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We Are The Bad Guys: The Global Cost of American Power
What if America's greatest blind spot is the way we see ourselves?
For generations, we’ve been told a familiar story about U.S. power. But after serving across Asia and the Middle East, Marine combat pilot and Naval Academy graduate Michael T. Lester began to notice a troubling the missions didn’t match the rhetoric, and the people we claimed to help didn’t feel liberated at all.
That contradiction launched a twenty-year investigation into the parts of American history most of us were never taught.
We Are The Bad Guys pulls together what is usually kept apart—the coups, covert operations, economic pressure campaigns, and the media narratives that justify them—and reveals how they form a decades-long strategy of dominance. Drawing on declassified documents, leaked cables, and respected scholarship, this book asks a question few Americans have ever been encouraged to
What if the world sees U.S. power more clearly than we do?
What You’ll Learn InsideHow U.S. wars, coups, and covert operations reshaped nations across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast AsiaHow ideas like “freedom,” “democracy,” and “security” are used to manufacture consentWhy much of the world distrusts American motives—and what they know that we don’tThe financial, intelligence, and diplomatic tools that destabilize countries without deploying a single soldier
What Readers Are Saying“A courageous, deeply researched examination of the stories Americans grow up believing—and the realities the rest of the world has lived.”
“Readable and unsettling. Lester connects the dots between events most of us have only seen in headlines.”
“One of the clearest explanations of how American power actually works behind the scenes.”
“A necessary contribution for readers who sense something is broken in our foreign policy but struggle to articulate it.”
“A must-read for anyone willing to look beyond slogans and confront what U.S. interventions have meant for ordinary people.”
“If you’ve ever wondered why America is revered in some places and resented in others, this book gives you the missing context.”
This book isn’t anti-American. It’s pro-truth. Written in clear, accessible language with no jargon or ideological agenda, it is for readers who want to understand how power works—and how much of that story has been hidden in plain sight.
Perfect for readers of Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Andrew Bacevich, Craig Whitlock, or anyone rethinking America’s role in the world.
About the AuthorMichael T. Lester is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served across Asia and the Middle East. His experiences overseas—where the official narrative often conflicted with what he witnessed—sparked a twenty-year investigation into the realities of American power.
Today, Michael is a cybersecurity and national-security professional who has spent decades studying U.S. foreign policy, intelligence strategy, and the gap between America’s ideals and actions abroad.
For generations, we’ve been told a familiar story about U.S. power. But after serving across Asia and the Middle East, Marine combat pilot and Naval Academy graduate Michael T. Lester began to notice a troubling the missions didn’t match the rhetoric, and the people we claimed to help didn’t feel liberated at all.
That contradiction launched a twenty-year investigation into the parts of American history most of us were never taught.
We Are The Bad Guys pulls together what is usually kept apart—the coups, covert operations, economic pressure campaigns, and the media narratives that justify them—and reveals how they form a decades-long strategy of dominance. Drawing on declassified documents, leaked cables, and respected scholarship, this book asks a question few Americans have ever been encouraged to
What if the world sees U.S. power more clearly than we do?
What You’ll Learn InsideHow U.S. wars, coups, and covert operations reshaped nations across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast AsiaHow ideas like “freedom,” “democracy,” and “security” are used to manufacture consentWhy much of the world distrusts American motives—and what they know that we don’tThe financial, intelligence, and diplomatic tools that destabilize countries without deploying a single soldier
What Readers Are Saying“A courageous, deeply researched examination of the stories Americans grow up believing—and the realities the rest of the world has lived.”
“Readable and unsettling. Lester connects the dots between events most of us have only seen in headlines.”
“One of the clearest explanations of how American power actually works behind the scenes.”
“A necessary contribution for readers who sense something is broken in our foreign policy but struggle to articulate it.”
“A must-read for anyone willing to look beyond slogans and confront what U.S. interventions have meant for ordinary people.”
“If you’ve ever wondered why America is revered in some places and resented in others, this book gives you the missing context.”
This book isn’t anti-American. It’s pro-truth. Written in clear, accessible language with no jargon or ideological agenda, it is for readers who want to understand how power works—and how much of that story has been hidden in plain sight.
Perfect for readers of Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Andrew Bacevich, Craig Whitlock, or anyone rethinking America’s role in the world.
About the AuthorMichael T. Lester is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served across Asia and the Middle East. His experiences overseas—where the official narrative often conflicted with what he witnessed—sparked a twenty-year investigation into the realities of American power.
Today, Michael is a cybersecurity and national-security professional who has spent decades studying U.S. foreign policy, intelligence strategy, and the gap between America’s ideals and actions abroad.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2025
120 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Michael T. Lester
1 book9 followersMichael Lester is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps combat pilot and cybersecurity executive. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School, he has served across Asia and the Middle East, gaining a firsthand view of U.S. foreign policy in action. After his military career, he rose to senior leadership roles in the technology and security sectors and now teaches graduate-level cybersecurity as an adjunct professor. A member of MENSA with degrees in history, engineering, and leadership, Lester brings both rigor and lived experience to his unflinching examination of American power.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 22, 2025
I had started reading this book shortly after being contacted by the author when he had expressed some concern, after I had previously requested the opportunity to read his book, over the fact that his book was non-fiction, and a glance at the type that I had previously read and reviewed was primarily fiction.
We Are the Bad Guys: How the U.S. Wages War, Controls Economies, and Calls It Freedom by Michael T. Lester is a non-fiction book that examines the gap between the United States' stated values and its actual foreign policy actions throughout the past century. Drawing on declassified documents, leaked cables, and historical research, the book challenges the myth of American exceptionalism by framing U.S. interventions from the perspective of the rest of the world. This book was published on 3 November 2025.
American imperialism is the exercise of power or control by the US outside its borders. The US initially expanded its territory via conquest, later shifting to controlling/influencing other countries without conquest, using techniques such as alliances, aid, gunboat diplomacy, treaties, trade, support for preferred political factions, regime change, economic influence through private companies, and cultural influence.
While the US does not typically identify itself and its territorial possessions as an empire, Other nations, including some of the valued military and political allies, express a differing opinion. American "imperialism" differs from traditional imperialism, as defined by the colonization of territories in distant regions of the planet by one nation, in that the United States has demonstrated its reach by extending its influence over various nations through military, economic, and cultural means.
The synopsis outlines the book's main themes:
Challenging the Narrative: The book directly asks the reader to consider "What if we're not the good guys?" and contrasts the American self-image as a force for freedom with the global perception of its actions.
Mechanisms of Dominance: Lester exposes the tools the U.S. has used to maintain global dominance, including wars, coups, economic sanctions, covert operations, surveillance, and trade manipulation.
Propaganda and Consent: It details how concepts like "freedom," "democracy," and "security" are utilized as slogans to manage public perception at home and manufacture consent for interventions abroad.
Consequences of Power: The book highlights the human cost of these actions in nations across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, explaining why many parts of the world distrust U.S. motives.
The summation of this book, after examining the growth and evident decline of American imperialism, is that it is a definite eye-opener. The assessment of American imperialism as "good" or "bad" is a subject of intense historical and political debate, with arguments often centering on its impact on global stability, economic development, and national sovereignty.
Proponents argue that U.S. expansion and global influence have brought modernization and stability to various regions, and critics contend that U.S. actions are driven by self-interest and have caused significant harm to local populations and global order.
This thesis was written by a former Marine Corps combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Michael Lester, and was motivated by his firsthand experiences overseas where the official narrative often conflicted with reality. Some of the facts laid out in this book, designed for a general audience in clear, direct language, aim to provide an unvarnished, documented history of American power that is often omitted from mainstream education.
As this book is non-fiction, it is hard to disagree with the facts as they are laid out. On my self-determined five-star scale, I believe that this book is definitely worthy of the vaunted five-star rating. I believe that this book would be enjoyed by several groups of readers, including (but not limited to):
Skeptics and Critics of Foreign Policy: Readers who sense flaws in current U.S. foreign policy and want a framework to articulate those concerns.
Students of History and Geopolitics: Individuals interested in a non-traditional, meticulously researched history of U.S. interventions, declassified documents, and the "real mechanics" of global dominance.
Fans of Dissident Political Writers: The book is specifically recommended for readers of Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Andrew Bacevich, and Craig Whitlock.
Military and National Security Professionals: Those interested in a perspective from a former Marine combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who spent 20 years reconciling official narratives with on-the-ground observations.
General Non-Partisan Readers: People seeking clarity on how American power—including coups, sanctions, and surveillance—works behind the scenes without a specific ideological agenda.
Patriotic Skeptics: Individuals who "love their country enough to examine it honestly" and believe that understanding the past is essential for a more principled future.
As with most of my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents' worth.
We Are the Bad Guys: How the U.S. Wages War, Controls Economies, and Calls It Freedom by Michael T. Lester is a non-fiction book that examines the gap between the United States' stated values and its actual foreign policy actions throughout the past century. Drawing on declassified documents, leaked cables, and historical research, the book challenges the myth of American exceptionalism by framing U.S. interventions from the perspective of the rest of the world. This book was published on 3 November 2025.
American imperialism is the exercise of power or control by the US outside its borders. The US initially expanded its territory via conquest, later shifting to controlling/influencing other countries without conquest, using techniques such as alliances, aid, gunboat diplomacy, treaties, trade, support for preferred political factions, regime change, economic influence through private companies, and cultural influence.
While the US does not typically identify itself and its territorial possessions as an empire, Other nations, including some of the valued military and political allies, express a differing opinion. American "imperialism" differs from traditional imperialism, as defined by the colonization of territories in distant regions of the planet by one nation, in that the United States has demonstrated its reach by extending its influence over various nations through military, economic, and cultural means.
The synopsis outlines the book's main themes:
Challenging the Narrative: The book directly asks the reader to consider "What if we're not the good guys?" and contrasts the American self-image as a force for freedom with the global perception of its actions.
Mechanisms of Dominance: Lester exposes the tools the U.S. has used to maintain global dominance, including wars, coups, economic sanctions, covert operations, surveillance, and trade manipulation.
Propaganda and Consent: It details how concepts like "freedom," "democracy," and "security" are utilized as slogans to manage public perception at home and manufacture consent for interventions abroad.
Consequences of Power: The book highlights the human cost of these actions in nations across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, explaining why many parts of the world distrust U.S. motives.
The summation of this book, after examining the growth and evident decline of American imperialism, is that it is a definite eye-opener. The assessment of American imperialism as "good" or "bad" is a subject of intense historical and political debate, with arguments often centering on its impact on global stability, economic development, and national sovereignty.
Proponents argue that U.S. expansion and global influence have brought modernization and stability to various regions, and critics contend that U.S. actions are driven by self-interest and have caused significant harm to local populations and global order.
This thesis was written by a former Marine Corps combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Michael Lester, and was motivated by his firsthand experiences overseas where the official narrative often conflicted with reality. Some of the facts laid out in this book, designed for a general audience in clear, direct language, aim to provide an unvarnished, documented history of American power that is often omitted from mainstream education.
As this book is non-fiction, it is hard to disagree with the facts as they are laid out. On my self-determined five-star scale, I believe that this book is definitely worthy of the vaunted five-star rating. I believe that this book would be enjoyed by several groups of readers, including (but not limited to):
Skeptics and Critics of Foreign Policy: Readers who sense flaws in current U.S. foreign policy and want a framework to articulate those concerns.
Students of History and Geopolitics: Individuals interested in a non-traditional, meticulously researched history of U.S. interventions, declassified documents, and the "real mechanics" of global dominance.
Fans of Dissident Political Writers: The book is specifically recommended for readers of Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Andrew Bacevich, and Craig Whitlock.
Military and National Security Professionals: Those interested in a perspective from a former Marine combat pilot and U.S. Naval Academy graduate who spent 20 years reconciling official narratives with on-the-ground observations.
General Non-Partisan Readers: People seeking clarity on how American power—including coups, sanctions, and surveillance—works behind the scenes without a specific ideological agenda.
Patriotic Skeptics: Individuals who "love their country enough to examine it honestly" and believe that understanding the past is essential for a more principled future.
As with most of my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents' worth.
October 23, 2025
I was given the chance to read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of Michael Lester's book.
If you want to better understand how an American patriot, who served in the US Marine Corps and who loves the United States could pen a book so critical of US foreign policy, national security, economic policies, and so much more, then you need to read this book.
I found myself equal parts enraged and astounded, sometimes finding it hard to believe the truth of what Lester had penned. But it's all there. He's accounted for everything, and his sourcing of the facts are irrefutable.
If we want to become the great nation we believe we are, the nation we believe we should be, then every American should buy and read this book to better understand our faults, our challenges, our opportunities, and how we can become that nation--the nation promised in the words of our founding documents.
Michael Lester pulls no punches. Nor should he. We deserve to understand what our government, regardless of which party holds political power, is doing in our name. He reveals these things, step by step, and holds us accountable as citizens of this potentially great nation.
Gift this book to others. Ask them to read it. Then, have a meaningful conversation with family and friends about Lester's indictment of our system, but also the ways he identifies that could help us, all of us, to become the nation we truly could and should be.
I'm grateful to Michael Lester for having the courage, commitment, and love of nation needed to truly reveal the aspects of our governance he discusses at length in this book. I think you will be just as grateful as me after you finish his work.
If you want to better understand how an American patriot, who served in the US Marine Corps and who loves the United States could pen a book so critical of US foreign policy, national security, economic policies, and so much more, then you need to read this book.
I found myself equal parts enraged and astounded, sometimes finding it hard to believe the truth of what Lester had penned. But it's all there. He's accounted for everything, and his sourcing of the facts are irrefutable.
If we want to become the great nation we believe we are, the nation we believe we should be, then every American should buy and read this book to better understand our faults, our challenges, our opportunities, and how we can become that nation--the nation promised in the words of our founding documents.
Michael Lester pulls no punches. Nor should he. We deserve to understand what our government, regardless of which party holds political power, is doing in our name. He reveals these things, step by step, and holds us accountable as citizens of this potentially great nation.
Gift this book to others. Ask them to read it. Then, have a meaningful conversation with family and friends about Lester's indictment of our system, but also the ways he identifies that could help us, all of us, to become the nation we truly could and should be.
I'm grateful to Michael Lester for having the courage, commitment, and love of nation needed to truly reveal the aspects of our governance he discusses at length in this book. I think you will be just as grateful as me after you finish his work.
December 31, 2025
I read this as an ARC and unfortunately it was missing some important elements: endnotes and any graphics. The book remains powerful without these, but I will be ordering the book so that I can review these materials.
Lester paints a strong portrait of American dominance and hegemony and how the empire is starting to crack. Fall may be eminent. As a Canadian, many of the bubbles that Americans live in, such as the media bubble or the law enforcement bubble, were well known to me, but I think that many Americans are unaware of these protections. I think this book should be required readings for americans, but I think those that need to read it most will refuse to accept how insulated they are. so I believe that this book should be required reading. Lester moves on to case studies of American imperialism such as their actions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Iraq, and Venezuela. He then covers the American love affair with Zionism and how entrenched Zionist beliefs and AIPAC is in American politics. This section referenced a few books in the text which I have since ordered. I will never understand why America treats Israel as an ally when Israel does not do the same. Lester ends with what can be done. Can America recover its image? Can America maintain its dominance? or is fall inevitable?
This is a strong and powerful book. It is written simply and it is easy to understand and digest. Like I said above, I think that this should be required reading in American schools.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Lester paints a strong portrait of American dominance and hegemony and how the empire is starting to crack. Fall may be eminent. As a Canadian, many of the bubbles that Americans live in, such as the media bubble or the law enforcement bubble, were well known to me, but I think that many Americans are unaware of these protections. I think this book should be required readings for americans, but I think those that need to read it most will refuse to accept how insulated they are. so I believe that this book should be required reading. Lester moves on to case studies of American imperialism such as their actions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Iraq, and Venezuela. He then covers the American love affair with Zionism and how entrenched Zionist beliefs and AIPAC is in American politics. This section referenced a few books in the text which I have since ordered. I will never understand why America treats Israel as an ally when Israel does not do the same. Lester ends with what can be done. Can America recover its image? Can America maintain its dominance? or is fall inevitable?
This is a strong and powerful book. It is written simply and it is easy to understand and digest. Like I said above, I think that this should be required reading in American schools.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 29, 2026
This book is formatted in an interesting manner. The author goes over the history of various US relationships with other countries, chapter by chapter. Each chapter is short with a detailed summary at the end of each chapter. The basic message is that the United States has a history of using politics to control and/or obtain assets from smaller countries and this is currently continuing.
There is lots of enlightening information in the book and I especially appreciated the detailed chapters on US-Israeli relationships. The information is timely up to a few months ago and the author would most certainly have much more to say with the recent actions taken by our current US leadership. Because I read the ARC of the book, the formatting was odd and many lists, graphs and references were missing . And with the short chapters, the detailed summary at the end of each is really unnecessary. But overall, the book is an important and timely message that was worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
There is lots of enlightening information in the book and I especially appreciated the detailed chapters on US-Israeli relationships. The information is timely up to a few months ago and the author would most certainly have much more to say with the recent actions taken by our current US leadership. Because I read the ARC of the book, the formatting was odd and many lists, graphs and references were missing . And with the short chapters, the detailed summary at the end of each is really unnecessary. But overall, the book is an important and timely message that was worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.
February 24, 2026
A devil’s advocate exploration of America’s foreign policy or more so, America’s place in the world. This book begs to understand the disconnect between our perception and our place in the world. A veteran who bothered to chase the rabbit hole of asking why the citizens of other countries often don’t consider us as liberators or allies.
At one point, the author goes country by country and shares a potential how and why behind many historical significant moments. I, for one, don’t realize we overtook Hawaii via military blockade and a threat of invasion. But a quick Google search confirms history is often far more complicated than those who ‘“liberated,’ and therefore controlled the narrative might lead you to believe…
While you don’t always have to accept the author’s interpretation of why things happen, the pictures he paints are fascinating, challenging, and deserves their place.
At one point, the author goes country by country and shares a potential how and why behind many historical significant moments. I, for one, don’t realize we overtook Hawaii via military blockade and a threat of invasion. But a quick Google search confirms history is often far more complicated than those who ‘“liberated,’ and therefore controlled the narrative might lead you to believe…
While you don’t always have to accept the author’s interpretation of why things happen, the pictures he paints are fascinating, challenging, and deserves their place.
February 24, 2026
I couldn’t finish this one; and the book’s current rating is obviously skewed by paid reviewers who received advanced copies.
I give Lester credit, from one Veteran to another, and I think his thesis is generally sound - but the examples he uses are largely outdated or incomplete in how they relate to the subject of each chapter; and Lester generally excludes equally weighted counterpoints that foil his arguments.
More than all that, this book was clearly written by ChatGPT. All the tell-tale signs are there and every chapter reads exactly like the last. I’m not saying it isn’t based on the author’s true thoughts or beliefs, but it’s pretty clear he didn’t weave the narrative himself.
I had higher hopes for this one.
I give Lester credit, from one Veteran to another, and I think his thesis is generally sound - but the examples he uses are largely outdated or incomplete in how they relate to the subject of each chapter; and Lester generally excludes equally weighted counterpoints that foil his arguments.
More than all that, this book was clearly written by ChatGPT. All the tell-tale signs are there and every chapter reads exactly like the last. I’m not saying it isn’t based on the author’s true thoughts or beliefs, but it’s pretty clear he didn’t weave the narrative himself.
I had higher hopes for this one.
January 15, 2026
I must say I’m so lucky to have won this book on Goodreads! I am so grateful to be able to read such a detailed to the point true book! 📕 This book had me thinking about how much we all need to pay attention and appreciate writers with knowledge and compassion and empathy. I would recommend this author and his captivating detailed book to everyone! In fact I’m begging please read this!! I’m just In awe
February 7, 2026
An eye opener that cracks the facade we are conditioned to believe. Thank you for the ARC kindle copy, but I had to purchase the hard copy for future reference and to share.
February 15, 2026
Pretty much confirms a lot of what I've been thinking. A good book to keep around as a reference when you read the news headlines.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews