tolerating foot-binding in his own country.I was born and live in one of those countries that Perkins enumerated as having been "helped" by the new-agey "teach-in" actions of "caring people" on US campuses of the 60s.

If only Perkins and his sanctimonious ilk would realize how much harm they did with their combination of sanctimony, hypocrisy and sentimentality; demanding moral absolutes be immediately enforced on a country they did not understand and damn the consequences. Of course, moral absolutes apply to other people's situations, gradualism is best for Perkins's own country and safe little family and grandchildren. Now my country is a popular destination for American "compassion tourists", their little faces shining with the holiness of saints visiting a place of miracle, still too ignorant to realize that the pitiful state we are in now, is because of their self-righteous 60s parents' ignorant, inappropriate "campus teach-ins" of moral absolutes, not gradualism.

Actually the 1960s US campus "teach-ins" had nothing to do with helping us. Those teach-ins were the magician's sleight of hand to turn Americans' attention away from what was happening in America itself at the time. Point a sanctimonious finger at others and nobody would examine what was happening in America, or examine its own history compared to the people they were condemning.

Excellent. Must read.

Come on if we are to be a democracy we must know what our US foreign policy really is and then choose leaders that espouse and act on the foreign policy we desire.
This book should be read by everyone.

when will we wake up

I have read bits and peaces about the corporate crap Perkins is pointing to but this is the most frank discussion I have seen except for Nom Chomsky's work.