book summary: all corporations are bad, the world was perfect before we discovered petroleum, and if america never existed there would be no world hunger, poverty, or military dictatorships.

yes, it really is this left wing. very well written though.

Is it just me or isn’t this guy the hypocritical essence of the American dream??!!! The John Perkins recipe – ride the establishment and milk a consultancy job; then see the light, write self help books and a confession, gain huge publicity and earn more $$$ on the growing anti-establishment market. I’m shore a career in TV religious preaching or politics is around the corner… N.B.: haven’t read the book.

John Perkins makes a lot of sense in the book, but if readers TRULY know history, what John Perkins is telling is not the truth. He is describing his own conspiracy theory. It is merely a “confessions of a depressed man.”

Behind the seductive title and the pretense of a nagging conscience, Perkins work is really about attacking capitalism, America, and Western institutions in collusion with a publishing company well known to publish only such books. Imagine settling in for a real-life espionage adventure, anxious to eaves-drop behind-the-scenes at his confessional, thinking I may learn something useful, hoping I would finish more informed and enlightened than when I began . . . imagine all these expectations so completely missed, while being left feeling angered, annoyed, bamboozled, patronized and embarrassed–for and at Perkins and, having looked over the reviews, the lemmings and cattle and socially autistic that buy into this utterly preposterous fantasy.

I read through the reviews and noted several interesting items that corroborated and expanded my many suspicions and objections to this author and his “book.” First, this publishing company’s mission statement must read – To print and publicize any and all work, no matter how false, that demonizes America, corporations, the free market and the legacy of Western civilization. Toward that end, they are wildly prolific. Every title is a shot at capitalism. Second, several readers, the observant ones, have noted that the G8, led by the dollars to be provided by the US, intends to forgive the majority of all third world debt. The only oppressive catch is that forgiveness goes to nations which are genuinely implementing reforms to improve education, jobs and other social needs Perkins himself suggests they require most. Third, Perkins strikes you as someone with a bit of a gypsy, snake-oil streak in him. From his shaman scams to psychic navigation to his personal, live conversations with the one and only Jesus Christ, there seems no end to this man’s blasphemies (to common sense) and ridicule of your own intellect. He’s a grifter with a keyboard. Fourth, this work may be the end-all to liberal, hate-filled, puppies and poor people are great by neighbor is the devil types, driving sales and rankings, but don’t look for accolades from book awards circles. This is an extremely poorly written book. Fifth, the egoistic, incessant accounts of his childhood troubles strains your limits of obliging empathy. He rattles on and on as if he were beaten or abused. His complaints are mainly about the good schools, good education, parents who tried to impart values and morals, and the fact that he grew up with privilege. Talk about self-loathing. Seriously, this guy is so beyond the pale. Sixth, he builds from point to point in ways that are incredibly inconsistent. Like claiming association with intelligence agencies as a key theme to the book and his life while then detailing a life so completely absent of any association you wonder if he is quite sane and proof-reading his own book. Seventh, he builds you up with the promise of romantic intrigue, then reveals a plot without any except for persuading an acquaintance to hooker for him to get a contract. Yes, his female spy is some woman he collars and offers a few bucks to give some loving to a guy who can influence the decision on a contract that would make him money. Someone, this is the government’s use of female sex agents? He’s nuts. Eighth, he insults Thomas Paine repeatedly, speaking on behalf of a man he is certain would join his Scientology-like gangster approach to politics. Thomas Paine is surely rolling over in his grave at these references. Ninth, Perkins demonstrates an utter lack of knowledge about geopolitical necessity, disregards the imperatives of the cold war, offers no balance whatsoever to his theories, trapping them in a box of distasteful and blatant bias, shows no grasp of the mountains of data that contradict his claims in SE Asia, the Middle East and Central America. Where there is no balance, there is no believability. This book tilts in only one direction. Tenth, you finish this book knowing that Perkins was a jerk as a child, a prick in college, a greedy, no-good sell-out in his career, and a demagogue, liar and purveyor of hate in his later years.

Do yourself a favor and ignore this man and his message, and live your life in ways to counter-balance a world where bad people like this exist.

I read his book which has many excellent ideas on how to make this world a better place. Unfortunately, that world that he envisions is a wold with out Israel. I just heard him tell an audience on c-span “why did we (the US)put the Jews in the Middle East in the middle of all of those Arabs.” He is clearly part of this new radical left-wing anti-Israel anti-Jewish bigots. I am very sorry that I bought his book. I highly recommend that anybody who believes that Israel has a right to exist not to put money into the coffers of this bigot. What I heard him say on c-span to this Israeli women demonstrates what an indecent human being John Perkins really is. What a shame.