John Dings’s The Condor Years is a critical look at United States foreign policy in Latin America. Based on well-sourced materials including declassified documents from the CIA, Dings shows how America supported brutal dictatorships in Latin America. The book demonstrates how, with differing levels of US support and/or indifference, right-wing dictators killed thousands and tortured… Continue reading Reviewing the Condor Years
Tag: nonfiction
Reviewing Allende’s Chile and the Inter-American Cold War
Allende’s Chile and the Inter-American Cold War is one of the most important books I have ever read about American foreign policy. If you want to gain a real understanding of America’s imperialism, lack of commitment to democracy, and its support of coups, Allende’s Chile and the Inter-American Cold War is for you. Given what… Continue reading Reviewing Allende’s Chile and the Inter-American Cold War
Reviewing Addicted, Pregnant, Poor
Kelly Ray Knight’s Addicted, Pregnant, Poor is an important read. Addicted, Pregnant, Poor tells the stories of women in San Francisco who are addicted to drugs and pregnant. Their stories tell a spectacular story of government failure, discrimination, and cruelty that far too often defines America.
Reviewing the Fifth Risk
Michael Lewis’s The Fifth Risk is publicized as demonstrating incompetence of the Trump administration. While it certainly presents anecdotes that show how unprepared and unskilled many Trump appointees were, that wasn’t what I took from the book. Nor did I find myself as interested in the hostility many Trump appointees have for the agencies they… Continue reading Reviewing the Fifth Risk
Reviewing the New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins’s New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man would be better named as an update to Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Much of the New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is stuff that appeared in the original book. So, I only read about 40 percent of this version. Still, New Confessions of… Continue reading Reviewing the New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
Reviewing Confessions of an Economic Hitman
John Perkins’s Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is one of the most important books I have ever read. As an American who cares about people in other countries, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man was an infuriating read. The book is an excellent example of exactly how much America’s foreign policy has been designed… Continue reading Reviewing Confessions of an Economic Hitman
Reviewing American Prison
American Prison by Shane Bauer tells the story of a journalist who worked undercover in a private prison.
Reviewing Gary Pomerantz’s The Last Pass
Gary Pomerantz’s The Last Pass is an interesting read about racism, friendship, and mortality. Told largely through the historic run of the Boston Celtics of the ’50s and ’60s, The last pass focuses on the relationship between Bob Cousy and Bill Russel. As a Celtics fan from Boston who appreciates history and acknowledges the terrible… Continue reading Reviewing Gary Pomerantz’s The Last Pass
Reviewing The Fight to Vote
Michael Waldman’s The Fight to Vote is an incredibly timely, important look at the history of voting in America. Sadly, Waldman’s work highlights the systematic disenfranchisement of Americans (especially people of color and poor people).
Reviewing Godless Citizens in a Godly Republic
Godless Citizens in a Godly Republic addresses the history of atheists in America. As an atheist, I have a personal interest in this subject, but I think this book is worth a read for anyone interested in history, law, politics, and/or religion.