"Reading Chomsky today is sobering and instructive . . . He is a global phenomenon . . . perhaps the most widely read voice on foreign policy...
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Aug 02, 2007
Nachy
rated it: 
Noam Chomsky is of course brilliant, but not the best author in the world. I read this book hoping to learn more about the more abhorrent aspects of U.S. foreign policy in the second half of the twentieth century - the Kennedy administration's terrorist campaign against Cuba, the Reagan administration's terrorist campaign against Nicaragua, the Clinton administration's immoral and horrifying sanctions regime against Iraq.
Instead I just learned from Chomsky that these aspects of U.S. More...
Instead I just learned from Chomsky that these aspects of U.S. More...
5 comments
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Aug 03, 2007
Brook
rated it: 
Chomsky has an interesting view of fact, and his publishers an even more interesting view of originality. Which doesn't stop people from consuming his regurgitated blathering again and again.
2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Apr 26, 2011
Matt
rated it: 
I am positively drawn to the words of Chomsky for the following reasons: he is unflinchingly honest, he writes with a dispassionate demeaner that appears to be completely disinterested, he is never episodic, and the implications of what he writes are startling and desperately important.
Chomsky writes very matter-of-factly, using occasional sarcasm, but never retreating to overblown rhetoric. His quote-heavy prose is straightforward and undeniable. This man is an encyclopedia of historical More...
Chomsky writes very matter-of-factly, using occasional sarcasm, but never retreating to overblown rhetoric. His quote-heavy prose is straightforward and undeniable. This man is an encyclopedia of historical More...
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 02, 2011
Diatribe against American imperial policies.
Early on, Chomsky warns his reader not to confuse state power
with a country and its people. One can be critical of state policy
while praising the country and its culture. Interestingly enough,
one reviewer on
Amazon.com
has fallen into that trap and assumes that since Chomsky is critical of
the current administration, he must hate America too.
Chomsky documents how the
Monroe Doctrine
has shaped American
policy, both foreign and domestic for the past 150 yea More...
Early on, Chomsky warns his reader not to confuse state power
with a country and its people. One can be critical of state policy
while praising the country and its culture. Interestingly enough,
one reviewer on
Amazon.com
has fallen into that trap and assumes that since Chomsky is critical of
the current administration, he must hate America too.
Chomsky documents how the
Monroe Doctrine
has shaped American
policy, both foreign and domestic for the past 150 yea More...
Jul 03, 2010
Foreign Policy from a Disdent View: This book is simply fantastic in my opinion. As critique of U.S. foreign policy for the past 50 year, the writing is exceptional for its clarity and depth. Chomsky methodically picks apart the multiple aspects of foreign relations: economic, military, cultural, and places them within the grand context of America's strategic aims for maintains its role as leader of the world. Dismissing what is said on governments behalf and focusing on the much more accurate i
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Jan 06, 2009
Chris
rated it: 
A quick read, and has a tone exactly like watching Chomsky speak. The assertions which seem to him incontestable, the thick and layered cynicism, the stoic application of morals no matter the context or scale. The title refers to Chomsky's belief that the world has two options: American global hegemony, or the survival of the human race. If the human race is to survive, America must cease it's quest, almost completed, for global dominance. However, he does not develop the reasons for this to be
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Jul 22, 2011
David
rated it:
I had not heard of Noam Chomsky before the events of September 11 2001, but after that time, and with the further actions of the Bush Administration, he suddenly rose to prominance, at least in my life. My ideas have changed since I first heard of Chomsky, however that does not mean that I hold him and his philosophy in any less regard. While I may not agree that Chomsky is the greatest intellectual of our time, his writings are very influential.
Chomsky first came to prominence with his w More...
Chomsky first came to prominence with his w More...
Nov 06, 2010
Nathan
rated it:
In his usual acerbic and rigorous style, Chomsky chronicles the modern history of America's imperial agenda. From the Cuban missile crisis to Iraq to the pursuit of the military domination of space, Chomsky provides copious evidence of the calculated and clearly stated intention of Washington elites to so dominate the earth by military and economic means that no other nation will ever again pose a threat. The Bush doctrine of preemptive force is perhaps the most blatant declaration of the US int
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Sep 09, 2011
Scott
rated it:
My first Noam Chomsky book although I have read articles and excerpts from him. This is a great book that details U.S. foreign relations policies up to 2004. Subject matter wise he is THE expert. Not only has he done his homework through diligent research he also puts these complex, multi-layered, and nuanced problems into the light. If you live in a world where you think the U.S. is perfect and altruistic in its dealings with the rest of the world you may not want to read this book as it wi
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2011
An insightful look at Americas foreign policy for the las 50 years. Support for some of the most evil rulers of the 20th century turning a blind eye to murder, racism and repression so long as it served the interests of big business and branding the actions of those who refuse to obey terrorism while the equally repugnant actions of America and her clients such as Israel and Columbia go unreported. Particulary loved the quote wherethe Reagan administration referred to the ANC as one of the world
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Apr 05, 2009
Alexander
rated it:
As usual, Chomsky is right on the money when it comes to understanding the inner workings of the American Empire and the real goals that are pursued by the American foreign policy. Chomsky details the hypocrisy of the rhetoric of the American government vs its actions when it comes to most of the world including such staunch allies as Great Britain, Turkey and Israel. He also goes on to detail the terror by proxy in which the US engages to keep the rest of the world in check.
Where Ch More...
Where Ch More...
Nov 30, 2009
Eric
rated it: 
Talks all about the first war on terror in the 80's, and the destruction it caused, the failed attempts by the opressed to get america out of their country and to stop killing everyone, America's stranglehold on the UN. He spells out how America is so full of shit by the application of double standards, both philosophically and in the UN, where the rules don't apply to it. It's a pretty sad state of affairs really, when a person or entity is so full of shit as to pronounce vigorously one thing a
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 08, 2011
Ahmed
rated it:
"Not to have read him is to genuinely court ignorance" -Nation
This quote, on the back cover, just about sums it up. With each passing page you become more aware that you know next to nothing about events in the world today, and more specifically how much the US is involved. In fact, it is unlikely that you will initially believe how many pies the US has its fingers in. The portrayal of events feels extremely conspiratorialist, but the evidence is all expounded upon at great l More...
This quote, on the back cover, just about sums it up. With each passing page you become more aware that you know next to nothing about events in the world today, and more specifically how much the US is involved. In fact, it is unlikely that you will initially believe how many pies the US has its fingers in. The portrayal of events feels extremely conspiratorialist, but the evidence is all expounded upon at great l More...
Oct 04, 2009
Robert
rated it:
Noam Chomsky always brings a unique level of clarity to analyzing modern international power dynamics. While the majority of our intellectual classes are limited by political taboos that they are unwilling or unable to break, Chomsky specializes in identifying those taboos and putting them in their proper place. That is to say, Chomsky calls a spade a spade, and doesn't waste any time doing so. Hegemony or Survival is Chomsky at his best. He makes the case that our political leaders and the narr
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Jul 07, 2009
Aaron
rated it:
What to conclude about U.S. foreign policy from Chomsky's fierce, eye-opening critique?
Simply put, the policy is to dominate and control the world politically and economically by wielding an unmatched and ever-expanding military power to crush whomever it deems a threat whenever it wants.
Hence, the title: "hegemony" refers to the current trajectory of U.S. foreign policy (accelerated by Bush II primarily by way of his doctrine of preemptive war in the aftermath More...
Simply put, the policy is to dominate and control the world politically and economically by wielding an unmatched and ever-expanding military power to crush whomever it deems a threat whenever it wants.
Hence, the title: "hegemony" refers to the current trajectory of U.S. foreign policy (accelerated by Bush II primarily by way of his doctrine of preemptive war in the aftermath More...
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May 16, 2009
Tommy
rated it:
The only thing that keeps this book from being a 5 is Chomsky's narrative. It can seem overly dry and detached and considering the claims he's making (namely that America and Israel are the world's biggest sponsors and perpetrators of terrorism). Maybe that's what keeps Noam Chomsky from getting silenced by the government is that he doesn't seemed fired up about doing anything about it. He wouldn't be opposed to those who do but he, unlike Charles Derber, doesn't sound like he'd be holding a sig
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Dec 18, 2010
Robert
rated it:
This book paints American foreign policy in a very different light. It's interesting how every culture has suffered from seeing only what they want to see. I still know people who think there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq regardless of the evidence.
I've listened to Chomsky far more than I've read his books. In religion, philosophers are so much more interesting to listen to than preachers. The same is true for politics. Many political activists sound more like preacher More...
I've listened to Chomsky far more than I've read his books. In religion, philosophers are so much more interesting to listen to than preachers. The same is true for politics. Many political activists sound more like preacher More...
Oct 24, 2010
Steve
rated it:
Few contemporary intellectuals divide opinion quite like Chomsky. To his defenders, he sets out an irrefutable case that US history is dominated by an underlying imperialistic aim that is self-serving, hypocritical and essentially malign. To his detractors, his argument often boils down to "US capitalism is responsible for the world's problems, violent resistance to its proliferation is inevitable, therefore that too is the fault of capitalism."
In truth, I've yet to be wholl More...
In truth, I've yet to be wholl More...
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Feb 09, 2009
Leah
rated it:
In true Chomsky style Hegemony or Survival (insinuating there exists no pure ‘surviving’ in a society monopolized by hegemony) he highlights some of the more terrifying perspectives on the world’s temperature today to come full circle and paint a encouraging picture of ‘another world (which) is possible.’ Unnerving and reassuring at the same time, Chomsky unyieldingly speaks the truths as he sees them and demands responsibility and pursuit of the higher path less traveled. I felt the scope of th
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May 22, 2011
Mason
rated it:
This book greatly outlines how flawed US policy is regarding other countries. The instant someone doesn't agree with us we call them terrorists or communists and invade them in the name of "democracy". Even though we don't have a democracy in our own country. It's more of a mix between an oligarchy, a polygarchy, and a fascism. And as soon as someone tries to get us back for some of the terrible things we have done or allowed to happen, we declare a "war on terrorism" to kill
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Jul 15, 2011
John
rated it:
I would have enjoyed this book more if it had taken more of an objective viewpoint. It's very difficult to get into if you don't share the same pessimistic worldview as Chomsky. I understand his point of view, but I felt that too often he lets his opinion and editorializing get in the way of what otherwise is a great Cliff's Notes for all the world news/history that gets swept under the rug in the mainstream media.
It's an impressive fact-finding effort and it's certainly worth readin More...
It's an impressive fact-finding effort and it's certainly worth readin More...
Jan 28, 2009
D
rated it:
one conclusion that you're forced to draw from this book is that hegemony is rated above survival among those with the most power to make decisions which affect our lives.
p.138 "John Maynard Keynes warned seventy years ago "that nothing less than the democratic experiment in self-government was endangered by the threat of global financial market forces."
p.139 " What remains of democracy is largely the right to choose among commodities. Business lead More...
p.138 "John Maynard Keynes warned seventy years ago "that nothing less than the democratic experiment in self-government was endangered by the threat of global financial market forces."
p.139 " What remains of democracy is largely the right to choose among commodities. Business lead More...
Mar 15, 2009
Saleh
rated it:
Western Secular Civilisation, with the emphasis on the word Secular, and in it's ruthless pursuit of profit, rooted as it is deeply in deceit and death, is quite simply Evil. And we're not talking starbucks kinda of evil either.
But then that's nothing new. People of faith around the world have been making similar noises for quite a while now :) There's talk within certain establishment circles of post-secular governance as the only possible panacea.
I shan't hold my More...
But then that's nothing new. People of faith around the world have been making similar noises for quite a while now :) There's talk within certain establishment circles of post-secular governance as the only possible panacea.
I shan't hold my More...
Aug 07, 2011
Nick
rated it:
Probably because Chomsky is such a prolific writer, this book has a rather off-the-cuff feel, and could've benefitted from a good editing session. Nonetheless, it is difficult to posit the casual prose as a criticism, as this is a densely cited and deftly argued work that displays Chomsky's mastery of a broad range of literature. Hegemony or Survival is primarily composed of history and documentation, with theoretical interludes to ground the discussion in the overall project: to shine a ligh
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May 10, 2011
Donald
rated it:
I just wrote a fairly length review, and the internet ate it. So here it is, short and sweet: Chomsky is brilliant, and has an enormous amount of knowledge at his fingertips (watch his debates to really see him in action). But he's no good at telling a story, at least a book-length one, so it's easy to get lost in the sea of facts and events.
Oh, and it's fun to track the footnotes. It's nice when he actually references government documents, especially when a quick google search yield More...
Oh, and it's fun to track the footnotes. It's nice when he actually references government documents, especially when a quick google search yield More...
Mar 19, 2009
Paul
rated it:
The author is considered by the New York Times as the most important intellectual alive today. A retired professor of linguistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chomsky gained his reputation due to his criticisms of the United States foreign policy in particular the state sponsored terrorism practices of the United States in Central America during the 1980s. The book by Noam Chomsky offers a detailed account of the illegal and often immoral actions of the United States and links
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Jun 27, 2009
Dahmane
rated it:
This book is another eye opener on US armed and political involvement in different parts of the world. It also highlights US foreign policy and the race on world control through organised crimes, wars, bullying and intimidation. It is simply a fantastic book and worth a read but it falls short from time to time from going deeper into some topics but it refrains from doing that. I am not really sure why but at least it covers the main topics quite well so that the reader has enough details to sta
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Mar 17, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
Warning: this may sound pedantic.
This book ends with tying the following bertrand russel quote to the threat posed by climate change:
"After ages during which the earth produced harmless trilobites and butterflies, evolution progressed to the point at which it generated Neros, Genghis Khans, and Hitlers. This, however, is a passing nightmare; in time the earth will become again incapable of supporting life, and peace will return."
Because of this book I onc More...
This book ends with tying the following bertrand russel quote to the threat posed by climate change:
"After ages during which the earth produced harmless trilobites and butterflies, evolution progressed to the point at which it generated Neros, Genghis Khans, and Hitlers. This, however, is a passing nightmare; in time the earth will become again incapable of supporting life, and peace will return."
Because of this book I onc More...
Oct 25, 2011
William
rated it:
This book should be required reading for Americans today. If our ideals are "truth, justice, and the American way", then America is failing miserably outside of our own borders. In much of the world: the US lies, protects the guilty, and dicourages democracy. This book raises a number of questions about US foreign policy. First, how do we condemn terror against the US, when we have been the greatest oppressor worldwide. Second, what happened to the principle of universality? Recent A
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Sep 08, 2011
James
rated it:
With crystal clear prose and thoroughly researched (and copiously footnoted) detail, Noam Chomsky reveals the current Iraq war to be just the most recent in a line of ultra-right nationalist aggression by both of the dominant political parties of America as they force (often successfully) an elitist American agenda to the forefront of world politics. Chomsky logically connects the current situation with past American terrorism waged against Nicaragua, Cuba, etc. The man is without question one o
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