The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 1,806 ratings

Price: 13.62

Last update: 12-20-2024


About this item

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.


Top reviews from the United States

  • BobSK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read. And unfortunately true.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2017
    My eyes have been open for quite a while already, so to me this is not an eye opener. This is something that would assure you that you were right suspecting about many dirty things that governments have done. The sad thing is that nothing has changed. In fact, as the book explains, China is following the footsteps of the U.S. now and doing the same trying to "takeover" the poor and unsuspecting countries. The problem is that the people who are doning these kind of things are above the law, somewhere in a dark room, or in the middle of the desert they tie you up bit you up and kill you. And there is nothing that you can do to save yourself let alone a country. Read it, understand it, be open minded and if you are strong enough and you have the will and the energy... try changing the world. I know that I can't do it. I tried talking to people but they are brain dead, "give me my toaster" type of personalities. Good luck to humans. The psychopaths rule the world unfortunately.
  • Guapx
    4.0 out of 5 stars eye opening and compelling
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023
    There is a lot to consider in this book, and the author makes an effort to provide a substantial list of sources to further explore the claims he makes.
    The extent of corruption, selfishness and greed outlined in the authors account of EHMs is quite overwhelming, nevertheless, this is balanced with lots of practical steps we can make to see lasting transformation.
    The writing quality is average and at times the author borders on hubris, but overall, his message and mandate is clear and compelling. Worth the read for sure.
  • Ammar Salahuddin
    5.0 out of 5 stars incredibly informative
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
    this book really shows you how much of the world revolves around capitalism. You begin to see that war is not the only way countries can be conquered.
  • Cliente de Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful reading!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2018
    From the literary point of view, it's indeed amusing and easy-to-read. From the point of view of content, it is definitely eye-opening and quite a strong telling of events in the recent history from a different perspective. I must confess that I devoured the book in a few sittings. Beware of some awful truths and some introspection is compulsory.
  • Tom Connor
    3.0 out of 5 stars hypocrisy, fuzzy thinking, some good stories
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2017
    The book starts out slowly - becomes interesting in the middle WRT Saudi Arabia and Opec - perhaps because I was there flying and selling Awacs. Then it ends with preachy environmentalism.

    I'm struck by the hypocrisy; Do as I say, not as I do, jetting around the world to preach environmentalism. John, meet Al Gore.

    After John got his millions and wrought his environmental damage on a grand scale, he became an environmentalist. In the last two chapters, he preaches that the rest of us should eschew what made him rich and successful, using environmental and sustainable arguments. No surprise there. I guess that's the confessions part, and plays into the environmental wheelhouse. I'm guessing Sierra Club and NRDC et al promote this book.

    An oddity is John's claim he was recruited by the NSA - an electronic surveillance agency - to work as a banker and promoter. I assume others smarter than I have researched the claim and found it true. But it's still unusual.

    Some of the other 'facts, ' if true, are interesting and give insight into foreign relations, foreign aid, and banking.

    Borrowing from a review of this book done by H. William Batt, Ph.D.: "Conspiracy arguments are always suspect since they typically have plausibility but no compelling proof."
    |
    "By reading Henry George's "Progress and Poverty" as well as the growing body of current literature in this tradition, and by then understanding classical concepts like freehold titles and economic rent, Perkins would be in a better position to appreciate how corporate and financial interests exert their control both conceptually and practically. As it stands, he never quite decides whether the problem arises from a faulty belief system or from the instrumental power of institutions. He doesn't really know where to point his finger. Consequently, his plea for greater economic justice and his wistful call for American citizens to reflect on their political and consumer choices is too fuzzy, and lacking any sounder programmatic direction. Still, the book serves an important purpose: it documents how control of democratic government has shifted from the electorate to the corporatocracy." Source: progress.org/articles/review-of-confessions-of-an-economic-hit-man-by-john-perkins
  • Doc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Importance of Economical knowledge!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2022
    Excellent depiction of the business practices of multiple entities, Bankers, Lawyers, Attorneys (They are different)! The most important thing to me was the clear explanation of the systems and services! Great read and the audio highlighted a few more
  • Reg Nordman
    4.0 out of 5 stars You need to know the crooks to find them - and its all greed driven
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2019
    If you don't read about the international crooks you will not recognize them at home.  The author worked many years as an EHM. He was trained to go into third world or struggling countries to inflate growth projections from large infrastructure projects  ( Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Panama etc). These projects would then be funded by the World Bank and others and the country would be loaded up with debt.  . The money lent would go to US firms to do the work (of course some $  would find its way into select in country pockets).  The US engineering/construction company owners would pocket huge profits. 

     The projects would under deliver and the country would not be able to pay even the interest on these huge loans.  The US would pressure the govts to take on more debt, vote certain ways at the UN , buy more US products and so on.. The peoples' lives would get worse not better. ( shades of the banana king and 1MDB )  If the govts did not play ball with US plans, regime change, assassination etc. would happen (Chile, Honduras, Ecuador, Panama.  Wrap a large disinformation campaign about this all.   You could not make this stuff up.  The author points out now that the same tricks are going on in US states with big projects and perhaps even in Canada.   

    A potent read, albeit the author is not concise enough for me. The story speaks very loud about the dangers of these large US companies, the military industrial complex and US policy.  Evidently China is following the same US playbook. 

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    The Five Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the Most

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 940
    12.03
     
     

    Rich Routines: Simple Habits That Enrich Every Area of Your Life

    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 223
    13.08
     
     

    The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1602
    15.75
     
     

    Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 169
    13.08
     
     

    Alpha Trader: The Mindset, Methodology and Mathematics of Professional Trading

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 298
    21.83
     
     

    Don't Start a Side Hustle!: Work Less, Earn More, and Live Free

    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 322
    14.95
     
     

    The Intelligent Investor (Third Edition): The Definitive Book on Value Investing

    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 29
    21.25
     
     

    You Don't Have to Be Born Brilliant

    5 5 out of 5 stars 1
    17.05