A fast-paced documentary of, well, exactly what the title says. To say the book is motivated would be an understatement. Blum was a State Department employee who became disillusioned by the atrocities of Vietnam, and took to journalism as a critic of American foreign policy thereafter. Expectedly, his published writings are lauded amongst anti-Americans seeking ideological-political ammunition: Osama bin Laden himself endorsed his 'Rogue State' book on Israel, and the present volume is frequently recommended (speaking from experience) amongst online leftist - particularly Stalinist and Maoist - communities. The edition I got is covered with endorsements from the likes of Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal, some assumedly reputable journalists, and a former CIA officer - though it is also about 20 years out of date, with an updated edition having been published in 2015.

The book strives to be an exhaustive account of all the evils wrought by the US and its foreign policy organs. Dozens of nations have instances of intervention against them recorded, many of them multiple times. If you're seeking, as I said, ammunition, you'll find it in ready supply here. Moreover, you'll be more able to dispute the notion that US foreign policy is rooted in any moral considerations - after all, look at the wicked subversions it undertakes in its cynical self-interest. You will not be satisfied academically, however. The author fails to situate his case studies in a historical narrative, that is, in a properly contextualised study of the Cold War and beyond. This would have at least helped to provide an understanding of *why* these foreign policy decisions were made. As a more serious alternative to this subject matter, one reviewer has recommended William Keylor’s A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945. ( )

This book is a detailed and heart wrenching history of the USA's involvement in torture and murder in dozens of different countries in the last 60 years. It is as rigorous as it is shocking, including citations for every factual statement. The citations are generally mainstream sources like the NYT, so the reader can be confident in presenting the content to the uninitiated without coming off as a crackpot. Even after reading the whole book, I keep it on my shelf as a reference. Any time I see a foreign country referenced in the news, I can look in this book and get an idea of how my country has interacted with it and how they may view us. ( )

Good book, well researched. ( )

Mr. Blum did quite a remarkable job in documenting American interventions throughout the world including both the well known (Korea, Vietnam) and many lesser known interventions. The book is an interesting read and the author doesn't indulge in repetition (that usually is the case while making a point) throughout the book. ( )