"A sweeping, bold assault on the tyranny of corporate globalization, full of drama and adventure, with devastating stories of greed run wild."

--Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

"Perkins is both alarming and entertaining, writing with the cuttingprecision and wit of a hard-boiled novelist."

--Rocky Mountain News

Former Economic Hit Man John Perkins goes behind the scenes of the current geopolitical crisis and offers bold solutions to our most pressing problems. Drawing on his own experiences as well as interviews with other EHMs, jackals, CIA operatives, reporters, businessmen, and activists, Perkins reveals the conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe, with consequences reflected in our daily headlines. Having raised the alarm, Perkins passionately addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations.

Acknowledgments 

A Note from theAuthor 

Prologue 

Part 1: Asia

Mystery Woman of Jakarta 

Pirating Lepers 

Geishas 

The Bugiman 

A Corrupt and Brutal Country 

Sweatshops 

United States-Supported Slaughter

Tsunami Profiteering 

Fruits of Corruption 

Attacked and Beaten in Indonesia 

Don’t Become a Buddhist 

Biological Imperatives 

Dictatorships of Finance 

The Quiet Giant 

Part 2: Latin America

Hired Guns in Guatemala 

Obsessed with Anger 

Recruited as President of Bolivia Power 

Maximizing Profits in La Paz 

Changing the Dream 

Venezuela’s Chavez

Ecuador: Betrayed by a President

Bolivia: Bechtel and the Water Wars

Brazil: Skeletons in the Closet 

The Beautiful Carioca 

Taking on the Empire

Kindred Spirits 

A History of Assassinations 

Lessons from Latin America

Part 3: The Middle East

A Bankrupt United States of America 

King Dollar

Manipulating Governments

Lebanon: "Stark Raving Mad"

USAID Speaks 

Egypt: Controlling Africa 

Infidel Dog 

Iran: Highways and Fortresses 

Israel: America’s Foot Soldier

The Iraq-Iran War: Another EHM Victory 

Qatar and Dubai: Las Vegas in the Land of Mullahs

Into the Abyss

Part 4: Africa

Modern Conquistadors 

Sitting in America’s Lap

A Jackal Is Born 

The "Non-Peoples" of Diego Garcia 

Assassinating a President

The Highjacking of an Air India 7o7

An Environmentalist Is Executed

The Least Understood Continent

NGOs: A Stake in Keeping Africa Poor 

Laptops, Cell Phones, and Cars 

Ex-Peace Corps Volunteers Offer Hope

Resolved: To Turn Things Around 

Part 5: Changing the World

Four Essential Questions 

Change Is Possible

Modern Minutemen

Changing the Myth 

The New Capitalism 

A List of Grievances 

Facing Our Fears

Changing Wall Street Through Financial Leverage

Buying OffThird-world Debt

Five Commonalities 

Times of Opportunity

The Most Important Question of Our Time

Today Is the Day 

Appendix A: Organizations Described in This Book 

Appendix B: Entry Points for Living Democracy 

Appendix C: Recommended Reading

Notes

Index