asukhiani's review against another edition
4.0
Good book. I don't agree with some of the author's view.
kosr's review against another edition
4.0
The Hitmen and the Jackals
This is a mixed bag for sure. I came close to giving it a three star, but pulled back after reading the documentation record at the back. I'm glad I stay by my own motto when it comes to reading: there's always something to be learned.
The positives and negatives are pretty polarising here, however, the former of the two stand out a mile ahead than the later. At least in my view.
Perkins was an insider, you really can't get closer than that when it comes to reading about concentrated power. As such, there's some real gems here that are very insightful and useful when it comes to understanding what's being implemented up in the echelons of multinational corporate power. This expanded addition really opens up more on what's happening in this decade also, the rise of China being a big one.
The negatives are that Perkins is - to be truthful and blunt - not a great writer. I say this from the heart as I have never written a book, so can't really throw stones from my glass house, however it does play a factor within these pages with regards to trusting and recommend this to others.
There are moments when reading this book that I found myself slightly overwhelmed by Perkins apparent omnipotence to events taking place in his life. He infuses a lot of sensational and borderline psychic aspects to his chapters, and it does feel as though he is trying to achieve two things.
1. Redemption through writing.
2. Convey the horror of 'the system' as simply as possible to uninitiated readers (people he clearly wants to read his book the most).
As such, it does take some wilful ignorance to just act as though every encounter he describes in this book was an eye opening experience for himself, or that (for the hundreth time), he felt debilitating guilt at every turn and day that went by during his former EHM years. It made me sceptical of this account especially when he recreates dialogue that practically sounds James Bond villianesque at times (see point 2. above as to why I think this is). It gets in the way of telling a conciece, unexposed truth, when, as an author, you are unable to withhold your desire to remind your reader how guilty you feel within nearly every chapter of your book. It's exhausting.
However, this IS something I can see myself recommending to a few people who really don't follow anything remotely like what Perkins highlights. Also, the documentation at the end of the book - as mentioned above - is a treasure trove of interesting articles regarding corporate greed, indebted nations and banker swindling that I will be looking at well after closing this.
Other recommended books to present to people who may be in need of a wake up:
1. Against Empire - Michael Parenti
2. A Peoples History of the United States - Howard Zinn
3. America: The Farewell Tour - Chris Hedges
This is a mixed bag for sure. I came close to giving it a three star, but pulled back after reading the documentation record at the back. I'm glad I stay by my own motto when it comes to reading: there's always something to be learned.
The positives and negatives are pretty polarising here, however, the former of the two stand out a mile ahead than the later. At least in my view.
Perkins was an insider, you really can't get closer than that when it comes to reading about concentrated power. As such, there's some real gems here that are very insightful and useful when it comes to understanding what's being implemented up in the echelons of multinational corporate power. This expanded addition really opens up more on what's happening in this decade also, the rise of China being a big one.
The negatives are that Perkins is - to be truthful and blunt - not a great writer. I say this from the heart as I have never written a book, so can't really throw stones from my glass house, however it does play a factor within these pages with regards to trusting and recommend this to others.
There are moments when reading this book that I found myself slightly overwhelmed by Perkins apparent omnipotence to events taking place in his life. He infuses a lot of sensational and borderline psychic aspects to his chapters, and it does feel as though he is trying to achieve two things.
1. Redemption through writing.
2. Convey the horror of 'the system' as simply as possible to uninitiated readers (people he clearly wants to read his book the most).
As such, it does take some wilful ignorance to just act as though every encounter he describes in this book was an eye opening experience for himself, or that (for the hundreth time), he felt debilitating guilt at every turn and day that went by during his former EHM years. It made me sceptical of this account especially when he recreates dialogue that practically sounds James Bond villianesque at times (see point 2. above as to why I think this is). It gets in the way of telling a conciece, unexposed truth, when, as an author, you are unable to withhold your desire to remind your reader how guilty you feel within nearly every chapter of your book. It's exhausting.
However, this IS something I can see myself recommending to a few people who really don't follow anything remotely like what Perkins highlights. Also, the documentation at the end of the book - as mentioned above - is a treasure trove of interesting articles regarding corporate greed, indebted nations and banker swindling that I will be looking at well after closing this.
Other recommended books to present to people who may be in need of a wake up:
1. Against Empire - Michael Parenti
2. A Peoples History of the United States - Howard Zinn
3. America: The Farewell Tour - Chris Hedges
mugunth_krish's review against another edition
4.0
I consider it as an eye opener for me since I didn't have any experience in world politics before. Even though the author sounded like a conspiracy theorist initially , I eventually bought a lot of his arguments. He does add his personal commentary in a lot of global issues which sounded a little far fetched at times, but i did understand the present day sociopolitical situation better than before. Especially being in a developing country like India and to understand the country's policies and stances on problems faced by the general public, I'd definitely recommend this book for all the Indian youth out there, who must understand how economics and numbers dictate their lives
notyourpersuasion's review against another edition
4.0
It's complicated. The information presented in this book is incredibly important in understanding how our current global economic system works under the table, but it's a lot more biographical than I would have liked.
yowlyy's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a good read, although at times he can get a bit boring - all those issues on remorse and his conscience, obviously. Still, it gives a great insight of what his job did and how contributed to change this world for the worse. At the end, there are also some suggestions on what to do to counteract the trend for us "normal" people, some I knew already, some new ones. The advice is going to be put to good use.
deliriousofi's review against another edition
4.0
An eye-opening take on the influence America wields across the world through economic manipulation. Many reviewers of this book are skeptical of the voracity of the claims made. However, the fairly recent Wikileaks and Snowden revelations have given weight to much of what the author claims. Written in engaging prose and with unflinching clarity.
tiedyedude's review against another edition
4.0
5 stars for content, 3.5 stars for writing.
This book is essential reading for anyone who thinks a change in Washington is going to solve the problems with our political culture. Corporations run the world, and the author of this book laid the groundwork for the corporate takeover. The events are astounding, though the author seems to get in his own way sometimes. He'll be describing an interesting development, and interrupt himself to explain how sorry he is, or how conflicted he was. I get that he carries around a lot of guilt, and he should, but hearing it got to be very repetitive.
The best part by far was the "New" chapters, which talk about recent events. He was not involved, rather an educated observer who knows the signs of the corporatocracy, so it read much better. A must read.
This book is essential reading for anyone who thinks a change in Washington is going to solve the problems with our political culture. Corporations run the world, and the author of this book laid the groundwork for the corporate takeover. The events are astounding, though the author seems to get in his own way sometimes. He'll be describing an interesting development, and interrupt himself to explain how sorry he is, or how conflicted he was. I get that he carries around a lot of guilt, and he should, but hearing it got to be very repetitive.
The best part by far was the "New" chapters, which talk about recent events. He was not involved, rather an educated observer who knows the signs of the corporatocracy, so it read much better. A must read.
newtimbuktu's review against another edition
4.0
Good overview of the depth of depravity internet in our international capitalist system. Has some limits, the author at the end of the day is a Patriot who believes that the things he has done and seen are a perversion of the inherent American ideal, not its most clear expression. He adds a thin veneer of new age "all you need is love" politics to a problem which seems to require more structural change, and he is now ensconced in the nonprofit industrial complex.
Despite this, for those who are questioning whether the American empire is capable of clear, unvarnished economic and material violence, including assassinations, this book is an eye-opener. It also helps restructure the debate about international debt, showing how clearly unjustified it is and how it serves to support a larger imperialist agenda.
Despite this, for those who are questioning whether the American empire is capable of clear, unvarnished economic and material violence, including assassinations, this book is an eye-opener. It also helps restructure the debate about international debt, showing how clearly unjustified it is and how it serves to support a larger imperialist agenda.
fudge_jar's review
4.0
Very informative but also exhaustingly weighed down by author's projected guilt.