War Is a Racket

This is a great book, brief, almost an essay as much as a book, by a great man. The book is distinctly anti war. The author is a career military man. The book was written in 1935, just before the beginning of World War II. I feel it is very important for every American to read and contemplate books like this at this time in our history. George Washington admonished us not to become entangled in foreign intrigues. Somewhere along the way, about the time Theodore Roosevelt became president, we began to materially deviate from that advice. Certainly the world has become more complicated, but is there another way besides unending conflict? This book includes a brief description of how we became entangled in World War I. I have read several books by Henry Kissinger. I hope I am not mistaken in which book, but I think it is "Diplomacy", wherein Henry Kissinger examines the thinking and rationale of Woodrow Wilson, in entering the United States in World War I. It is well worth thinking about. Tony Jundt, another historian, in his book "Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945", goes on to describe World War II as the continuation of another European "Thirty Years War". This, of course, is because negotiations ending World War I were botched. Again, this is a notion worthy of serious contemplation. In any event I greatly appreciated having the chance to read this book. I purchased the accompanying audiobook and read both simultaneously. The narrator is William Dougan. Mister Dougan is generally very professional. However number amounts in the book are in actual numbers and Mister Dougan repeatedly conflated trillions with billions. That, of course, is not the main point of the book. But as a "numbers kind of guy" I found it slightly distracting. If you only listen to the audiobook, allow for this. If that is too persnickety, I truly apologize. Thank You...

This should be mandatory reading for every Marine officer, NCO & enlisted Marine. Butler was held up to us as an icon, the greatest of the great. But... somehow, we were told the rest of the story. And here we are, pushing 100 years later, and his book is just as relevant. May God rest your soul sir! I hope you are still somehow fighting for your Marines!

This man fought every possible war in his 33 years. He realized that every war, every battle comes with profit to all the bankers, politicians, weapon makers. The ones that no one accounts for is the soldier fighting a losing war. We might win all wars, but the veteran, those who died during the war and the family members are the ones that pay the price of the war. He speaks of disabled veterans in a time where veterans had no rights much less medical facilities or treatment centers to deal with PTSD, which at that time it was called shell-shock. He was the best weapon American capitalism had in their arsenal. He regrets his part in all the corporate bloodshed that corporations have caused.. Even to this to day, corporations are always making a profit from war. From my point of view as a disabled Marine veteran I agree completely in his point of view. Here is my idea. Every corporation that makes a profit from invading any country has to pay for the care of every single veteran that has suffered any loss whether is a physical loss or mental illness caused from fighting these corporate wars. Also every veteran should be guaranteed home ownership, so there are no more homeless veterans. The Veterans Administration needs to eliminate veterans death lists. A death list is the delay in treatment or denial of treatment. The VA hopes that every veteran on that list commit suicide before they get the proper care. Did you know that 22 veterans commit suicide every day. We fight these wars and we never get the proper treatment. I am 10 percent disabled from knee and back injuries. I also got kidney cancer from the polluted water at Camp Lejeune, NC. We veterans and current service people put our lives at risk on a daily basis thinking we are doing for democracy which is in actuality corporate democracy that profits from our lives, our blood, sweat and tears.

War Is a Racket by Major General Smedley D. Butler is a short but powerful book. Published in 1935, it shares Butler’s belief that wars often benefit big businesses while ordinary people, including soldiers, pay the price. Based on his long military career, Butler’s words carry weight. However, the book leaves readers wishing he had explored the bigger picture of what we now call the Military-Industrial Complex (MIC). In this review, we’ll talk about the strengths of the book, what could have been improved, and why it’s still important today. What Makes This Book Hit Hard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. A Clear and Bold Message Butler’s main argument is simple and strong: war helps a small group of people make a lot of money, while the rest of society suffers. His writing is easy to follow, which makes his ideas clear to a wide audience. At just 35 pages, the book is short enough for anyone to read quickly and understand the main points. 2. He’s Been There, Done That As a highly decorated Marine and two-time Medal of Honor winner, Butler speaks from experience. He admits that during his career, he often acted to protect the interests of wealthy businesses rather than the country. This honesty makes the book feel real and trustworthy. Readers get a rare glimpse into how the system worked from someone who was part of it. 3. Ideas to Fix a Broken System In Chapter 4, Butler suggests three ideas to stop war profiteering: -> Force businesses and industries to take the same risks as soldiers during war. -> Make war decisions through public votes. -> Keep the military focused on defending the country, not fighting abroad. These ideas are practical starting points. However, they don’t address the full, complex system of the MIC—the web of government, military, and business interests that keeps wars profitable. For example, Butler’s idea to let only eligible military voters decide on wars excludes the general public, who also pay for wars and live with their consequences. Where the Book Falls Short ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Too Quick to End The book’s short length makes it easy to read, but it leaves out details that could have made the arguments stronger. Butler gives examples of war profiteering, but he doesn’t dig deeper into how industries, governments, and the military work together to make money from war. Today, we would call this system the MIC, but Butler doesn’t fully explain it. 2. The Bigger Picture Is Missing While Butler criticizes war profiteering, he focuses more on individual examples than on the larger system. A broader discussion about how industries and politicians work together to keep wars going could have added more depth. He mentions symptoms, like companies benefiting from war contracts, but not the causes or solutions. 3. Only Tells One Side of the Story Butler’s critique is strong, but he doesn’t explore opposing arguments. For example, some people argue that military spending creates jobs or helps keep the country safe. By not addressing these ideas, the book feels one-sided, even if its main points are convincing. What Butler Could Have Added ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If Butler had expanded the book, he might have included: -> A history of how war profiteering developed and why it became so common. -> A global look at how the MIC works in other countries. -> An analysis of how military spending affects education, healthcare, and other public services. -> A closer look at how propaganda and nationalism convince people to support wars. -> Specific steps governments could take to break the system. Why It Still Matters Today ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Even though it’s short and doesn’t cover everything, War Is a Racket is still important today. It was one of the first works to openly challenge the financial motives behind wars. Butler’s honesty and clear writing make it a valuable starting point for conversations about the ethics of war and the systems that sustain it. While the book doesn’t fully explain the MIC, it points readers in the right direction to learn more. Why I Wanted More ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reading War Is a Racket is both inspiring and frustrating. Butler’s courage to speak out against war profiteering is admirable. His ideas about focusing the military on defense could lead to a calmer, more peaceful world. At the same time, his critique feels incomplete. The idea of the MIC, though hinted at, isn’t fully explored. I couldn’t help but wish for more—more depth, more examples, and more discussion about how to fix the system. While the book raises important questions, it feels like the beginning of a conversation rather than a complete answer. Books to Read Next ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These books further amplify some of the issues Butler raises: -> Addicted to War by Joel Andreas: A graphic novel that makes Butler’s ideas more visual and engaging. -> The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein: A book about how disasters, including wars, are used for profit. Closing thoughts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ War Is a Racket is a bold and important book that asks tough questions about who really benefits from war. While it falls short of fully explaining the Military-Industrial Complex, it’s a powerful introduction to the topic. For younger readers or those new to these ideas, Butler’s book is a great place to start. It’s a call to think critically about the systems that shape our world—and to imagine ways we can make them better.

Smedley Butler was both a hero and a villain; a monster that you summon to fight your wars for you. He sees things as they are. I was born inside US Marine Corps Systems Command, both of my parents retired as logicians; and my dad fought in Vietnam. This bit of history is fascinating; though it makes more sense if you read about what Japan did in Nanking, and just before Hitler pulled us into the war in Europe. This could be the handbook of Rage Against The Machine, even though it was written by one of the most serious Marines to have ever lived.

Major General Smedley Butler--in his time he was the most decorated Marine in U.S. history--a man's man, beloved by those who served under him, and respected by those he served. He was not shy about expressing his opinions. Based on his intense experience as a leader of soldiers in battle, he posits that war is a just another racket run by the miltary-industrial-banking-govenmental complex. Power brokers of all kinds...business, political, religious, and social run the racket with the sole goal of enhancing their finances and influence. The military is "the Enforcer" for the power brokers. Butler served the brokers well in many military campaigns before coming to the conclusion that WAR IS A RACKET. His book kicks apart the pretense of war making. He loved and respected his the men with whom he fought in the "Banana Wars", The "Remember the Maine" war, "The War to End all Wars" and others, but he became totally disillusioned with the concept of war. He was certain that war is a racket and he told the world. It's a wonderful way to make enormous profits, to make a name, and to climb the ladder of political success. "God is on our side"..."We're fighting for freedom"...War is a glorious adventure" so say those who sponsor wars, but seldom join in the front line action. He offers some solutions to end the never-ending war cycle in this concise but powerful essay--have the conscripted men, who will serve in the war, vote on its validity--yes or no--go or no-go before the war begins. In addition, all those who would support the war should be paid the same wages as the soldiers, including the corporate moguls. Butler's final words are "To Hell With War!" Today's "silly" yet 21st century wars and their not-so-silly injuries, death and destruction only serve to confirm and amplify the simplicity and elegance of this old soldier's learned argument. Are we "condemned to repeat" our bloody history? Or can we better our children, the world, and ourselves? Smedley Butler's little book says it all. It should be distributed in every classroom in the world for discussion and reflection.

Good book

This is an easy read. I read it in one sitting. But it sure does drive home a sad and important point. Read this short book and get a true perspective on who really wins and loses in a war. Spoiler alert, there are many, many losers, and few winners who risk nothing. That said, to all service men and women. Thank you for your service.

42 pages small book at Rs. 541...... Is excessive price 😞.... Customers who don't see the details..... Regret buying at this price....

quick, basic read. very enjoyable.

Dieser Traktat wurde zwischen den beiden Weltkriegen von einem ehemaligen General geschrieben. Der Text ist kurz und sehr gut lesbar und verständlich. Der Autor vertritt die Auffassung, dass die USA nicht aus Menschlichkeit in den 1. Weltkrieg eingegriffen haben, sondern um eine Rückzahlung der Schulden durch die Entente-Nationen zu ermöglichen, was bei einem Sieg der Mittelmächte nicht möglich gewesen wäre. Anhand von Zahlen und Fakten werden die Gewinner (Industrie) und Verlierer des Krieges (Soldaten, deren Familen, die Käufer von War-Bonds) genannt und die Sanierung der US-Wirtschaft durch den 1. Weltkrieg beschrieben. Er hat einige Vorschläge zur Vermeidung von Kriegen, u.a. dass die Befürworter von Kriegen die gleichen Konditionen tragen sollen wie die Soldaten: Teilnahme am Krieg, gleiches Risiko, gleiche Bezahlung; " To summarize: Three steps must be taken to smash the war racket. We must take the profit out of war. We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war. We must limit our military forces to home defense purposes. " Leider wurden bisher diese Vorschläge nicht aufgegriffen, wie man an den aktuellen Börsenkursen u.a. von Lockheed Martin (Hersteller der Hellfire Missiles), BAE und überhaupt allen anderen großen Rüstungskonzernen nachprüfen kann: BAE Systems plc, Boeing Co., General Dynamics Corp., L-3 Communications Titan Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Raytheon Corp., Rheinmetall AG, United Technologies Corp. Legen Sie mal ein Musterdepot mit diesen Werten an (gern auch mit gehebelten Produkten) und achten Sie auf Ihre Reaktion, wenn Sie die Zahlen Ihres Gewinns sehen...

On se dit que ça se passe comme ça, sans trop y croire non plus. On n'a pas la connaissance précise des faits. On n'écoute les infos que d'une oreille distraite. Mais voir ses soupçons confirmer par un des acteurs principaux du process, c'est troublant.

Students of history already know that the Roman Empire collapsed due to the economic burden of supporting the Roman military. This repeated in the past 500 years with the rise and fall of these empires: Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British. "War is a Racket" provides an eye witness account to how this same thing is happening to the American empire, even though Americans refuse to use the "E" word. I fear that this may also apply to countries supporting NATO (an organization originally meant to provide a collective defense from Stalin, that has morphed into something else)