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A review by jaredwill_
Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America's Empire by Jonathan M. Katz
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.