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  • Who Rules the World?

  • Reframings
  • By: Noam Chomsky
  • Narrated by: Brian Jones
  • Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (127 ratings)

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Who Rules the World?

By: Noam Chomsky
Narrated by: Brian Jones
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Publisher's Summary

Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of Who Rules the World? by Noam Chomsky, read by Brian Jones.

Internationally renowned political commentator Noam Chomsky examines America's pursuit and exercise of power in a post-9/11 world.

Noam Chomsky is the world's foremost intellectual activist. Over the last half century, no one has done more to question the great global powers who govern our lives, forensically scrutinizing policies and actions, calling our politicians, institutions and media to account.

The culmination of years of work, Who Rules the World? is Chomsky's definitive intellectual investigation into the major issues of our times. From the dark history of the US and Cuba to China's global rise, from torture memos to sanctions on Iran, Chomsky explores how America's talk of freedom and human rights is often at odds with its actions.

Delving deep into the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel/Palestine, he provides nuanced, surprising insights into the workings of modern-day imperial power. The world's political and financial elite have become ever more insulated from democratic constraints on their actions.

Chomsky shines a powerful light on this inconvenient truth. With climate change and nuclear proliferation threatening the survival of our civilization, the message has never been more pertinent or more urgent: the need for an engaged and active public to steer the world away from disaster grows ever greater.

Fiercely outspoken and rigorously argued, Who Rules the World? is an indispensable guide to how things really are from the lone authoritative voice courageous and clear-sighted enough to tell us the truth.

©2016 Noam Chomsky (P)2016 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Who Rules the World?

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Too difficult to listen to

What disappointed you about Who Rules the World??

Quite a turgid reading, very dry and hard to follow

What was most disappointing about Noam Chomsky’s story?

To difficult to get to the point, I kept losing interest and never really getting to the story. Didn't get past chapter 1 before deciding I hated it.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator is formal and boring sounding. If I wasn't walking while I was listening I would have fallen asleep.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom

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1 person found this helpful

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insightful

A very insightful read. Everone needs to read it. People need to understand the truth of what the media and govt tell them.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

An interesting listen worthy of some fact checking

A horrifying account of American hegemony. Much of which is not surprising if you don't take for granted that America is the "shining city on the hill" that it prefers to have people believe.

Unfortunately the book lacks some structure with a meandering approach to describing past horrors and how those may be interpreted from the recepients' side. While also having many references to laws, transnational agreements and names of military operations, there were some occasional that I would appreciate clearer references.

One point that Chomsky conveys well throughout this book is that the idea of Democrats vs Republicans as good vs evil is a false dichotomy. While stating outright that Republicans have abandoned reason in their capture by corporate entities, he cites multiple actions by Obama, Clinton and even JFK to proof that the Democrats are not far behind.

Sadly Chomsky provides few answers and has a naive reverence for indigenous people's solutions to many of society's challenges. While it may be true that many indigenous peoples dependent on the Commons for survival (i.e. poor) have advocated against the exploitation of nature, it is hardly universal and much less so without their dependency.

Regaldless of these critiques, this book is worth a critical read for a non-mainstream perspective of modern American history.

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Do not buy as audio

Great book but can’t hear the guy speaking, he is far to quite , I have no problems with other readers but this guy needs kicked out now

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    4 out of 5 stars
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a good read

really immersive narration.

a good read thanks

the author sarcastically brings down the western administration.

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brilliant

if common knowlage that has been reinforced your entire life derives your entire understanding of the world is exposed to be remarkably biased it becomes difficult to act as if the rest of your thoughts and understndings are based in reality

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not an easy read

I got through it and glad I did. The last sentence was the big message - 'Who rules the world? The question really is What principles rule the world?'. It certainly made me think about how much rhetoric and propaganda I accept without question. This book came across as a rant against American and Israeli politics and what are the drivers. You'd have to be seriously knowledgeable to discern how much is rhetoric and how much is indeed fact - those under attack have no opportunity in the book to defend themselves (such as every American president in the last century), and unless you've got the time to research it all yourself, you just have to hear it and move on. I neither accept nor reject, but am very grateful to Mr Chomsky for waking me up to a much broader range of possibilities. He paints a frightening picture. If the leaders of this world choose to ignore principles of law, and do whatever it takes to get the job done, regardless of the law, then we have a lot to be concerned about.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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eye opening

loved it. One day the message will spread and people will revolt. The truth always comes out

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Noam chomsky brilliant as always

Some theories are a little repetitive but overall good. Recommend reading last chapter first for summary.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Good But Repetitive

Love chomsky but the repetition in this work and with respect to others in huge.

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