Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-346) and index.

Asia. Mystery woman of Jakarta -- Pirating lepers -- Geishas -- The Bugiman -- A corrupt and brutal country -- Sweatshops -- United States-supported slaughter -- Tsunami profiteering -- Fruits of corruption -- Attacked and beaten in Indonesia -- Don't become a Buddhist -- Biological imperatives -- Dictatorships of finance -- The quiet giant -- Latin America. Hired guns in Guatemala -- Obsessed with anger -- Recruited as president of Bolivia Power -- Maximizing profits in La Paz -- Changing the dream -- Venezuela's Châavez -- Ecuador : betrayed by a president -- Bolivia : Bechtel and the water wars -- Brazil : skeletons in the closet -- The beautiful Carioca -- Taking on the empire -- Kindred spirits -- A history of assassinations -- Lessons from Latin America -- The Middle East. A bankrupt United States of America -- King dollar -- Manipulating governments -- Lebanon : "stark raving mad" -- USAID speaks -- Egypt : controlling Africa -- Infidel dog -- Iran : highways and fortresses -- Israel : America's foot soldier -- The Iraq-Iran War : another EHM victory -- Qatar and Dubai : Las Vegas in the land of mullahs -- Into the abyss -- Africa. Modern conquistadors -- Sitting in America's lap -- A jackal is born -- The "non-peoples" of Diego Garcia -- Assassinating a president -- The highjacking of an Air India 707 -- An environmentalist is executed -- The least understood continent -- NGOs : a stake in keeping Africa poor -- Laptops, cell phones, and cars -- Ex-Peace Corps volunteers offer hope -- Resolved : to turn things around -- Changing the world. Four essential questions -- Change is possible -- Modern minutemen -- Changing the myth -- The new capitalism -- A list of grievances -- Facing our fears -- Changing Wall Street through financial leverage -- Buying off third-world debt -- Five commonalities -- Times of opportunity -- The most important question of our time -- Today is the day -- Appendix A : organizations described in this book -- Appendix B : entry points for living democracy -- Appendix C : recommended reading.

Drawing on his own experiences and on interviews with other individuals, Perkins reveals the conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anit-Americanism around the globe, with consequences reflected in the daily headlines, and addresses how Americans can work to create a more peaceful and stable world for future generations.