CLASSIC: A World Without Cash

In this semi-autobiographical book, John Perkins recounts his experiences as an economist for the engineering consulting firm Chas. T. Main. He describes how he was trained and used by the NSA to convince leaders of underdeveloped countries to accept substantial development loans for large construction and engineering projects. These loans, contracted to U.S. companies, trapped the countries in a system of American influence and control, benefiting local elites and wealthy families but burdening the general population with unrepayable debts. Perkins criticizes U.S. foreign policy and the corporatocracy that drives global exploitation, highlighting his interactions with significant figures and his eventual transformation into an activist advocating for sustainable and regenerative systems.

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.