Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Soldier For Fortune

Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler and the Making and Breaking of the American Empire by Jonathan M. Katz

April 26, 2022 by Jake Leave a Comment

An excellent read and an infuriating read. Worth all five stars. And like Du Bois’ Black Reconstruction and Ackerman’s Reign of Terror, you’re guaranteed to be peeved on every page. I knew the United States had a colonizing history dating back, well really to its foundation through the US-Mexican War of the 1840s, but more specifically from the end of the 19th century onwards. I knew that we captured many islands in the Caribbean and Pacific respectively, even if I didn’t know the hows-and-whys. Jonathan M. Katz does […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: China, Colombia, colonization, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Gangsters of Capitalism, Haiti, Jonathan M. Katz, Marines, mexico, Panama, Panama Canal, Philippines, Smedley Butler, United States, war

Jake's CBR14 Review No:57 · Genres: History · Tags: China, Colombia, colonization, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Gangsters of Capitalism, Haiti, Jonathan M. Katz, Marines, mexico, Panama, Panama Canal, Philippines, Smedley Butler, United States, war ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Espionage: First as Farce, Then As Tragedy

The Tailor of Panama by John Le Carré

January 18, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

I have yet to read Graham Greene’s famous spy satire Our Man in Havana, but I’m familiar with the premise and am well aware that John Le Carré is aping it here. He’s having a blast splattering colored paint on the immaculately white walls of British imperialism. Until he remembers that these characters have stories, hearts and lives too. That’s what makes The Tailor of Panama so fascinating. Transparently a satire of western intelligence work, Le Carré also paints vivid portraits of characters whose lives are impacted by […]

Filed Under: Suspense Tagged With: espionage, john le carré, Panama, Satire, The Tailor of Panama

Jake's CBR11 Review No:8 · Genres: Suspense · Tags: espionage, john le carré, Panama, Satire, The Tailor of Panama ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments


Recent Comments

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