A review by swgdy
The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins

3.0

It goes without saying that the contents of this book are not just important, but crucial for anyone who seeks to understand the world order. Perkins does a good job at stating facts in a way that is engaging and informative – highlighting key events from the late 20th century to date this new edition was written (2015). However, the more you read, the more clear it becomes that he is writing to an American audience. His use of 'we' and 'us' make that very blunt. This is not to say that he has a Americentric perspective, but his focus on how this is 'happening at home' in a way that's supposed to surprise the reader left me emotionally unmoved lol. He additionally seems to emphasize his guilt more and more that, by the end of the last chapter, it just sounds forced and apologetic. Nonetheless, Perkins' book is a necessary read. It's credible and easy to understand. You don't need to know economics, politics, or be well versed in history. You can pick up this book and get an accessible path to knowledge that forms a crucial lens to how you see the world we're living in. But this book is not enough. His final chapters (of the new version) seem overly optimistic and kind of cliche in my opinion. Which I found ironic, given his direct involvement with such a violent system that literally resorts to murder when people choose to act against its interests. The 'Things You Can Do' chapter sings that same song. Its nothing I haven't heard or read before.

The book was 4 stars for me until I got to the last third. But still, it's a valuable read and I'd recommend it.