• AFineWayToDie [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Confessions of an Economic Hitman.

    Interesting look into the machinery of American imperialism, but we aren't gonna be saved by hoping someone in power suddenly grows a conscience.

    • livingperson2 [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I found myself skeptical about that book. I can't really quantify it, but the author seemed slightly untrustworthy. I don't know if I was just too lib at the time I read it, but even in my darkest days I was always hardcore anti-imperialism (really I've never been a very good lib, just closer to that particular nastiness than I am now), and maybe his need to wring his hands about his past came off as borderline narcissistic.

      • AFineWayToDie [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Oh I totally agree. It's a fascinating look into the mechanisms of US imperialism. But I can't believe that there isn't way, way more to the story than author's narrative of going from a master of seizing poor countries by the balls, to SUDDENLY realizing that, "hey, am I the the baddie?"

        Though I haven't finished the book yet. Maybe it will come later.

        • livingperson2 [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          It does a little bit - he talks about his daughter, if I'm not mistaken, and her making him feel guilty. Something of the sort.

      • LamontCranston [any]
        ·
        4 years ago

        I got that same vibe. Read something authoritative instead like Killing Hope.

    • LamontCranston [any]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I tried reading that years ago, it didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know from more reliable sources and the writer just came off as a bit flakey and trying to present himself as a Hunter S. Thompson-esque character.