Greg Palast

The book details many of the down sides of the Bush presidency, going back to many documented and some new reports of election fraud from the 2000 and 2004 elections. Some of the economic theories and free trade discussions need a little more explaination, and other policy failure discussions of the past eight years have been discussed enough over the years so that it's no longer breaking news. Book has become somewhat dated following the 2008 election. Obama is in, and Bush is out, and it's time to move on.… (altro)

This really is not a bad book. Part of the reason I gave it only two stars is because I am pretty much satiated when it comes to books about politics and the Bush administration (i.e. I don't need yet another person to tell me how bad Bush & Co. are, since it only reminds me of the many bozos out there who voted for him not once, but twice, but I disgress).

Having gotten that out of the way, if you have to read one of these books that document the many foibles and outright outrageous acts of this administration, this is definitely a pretty good one. Palast adds a sense of humor to what can be a pretty depressing topic. The book is very well informed, pretty good documentation overall too. The nice thing is that the book's chapters are organized into small segments, which means you can pick up and read sections here and there. The book does invite some browsing as well. So, if you have to read yet another book about current politics, this may be it. If like me, you are already tired of them, just skip it, and do try to skip the whole genre for a while. I know I will; this will probably be the last book on the topic I read.… (altro)

Palast is an investigative reporter of some note. He has tackled subjects in the past that other journalists shy away from. If only a.third of this book is true, it is still a scandal.

In this book he looks at the power triangle of big oil, finance and politics. And he doesn't lile what he finds. In fact he finds it detestable and immoral the way that the individuals in power hold everyone else in.contempt.

The primary focus of the book is BP, their safety record and the way that they have done business for the past decades. Palast does not like what he finds. The amount of rules that they, and the other oil companies evade is astonishing, they have a complex about doing anything that might benefit anyone other than themselves. The other large oil companies have similar charges leveled.at them.

In the final few chapters he considers the role that the large banks have played in perpetuating similar frauds and the global financial scandal, and the fact that Brazil and Ecuador refused to follow suit and have done remarkably well despite the 'advice' of the world bank and the others.

I didn't always like the writing style, hence four stars, but otherwise this is a must read book.… (altro)