Rating: 
Summary: A Great Tool For Change
Review: "Addicted to War" is an excellent tutorial and a must-read for all Americans. Imagination, intelligence, foresight...these are the tools we were given to survive; not weapons, not anger, not hatred. We are artists by nature, caretakers by default. The Earth is our garden, the future our canvas. The 20th century tested technology; the 21st will test our wisdom. "Addicted to War" helps us to consider this carefully, to choose the right tools. The time has come to close the gap between rich and poor, to open our eyes to a new vision of unity, to build a path for future generations and a triumphant legacy for ourselves. The time has come for Americans to ask: If not us, who, and if not now, when? Activism in pursuit of a peaceful global community represents nothing less than the conscience of civilization itself.
Rating:
Summary: superb
Review: absolutely superb! entertaining, funny and easy to read, yet containing vital information every should know in these times of "preemptive" war. read it and pass it on then buy copies for as many people as you can.
Rating:
Summary: superb
Review: absolutely superb! entertaining, funny and easy to read, yet containing vital information every should know in these times of "preemptive" war. read it and pass it on then buy copies for as many people as you can.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic primer for the military industrial complex
Review: Addicted to War was the first book on this subject matter that I read, some time ago. For me, reading this book was like having a revelation. I was speechless the entire time I read it, glued to the pages. I hope not to sound too cliche, but after reading it, I felt as if I had just awoken from "The Matrix", seeing for the first time some of the larger truths of U.S. foreign policy and its inseparable ties with big business and the economy, and how I had been manipulated my entire life to see things in a different way. And I immediately thought that everyone in the U.S. who hasn't been exposed to this kind of thinking needs to read this book. Since then I have bought dozens of copies for family, friends and acquaintances.Joel Andreas relies mostly on quotes from leaders of industry and government as well as government documents and memos throughout the book to support his thesis that war is a racket, benefitting the wealthy of this country, and paid for by the working people of this country in taxes and military service. One may argue with his conclusions, but would be hard-pressed to dispute the authenticity of the source material used. The book inspired me to purchase a number of other books dealing with similar subject matter (some of them used in the impressively long Bibliography listed on the last 3 pages of the book), as I think was part of the intent of the book. It's meant to jolt you awake (especially if you were politically asleep like myself) and encourage you to seek out more information on the subject matter. I see only a couple small nitpicks with the book. Since I've been reading stacks of other articles, books and papers on similar subjects, I think there are a few other dynamite quotes that could have bolstered the viewpoint of Andreas but were overlooked, although the quotes chosen do an excellent job anyway. Also, the role of Communism in the world during the time of most of the military and CIA interventions mentioned in this book is not discussed. This is important information for the reader to know, and I hope anyone who reads this book will research that topic after reading it. Any historian or political scientist with the opposing point of view of this book will likely tell you that the deterrence of the spread of Communism was the primary motivating force behind most of these encounters, and this is the reason given by the government. But that point I think can be overlooked while reading this book, as that information is covered in great detail in other places, and it is not central to the ideas presented by the author. Those ideas being, primarily, that our leaders (leaders of industry and government) are motivated to go to war and change the politics of other countries not out of a desire to spread Democracy throughout the world, but from a desire to bolster the economy and line their pockets. As that is the stance the book takes, the information and the way it is presented is quite convincing. The other idea that I think is left unexplored in the book, is how essential the natural resource of petroleum is to the survival of the U.S. (and the world) economy and lifestyle, and how securing access to that resource is our most primary national security interest, which has directed U.S. foreign policy a great deal over the last 50 years. I would also encourage the reader to explore this information as a supplement to this book (Michael T. Klare wrote a fantastic book, "Resource Wars", about this very subject). While there are some well-read and knowledgeable people who may point out this book is full of "tired stereotypes" or that the points presented are old and cliche, I would say that the majority of people living in the U.S. have not been enlightened to these ideas, and as such, I can't recommend reading and distributing this book enough.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic primer for the military industrial complex
Review: Addicted to War was the first book on this subject matter that I read, some time ago. For me, reading this book was like having a revelation. I was speechless the entire time I read it, glued to the pages. I hope not to sound too cliche, but after reading it, I felt as if I had just awoken from "The Matrix", seeing for the first time some of the larger truths of U.S. foreign policy and its inseparable ties with big business and the economy, and how I had been manipulated my entire life to see things in a different way. And I immediately thought that everyone in the U.S. who hasn't been exposed to this kind of thinking needs to read this book. Since then I have bought dozens of copies for family, friends and acquaintances. Joel Andreas relies mostly on quotes from leaders of industry and government as well as government documents and memos throughout the book to support his thesis that war is a racket, benefitting the wealthy of this country, and paid for by the working people of this country in taxes and military service. One may argue with his conclusions, but would be hard-pressed to dispute the authenticity of the source material used. The book inspired me to purchase a number of other books dealing with similar subject matter (some of them used in the impressively long Bibliography listed on the last 3 pages of the book), as I think was part of the intent of the book. It's meant to jolt you awake (especially if you were politically asleep like myself) and encourage you to seek out more information on the subject matter. I see only a couple small nitpicks with the book. Since I've been reading stacks of other articles, books and papers on similar subjects, I think there are a few other dynamite quotes that could have bolstered the viewpoint of Andreas but were overlooked, although the quotes chosen do an excellent job anyway. Also, the role of Communism in the world during the time of most of the military and CIA interventions mentioned in this book is not discussed. This is important information for the reader to know, and I hope anyone who reads this book will research that topic after reading it. Any historian or political scientist with the opposing point of view of this book will likely tell you that the deterrence of the spread of Communism was the primary motivating force behind most of these encounters, and this is the reason given by the government. But that point I think can be overlooked while reading this book, as that information is covered in great detail in other places, and it is not central to the ideas presented by the author. Those ideas being, primarily, that our leaders (leaders of industry and government) are motivated to go to war and change the politics of other countries not out of a desire to spread Democracy throughout the world, but from a desire to bolster the economy and line their pockets. As that is the stance the book takes, the information and the way it is presented is quite convincing. The other idea that I think is left unexplored in the book, is how essential the natural resource of petroleum is to the survival of the U.S. (and the world) economy and lifestyle, and how securing access to that resource is our most primary national security interest, which has directed U.S. foreign policy a great deal over the last 50 years. I would also encourage the reader to explore this information as a supplement to this book (Michael T. Klare wrote a fantastic book, "Resource Wars", about this very subject). While there are some well-read and knowledgeable people who may point out this book is full of "tired stereotypes" or that the points presented are old and cliche, I would say that the majority of people living in the U.S. have not been enlightened to these ideas, and as such, I can't recommend reading and distributing this book enough.
Rating:
Summary: A Potent Little Critique
Review: I didn't think it possible that a comic book could level a just, factual and scholarly critique of the American Military Industrial Complex, but Joel Andreas has provided us with such a book. Addicted to War is quite possibly the best and certainly the most concise history of American foreign policy (war) out there. To lend credibility and scholarship, all quotes and facts are cited in the back. Also included is a wonderful list of organizations for those readers inclined to do something about this horrendous problem. An essential teaching and learning tool that should be widely disseminated and read by the general public.
Rating:
Summary: Hope people in the States read
Review: I got impressed and was so glad because an American drew this book. I was worried that people in the States may have no sense to war. No hearts wish any war. Now I also try Japanese people to read this book. We, Japanese, have hardly felt the danger of war. We should know how and why wars broke out. We have Japanese edition. I'll push this to others.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most affecting things I've ever read
Review: I had to read this book for a course in college on truth in media. When the prof said it was a comic book, I was intrigued, as normally the things we read are the usual, boring textbook articles. Upon picking this up, I could not put it down until I finished reading it, a good two hours later. Not only is the idea of educating through comic books rather than text books a brilliant idea, but this book itself was an absolutely fantastic read. I can honestly say I absorbed more knowledge from this book than I have from any source in a while, and it was one of the most enlightening ones I've read in I don't know how long. And at [this] price of..., it was not only a great buy, but was great quality. Buy this book right now, and share it with everyone you know. I know I will.
Rating:
Summary: BEST AND EASIER TO READ BOOK ON WAR FOR PROFIT
Review: I LOVED this book. The writer/artist makes it sooo easy to really understand the dangers of this military industrial take over of the U.S. economy, the world, and our childrens lives. For what? To support the very people that have stripped the wealth out of every working American, and get us to send our "kids" to fight THEIR money wars, so they can sit home and get fatter than they are. I HIGHLY recommend this book. I've a wonderful interview with Joel Andreas in the archives of my show at ... I've read plenty of books, but this one should be in every school and every library.
Rating:
Summary: I never thought such a simple book could make such an impact
Review: I opened it up and thought, "isn't this a comic book?" The drawings were simple. But as I started reading it, I realized how truly astonishing this book is. It's meticulously researched with published sources for every scrap of information, and photo documentation of quite a few events. I've even double-checked a few of its weightier claims in other research, and this book as won every test of historical accuracy I've put it through. The book is so stunning it makes my head spin after the one hour it takes to read. It's one of those book I want to buy for everyone I know. It actually has the power to change beliefs and assumptions we have about our country and human rights.
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