War Is a Racket

By: General Smedley Darlington Butler

Narrated by: William Dougan

War Is a Racket is Marine General Smedley Butler's classic treatise on why wars are conducted, who profits from them, and who pays the price. Few people are as qualified as General Butler to advance the argument encapsulated in his book's sensational title. When War Is a Racket was first published in 1935, Butler was the most decorated American soldier of his time. He had led several successful military operations in the Caribbean and in Central America, as well as in Europe during the First World War. Despite his success and his heroic status, however, Butler came away from these experiences with a deeply troubled view of both the purpose and the results of warfare.

©1935 General Smedley Darlington Butler (P)2018 Dauphin Publications

everyone should read or listen to this

this book will wake you up to the fact that people are now profiting from genocide in Palestinian land

Powerful in its simplicity.

It was straightforward, narrated appropriately and made an effective, poignant point that has not lost its meaning.

This could have been written today.

A foremost expert on war exposes the military industrial complex when it was still in its infancy 90 years ago.

Something’s never change!

Lessons from over 100 years ago and so much could said today. It’s short but very important

concise and very direct.

it's an incredible, short and concise listen. Considering when the book was originally released, it remains extremely relevant, especially in today's more mordent and harsh political climate. I genuinely wish more people would give it a listen, especially US Americans to whom the book was originally for.

The apparent truth of it all!

Absolutely should be a must read for high school students. And college just in case they missed it. 

Eye Opening

Not really suprising. It certainly is absolutely disgusting the way people profit off of death. Hopefully someday the human spices will evolve beyond this sort of be.

A Timeless Classic

This is the most concise analysis of what really goes on during war that I've read. Butler pulls no punches. This should be required reading in all schools.

Fantastic perspective on War

Yes yes, he is 100% correct. The war industry is indeed making tons of money, so why stop wars?? People need to wake up

Childish

This book was mentioned in an interview of Ben Cohen by Tucker Carlson. Disclaimer I am a conservative. I like to read or/and listen to books that tell a story from a perspective that I like, but I also want to hear the other side to correct my view if I have the wrong take on something important. Now to the "book", while I didn't find anything factually wrong, I found the conclusion that Major General Butler got to was absolutely childish. I thank Major General Butler for his service and sacrifice, but I found this to be a waste of time. Let me save some young people some time. Do you want to be wealthy, comfortable, or well off? Learn how to organize people, and learn how to be the best orator you can. The other choice in life is to be told what to do. Don't waste your time on fair or "is it right".