Confessions of an Economic Hitman . Who has read it and is it worthy of

[efhmc]

a bd gift for my very liberal businessman sil? Thank you.

[pnorman]

1. I haven't read it yet but have been reading very favorable reviews.

But surprisingly, I found a less than favorable review in the "left-liberal" magazine, "In These Times": http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/failures_of_a_hit_man/

I offer this as a consideration (amid all the other favorble reviews of that book), rather than as a rebuttal.

pnorman

[efhmc]

3. Thank you. The reviewer seems to have a problem with the fact that

no names are named and no dots are connected. Don't want to spend the $25 for something he can get at the library unless it is worth keeping on ones own bookshelf.

[welshTerrier2]

2. here's a DU thread discussing the book

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=209&topic_id=1504&mesg_id=1504

[efhmc]

4. Covers the book and provides good info. Thank you.

[pnorman]

5. For those interested but might prefer an audible version,

Here's one: http://audible.com/adbl/store/product.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0412630777.1117633862@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddekegmligcefecegedfhfdhfg.0&uniqueKey=1117633904812&pageType=preliminaryResults&productID=BK_BLAK_001034

I'm a Premium Subscriber there, and can order ANY two books a month for $20. I too would probably agree with that "In These Times" review, but I'll most likely order that one.

I FAR prefer the written word to the spoken word for this sort of thing, but having a couple hundred such books in my shirt pocket (Samsung YH-920) while I'm walking around, is very convenient.

pnorman

[efhmc]

7. Are these unabridged versions? I drive a LOT and love having audios

to listen to. Sorry did not go to the site yet but I will.

[pnorman]

9. Both versions are offered there.

I just ordered the unabridged version of that book (along with "The Wisdom of Crowds"). The list price is a little high, but if you have good use for audios ("drive a LOT"), consider signing up. Many are priced at $40 and higher, but at $10 a pop, they're bargains. At your leisure, check out ALL the books available. You'll be AMAZED! There are quite a few there that would appeal to many here at DU.

pnorman
Edited to point out that that outfit put a lot of valuble stuff out there for FREE. That included 9-11 Commission Hearings testimony, and other such stuff.

[pnorman]

6. More yet!

There are TWO interviews of John Perkins and his book on Democracy Now!: http://www.democracynow.org/search.pl?query=john+perkins

I've downloaded MP3s of both and have them in my tiny MP3 player. You can of coure listen to them on-line.

pnorman

[efhmc]

8. Listening now. Thank you.

[pnorman]

10. I'm into the first hour of Part 1 of listening to that book.

I don't regret buying it, but I wouldn't recommend buying the book --- at least not as a gift to a good friend. Unlike most of my other books, this is a better "listen" than a "read". So far, there's an awful lot of self-promoting/self-justification, and not to much of the sort of details that can be easily Googled.

The audio files can be downloaded at different compression rates. They appear to be much more efficient than MP3, but are well protected. The'll play only on specifically registered devices. No way to send the audio file to your friend. You might pick that book and another, and then give your friend a one month subscription as a gift. But if that other person who likes to listen while driving signs up as Premium Customer, he might enjoy that one (at $10).

pnorman