Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Jan 27, 2009

Beth rated it:

This book was both hard and easy to read. I thought it was going to be very difficult to get through but in fact, by reading just one chapter a night, I was able to get through it quickly and easily, time-wise that is. There are only 7 chapters and each one is only 30 pages or so in length.
On the other hand, this book was very difficult to read because, as an American, I read it with such a heavy heart. I have read many books now about how horrible our government has been and the terrib More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Nov 04, 2008

Matthew rated it:

I've read a few books like this--leftist critiques of American foreign policy--in the last few years, and I often find them problematic. Many of them have good information, and good research, and good writing. But in the end don't really amount to anything.

I feel like Nemesis is one of these. I already know that American foreign policy is arrogant, aggressive, and short-sighted. I already know that the CIA tortures people. I already know that the Bush administration has drastically i More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Sep 28, 2008

Logan rated it:

I've been a big fan of Johnson's past two books, Blowback and The Sorrows of Empire and have been looking forward to reading this most recent work since I first heard of it. However, where the previous two books clearly positioned US' foreign policy as an off-shoot of the militarism which infects every level of our economy and warned that the US' overseas adventures (everything from overthrowing unfriendly governments to funneling arms to other governments) would eventually lead to a blowback a More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 07, 2011

Ebadur rated it:

I didn't read the earlier books (The Sorrows of Empire & Blowback) by Johnson who recently passed away (see http://nationalinterest.org/node/4457). This one was quite detailed in its documentation of military bases our country has around the world, the money that goes into 'defense' and space 'star wars' programs, the CIA...way too much power to the executive branch which is not checked at all, and the move in the direction of a dictatorship, if not in name, certainly in practice...it's all comi More...

0 comments like

Apr 28, 2009

Trevor rated it:

Stunning! This is an even better book than Blowback, which I thought was mind blowing. I am going to have to track down part two of this trilogy. This was almost painful to read. The detailed retellings of US involvement in torture at the start left me once again reeling in disbelief – no matter how often I hear this story I still find it hard to believe. The lies, deceptions and shameful punishments handed out to those who went against the President and told the truth reads like the most i More...

47 comments like (7 people liked it)

Feb 23, 2010

Vintagejunkeedotcom rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like

Sep 12, 2011

Alex marked it as to-read

By now I have watched interview with Chalmers Johnson devoted to this book.
http://blip.tv/eons-video-blog/decline-o...
Chalmers Johnson, author of "Blowback, Sorrows of Empire and Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic" talks about the similarities in the decline of the Roman and Soviet empires and the signs that the U.S. empire is exhibiting the same symptoms: over-extension, corruption and the inability to reform.
This interview was done in 2007 ? during Bush More...

0 comments like

Jan 28, 2011

Kohl rated it:

Phenomenal. I already plan on reading this again in a while. What surprised me most were the parallels with thinkers like Thomas Barnett, as well as the notion of completely disbanding the CIA.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 22, 2010

AC rated it:

This book is not as rich or as original as "Sorrows of Empire" -- it is more journalistic, and less sustained. The material is also largely familiar to anyone who has read the newspapers or any books over the period concerned (Iraq). Finally, written before the Financial Crisis -- the GFC, aka, "The Great Fuck-up" -- the perspective has been somewhat overtaken by events.

Johnson, for example -- with the image of the collapse of the Soviet Union in mind - thought t More...

7 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 29, 2011

Nilesh rated it:

It makes sense in the overall sense but the point is too small and to a degree even obvious to fill such a large book just proving it. There are other drawbacks: too many facts, too stretched comparisons with the previous two empires, inability to see "everytime is largely different", and any thorough analysis of what's next. I guess this is a book worth reading if you have been a huge fans of American wars or CIA or Rumsfeld for an alternative view, otherwise there are better books on More...

0 comments like

Aug 10, 2010

Ron rated it:

If you want a book that deeply explores why America seems to be (I'm being hopeful) headed down the wrong river, this is it -- with discussions on the rise of militarism; a comparison of Rome, Britain & America; the sordid history of the CIA; the basing of soldiers anywhere on the globe America pleases; the drive to militarize outer space; and more. To really get the full impact of what Chalmers Johnson is saying (and warning us all about), you should read the whole trilogy: "The Sorrows of More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 23, 2011

Joey rated it:

to be honest, all three books kind of repeat themselves, verbatim at times. it was definitely provocative and shocking to see some of the blatant atrocities of the executive administrations, as well as clear imperialistic tendencies of our country. chalmers' thesis sort of hovers around the following point: you can have an imperial empire, or you can have a democracy. he offers rome as an example to what happens to democracy when you keep the empire, and britain as a counter example, who forw More...

0 comments like

Mar 17, 2009

Kevin rated it:

I thought this book was great. A brilliant argument of the absurdity of the war on terror and really interesting history of the CIA. An interesting side note: I listened to part of this book on audiobook (sorry, i downloaded it for free) at work in the hospital cafeteria, not on headphones (because they are prohibited) but on loud computer speakers. other people would listen for a few seconds and then remark on how sad it made them feel. I'm pretty sure the rest of the staff thought I was insan More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 20, 2008

Bruce rated it:

This book is about the end of the U.S. as a republic. Early on the book looks at the death of the Roman Republic as it turned to empire to keep the lands it conquered, and conversely the decision of the British to disengage from empire to keep their democracy. It compares the current situation in the US and argues that we are at that tipping point where we must choose empire or democracy. The book then begins to detail the horrors of our post-1945 imperialism. I was not ignorant of most of t More...

0 comments like

May 16, 2007

Aaron rated it:

Johnson has been maligned in the past for shoddy research and a conspiratorial bent, but I found shades of neither in his this most recent work. In fact, the military archives are cited more frequently in his notes than any other source and his overarching thesis is hardly conspiratorial: militarism and imperialism threaten the constitution of the United States and the liberties it grants; not some shady Deus Ex syndicate. Like one of my professors said, it feels good to read an old-fashioned le More...

0 comments like

Jul 01, 2007

Nick rated it:

Chalmers Johnson's third book about the pernicious influence of militarism on our country is excellent. I was a participant in or observer of many of the incidents Dr. Johnson discussed in his first book, "Blowback", and worked with him when I was the US Information Agency's Japan desk officer from mid-1985 through mid-1987. Dr. Johnson, a patriotic, Republican economist with extensive international experience, raises interesting questions about the extent to which "the military More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Eric rated it:

This book is the the third installment from Chalmers Johnson that was preceeded by Blowback and The Sorrows Of Empire. It is the continuation of his thesis that spans the three books contending that militarism and a permanent war economy are incompatible with our republican form of government. In Nemesis (with a subtitle of "The Last Days of the American Republic," Johnson's primary objective is to demonstrate his fear of what the future will hold in terms of current patterns of preven More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 03, 2011

Chris rated it:

This book gave me a whole lot to think about. While I'm not sure the US is going the way of the Roman Empire, he makes a strong argument for how our global military over-reach has stretched us too far, fiscally and otherwise. A worthwhile read for anyone concerned about America's place in the world in the 21st Century.

0 comments like

Feb 08, 2010

Frodo rated it:

For those who appreciate the problems of an empire nation, this is a book to read. The USA, Rome and Great Britain have similar stories. Our story as a nation is drifting toward an ending as we know it like that of previous empires. A troubling analysis of the path we are on.

0 comments like

Aug 12, 2010

Kevin rated it:

Interesting book. I checked it out from the library on the recommendation of Bill Moyers. Very critical of the United States' imperialistic tendencies with particular detail on the George W. Bush administration. Most, if not all, of the criticism is warranted, but the book tended to go on and on and not really provide any solutions except for the U.S. to change its ways lest it end up crumbling like the Roman Empire.

I skipped a number of the middle chapters because it just wasn't mov More...

0 comments like

Dec 27, 2007

Dave rated it:

Interesting read. Chalmers Thesis is the American Republic is in danger of collapsing due to the rise of it's military industrial complex, the presidents power growing to resemble that of a pseudo-dictator and the governments attempts to expand their hegemony around the world. Nemesis is very well written and Chalmers makes a provocative argument. For those who are read up on American secrecy and foreign policy might find this a little redundant at times. I will say that Chalmers seems to to More...

0 comments like

Jan 21, 2009

Jasmine rated it:

Tons of interesting info in this book. I found Johnson's chapter on the similarities between the Roman, British, and American empires disturbing, yet fascinating. And I thoght his chapters examining the Status of Forces Agreement in Japan and space militarism were really insightful and is proof positive of just how dysfunctional our foreign policy and war economy is. Overall, Johnson writes very in depth about a variety of topics that effect the American empire that's fascinating and real edumuc More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 02, 2009

Mike rated it:

Somewhat repetitive but a MUST READ for every American. If you can read this, and still think that we must "police the world", there is no hope for you!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 18, 2010

Raimi rated it:

Don't read this at bedtime or you risk becoming so agitated that you can't sleep. Great book, though. RIP Chalmers Johnson.

0 comments like

Jan 25, 2010

Peter rated it:

A good expose as to where the US's foreign policy has taken it, but whether it sways the non-converted is another matter

0 comments like

Aug 09, 2010

Jose rated it:

unabridged audio book, excellent. will purchase and use of future policy classes.

0 comments like

Aug 13, 2011

Jason rated it:

This guy predicted 9/11 in his previous work, Blowback. Imagine what he has to say after the fact.

0 comments like

Feb 05, 2011

Mike rated it:

If you want to know "why they hate us" (& why we're bankrupt--in every possible way), read this book.

0 comments like

Jan 13, 2010

Margaret rated it:

The third in his important trilogy is as good, as thought-provoking, as the two preceding volumes.

0 comments like

Dec 17, 2007

Chammon added it

Johnson draws interesting parallels between the rise and fall of the Roman, British, and American Empires. Best statement of the book is that democracy and empire are incompatible. The people, given the truth, will not support the repression abroad and the drain of maintaining massive military at home that is necessary to maintain an empire. The last chapters are an excellent reference on the strategic defense initiative and weapons in space and on U.S. military bases abroad.

0 comments like

reviews