I read this book right after september 11th when I was curious about why someone might want to attack the United States. After reading this book all I can say is WOW! Still I had to admit that I was more than a little dubious about the claims this book makes. I spent several months doing research and was severely disappointed when it all checked out. The CIA's Greatest Hits is the short version of some of the sketchiest things we are never taught in school.
Thinking about this kind of stuff tends to make my guts and my intellect roll. In fact, it may be easier to call the book propaganda and lies so I wouldn't have to think about the consequences of our government killing all those people. If you accept it as truth (or just do the long hours of research like I did) you will probably start to ask some difficult questions about the way the government actually works and how it purports to work and why there is such a massive gulf between two.This book takes some of that pressure off by presenting the information with funny little graphics and a tongue in cheek style that allow you to keep reading instead of getting bogged down and depressed. You can even laugh out loud occasionally.
Zepezaur does a superb job here because the book appeals to wide range of people. Someone who is totally unfamiliar with politics could pick this up and finish in a couple nights of light reading. This book scores major points with me because it's easily approachable to those who don't have a strong backing in history, yet the battle hardened Chomskyite will no doubt find new info.
I do wish he had cited sources on the pages themselves instead of in an index. It just makes them easier to check out for people who think this book is full of lies.
I also just want to say that thought it was really funny when one reviewer said "Yes, the CIA has made mistakes" and another responded by saying "A decades-long pattern of murder and subterfuge does not equal an occasional mistake." Another reviewer said that the book was disrespectful...I think it's sad that "respect" means hiding the truth about egregious crimes.
After reading the book I ended up emailing Mark Zepezaur with a couple questions. He was extremely accommodating and super friendly. I also got to talk to him briefly during a book tour and he has been one of the more politically articulate people I have ever met.
If you liked this but felt that it was a little short or didn't present enough hard facts check out another (short) book called Addicted to War: Why the US can't Kick Militarism. Mark Zepezaur also did a similar comic series called "US History Backwards."
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022
Top reviews from other countries
- Bruno GirinReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2003
You thought you knew who the "bad guys" were? Think again!
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - Raymond ComeauReviewed in Canada on August 30, 2017
The Truth shall set you free from USA Imperialism and 'deep state'.
- Harinder JadwaniReviewed in Canada on February 17, 2017
Superb short executive style survey of the CIA's crimes
