Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, 3rd Edition Paperback – February 28, 2023

Best book to explain how many nations are ripped off by the powerful ones with weapons

I was fortunate to meet John Perkins in 2011 when he spoke at a Maui event hosted by my employer. As the event emcee, I worked with him backstage to prepare his introduction. I mention this before getting to the book, because it goes to his authenticity. Although he's a top-tier speaker, he's not about sensationalism - he's about connection, clarity, and truth and I was delighted to find that he's the same quality of person onstage and off.What was most helpful to me in the pages of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man 3rd Edition was the way Mr. Perkins blended his early history as an "EHM" with current events playing out on the global stage. The new chapters promoted on the cover really do add new value and relevance to this work, from the "where are they now?" updates covering his formative work in places like the Middle East and Latin America to his illuminating insights on today's EHM activity related to China and the New Silk Road.Mr. Perkins takes complex world events (many of which he personally participated in) and provides fresh perspectives that make them accessible. This is important, because he goes on to explain how "ordinary" people like myself (without a background in international politics, business, or economics) can understand these events and find grassroots ways to make a difference. In many ways it reads like some of my favorite classic spy stories, but it's all true, all rigorously documented, and ultimately, a hopeful call to positive action. I hope many will read and share this important writing.

I’ve had this book sitting on my iPhone for a while, and finally I pushed myself to read it. For that I’m glad, for it’s a very good book. It’s an important book.Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins share many similarities with the books of F. William Engdahl, especially Myths, Lies, and Oil Wars, but there are also differences. I’ll get back to where the two men disagree.Both are history books. They explain why and how the world turned into what it is today, the political landscape, the war about resources, all the money-grabbing schemes, the problem with the money system of today, and why the rich are getting richer while the poor are turning into slaves.Just like the spice merchants of old, the oil companies have a lot of power. Enough money and power to shape the world around them. Perkins talks about «corporatocracy». How the megacorporations rule the world. They choose the politicians, not the other way around. They control the narrative, and they trick the people to think they have democracy.They send out their hit men, the EHMs, they own the banks, the government. They decide what kind of money system we are forced to use. Go against them, and you risk ending up having an «accident».Originally I was going to rate the book five stars, but there are inconsistencies, factual errors, and spelling errors.Where Engdahl is clear about the origins of oil and gas, Perkins for some reason uses Big Oil’s own term Fossil Fuels. That term, alongside Peak Oil, was coined by Rockefeller, to create an illusion of scarcity, while in reality oil and gas will keep bubbling up from the deep as long as the Earth has a liquid metal core.I also wonder if Perkins is aware that mankind always has, and probably always will, exist within the Quaternary ice age? Ice ages last for millions of years, and while we’re lucky to live within an interglacial, the Quaternary isn’t likely to end anytime during the next hundred million years. He talks about CO2 and climate change, and it’s really confusing. Doesn’t he know who stood behind the Neo-Malthusian Club of Rome?A warm and green world is the best we can hope for, but scared people are always easier to rule.Perkins calls them Death and Life economies, but isn’t it really about Keynesian and the Austrian Economics? One creates hyper-inflation and regularly crashing markets, making the rich richer and the poor poorer, while the other is stable and fair, with no need for a money monopoly.While less important, there are also a few spelling errors. Sometimes our planet is called «earth» and at other times «Earth». Name of planets shall of course have a capital first letter. «Flammable» should be «inflammable» (see the writer’s bible «Elements of Style»). When talking about percentages one should choose between the forms «five percent» and «5 %». Don’t mix them. There are many more, but I’ll stop there.If you’ve read this book, don’t stop there. I also recommend Engdahl’s Myths, Lies, and Oil Wars, and Fraudcoin by Rune Østgård. These books are telling you what’s really going on.

This is a nonfiction book. Deep.If you don't know what an EHM is then probably they've been to your country already.

Excellent and insight read

I'd read both prior editions of "Confessions"...and liked them. The topic is riveting, and Perkins has an amazingly engaging and fluid style of writing. I had my doubts about what yet another edition could offer--and am so glad I overcame those doubts. I'll confess I'm only halfway through the book now. But it feels like I'm reading it for the first time. As engaging as ever--in effect, a true life spy story. Really useful perspective on what's underlying the latest Chinese and Russian maneuvers. A powerful vision for the future. And, even more than in the prior editions, a remarkable window not only into the author's soul, but with a moral message for our own. So glad I got this!

Having read Confessions over a decade ago, the third edition is a great opportunity to go back down memory lane as well as to learn about what is currently most pressing on John Perkins mind.He provides key updates on how China has taken over and is using the Economic Hit Man model. Fascinating encounters with luminaries such as Nursultan Nazarbayev and Sergey Glazyev are described. He explains in detail the Belt & Road Initiative, China's rise and integration with the rest of the world, and the New Cold War situation we find ourselves in. He posits it's a Lose-Lose situation because despite some of the benefits China provides to countries compared to the IMF/World Bank model, it is still based on a death economy model. John gives great advice at the end of the book on how people can help change the system.All in all I was VERY pleased with the third edition and HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy!