War Is A Lie

By David Swanson

War Is A Lie is a thorough refutation of every major argument used to justify wars, drawing on evidence from numerous past wars, with a focus on those that have been most widely defended as just and good. This is a handbook of sorts, an engaging, always informative manual that can be used to debunk future lies before the wars they're deployed to justify have any chance to begin. Veteran antiwar activist Daniel Ellsberg calls War Is A Lie "a terrific tool for recognizing and resisting war lies before it's too late." This updated and expanded edition outlines lessons from America's most recent wars, what can be done to end warmaking, and an epilogue that analyzes new trends in war lying and in resistance to it. No one to whom you give this book can claim they haven't been warned!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Just World Books
• Release date: Apr 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781935982883

Reviews for War Is A Lie

[n_lombardi_jr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At first, I thought I probably knew much of the material in the book, but I was surprised to find out how ignorant I was about not only the US wars in Mexico and the Philippines, but also about World War II. In that sense alone it is worth reading, as it provides the opportunity to enlighten the reader with the details of history that have been whitewashed out of the textbooks. It is so informative, that a second read is well worth it.Many of us now feel that war is a destructive enterprise that benefits no one except the war profiteers, but this sentiment is argued so eloquently that the reader is deeply moved. It continues where Smedley Butler's 'War is a Racket', leaves off. The irony is that from the title, only those already predisposed to argue against war would be interested in picking it up, yet it is a book every American should read.

[bbcummings · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At first, I thought I probably knew much of the material in the book, but I was surprised to find out how ignorant I was about not only the US wars in Mexico and the Philippines, but also about World War II. In that sense alone it is worth reading, as it provides the opportunity to enlighten the reader with the details of history that have been whitewashed out of the textbooks. It is so informative, that a second read is well worth it.
Many of us now feel that war is a destructive enterprise that benefits no one except the war profiteers, but this sentiment is argued so eloquently that the reader is deeply moved. It continues where Smedley Butler's 'War is a Racket', leaves off. The irony is that from the title, only those already predisposed to argue against war would be interested in picking it up, yet it is a book every American should read.

[caimanjosh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my first (and to date, only) book discussing pacifism. I found it a pretty eye-opening experience. The author forcefully makes his points about the evils of war, and even more so, the evils behind the motives and the callousness of those in charge who launch wars. Overall, I had mixed feelings about the book, but it has significantly changed my viewpoint of war and pacifism, so I would consider the book a success in that regard. I'll sum up pluses and minus below:Pros:+ The author has done extensive research and backs up much of what he states with primary sources, with an extensive list of references.+ Clear, direct style -- there's no ambiguity about any of his points+ Can be very persuasive...my worldview is different after reading this bookCons:- Very obvious, forceful, liberal viewpoint ("bias" to some) that will undoubtedly turn many off- Confrontational style of writing which became rather obnoxious at timesIn summary, there's a lot of good information to be gleaned here, if you can get past the style. I do wish he had managed to keep a more neutral tone and do more to simply present the facts. The facts seem to speak for themselves in many cases, and they're not pretty.