by Chris Hedges
First published 2018
Abu-Jamal and Vittoria reject the comfortable fiction that America exports democracy and freedom to the world. They argue that murder serves as the nation's primary export, accompanied by theft, suppression, and tyranny. The authors trace this pattern of violence from Columbus landing on Hispaniola to contemporary drone strikes. They contend that the American dream functions as an illusion masking imperial brutality. The book challenges the orthodox narrative of American exceptionalism through an irreverent examination of historical and modern examples. Rather than offering dry historical analysis, Abu-Jamal and Vittoria present their case with spirit and liveliness. Their goal extends beyond documentation to active education and enlightenment of readers about imperial corruption. The work aims to awaken people to resist the systems that perpetuate violence in America's name.
Genres: political-science, non-fiction, activism, american-history
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: challenging-the-narrative, exposing-corruption
Setting: America, Hispaniola
Period: Contemporary, Colonial
348 pages · Kindle Edition · Prison Radio
Content warnings: violence