Overthrow

By: Stephen Kinzer

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 15 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

A fast-paced narrative history of the coups, revolutions, and invasions by which the United States has toppled 14 foreign governments, not always to its own benefit.

"Regime change" did not begin with the administration of George W. Bush, but has been an integral part of U.S. foreign policy for more than one hundred years. Starting with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and continuing through the Spanish-American War and the Cold War and into our own time, the United States has not hesitated to overthrow governments that stood in the way of its political and economic goals. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 is the latest, though perhaps not the last, example of the dangers inherent in these operations.

In Overthrow, Stephen Kinzer tells the stories of the audacious politicians, spies, military commanders, and business executives who took it upon themselves to depose monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers. He also shows that the U.S. government has often pursued these operations without understanding the countries involved; as a result, many of them have had disastrous long-term consequences.

©2006 Stephen Kinzer (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"[Kinzer] brings a rich narrative immediacy to all of his stories." (Publishers Weekly)
"Kinzer's narrative abounds with unusual anecdotes, vivid description, and fine detail, demonstrating why he ranks among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling." (The Washington Post's Book World)

A Great read.

Kinzer's books should be must reading for all high school kids so they can understand where the previous leaders of our country went completely wrong. My 14 year old is reading them and going to drive his History teacher crazy.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Very interesting

This is the first plausible explanation for our adventures in Iraq I have come across. Other than that, the author does a good job of explaining that we have met the enemy and he is us. I became interested when I heard the author interviewed on Bob Edwards XM show. Some of this is uncomfortable and some may see it as America bashing. Of course, much of what is here is offered with the clarity of hindsight. The author takes seemingly isolated incidents and examines them together. This was a good book. Well worth a listen.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Looking at the dark side

Like most countries, the US tends to highlight its successes and downplay its failures, thinking itself an idealistic champion and denying avaricious or base motivations.

This book provides some balance to that PR-driven view by filling in some of the darker chapters of our history, ones rarely taught in our public schools.

As the author states in his introduction, "The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was not an isolated episode. It was the culmination of a 110-year period during which Americans overthrew fourteen governments that displeased them for various ideological, political and economic reasons."

The author isn't talking here about the world wars. He describes actions that were often based on a desire to protect American (sometimes multinational) corporations, though the public rationale was spun as protecting our national security or liberation of those in the country whose government was to be overthrown.

Some of these histories are well known, most are not to anyone who hasn't benefited from some college-level exposure to the history and politcs of the 20th century.

There's plenty here that will help put our actions into better perspective.

13 of 16 people found this review helpful

American Intervention

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a very interesting read on the history of American intervention in the affairs of foreign nations. The author does a fantastic job weaving the evolution of involvement from American business men facilitate ensure monolopistic trande to coordinated efforts from the Office of the President to install anti-communist regimes.

Though I highly enjoyed this book, it is not for everyone. It holds a strong glass to the face of America, challenging the perception we have of ourselves, our history and our purpose.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Seeing the tumble down the slippary slope of intervention without proper moral/legal authority.

What aspect of Michael Prichard’s performance would you have changed?

Michael Prichard has a commanding voice, giving an air of authority to the account.

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

How many time the US has stepped in without proper information and authority to do so.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

What Every President Should Know

This is an excellent, concise look at fourteen cases of American "regime change" overseas, from Hawaii in the 1890s to Iraq in 2003. Most Americans are simply unaware of this dismal history of violent prerogative, much of it at the behest of American companies. (United Fruit actually zaps two countries.) The book provides a good historical background to Bush's wars and makes for a compelling antidote to audiobooks of gauzy patriotism like "Empire of Trust."

While much of the tale is grisly and infuriating, especially in Guatemala and Chile, there are lighter moments. It is well worth it to learn that McKinley saw it as his Christian duty to save the souls of heathens in the Philippines, not even realizing they were already Christian; or to be reminded that the marine assault with which Reagan toppled about a handful of homegrown "socialists" in the tiny island of Grenada to save about 30 American medical students who didn't know they needed to be saved was named "Operation Urgent Fury!"

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Must Read despite flawed narration

I completely agree with Martha from NY.
This book is a must read. Even if you are aware of the broad outlines of covert US interventions in developing countries, this book includes subtleties, personalities, and parallels that deepen one’s understandings of these interventions. Although far from flattering to the US, the underlying message is that many of these interventions came to pass because many good people failed to stop a very few misguided, greedy and/or fixated individuals. This is an excellent book for learning from history. The narration is not a plus, but it is worth overcoming the narration and listening to fascinating book.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Shocking and revelatory

This book should be required reading for any American interested in our real foreign policy and its darker motivations and actions. The facts speak for themselves, and this is a well researched history. However, the author occasionally muses about what might have happened if our politicians had taken another course - this we will never know. Also, I found the reader's intonation to be rather stiff and his Henry Kissinger sounds more like Bela Lugosi. Perhaps intentional! Regardless, Overthrow is a riveting exploration of events, and listening to it late at night felt like being read an evil bedtime story.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

An Audible Must Read.

What made the experience of listening to Overthrow the most enjoyable?

This is a book that is well worth the one credit.
Stephen Kinzer wrote an excellent book, Michael Prichard narrated perfectly.
A must read piece of the puzzle that helps document American history.
Easy to stay with, and facts well researched. Well done.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Eye Opening and Entertaining History at it's best

Stephen Kinzer's Overthrow is an incredibly well written account of America's control of other nations throughout the 20th century and beyond. This book is a great read! It doesn't drag or get bogged down in tedious details. Rather, Mr. Kinzer uses jaw-dropping quotes, excerpts, and first-hand accounts from eyewitnesses to bring this history to life. Every American would do well to know this history as it is often not covered in schools. (I should know, I teach history for a living!)

Narrator drags it down.

The narrator sounds like a television commercial announcer from the 50’s. It makes the book a harder listen than it needs to be.

The book itself is very thorough and detailed. The author’s naivety in believing that the US government truly had good intentions aside, I would recommend it.