Manipulados (Spanish Edition)

Perkins, once chief economist of a major consulting firm and a longtime self-confessed "economic hit man who sought advantages for American corporations worldwide—lays bare the intricacies and interconnections among multinationals, international entities, and the U.S. government. Now a concerned citizen of the world, Perkins wants ordinary people to understand the larger powers at work that have led to a variety of natural and human-made disasters. To this end, he has become involved with helping indigenous communities and "green" causes. A New York Times best seller in its original English, Perkins's book is slick. The author gives some historical perspective to the present economic situation and also incorporates a lot of firsthand experience to illustrate how even well-educated individuals like himself can be "hoodwinked" into playing along with the system. To some, the text's geographical and chronological hopscotching (e.g., from the 1953 coup in Iran, which eventually led to the 1979 Islamic Revolution) and mention of lesser-known examples of multinationals' ethical and financial irresponsibility in Third World countries (e.g., by Exxon/Mobile in Ecuador) may be confusing. Nonetheless, it's an eye-opener, showing that we do not live in pockets but are interconnected, bound together by events and decisions that happen far from our borders. Recommended for all libraries and bookstores, especially those concentrating on current events.—Catherine Rendón, Savannah, GA