The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

I’ve listened to my share of exposé audiobooks, but *The New Confessions* stands apart because Perkins doesn’t just name names—he names *mechanisms*. The way he breaks down how debt, aid, and assassination (yes, literal assassination) function as cogs in the same machine is chillingly specific. Take his account of engineering Panama’s economic collapse to justify a U.S. invasion: it’s not just history, it’s a blueprint. Taylorson’s performance elevates this further. He doesn’t *act*—he *testifies*, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush for the backroom deals, then flaring with disgust at the human cost. The only misstep? The 2016 updates sometimes feel bolted on, disrupting the original narrative’s momentum. And while Perkins’ mea culpa is compelling, his later chapters on ‘conscious capitalism’ can veer into naive optimism after so much cynicism. Still, the audiobook’s power lies in its details. The way Perkins describes his first ‘hit’—convincing a developing nation to accept a loan it couldn’t repay, then watching as the IMF swooped in—is delivered with the precision of a surgeon recalling his first incision. The production smartly avoids dramatic soundscapes; the only score here is the occasional catch in Taylorson’s throat when the body count rises. It’s not a comfortable listen, nor should it be. But if you’ve ever suspected the world’s financial ‘aid’ has strings attached, this is the audiobook that will show you the puppet master’s hands.