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Implosion: An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed Paperback – January 11, 2008

by Peter Koenig (Author)

21 ratings

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there, at the main entrance of the World Bank was this large inscription" Our Dream is a World Free of Poverty."He couldn't go wrong, he thought.Today, he often thinks the sentence should have been completed:" And we make sure it will just remain a dream."In this riveting economic thriller, Paul Jordon, a renegade World Banker,and Moni Cheng, an Andean woman who leads a socio-environmentalnongovernmental organization in the Peruvian Amazon, endurekidnappings, bombings, and deadly chases in their fight against boundlesscapitalism, destructive economic policies, and corporate greed that arewreaking worldwide social injustice and destroying the globe's richestzones of biodiversity.Together, Jordon and Cheng expose corporate ruthlessness, militarybrutality, and Machiavellian economic policies of the foremost financialivory towers of Washington, the World Bank, and the InternationalMonetary Fund. With other visionaries from around the globe, Jordon andCheng untiringly disseminate truth and candid information about thecalamities caused by this cruel machinery. And against all odds, theymobilize the power of the people.Richly detailed, grounded in actual events and statistics, and complete withnotes from author and former World Bank economist Peter Koenig,Implosion is both an unsettling, gripping novel and a powerful commentaryon the realities of the modern world's corporatocracy.

Print length

334 pages
Language

English
Publisher

iUniverse
Publication date

January 11, 2008
Dimensions

6 x 0.84 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

059545349X
ISBN-13

978-0595453498
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Koenig has worked most of his career for the World Bank as an economist and water resources specialist. He has traveled extensively throughout the world and drawn ideas for many of the scenes in Implosion from his personal experiences. He and his wife live in Europe and South America. Their two daughters and son live in Geneva and Denver. Email Peter at implosion.pk@rcn.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ iUniverse; 0 edition (January 11, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 059545349X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0595453498
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.09 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.84 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #76,555 in Suspense Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
21 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		51%
4 star		14%
3 star		15%
2 star		10%
1 star		10%

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Angela G.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2014

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Great book. My friends and I love it. Everybody should read it.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016

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great great book. recommend to everyone.

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017

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I really like Peter Koenig books.

One person found this helpful

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design4fun

Don't waste your money!

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017

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Not an enjoyable book!

2 people found this helpful

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Bruce G

Contrarian view of international development in thriller form

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2008

Whom do the international financial organizations serve--the developing countries (as their missions state) or the developed countries who established, fund, and still largely control them. Is the World Bank really committed to the reduction of poverty? Or is it a tool of the US government (principally, but also of other rich country governments) to maintain the status quo--keep the rich countries rich and the poor countries poor, thereby ensuring cheap labor, cheap goods, and a steady flow of commodities necessary to support our comfortable life styles? How do these organizations (the World Bank, the IMF, etc.) conspire with rich country governments to manipulate the international financial system and retain control?
These are some of the questions this novel tackles. It might be fiction but it's based on facts and insights the author has gleaned from his many years as an insider. He raises issues that seldom reach the light. Why would they, after all, since they don't serve the interests of those in control?
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to see a side of international finance and development other than that presented by the organizations themselves and the popular press. It's a first novel for the author, and it's not perfect, but it's informative while being easy and enjoyable to read. And it will provoke serious questioning in any open mind.

22 people found this helpful

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iCloudia

You KNOW Something's Happening. . .

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2008

"You know something's happening, but you don't know what it is-" sang Dylan. Well Peter Koenig DOES know what's REALLY going on with our messed-up world system. He shows us how the World Bank, and economic "development" really work, all wrapped up in a good story with characters you will care about. Clearly the author has managed to keep his perspective and humanity despite an up close and personal look at the "way things are done" internationally that would have driven a lesser person to despair - or at least toxic cynicism. The FOREWARD alone is a brisk,illuminating crash-course in "how the heck we got here." The plot takes us (with great authority) to places we'd never get to visit otherwise, mostly the largely unseen (to North Americans) "developing" world at our doorstep. It is a world of exploitation committed in the shadow of our indifference - an exploitation that drains much TRUE richness from the simple lives of sincere folk who want what we want: fairness and a chance to live a decent life. The moral "blowback" sickens us, even in our ignorance. Today many people sense impending serious trouble with society's "Systems" in fact - we're already living through shocks to our way of life with gas and food prices skyrocketing as billionaires on Wall Street strip more and more of the cushion and "velvet" from middle class life in America. In this very readable story you will meet people that you care about and "visit" places that are just vague names on a map from grade school. Also you will play "fly on the wall" as major "players" plot their seemingly inhumane policies all for MORE profit, power, and career clout. The author amusingly alludes to names in the news (that you will probably recognize) in scathing descriptions and with cleverly chosen names that at once chastize and expose their seeming incomprehension of the "human element." It's clear that Peter Koenig has never lost that "human element" called a heart. He is a discerning Dante through these circles, and surprisingly makes the "IMPLOSION" seem less frightening as we glympse a new world. This book quelled some of my own uncertainty and fear of the immediate future. Perhaps our troubles are the business end of the "New Earth" so many are yearning for, and some are even begining to live on. I nominate Peter Koenig for finance minister of the New Humane Order! You will enjoy this book. Much documentation and information is contained in the thorough appendix- should you need any more evidence than this beautiful novel provides.
Cloudia Charters, columnist and author of Hawaii Novel "Aloha Where You Like Go?" ALOHA Where You Like Go?: From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi

10 people found this helpful

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Maria

There is hope for a new, better world

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2008

Peter Koenig describes with excellently documented sources, "fictional" situations that in fact are dramatically real. Based in his first hand knowledge and showing enviable courage, the author is able to denounce the evils of corporate global capitalism using a novel approach: a thriller rather than an essay. But sometimes the essay stile is imposed over the thriller which creates certain non- essential unbalances in the novel.

The way the author conceives that the forces of progress are united, although a bit naïve gives the hope that is possible to achieve this aspiration and moreover brings to light its urgency. It might provide inspiration for present and future fighters for a better world. However the Eudemonism model proposed lacks the depth of the elaborated theory of Socialism and Communism, which, by the way, pursue identical goals than Eudemonism.

There is no perfect book and if there were one, it would deserve more than five stars. That is why this reviewer, although recognizing the novel's flaws, considers that its merits significantly surpass its insufficiencies and qualifies it with five stars.

11 people found this helpful

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Daniel Escribens

From the Belly of the Beast

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2008

This book will be of great aid to anyone who has ever been interested in international development. The author elucidates the workings of the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO, and others. Moreover, he effectively shows them as part of a parading that, ironically, cares for developing nations the least.
I was relieved to finally get concise answers to these questions: How are loans use to corrupt and manipulate a nation? How does the U.S dominate these institutions? How are the U.S treasury, the war on drugs, and the multinational corporations tied in?
Secondly, the author uses case scenarios (which are fiction but really aren't) that evidence the damage. If you are from a "Developing Country," as I am, some of the truth in this book will make you very angry.
The book does have its flaws. Although rhetoric has its place, sometimes it is overdone. The story carries through though. My favorite character, Raul, keeps one guessing as to which way he'll go (pro or anti establishment).
I recommend the book. The information in it, from someone who was there, will give you more understanding of a very complex, very worrying, and very real situation.

6 people found this helpful

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Lynn Brittney

Not very gripping

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

I think I would rather read a non-fiction book than this hesitant attempt to make it into fiction.

sad rane

Zwischending zwischen Roman und Systemkritik

Reviewed in Germany on January 16, 2016

Verified Purchase

Das Buch ist eher als kritische Bestandsaufnahme der Politik von Weltbank, WTO und besonders der USA gedacht. Die Handlung wirkt aufgesetzt und man merkt, dass der Autor sie nur als Aufhänger für seine umfangreichen Erklärungen und Bewertungen der Aktivitäten o.g. Institutionen braucht.
Das Buch ist sehr USA-kritisch und die EU kommt m.E. zu gut weg, wahrscheinlich, weil der Autor Schweizer ist. Diese etwas unausgewogene Darstellung nagt an der Glaubwürdigkeit.
Nach dem Lesen habe ich jedenfalls das Bedürfnis, die Passagen, wie die Entwicklungsländer mit Korruption, Druck und Gewalt über den Tisch gezogen und ausgeplündert werden durch eigene Recherchen zu verifizieren.
Vielleicht will Her König genau das erreichen.

2 people found this helpful

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Rakyr

Wirkt authentisch, aber als Roman an sich nicht zu gebrauchen

Reviewed in Germany on April 7, 2012

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Das schlechte gleich vorweg: Ich finde dieses Buch als Roman vergleichsweise ziemlich schlecht. Das ist aber nicht verwunderlich, schließlich ist es soweit ich weiß das Erstlingswerk des Autors und die Geschichte ist eh viel mehr ein Aufsatz um diverse "Fakten" dastellen zu können. Diese Fakten wiederholen sich recht oft, die Geschichte hat keinen wirklichen roten Faden, man (bzw ich) kann keine Bindung zu den Characteren aufbauen, da diese und die Schauplätze sehr oft wechseln.
Aber gerade unter dem Gesichtspunkt dieser Fakten, die durchaus sehr glaubwürdig sind wie ich finde, wirkt das ganze sehr authentisch, was auch gleichzeitig die große Stärke dieses Buchs ist. Mit fortschreitender Seitenanzahl bekommt man aber immer mehr das Gefühl dass die "Fakten" verschwinden und durch des Authors Vision einer besseren Welt ersetzt werden, was sich dann zum Ende hin (das gar kein richtiges Ende ist), immer mehr verstärtk.
Aber wie gesagt, es wirkt sehr glaubhaft und man denkt danach sicher anders über Weltbank, IMF, UNO, etc. das ist schon 4 Sterne wert.

7 people found this helpful

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greta jamkojian

implosion

Reviewed in Germany on November 12, 2014

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buch sehr spannend , vieles davon kennt man schon, vieles ist neu. kann ich jedem empfehlen, der mehr über Weltbank und iwf wissen möchte.

2 people found this helpful

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