Scan barcode
jaredwill_'s review
5.0
I wish I had known about this book when I taught US history. You could use it as a text to build a course around but, more so as a resource for the large number of wars the US fought in the 19th and 20th centuries to overturn democracies in the name of capitalism.
I thought this book would be a takedown of Smedley Butler, who is revered among marines but, it frequently uses his own thoughts on the meaning of the wars he raged to make its point. Smedly Butler acknowledged he was a Gangster of Capitalism. He might not be proud of this book but, if it helps the US course-correct away from this type of intervention he would be happy nonetheless.
I thought this book would be a takedown of Smedley Butler, who is revered among marines but, it frequently uses his own thoughts on the meaning of the wars he raged to make its point. Smedly Butler acknowledged he was a Gangster of Capitalism. He might not be proud of this book but, if it helps the US course-correct away from this type of intervention he would be happy nonetheless.
msartor53's review
4.0
Solid book overall. I think reason I didn't give it five stars is that it had a hard time mixing the overall themes with the focus Smedley Butler. I felt like I lost Smedley Butler's life in the middle, and did not get a true sense of character. I also think the travel log and and bringing to present did not always add much to me. It felt like the book was a mixture of biography with a Newspaper Series, and sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. The chapters on the Philippines and the bell, and also the Business Plot was my favorites and I think its because they were the two chapters that combined both aspects.