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Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded & What We Need to Do to Save Them
John Perkins has seen the signs of today's economic meltdown before. The subprime mortgage fiascos, the banking industry collapse, the rising tide of unemployment, the shuttering of small businesses across the landscape are all too familiar symptoms of a far greater disease. In his former life as an economic hit man, he was on the front lines both as an observer and a perpetrator of events, once confined only to the third world, that have now sent the United States—and in fact the entire planet—spiraling toward disaster.
Here, Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real cause of the current global financial meltdown. He shows how we've been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy—those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe—and the politicians they manipulate. These corporate fat cats, Perkins explains, have sold us all on what he calls predatory capitalism, a misguided form of geopolitics and capitalism that encourages a widespread exploitation of the many to benefit a small number of the already very wealthy. Their arrogance, gluttony, and mismanagement have brought us to this perilous edge. The solution is not a "return to normal."
But there is a way out. As Perkins makes clear, we can create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large.
We can create a society that fosters a just, sustainable, and safe world for us and our children. Each one of us makes these choices every day, in ways that are clearly spelled out in this book.
"We hold the power," he says, "if only we recognize it." Hoodwinked is a powerful polemic that shows not only how we arrived at this precarious point in our history but also what we must do to stop the global tailspin.
Here, Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real cause of the current global financial meltdown. He shows how we've been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy—those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe—and the politicians they manipulate. These corporate fat cats, Perkins explains, have sold us all on what he calls predatory capitalism, a misguided form of geopolitics and capitalism that encourages a widespread exploitation of the many to benefit a small number of the already very wealthy. Their arrogance, gluttony, and mismanagement have brought us to this perilous edge. The solution is not a "return to normal."
But there is a way out. As Perkins makes clear, we can create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large.
We can create a society that fosters a just, sustainable, and safe world for us and our children. Each one of us makes these choices every day, in ways that are clearly spelled out in this book.
"We hold the power," he says, "if only we recognize it." Hoodwinked is a powerful polemic that shows not only how we arrived at this precarious point in our history but also what we must do to stop the global tailspin.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
54 people are currently reading
1284 people want to read
About the author
John Perkins
119 books1,255 followersJohn Perkins is an activist and author. As a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, Perkins says that he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinational corporations cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy and awarding lucrative contracts to American business.
However, after several years struggling internally over the role he was playing in crippling foreign economies, he quit his consulting job. In the 1980s Perkins founded and directed a successful independent energy company, which he subsequently sold. Since then he has been heavily involved with non-profit organizations in Ecuador and around the world. He continues this work today, in addition to his writing.
His new book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, 3rd Edition: China’s EHM Strategy; Ways to Stop the Global Takeover, a follow-up to international best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will be released on February 28th, 2023.
However, after several years struggling internally over the role he was playing in crippling foreign economies, he quit his consulting job. In the 1980s Perkins founded and directed a successful independent energy company, which he subsequently sold. Since then he has been heavily involved with non-profit organizations in Ecuador and around the world. He continues this work today, in addition to his writing.
His new book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, 3rd Edition: China’s EHM Strategy; Ways to Stop the Global Takeover, a follow-up to international best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will be released on February 28th, 2023.
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January 11, 2024
Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man was a scorching look at how western capital exploits third world countries in order to use their resources and encourage them to take on unsupportable mounds of debt to ensure their future subservience. He is back in familiar, shark-infested waters showing how the forces that made an art of international rape and pillage are applying the same methods inside the USA.
John Perkins
He touches on a wide range of topics, all relevant, and all interesting, yet I felt that the book was all over the place and needed some editorial direction. But, while it may have left me unsatisfied as a focused, cogent argument, each of the individual chapters are rich with information and insight.
Among the items of interest are looks at the true cost of the US military, the varying public and legal expectation of corporations regarding a requirement that they behave in a responsible manner, the impact of debt on a range of actors, from foreign nations to Joe Six-pack, the ability of corporations to externalize their costs onto the public, and the significance of shifting from an economy that produces things to one that produces paper.
Perkins offers some directions for changing from our suicidal status quo. I found much of his program bromitic and naïve. But I may be wrong. He suggests that we, as concerned citizens, take specific actions to change corporate behavior. Creating, and participating in, movements to demand change. A movement by people refusing to buy sneakers manufactured in sweat shops was one such effort that has had some success. Buying locally produced food is another. His approach at least offers individuals an opportunity to take concrete personal action. And that is a worthwhile thing. It is certainly true that some such activity has had noticeable market effect. Hopefully some change can be effected at a higher, governmental level. But as long as government and the corporatocracy are so closely intermingled, government is unlikely to offer much. Personally, I favor torches and pitchforks, but that is probably not a viable program in a world so rich with automatic weaponry.
Bottom line is that, while Hoodwinked is no Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, it is a worthwhile read in which the elements offer sufficient fodder to make a decent meal.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author’s personal, Twitter and FB pages
John Perkins
He touches on a wide range of topics, all relevant, and all interesting, yet I felt that the book was all over the place and needed some editorial direction. But, while it may have left me unsatisfied as a focused, cogent argument, each of the individual chapters are rich with information and insight.
Among the items of interest are looks at the true cost of the US military, the varying public and legal expectation of corporations regarding a requirement that they behave in a responsible manner, the impact of debt on a range of actors, from foreign nations to Joe Six-pack, the ability of corporations to externalize their costs onto the public, and the significance of shifting from an economy that produces things to one that produces paper.
Perkins offers some directions for changing from our suicidal status quo. I found much of his program bromitic and naïve. But I may be wrong. He suggests that we, as concerned citizens, take specific actions to change corporate behavior. Creating, and participating in, movements to demand change. A movement by people refusing to buy sneakers manufactured in sweat shops was one such effort that has had some success. Buying locally produced food is another. His approach at least offers individuals an opportunity to take concrete personal action. And that is a worthwhile thing. It is certainly true that some such activity has had noticeable market effect. Hopefully some change can be effected at a higher, governmental level. But as long as government and the corporatocracy are so closely intermingled, government is unlikely to offer much. Personally, I favor torches and pitchforks, but that is probably not a viable program in a world so rich with automatic weaponry.
Bottom line is that, while Hoodwinked is no Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, it is a worthwhile read in which the elements offer sufficient fodder to make a decent meal.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to the author’s personal, Twitter and FB pages
May 1, 2023
For centuries human beings have clung to a belief that in order to get ahead, communities—including countries—have to exploit their neighbors. This is the foundation for the old military empires—from ancient China and Greece to the British Empire—to today’s post–World War II neocolonialism. The insatiable quest to beat out any possible competitors—real or imagined—has been rapidly draining our planet of its most precious resources.
What makes this book so good, is that it:
1) confirms every global gripe against the corporatocracy of the world. Although John Perkins concentrates here on the mega-companies of America, the modus operandi (blueprint) is true of all the global superpowers.
The situation resulted after all in recent worldwide uprisings such as Greece's rebellion against the debt enslavement of governments and citizens, Brexit, Trumpism, and now protests in China(2022). Although post-Maoist China adopted a different mutant of capitalism, which Mao's successor, Deng Xiaoping referred to as a 'market economy with a capitalistic socialism'. Until now it was deemed a 'miraculous success'. China jumped from 'orthodox' communism right into the modern age, skipping all the mistakes that were made during the Western Industrial Revolution and thereafter. Modern China avoids the Orwellian model of North-Korean-style communism.
According to Perkins in 2009, (Chapter 14 - China: A Lesson in Transformation) ...
China succeeded because it did not buy into our most recent model of more debt and less regulation; nor did it take the route of so many developing nations by accepting World Bank conditionalities and 'structural adjustment programs' (SAPs). IMHO: this statement is debatable.
2) Hoodwinked is a well-documented historical rendition of an economic implosion from which the world never really recovered. It could not recover, since regulations and laws did not change. The corporatocracy, in fact, paid themselves unimaginable bonuses while the rest of the world was hit by an economic demolition ball, which now in 2022, is still in motion, even worse than ever.
This book focuses mainly on the "Neo" Golden Robber Barons of America after the Great Depression, whereas his previous two books told the story of the rest of the world and how economic hit men were used to sell works of fiction to other countries in the form of unrealistic loans and promises of glorious returns in economic growth, but was, in fact, a modus operandi to bankrupt nations. In recent years it has become evident that China took over this power over nations.
Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real causes (there were many, spanning over a long period of time) of the 2008 global financial meltdown. He reflects on how Americans have been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy—those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe—and the politicians they manipulate. These corporate fat cats, Perkins explains, have sold us all on what he calls predatory capitalism, a misguided form of geopolitics and capitalism that encourages a widespread exploitation of the many to benefit a small number of the already very wealthy. It's nothing new, really. What he does is provide in-depth detail on how this mutant capitalism is executed.
In his first blockbuster book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, Perkins spelled out the details of how countries were enslaved with unrealistic loans to benefit the corporatocracy. The loan repayments were made impossible. Countries were then forced to accept "Structural Adjustment Programs" (SAPs).
The history of the monumental rise of short-term profits, long-term dire consequences— is explained using the clash of the economist titans—John Maynard Keyens versus Milton Friedman(the latter pugnaciously defying Keynes) and how it triggered an almost lawless gangsterism among the corporatocracy, particularly after the 1933 Glass-Steagull Act was repealed on November 12, 1999.
In 2009, Perkins was hopeful. He saw a way out. As Perkins made clear, the people of the world (and America in particular) could create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large.
On the one hand, circumstances changed. On the other hand, it became much much worse, especially when China mimicked the success of corporate America and quietly took over Africa and other countries through their Belt & Road Initiatives—the 'successful' blueprint for maxim short-term profits and world domination by the CCP.
This mutant economic model is failing the world, yet no leader will dare to turn their backs on this new Robber Barons of the New World Order. Leaders who participated (or were forced to) retire somewhere safe with their gold safely stashed in off-shore accounts. They make sure to keep their mouths shut. Those who dared to oppose this 'plan' were either removed from office, or assassinated (the jackals moved in for the kill) If that did not work, the US army moved in, like in Irak, when Saddam Hussein met his maker. Numerous examples of the work of economic hit man and their impacts can be found in Perkins' first two books.
The history of Iran, and the country's importance in this 'scam', was really appreciated - for me, at least. I learnt a lot more of what really happened there and why it is still a hot spot in world affairs.
The second part of the book provides hope and suggestions for change. Perkins makes a few suggestions, of which some were already in motion, even more so lately, that leaves the readers with food for thought, and ways to become involved in leaving a better world behind for future generations. As can be predicted, and like a virus, the corporatocracy is fighting back.
We as consumers can still create a society that fosters a just, sustainable, and safe world for us and our children. Each one of us makes these choices every day, in ways that are clearly spelled out in this book.
"We hold the power," he says, "if only we recognize it." Hoodwinked is a powerful polemic that shows not only how we arrived at this precarious point in our history but also what we must do to stop the global tailspin, even though we feel that democracy was usurped.
It really depends on us. Where our vote don't count, our money can. We have to get rid of our addictions. The bad news: it doesn't matter who the president of America (or any other country ) is, he/she does not count, and does not rule. The Robber Barons are in control, and they don't appreciate democracy—well laid out in the book. They have built walls of resistance to the changes we voted for; we have done little to stop them. Democracy is not failing us; we are failing democracy.
Past actions proved to reign in the corporatocracy. There is a long record of victories. Governments and big corporations were and still are forced to mend their ways. It is the way of the future to win back democracy. Numerous examples of past victories are mentioned in the book: Chapter 15: David Versus Goliath. Perhaps the biggest victory was the people's War of Independence.
As one Chinese MBA student told Perkins: “In many parts of the world, like Europe and the States, people complain a lot, blame others, and do little to improve things. They look for reasons not to change. Here it’s the opposite. The Chinese tell themselves why it will work and swing into action—so it does work.”
One of the most impressive environmental rehabilitation projects of all times, can be observed in China, where the Loes-plato was reforested over a period of 15 years. Watch this video: Hope in a Changing Climate by John D. Lui. (29 minutes)
Hoodwinked is a sobering read. Fascinating. Eye-opening. An excellent introduction to sociopolitical economics for Dummies. Perkins is a seriously good educator, his intentions are good, explaining economic principles and political outcomes in a simple, straightforward manner. It is a non-fictional, riveting, thriller. An important part of our real history.
RECOMMENDED.
What makes this book so good, is that it:
1) confirms every global gripe against the corporatocracy of the world. Although John Perkins concentrates here on the mega-companies of America, the modus operandi (blueprint) is true of all the global superpowers.
The situation resulted after all in recent worldwide uprisings such as Greece's rebellion against the debt enslavement of governments and citizens, Brexit, Trumpism, and now protests in China(2022). Although post-Maoist China adopted a different mutant of capitalism, which Mao's successor, Deng Xiaoping referred to as a 'market economy with a capitalistic socialism'. Until now it was deemed a 'miraculous success'. China jumped from 'orthodox' communism right into the modern age, skipping all the mistakes that were made during the Western Industrial Revolution and thereafter. Modern China avoids the Orwellian model of North-Korean-style communism.
According to Perkins in 2009, (Chapter 14 - China: A Lesson in Transformation) ...
China succeeded because it did not buy into our most recent model of more debt and less regulation; nor did it take the route of so many developing nations by accepting World Bank conditionalities and 'structural adjustment programs' (SAPs). IMHO: this statement is debatable.
2) Hoodwinked is a well-documented historical rendition of an economic implosion from which the world never really recovered. It could not recover, since regulations and laws did not change. The corporatocracy, in fact, paid themselves unimaginable bonuses while the rest of the world was hit by an economic demolition ball, which now in 2022, is still in motion, even worse than ever.
This book focuses mainly on the "Neo" Golden Robber Barons of America after the Great Depression, whereas his previous two books told the story of the rest of the world and how economic hit men were used to sell works of fiction to other countries in the form of unrealistic loans and promises of glorious returns in economic growth, but was, in fact, a modus operandi to bankrupt nations. In recent years it has become evident that China took over this power over nations.
Perkins pulls back the curtain on the real causes (there were many, spanning over a long period of time) of the 2008 global financial meltdown. He reflects on how Americans have been hoodwinked by the CEOs who run the corporatocracy—those few corporations that control the vast amounts of capital, land, and resources around the globe—and the politicians they manipulate. These corporate fat cats, Perkins explains, have sold us all on what he calls predatory capitalism, a misguided form of geopolitics and capitalism that encourages a widespread exploitation of the many to benefit a small number of the already very wealthy. It's nothing new, really. What he does is provide in-depth detail on how this mutant capitalism is executed.
In his first blockbuster book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, Perkins spelled out the details of how countries were enslaved with unrealistic loans to benefit the corporatocracy. The loan repayments were made impossible. Countries were then forced to accept "Structural Adjustment Programs" (SAPs).
The history of the monumental rise of short-term profits, long-term dire consequences— is explained using the clash of the economist titans—John Maynard Keyens versus Milton Friedman(the latter pugnaciously defying Keynes) and how it triggered an almost lawless gangsterism among the corporatocracy, particularly after the 1933 Glass-Steagull Act was repealed on November 12, 1999.
In 2009, Perkins was hopeful. He saw a way out. As Perkins made clear, the people of the world (and America in particular) could create a healthy economy that will encourage businesses to act responsibly, not only in the interests of their shareholders and corporate partners (and the lobbyists they have in their pockets), but in the interests of their employees, their customers, the environment, and society at large.
On the one hand, circumstances changed. On the other hand, it became much much worse, especially when China mimicked the success of corporate America and quietly took over Africa and other countries through their Belt & Road Initiatives—the 'successful' blueprint for maxim short-term profits and world domination by the CCP.
This mutant economic model is failing the world, yet no leader will dare to turn their backs on this new Robber Barons of the New World Order. Leaders who participated (or were forced to) retire somewhere safe with their gold safely stashed in off-shore accounts. They make sure to keep their mouths shut. Those who dared to oppose this 'plan' were either removed from office, or assassinated (the jackals moved in for the kill) If that did not work, the US army moved in, like in Irak, when Saddam Hussein met his maker. Numerous examples of the work of economic hit man and their impacts can be found in Perkins' first two books.
The history of Iran, and the country's importance in this 'scam', was really appreciated - for me, at least. I learnt a lot more of what really happened there and why it is still a hot spot in world affairs.
The second part of the book provides hope and suggestions for change. Perkins makes a few suggestions, of which some were already in motion, even more so lately, that leaves the readers with food for thought, and ways to become involved in leaving a better world behind for future generations. As can be predicted, and like a virus, the corporatocracy is fighting back.
We as consumers can still create a society that fosters a just, sustainable, and safe world for us and our children. Each one of us makes these choices every day, in ways that are clearly spelled out in this book.
"We hold the power," he says, "if only we recognize it." Hoodwinked is a powerful polemic that shows not only how we arrived at this precarious point in our history but also what we must do to stop the global tailspin, even though we feel that democracy was usurped.
It really depends on us. Where our vote don't count, our money can. We have to get rid of our addictions. The bad news: it doesn't matter who the president of America (or any other country ) is, he/she does not count, and does not rule. The Robber Barons are in control, and they don't appreciate democracy—well laid out in the book. They have built walls of resistance to the changes we voted for; we have done little to stop them. Democracy is not failing us; we are failing democracy.
Past actions proved to reign in the corporatocracy. There is a long record of victories. Governments and big corporations were and still are forced to mend their ways. It is the way of the future to win back democracy. Numerous examples of past victories are mentioned in the book: Chapter 15: David Versus Goliath. Perhaps the biggest victory was the people's War of Independence.
As one Chinese MBA student told Perkins: “In many parts of the world, like Europe and the States, people complain a lot, blame others, and do little to improve things. They look for reasons not to change. Here it’s the opposite. The Chinese tell themselves why it will work and swing into action—so it does work.”
One of the most impressive environmental rehabilitation projects of all times, can be observed in China, where the Loes-plato was reforested over a period of 15 years. Watch this video: Hope in a Changing Climate by John D. Lui. (29 minutes)
Hoodwinked is a sobering read. Fascinating. Eye-opening. An excellent introduction to sociopolitical economics for Dummies. Perkins is a seriously good educator, his intentions are good, explaining economic principles and political outcomes in a simple, straightforward manner. It is a non-fictional, riveting, thriller. An important part of our real history.
RECOMMENDED.
January 16, 2011
I first heard about John Perkins when my husband read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. In that book, he discusses how he was employed by a consulting firm to essentially bribe leaders of third-world countries to accept huge loans that would end up leaving their countries so indebted they would have no choice but surrender their natural resources to US corporations at bargain basement prices free of any pesky environmental regulations.
I've been meaning to read that one for a while now, but opted to pick up Hoodwinked instead since its subtitle indicated it would reveal insider knowledge of what was behind the current financial crisis.
Unfortunately, it doesn't really do that, at least, not to the degree or depth that I was expecting. It does a number of other interesting things, however, which do come together to make it worthwhile reading.
Since this was my first book of Perkins', it was exceedingly disturbing to read about concrete examples of my own government's involvement in the assassination of democratically elected leaders in undeveloped countries in the name of corporate gain. The system of economic exploitation he outlines is nothing short of heartbreaking and important for everyone to understand.
Perkins goes on to discuss the Icelandic economic collapse and how the loans granted to that country to harness its geothermal energy for aluminum production were actually the first economic "hit" orchestrated by his former colleagues in a first-world country. He also touches briefly upon the high debt levels taken on by American consumers and how that makes them easier for corporations to exploit. Unfortunately, he spent far less time and detail on these topics than I had hoped.
One of the things he does instead is provide an overview of the various stages capitalism has gone through during its multi-century history. Despite having seen first hand the worst violations of capitalism, Perkins retains his faith in the benefits of the system itself. He makes a compelling argument that the profits-above-all focus of capitalism that has dominated the world since 1980 is actually a "mutant virus" form of the system that is not fundamental to its nature, but a self-destructive abuse of it. His discussion of various periods of time in which capitalism was also infused with a sense of social responsibility makes a compelling argument that capitalism itself is not the problem and actually can be reformed.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to describing his vision for how the system can be reigned in from its current abusive state and become something that benefits everyone and not simply those at the top of the Western food chain. He believes in the power of citizens to bend corporations to better behavior through purchasing choices and passionate activism, and does his best to paint a picture of a world in which we all understand that the few cannot benefit at the expense of the many for any extended period of time. He is calling for a radical shift in thinking and behavior which will be nothing new to those of a more liberal bent, but I doubt will be grounded enough to appeal to those who do not already subscribe to such beliefs.
Though Perkins does his best to end the book on an optimistic note, a brief discussion of the 2009 Honduran coup and a breakdown of the difference between what was heard in the American press (that President Zelaya was attempting to abolish term limits and on the path to becoming a dictator) versus what he heard from people behind the scenes (that Zelaya had been attempting to raise the income of those earning poverty level wages in agribusiness plantations), along with a discussion of specific people in Obama's administration who are, shall we say, of the "old school," left me feeling more than a little uneasy. While I hope that Perkins is right that we can force change from the bottom up, the facts of his own book make all too clear that task is going to be anything but easy.
I've been meaning to read that one for a while now, but opted to pick up Hoodwinked instead since its subtitle indicated it would reveal insider knowledge of what was behind the current financial crisis.
Unfortunately, it doesn't really do that, at least, not to the degree or depth that I was expecting. It does a number of other interesting things, however, which do come together to make it worthwhile reading.
Since this was my first book of Perkins', it was exceedingly disturbing to read about concrete examples of my own government's involvement in the assassination of democratically elected leaders in undeveloped countries in the name of corporate gain. The system of economic exploitation he outlines is nothing short of heartbreaking and important for everyone to understand.
Perkins goes on to discuss the Icelandic economic collapse and how the loans granted to that country to harness its geothermal energy for aluminum production were actually the first economic "hit" orchestrated by his former colleagues in a first-world country. He also touches briefly upon the high debt levels taken on by American consumers and how that makes them easier for corporations to exploit. Unfortunately, he spent far less time and detail on these topics than I had hoped.
One of the things he does instead is provide an overview of the various stages capitalism has gone through during its multi-century history. Despite having seen first hand the worst violations of capitalism, Perkins retains his faith in the benefits of the system itself. He makes a compelling argument that the profits-above-all focus of capitalism that has dominated the world since 1980 is actually a "mutant virus" form of the system that is not fundamental to its nature, but a self-destructive abuse of it. His discussion of various periods of time in which capitalism was also infused with a sense of social responsibility makes a compelling argument that capitalism itself is not the problem and actually can be reformed.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to describing his vision for how the system can be reigned in from its current abusive state and become something that benefits everyone and not simply those at the top of the Western food chain. He believes in the power of citizens to bend corporations to better behavior through purchasing choices and passionate activism, and does his best to paint a picture of a world in which we all understand that the few cannot benefit at the expense of the many for any extended period of time. He is calling for a radical shift in thinking and behavior which will be nothing new to those of a more liberal bent, but I doubt will be grounded enough to appeal to those who do not already subscribe to such beliefs.
Though Perkins does his best to end the book on an optimistic note, a brief discussion of the 2009 Honduran coup and a breakdown of the difference between what was heard in the American press (that President Zelaya was attempting to abolish term limits and on the path to becoming a dictator) versus what he heard from people behind the scenes (that Zelaya had been attempting to raise the income of those earning poverty level wages in agribusiness plantations), along with a discussion of specific people in Obama's administration who are, shall we say, of the "old school," left me feeling more than a little uneasy. While I hope that Perkins is right that we can force change from the bottom up, the facts of his own book make all too clear that task is going to be anything but easy.
March 10, 2010
The title of this book is misleading. It isn't really a treatment specifically explaining why financial markets imploded. It's more of a concise explanation of how U.S. predatory capitalism has really operated in the world over the last forty years. In other words, it's something of a handy rewrite of the author's Confessions of an Economic Hitman. But this one is more streamlined, and he gets to anticipate objections better. Also, here, Perkins is more positive about the future of capitalism, even offering constructive redirections. For all that, this might be helpful for someone on the fence, needing a basic introduction to many issues. But it wouldn't convince an ideological conservative, since Perkins doesn't identify and criticize conservative axioms. So they'll just dismiss most of it a priori. They also wouldn't be able to handle the trendy environmentalism, new age hints, and mild statism in the more constructive, positive parts of the book. Still, Perkins is best with his critique.
December 20, 2009
I was really amazed when reading this book that these things actually go on. OK, call me naive but the thought that our government and large corporations send businessmen (ie hitmen) to other countries with the sole intention of conning them into giving us their natural resources and going into debt just disgusts me.
John Perkins really opens readers eyes to what's going on in the global market. He gives an insight into the global meltdown that many people haven't previously considered. He discusses how just a few large corporations own much of the capital, land and resources around the world and he talks about how these corporations influence and control our politicians.
The second part of Hoodwinked talks about the solution to the problem. He discusses how we can create a healthy economy that encourages businesses to act responsibly and by doing this to create a more sustainable world.
I think this is a really valuable book for people to read. It will truly open your eyes to the ways our government and corporations work and it will get you thinking about ways to fix capitalism. I do agree with John Perkins. I think capitalism can be fixed and I think it's a worthy system that deserves to be fixed.
John Perkins really opens readers eyes to what's going on in the global market. He gives an insight into the global meltdown that many people haven't previously considered. He discusses how just a few large corporations own much of the capital, land and resources around the world and he talks about how these corporations influence and control our politicians.
The second part of Hoodwinked talks about the solution to the problem. He discusses how we can create a healthy economy that encourages businesses to act responsibly and by doing this to create a more sustainable world.
I think this is a really valuable book for people to read. It will truly open your eyes to the ways our government and corporations work and it will get you thinking about ways to fix capitalism. I do agree with John Perkins. I think capitalism can be fixed and I think it's a worthy system that deserves to be fixed.
January 26, 2011
I was going to review this book, but I made to mistake of checking for friend reviews first and there is no point now:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I can only add that the book Lena is looking for about the GFC is this one:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73...
and if she would like more the four books in the Blowback series gives more detail on US foreign policy for corporate benefit:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Vale Mr Johnson - you are sorely missed.
I sincerely hope Mr Perkins is right that passionate action by the people will end the rapacious excesses of trinket capitalism.
On a good day I can see hope rising in the distance, but on a bad day there is nothing but storm clouds.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I can only add that the book Lena is looking for about the GFC is this one:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73...
and if she would like more the four books in the Blowback series gives more detail on US foreign policy for corporate benefit:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Vale Mr Johnson - you are sorely missed.
I sincerely hope Mr Perkins is right that passionate action by the people will end the rapacious excesses of trinket capitalism.
On a good day I can see hope rising in the distance, but on a bad day there is nothing but storm clouds.
February 25, 2010
I thought this was a good followup to Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, he explains what's going on with our economy, stresses that this gov't cannot continue it's atrocious policies without our consent, and gives examples of ways you we can change things non-violently. I would have liked a little more detail but it's still a worthwhile read.
March 17, 2017
I don't put bumper stickers on my car, but if I did, I always thought that this would be the one I would put on: "I Love My Country, But I Fear My Government." Now, after reading John Perkins' book, "Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the Global Economy IMPLODED--and How to Fix It," I more firmly believe this idiom.
If you want to know why our government is solely responsible for the 9-11 attacks and the deaths of 2,977 innocent people, and the illness and deaths of countless others over decades and decades, then you need to read this book.
Why in God's name, I wonder, have these lawless atrocities been allowed to happen, and why in God's name, after the publication of this book and others by Perkins about his and others' past endeavors, has there not been a huge hew and cry over our government's complicity, and the fact that corporatocracies now rule the world and not our "freely-elected" leaders?
After reading Perkins' eye-opening book and seeing, in black and white, a list of the names of foreign countries' leaders (some of them democratically elected) who were assassinated by CIA jackals or removed from office by CIA-backed and -led coups (with our elected officials' knowledge and tactic agreement) in the name of greed, I am now ashamed to call myself an American and a U.S. citizen.
If you want to know why our government is solely responsible for the 9-11 attacks and the deaths of 2,977 innocent people, and the illness and deaths of countless others over decades and decades, then you need to read this book.
Why in God's name, I wonder, have these lawless atrocities been allowed to happen, and why in God's name, after the publication of this book and others by Perkins about his and others' past endeavors, has there not been a huge hew and cry over our government's complicity, and the fact that corporatocracies now rule the world and not our "freely-elected" leaders?
After reading Perkins' eye-opening book and seeing, in black and white, a list of the names of foreign countries' leaders (some of them democratically elected) who were assassinated by CIA jackals or removed from office by CIA-backed and -led coups (with our elected officials' knowledge and tactic agreement) in the name of greed, I am now ashamed to call myself an American and a U.S. citizen.
December 5, 2012
for those who do not know enough of the elite level operations (Illuminati), then this book serves as basic entry of how EHM (foot soldiers) have been continuing casting damages on other countries, regardless of any countries. Perkins only touches the basic surface of the global operations of those in higher up at the Elite level by stating the flaw lies on economic idealogy shift from Keynesian to M. Friedman during the Reagan year. Of pure deregulation or no government intervention which became the major culprit for corporatocracy, we are affected tremendously to become the senseless, mindless consumeristic tribes ..those who are involved are the evil Gates, Welch, Chambers, etc who continue to suck the wealth out of the massive middle classes. Perkins was right on the money in general, but again, stop short of exposing the ultimate goal from the Elite (Illuminati)....solutions Perkins provide are probable and plausible if everyone is awakened to revolt. Such as telling Nike not to continue to establish and make shoes through low wage sweatshops...and Perkins is trying to awake people to be, at least, taken part as CSR...highly recommend readers to read his first 2 books..
January 6, 2010
This book is a good starting point for somebody that doesn't know alot about, or wants recent information on corporate greed and government deregulation's role in the economic crisis that was manufactured and brought to this country and how the same policies and philosophies have been used in other countries for years as a means of exploiting the world's resources for profit. Fun Stuff!!!
January 25, 2010
Good follow up to Confessions of an Economic HitMan.
April 16, 2023
“… Chuck made that prediction in 1979. Today, one can see that to a large extent he was correct. We have become a paper economy, vulnerable to the whims of lawyers and investment bankers. The trading of corporations through mergers and acquisitions and the pushing of financial paper in the form of forwards, options, futures, swaps, and other derivatives are huge parts of our system. When the economy peaked, just before the recession began in 2007, over 40 percent of U.S. profits were earned by the financial sector (al-though it turned out to be "paper" profits).' The very nature of a derivative a financial contract whose value depends on (is derived from) the value of something else (for example, a commodity, stock, home mortgage, market index)-belies the trust conveyed by paper. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that today paper pushers seldom use paper; they do it all with the push of a button, electronically. Chuck's concerns about the manufacturing sector were prescient. Creating junk has brought our economy down. What Chuck, who was a Milton Friedman fan, did not understand was that our obsession with profit maximization was a large part of the problem. When you view the short-term bottom line as your measure of success, you set yourself up for calamity”.
- Militarized Paper Economy : Hoodwinked by John Perkins
.
.
I’ve read the confession of an economic hitman in 2016 and remembered that i have loved it so much i recommended it to my students every semester. Unfortunately, Hoodwinked didn’t really deliver and it was more of repetitive and rehashing the points and events Perkins has made in his previous book. This is also one of the reasons that i will not review this book in details. Sure, I did learn some things from this book but not as much as i have expected. It was okay to repeat one or two points from the previous book but i felt it was almost 50% from it. Since this was published in 2009, a lot of solutions is outdated and some has been implemented but unfortunately it didn’t work. For example, Perkins suggested while capitalism cannot be abolished, profit maximisation motives can be discarded. Instead corporations can adapt the sustainable approach and thrive together with the community. Basically, Corporate Social Responsibility 101. This is not it as now, majority of companies are doing simply to get a tax cut and incentives - not really to empower the economy and people. I am not an economist but reading the solutions he listed seems like yeah, it can be done theoretically but in reality, so many factors should’ve been taken into consideration. Corruption, Loopholes in Legislation and even ‘Free Trade’ can water down these solutions. For example, when he emphasised the concept of stewardship in consumerism - basically being mindful in whatever you’re buying and pay more or buy other brands if you are doubting about the true cost of the product. Speaking from someone that raised in a middle class family, the point is to always buy something cheap. Maybe if you are rich and privileged, you can make that choice but not people who have to work hard to earn that itty bitty income. Other than that, i would say analysis on Obama’s economic policy once he took over the white house was enlightening. The reality of how much debt US government incurred is scary and saddening at the same time because they bowed to the demand of capitalists. I find it funny how Perkins mentioned Trump in the book as someone that cannot be worshipped just because he’s a millionaire - yet in 2016, it was that status and ‘MAGA’ rhetoric that won him the presidency. Other than that, the book highlighted predatory capitalism and how economic takeovers done by USA in Central American Countries. This is the part where it gets interested as I have read memoir written by Honduran woman and she have highlighted that most of the country resources were being robbed in a broad daylight simply because US intervention. They planted their own puppet, established ridiculous loan terms and pushed these country leaders to agree on those loans. The frustrating part is US and together with WTO and World Bank has ben doing this for so long in the name of ‘free trade’. Perkins that added an analysis how US income is comprised a huge portion of a paper trail. It can be bond, loan, investment, interest and so many more whereby most of the time only Financial institutions can make sense of this. Overall, i would say this is an average read. Sure i learned something from it but for those who’ve not read his work yet, confession of an economic hitmen should’ve been the top list. This one , you definitely can skip it.
- Militarized Paper Economy : Hoodwinked by John Perkins
.
.
I’ve read the confession of an economic hitman in 2016 and remembered that i have loved it so much i recommended it to my students every semester. Unfortunately, Hoodwinked didn’t really deliver and it was more of repetitive and rehashing the points and events Perkins has made in his previous book. This is also one of the reasons that i will not review this book in details. Sure, I did learn some things from this book but not as much as i have expected. It was okay to repeat one or two points from the previous book but i felt it was almost 50% from it. Since this was published in 2009, a lot of solutions is outdated and some has been implemented but unfortunately it didn’t work. For example, Perkins suggested while capitalism cannot be abolished, profit maximisation motives can be discarded. Instead corporations can adapt the sustainable approach and thrive together with the community. Basically, Corporate Social Responsibility 101. This is not it as now, majority of companies are doing simply to get a tax cut and incentives - not really to empower the economy and people. I am not an economist but reading the solutions he listed seems like yeah, it can be done theoretically but in reality, so many factors should’ve been taken into consideration. Corruption, Loopholes in Legislation and even ‘Free Trade’ can water down these solutions. For example, when he emphasised the concept of stewardship in consumerism - basically being mindful in whatever you’re buying and pay more or buy other brands if you are doubting about the true cost of the product. Speaking from someone that raised in a middle class family, the point is to always buy something cheap. Maybe if you are rich and privileged, you can make that choice but not people who have to work hard to earn that itty bitty income. Other than that, i would say analysis on Obama’s economic policy once he took over the white house was enlightening. The reality of how much debt US government incurred is scary and saddening at the same time because they bowed to the demand of capitalists. I find it funny how Perkins mentioned Trump in the book as someone that cannot be worshipped just because he’s a millionaire - yet in 2016, it was that status and ‘MAGA’ rhetoric that won him the presidency. Other than that, the book highlighted predatory capitalism and how economic takeovers done by USA in Central American Countries. This is the part where it gets interested as I have read memoir written by Honduran woman and she have highlighted that most of the country resources were being robbed in a broad daylight simply because US intervention. They planted their own puppet, established ridiculous loan terms and pushed these country leaders to agree on those loans. The frustrating part is US and together with WTO and World Bank has ben doing this for so long in the name of ‘free trade’. Perkins that added an analysis how US income is comprised a huge portion of a paper trail. It can be bond, loan, investment, interest and so many more whereby most of the time only Financial institutions can make sense of this. Overall, i would say this is an average read. Sure i learned something from it but for those who’ve not read his work yet, confession of an economic hitmen should’ve been the top list. This one , you definitely can skip it.
August 13, 2023
I found this to be a frustrating read.
First of all, I have doubts about the credibility of the author. Like, the whole Claudine story is very suspect. That being said, most of what he discusses on the world politics level is backed up by historical record. So, take this with a grain of salt. I read this as a political commentary with a colorful backstory to give it some flavor rather than granting him any real authority. I'd sooner recommend books by historians than this.
Second, I found the overall narrative to be contradictory. The majority of the book is about the evils and seductions of corporations. He even mentions the how many CEOs are sociopaths bent on seeing their vision come to fruition--though he doesn't directly mention the study behind this. However, near the end of the books when discussion his vague solutions, he stresses on civility and the power of the consumer. The fuck? He just spent CHAPTERS going off on how these corporations are literally KILLING us, and how they've managed to slowly strip away the power of the laws we had put in place to keep them in check after they royally fucked up in previous decades. And now he wants us to play NICE?
I mean, I would agree that it's more important to have a plan in moving forward than to burn it all down, but that doesn't mean that strategic violence doesn't serve a real and vital purpose. Historically, EVERY political movement has had violence AND political tact.
I did appreciate that he mentions how CEOs experience pressures to appease their stockholders in order to keep their job, and how it's up to us as consumers and activists to apply our own pressure in order to advocate for the collective interest. And that we NEED laws to keep them in check. However, I feel it was a missed opportunity not to explain the similar position politicians are in. Y'know, it's great to want democracy, but he fails to address how our system will always fall short of the ideal.
First of all, I have doubts about the credibility of the author. Like, the whole Claudine story is very suspect. That being said, most of what he discusses on the world politics level is backed up by historical record. So, take this with a grain of salt. I read this as a political commentary with a colorful backstory to give it some flavor rather than granting him any real authority. I'd sooner recommend books by historians than this.
Second, I found the overall narrative to be contradictory. The majority of the book is about the evils and seductions of corporations. He even mentions the how many CEOs are sociopaths bent on seeing their vision come to fruition--though he doesn't directly mention the study behind this. However, near the end of the books when discussion his vague solutions, he stresses on civility and the power of the consumer. The fuck? He just spent CHAPTERS going off on how these corporations are literally KILLING us, and how they've managed to slowly strip away the power of the laws we had put in place to keep them in check after they royally fucked up in previous decades. And now he wants us to play NICE?
I mean, I would agree that it's more important to have a plan in moving forward than to burn it all down, but that doesn't mean that strategic violence doesn't serve a real and vital purpose. Historically, EVERY political movement has had violence AND political tact.
I did appreciate that he mentions how CEOs experience pressures to appease their stockholders in order to keep their job, and how it's up to us as consumers and activists to apply our own pressure in order to advocate for the collective interest. And that we NEED laws to keep them in check. However, I feel it was a missed opportunity not to explain the similar position politicians are in. Y'know, it's great to want democracy, but he fails to address how our system will always fall short of the ideal.
April 2, 2022
“It is about moving from ideas about merely being sustainable to ones that include regenerating areas devastated by agriculture, mining, and other destructive activities. It is about revolution. The transition from a death economy to a life economy is truly about a change in consciousness — a consciousness revolution.”
Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the Global Economy IMPLODED -- and How to Fix It ** Read in Saudi Arabia (March 2022) ** If you haven't read any of Perkins' books, you should definitely start with his original Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the Global Economy IMPLODED -- and How to Fix It ** Read in Saudi Arabia (March 2022) ** If you haven't read any of Perkins' books, you should definitely start with his original Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
April 3, 2024
Former economic hitman (man in charge of convincing developing countries to sign onto massive unrealistic infrastructure projects and saddle themselves with debt to the US which is then abused) explains the problems with the global economy and how to fix it. Very interesting, easy to read. All makes a lot of sense, cool to hear about it from an insider. We should be more conscientious consumers. I was however still most attracted to the jobs of the super rich bad guys. Slightly out of date.
June 21, 2017
Exhilarating read. I am officially now a fan of John Perkins. Having read and quoted his book - the confessions of an economic hitman for quite some time now, this widens the horizon created by that book considerably.
Looking forward to a John Perkins binge read.
Looking forward to a John Perkins binge read.
November 18, 2017
Great theories of how corporatocracy worked. Vague solutions.
December 10, 2017
Control
How we try and control other countries, agriculture, World Bank , loans , poverty, ruin local farmers and local company’s.
How we try and control other countries, agriculture, World Bank , loans , poverty, ruin local farmers and local company’s.
April 12, 2018
161 - 2018
January 21, 2019
Bitti ama yazarın diğer kitaplarına göre konu dağılıyor belli bir kompozisyona bağlı değil gibi geldi ... tabi bu benim fikrim...
July 29, 2020
This book covers the first part Johns transition from Economic hitman to spiritual being as he learns and experiences the damage to the world that he help bring in during his early career.
September 26, 2020
If John Kenneth Galbraith, Samuel P. Huntington, and Robert MacNamara sign off on it, where do I sign up?
May 5, 2021
A lot of rehashing from Confessions of an Economic Hitman, but still important stuff.
January 6, 2022
You will find it repetitive if you have read Economic Hitman.
May 1, 2023
Yeah, put on your tin-foil hats before you read this one lads
January 6, 2025
Offenbart einen Teil der extrem "terroristischen USA" (Noam Chomsky), dem Kriegetreiber Nr.1! Top: Michael Lüders Daniele Ganser Ullrich Mies
Read
December 15, 2009I have to give Perkins a lot of credit for what he’s done in this book.
Most importantly, Perkins identifies immediate problems, and provides tangible solutions that can be carried out individually on a daily basis, (i.e. spending our money only with firms that operate in a socially and environmentally sustainable way). While the solutions that Perkins proposed are not exhaustive, they do rely on the rudiments of capitalism, and therein provide a solid and realistic foundation upon which to build.
Again, I laud Perkins for writing on the vanguard. I think in doing so his work becomes subject to some inherent criticism, but also raises opportunities for further development. The following commentary is not intended to denigrate Perkins’ work in any way. To the contrary, any good work should provoke additional questions:
Part 1: The Problem- I think Perkins’ analysis of “The Problem” could be strengthened if addressed with greater academic rigor, (i.e. more citations/cross references to other works and a greater breadth of sources). His analysis, I think, will find a willing audience from those who already agree with him, and may sway some who are on the fence, but won’t win many defectors.
Caveats—
1) I recognize that I am not necessarily Perkins’ target audience, (preferring to read the notes and references as much as the actual text). Perkins writing is very readable, and as such, probably appeals to a much wider spectrum.
2) Perkins is writing about current events, so the number of credible sources out there to reference is likely limited.
3) While I have read Economic Hitman, I’ve not read The Secret History of the American Empire. I’m sure that his analysis of “The Problem” is more robust and airtight if all of his works are taken en masse. It’s a tricky balance to write in a manner that does not recover too much old ground, and yet provides enough credibility for a book to stand on its own and not invite unjust criticism.
Part 2: The Solution- As I mentioned above, Perkins’ solutions provide a foundation upon which solutions can be built. I am eager to see these solutions become further developed. Perkins suggests that we spend our money only with companies that practice sustainability, and that ultimately, market forces will drive change. I agree wholeheartedly, however, I also feel that this is not feasible in some circumstances, (i.e. monopolies), or will take longer than many are willing to wait.
First, it’s easy for me to not buy Nike, but it is difficult to choose a different power company if my current provider relies on coal generation. While I will absolutely conserve energy, I can’t see myself erecting a windmill in my suburban backyard anytime soon. How do we address situations where our choices are severely limited?
Second, rather than simply changing our spending habits, then waiting for downstream consequences to occur, I think that there are opportunities to adopt a value-added approach aimed at addressing components of the entire value chain as it exists. For example, Perkins maintains that industry has a very strong voice in shaping legislation in the US. While I recognize the value of influencing industry, (choosing where to spend our money), and thereby indirectly influencing legislation, I think that this approach is insufficient. We must also directly influence government, (as well as other willing participants), at all levels of the value-chain using a variety of methods.
Great work Mr. Perkins. Keep it up.
Most importantly, Perkins identifies immediate problems, and provides tangible solutions that can be carried out individually on a daily basis, (i.e. spending our money only with firms that operate in a socially and environmentally sustainable way). While the solutions that Perkins proposed are not exhaustive, they do rely on the rudiments of capitalism, and therein provide a solid and realistic foundation upon which to build.
Again, I laud Perkins for writing on the vanguard. I think in doing so his work becomes subject to some inherent criticism, but also raises opportunities for further development. The following commentary is not intended to denigrate Perkins’ work in any way. To the contrary, any good work should provoke additional questions:
Part 1: The Problem- I think Perkins’ analysis of “The Problem” could be strengthened if addressed with greater academic rigor, (i.e. more citations/cross references to other works and a greater breadth of sources). His analysis, I think, will find a willing audience from those who already agree with him, and may sway some who are on the fence, but won’t win many defectors.
Caveats—
1) I recognize that I am not necessarily Perkins’ target audience, (preferring to read the notes and references as much as the actual text). Perkins writing is very readable, and as such, probably appeals to a much wider spectrum.
2) Perkins is writing about current events, so the number of credible sources out there to reference is likely limited.
3) While I have read Economic Hitman, I’ve not read The Secret History of the American Empire. I’m sure that his analysis of “The Problem” is more robust and airtight if all of his works are taken en masse. It’s a tricky balance to write in a manner that does not recover too much old ground, and yet provides enough credibility for a book to stand on its own and not invite unjust criticism.
Part 2: The Solution- As I mentioned above, Perkins’ solutions provide a foundation upon which solutions can be built. I am eager to see these solutions become further developed. Perkins suggests that we spend our money only with companies that practice sustainability, and that ultimately, market forces will drive change. I agree wholeheartedly, however, I also feel that this is not feasible in some circumstances, (i.e. monopolies), or will take longer than many are willing to wait.
First, it’s easy for me to not buy Nike, but it is difficult to choose a different power company if my current provider relies on coal generation. While I will absolutely conserve energy, I can’t see myself erecting a windmill in my suburban backyard anytime soon. How do we address situations where our choices are severely limited?
Second, rather than simply changing our spending habits, then waiting for downstream consequences to occur, I think that there are opportunities to adopt a value-added approach aimed at addressing components of the entire value chain as it exists. For example, Perkins maintains that industry has a very strong voice in shaping legislation in the US. While I recognize the value of influencing industry, (choosing where to spend our money), and thereby indirectly influencing legislation, I think that this approach is insufficient. We must also directly influence government, (as well as other willing participants), at all levels of the value-chain using a variety of methods.
Great work Mr. Perkins. Keep it up.
March 13, 2016
Perkins continues on his earlier themes from his two earlier exposes, Confessions of an Economic Hitman and the Secret Empire. In this third installment, he casts his perspective of the recent financial meltdowns and links the defaults and collapses to trend established starting with Reagan and the de-regulation wave. Perkins calls the current malaise "mutant capitalism" and uses the term, 'corporatocracy' to describe the merger between big business and government and those chieftains who cross over to direct it (Dick Cheney, George Shultz, Paulson, etc.).
Our age has some deep problems, no argument. But what become really important for me--and one of the reasons why I really liked reading this (depressing) book--Perkins provides several solutions for citizens/consumers to get involved and work to change these problems. We can be informed about our purchasing decisions, boycotting and avoiding corporations who use corrupt means to make a profit; we can work toward green projects, supporting local growing and commerce; and we can vote as informed citizens, making the effort to be informed and resist the propaganda pushes by the big finance public relations firms.
This book had gone to press before the BP oil spill in the Gulf so I shudder to think of the invective that Perkins could release now that that fiasco spews. I think that event would be highly-illustrative of the kind of corporate abuse and ensuing cover-up that Perkins writes about.
Perkins is not a conspiracy nut, For years he worked as an insider, but he left it and has become an embolden voice for change. I highly encourage others to read his works and better yet, get involved for positive change.
Our age has some deep problems, no argument. But what become really important for me--and one of the reasons why I really liked reading this (depressing) book--Perkins provides several solutions for citizens/consumers to get involved and work to change these problems. We can be informed about our purchasing decisions, boycotting and avoiding corporations who use corrupt means to make a profit; we can work toward green projects, supporting local growing and commerce; and we can vote as informed citizens, making the effort to be informed and resist the propaganda pushes by the big finance public relations firms.
This book had gone to press before the BP oil spill in the Gulf so I shudder to think of the invective that Perkins could release now that that fiasco spews. I think that event would be highly-illustrative of the kind of corporate abuse and ensuing cover-up that Perkins writes about.
Perkins is not a conspiracy nut, For years he worked as an insider, but he left it and has become an embolden voice for change. I highly encourage others to read his works and better yet, get involved for positive change.
August 23, 2013
This book is definitely enjoyable, entertaining and gives you good hopes.
But its not what the title says..\
in this book perkins do explain some policies followed by the free market that led to the crises, but he didn't explain how did the crises happened technically.
he didnt differentiate between whats an economical theories and between those who took advantage of it.
fredrich von hayek was a pro free market advocate his entire life, only when he was really old the markets started to take the shape he believed in.
its not his fault that the system was manipulated with and led to the crises, its the fault of the unworthy, the fault of the heartless criminals who overdosed the market and took advantage of the ignorant.
i believe that perkins should differentiate between those two, sometimes being an economist is just like being a philosopher, you have a system that you believe in thats all, how is it manipulated with..thats not your fault..
the book is divided into 2 parts, one part is considered the problem, the other one is the solution, its brief and in the solution part perkins turns all positive in explaining some conscious capitalism he believes should be implemented.
over all, its a nice read, i'll give it four stars for his writing style, courage and some very very detailed explicit conclusions that requires an expert to reach to.
But its not what the title says..\
in this book perkins do explain some policies followed by the free market that led to the crises, but he didn't explain how did the crises happened technically.
he didnt differentiate between whats an economical theories and between those who took advantage of it.
fredrich von hayek was a pro free market advocate his entire life, only when he was really old the markets started to take the shape he believed in.
its not his fault that the system was manipulated with and led to the crises, its the fault of the unworthy, the fault of the heartless criminals who overdosed the market and took advantage of the ignorant.
i believe that perkins should differentiate between those two, sometimes being an economist is just like being a philosopher, you have a system that you believe in thats all, how is it manipulated with..thats not your fault..
the book is divided into 2 parts, one part is considered the problem, the other one is the solution, its brief and in the solution part perkins turns all positive in explaining some conscious capitalism he believes should be implemented.
over all, its a nice read, i'll give it four stars for his writing style, courage and some very very detailed explicit conclusions that requires an expert to reach to.
March 22, 2010
This is a guest review by my husband Bill. Welcome Bill!
Thanks to Teddy for requesting this book for me to review. It was one I highly coveted.
After Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire, Hoodwinked is the latest in John Perkins trilogy explaining how predatory capitalism has formed an unholy alliance with the imperialism of the American empire to threaten the economic, social and environmental fabric of the world. While it can stand on its own for those who have not read the previous two books, they provide more background detail, and are worthwhile additions to a reading list.
Perkins explains how he was recruited after graduating college as an economic hit man (EHM). Working for the Boston-based MAIN consulting firm, his job entailed selling governments in Third World countries on development schemes with forecasts of benefits that he knew to be wildly exaggerated. The intention of this deception was to saddle these countries with debts they could not possibly pay, when those projects inevitably failed...Read the rest of my review here
Thanks to Teddy for requesting this book for me to review. It was one I highly coveted.
After Confessions of an Economic Hit Man and The Secret History of the American Empire, Hoodwinked is the latest in John Perkins trilogy explaining how predatory capitalism has formed an unholy alliance with the imperialism of the American empire to threaten the economic, social and environmental fabric of the world. While it can stand on its own for those who have not read the previous two books, they provide more background detail, and are worthwhile additions to a reading list.
Perkins explains how he was recruited after graduating college as an economic hit man (EHM). Working for the Boston-based MAIN consulting firm, his job entailed selling governments in Third World countries on development schemes with forecasts of benefits that he knew to be wildly exaggerated. The intention of this deception was to saddle these countries with debts they could not possibly pay, when those projects inevitably failed...Read the rest of my review here
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