Confessions of an Economic Hit Man [Hardcover]

The history in this book is somewhat controversial. It is the less-shiny aspects of history which may or may not be taught in US schools (I will not make assumptions here), but which is easily accessible if one only looks for it. It is also quite well-documented and supported by evidence. Perkins discusses American corporate and governmental involvement with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador and many other nations from a first hand perspective.

What is interesting is that we see this history as the setting for a very personal story, through the eyes of a participant. As the title suggests, it is in fact a confession. Perkins was an important player in some of the darker aspects of subtle non-governmental foreign policy, and he is not an apologist.

He shows a little bit of the psychology of people who commit evil acts on behalf of organizations to which they belong. For example, structures set up to do harm can generally find people with the personality characteristics that can be capitalized upon - greed, ambition, etc. What this means is, rather than simply provoking hate towards individuals who are perpetuating exploitation, Perkins reveals the underlying broader issues, such as the consequences of the misuse of power and profit. I think he very effectively places the specifics of historical facts (as well as his story) in context in a way that historical texts typically do not.

Although it is not a prescriptive book as such, Perkins does offer some ideas and suggestions at the end as to what individuals can do if they believe in trying to ameliorate the situation he has presented.

I found it to be both a compelling page turner and very factual at the same time. Highly recommended for the history buff, social activist, avid biography reader, news junkie, or really anyone who cares about the world we live in.

Beyond that, it seems a fairly empty confession, since he seems more than forgiving to himself, given that he worked for 10 years to bleed developing nations to his own, self-acknowledged, accumulation of wealth and status. Then, for 10 years afterwards, he gets paid executive salary to be a 'consultant' for this selfsame company. He lauds himself for creating an alternative fuel company (with no small assistance from the network he's accumulated in his previous career), then sells it for profit to an oil company, using the weak excuse of 'they were going to destroy it all, anyway'.

Finally, he seems upset with the U.S. imperialism, yet is blinded by the myth that it was ever otherwise, that the break from England was a moral good, as opposed to a decision to determine and control their own taxation levels and establish independent businesses.

It will impress those who are anti-capitalist, but not those who are into complexity.