The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

By: John Perkins

Narrated by: Tom Taylorson

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best seller, updated and expanded, featuring 15 explosive new chapters.

The previous edition of this now-classic book revealed the existence and subversive manipulations of "economic hit men". John Perkins wrote that economic hit men (EHM) "are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder". In Perkins' case, the tool was debt - convincing strategically important countries to borrow huge amounts of money for enormous "development" projects that served the very rich while driving the country deeper into poverty and debt. And once indebted, these countries could be controlled.

In this latest edition, Perkins provides revealing new details about how he and others did their work. But, more importantly, in an explosive new section, he describes how the EHM tools are being used around the world more widely than ever - even in the United States. The cancer has metastasized, yet most people still aren't aware of it.

Fear and debt drive the EHM system. We are hammered with messages that terrify us into believing that we must pay any price, assume any debt, to stop the enemies who, we are told, lurk at our doorsteps. The EHM system - employing false economics, bribes, surveillance, deception, debt, coups, assassinations, and unbridled military power - has become the dominant system of economics, government, and society today. It has created what Perkins calls a "death economy". But Perkins offers hope: He concludes with dozens of specific, concrete suggestions for actions all of us can take to wrest control of our world away from the economic hit men and help give birth to a life economy.

©2004 John Perkins (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Starts off interesting, but a lot of it is filler

The author pretends to take responsibility for his actions, but is really looking to do some virtue signalling. On the one hand, he admits that the bad stuff happened because guys like him (and worse guys) used lies, threats and even violence to force foreign leaders to make bad decisions. But he also wants us to believe that the economic problems in the world are the fault of free market capitalism. It's ridiculous. Free market capitalism is very much opposed to the practices that he describes in the book, and yet he wants to blame capitalism and sympathize with left wing terrorists.

draft dodger and an expert on ptsd?

draft dodger and an expert on ptsd? the story is good but very narrow minded and seems obviously fictionalized at times

Radical Changes in Perspectives Await

Perkins takes us along an eye-opening and sobering path, exposing painful realities of where we are and how we got here. He ultimately shows us that the architects of real change will not rise up from within the ranks of government, but must be summoned up within each of us – in the actions we take, both large and small, no matter our age. He demonstrates the importance of transforming our planet from a death economy to a life economy. This is a life changing read.

Should be required reading

Anyone interested in history, politics, economics, and 21st century governance should read (or listen to) this book.

EYE OPENER OF ALL EYEOPENERS!!!

When the truth is finally known throughout our land, there WILL be he** to pay! Good work to share widely, and speak of frequently.

This book had me listening and learning.

Simply amazing truth telling. Fearlessly pulling the covers off of the boogeyman. Thank you so much.

I want to rewatch "Quantum of Solace".

Let's be honest; You're not going to verify everything in this book. The second half (the updated portion, I'm guessing) does a decent job on citing sources and supporting material. I haven't gone through any of it yet.

After listening to this, consider controversial projects undertaken in your local governments. Expensive sports stadiums, businesses that demand huge tax breaks despite profitability, and the like. Are things as bad as the book says? Maybe, maybe not, but it's easy to see how profit and "nothing personal, it's just business" is used to justify horrendous acts.

I'm surprised he didn't mention the overthrow of Hawaii's monarchy as an example of corporate country shaping.

Eye opening!

I learned so many historic facts, but more importantly, how many of the world leaders do not work for their people. They work for the rich corporations. This book narrates the history of how the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer through exploitation, coup d' stats, war, bribes, etc. And finally, how we can create a life economy based on the well being of all living beings and the Earth itself. This is the most interesting book I've ever read.
Also, great performance of the reader.

Good Book.

Overall very engaging, story sometimes veers off on strange side stories and has trouble getting back on track.

Great book

Listen to this book in a heartbeat and would like to give my 2 cents on it.
The book is great, i learned a lot of new things which i didn't know existed and how they operate. Another thing is the optimism it gives you to to the right thing in this world.