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William D. Hartung
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Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex Hardcover – Bargain Price, December 28, 2010

by William D. Hartung (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
See all formats and editions
Enthralling and explosive, Prophets of War is an exposé of America’s largest military contractor, Lockheed Martin. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his famous warning about the dangers of the military industrial complex, he never would have dreamed that a company could accumulate the kind of power and influence now wielded by this behemoth company.

As a full-service weapons maker, Lockheed Martin receives over $25 billion per year in Pentagon contracts. From aircraft and munitions, to the abysmal Star Wars missile defense program, to the spy satellites that the NSA has used to monitor Americans’ phone calls without their knowledge, Lockheed Martin’s reaches into all areas of US defense and American life. William Hartung’s meticulously researched history follows the company’s meteoric growth and explains how this arms industry giant has shaped US foreign policy for decades.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Nation Books
  4. Publication date
    December 28, 2010
  5. Reading age
    16 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    6.13 x 1.06 x 9.25 inches
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Corporate clout, military innovation, and political influence make an uneasy mix in this smart and thorough corporate history of Lockheed Martin's emergence as the nation's largest weapons contractor. Hartung (And Weapons for All) traces the company's rise from unimpressive military aircraft manufacturer in WWI through its emergence as a major supplier of fighters and bombers for the Allies in WWII to corporate behemoth and power player in setting American foreign policy. The author explores how deeply Lockheed's tentacles have penetrated American economic and political life, pulling the curtain back on decades of unsavory dealings: Lockheed's decision to sell airplanes to Japan in the late 1930s (they were later converted to military use); reports of widespread bribery of foreign executives and politicians; and vengeful retribution against Pentagon whistleblowers. Hartung reveals how the company's adaptability has helped it survive--and expand--even as its reputation became tarnished, and echoes President Eisenhower's argument that the only way to ensure against "military-industrial" abuses is to have "an alert and engaged citizenry." This book is a fine step in that direction. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Hartung, a frequent commentator on the relationship between government and military contractors, takes readers through the history of Lockheed Martin, a company that began humbly in 1916 and has become a “mega-firm” whose ties to the U.S. government are, at least as presented here, at best ominous and at worst downright frightening. The author, who directs the New America Foundation’s Arms and Security Initiative, sounds like he has a whole arsenal of axes to grind. In his view, the story of Lockheed Martin is a story of shady foreign deals, influence peddling, massive cost overruns, price irregularities, conspiracy, bribery, and shoddy workmanship. He has very little that is approving to say about the company (which, to be sure, is a highly influential and powerful weapons maker), and some readers might wonder if there is perhaps more to the story—a more balanced version—that Hartung isn’t telling. But he argues his case forcefully, and while the book is clearly written from a specific political point of view, it undeniably provides much food for thought. --David Pitt

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0057DC37I
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nation Books (December 28, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.06 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

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William D. Hartung

William D. Hartung

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
110 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and well-researched. They describe it as an entertaining read with a simple prose style and colloquial phrases. The writing style is described as journalistic and simple, with some common phrases.

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ReadabilityWriting style
12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well-researched. They enjoy the first part, but it gets slower later on. The book provides an insightful history of a powerful company with an important influence.

"...Martin (i.e. he doesn't like them); the book was actually a very good read, and once you adjusted for the clear bias against Lockheed Martin, it did..." Read more

"...In any event it provides enough of a sketchy history to follow how small scale airplane manufacturing effort begun by the Loughead brothers..." Read more

"entertaining read that shows just how powerful Lockheed Martin has become in the world...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the first part greatly, then it started to get slower, mainly because the details it went in were very... detailed...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style. They find it well-written, with a cohesive story and journalistic style. The author uses simple prose and colloquial phrases.

"...Mr. Hartung is an excellent researcher, and he writes well...." Read more

"...The book is also written in simple prose - many common, colloquial phrases; not really the sometimes difficult to take academic style." Read more

"...This book is very readable and disturbing at the same time...." Read more

"...I give the work 4 stars because, while accurate and well written, "Prophet", in the end, omits an insightful analysis of the underlying problem...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Aloha Dog
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Myth of the Iron Giant
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Although the title of this book clearly signals William Hartung's feelings about Lockheed Martin (i.e. he doesn't like them); the book was actually a very good read, and once you adjusted for the clear bias against Lockheed Martin, it did contain a lot of relevant and valuable information about one of the Giants of the Aerospace Industry today. Having only recently retired from Lockheed Martin; I found the book particularly interesting. I would probably never have read the book, given my other interests and my preference for fiction, but for Lockheed Martin Corporate sending out an e-mail warning to employees not to respond to media inquiries regarding the book. Much of the book predates my time in Lockheed Martin; however, I was in Air Force Systems Command during the C-5A and C-5B fiascos, and the author's analysis of what happened on both sides of the fence appear to be accurate based upon my recollections. Through much of the last decade, I have lived through the rise of the "Services Sector". What was once simply "Services", is now "Information Systems and Global Solutions".

    Lockheed Martin is not a Saint; but then it is not the Devil that Hartung would suggest, either. Big is not inherently bad, and it is unfortunate that Hartung paints the Lockheed Martin workforce with the same brush he uses to criticize Lockheed Martin executives. The aerospace workforce is a highly educated, trained and motivated group of people, that work hard and actually make things happen. As a group they are unmatched in the world -- there is no other workforce in any other industry, that does so much for this country and the world. In a word, they are amazing-- and Hartung unfortunately misses this point, among others. Lockheed Martin Management is another matter. Like almost every other group of managers, directors and presidents in every large (and small) business in the world, they are a mixed collection of the good, the bad and the ugly. Unfortunately, no one has ever come up with a method for insuring that only the rightous and ethical are allowed to command; and Lockheed Martin has done no better at this than others. My personal observation and opinion lead me to believe that the current senior management of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Robert Stevens and Chris Kubasik, are among the best in the business world today. The quality of management varies considerably as you move out from the center, however. As noted, this is not unique to Lockheed Martin.

    This is a good read, and I would highly recommend it to any one trying to understand the Aerospace Industry and Government Procurement. Mr. Hartung is an excellent researcher, and he writes well. I don't agree with his underlying position that Lockheed Martin is slowly becoming Big Brother - it may provide a lot of different services to the government, but the government is still giving the orders, and if Lockheed Martin wasn't performing the contract, somebody else would be; and probably not doing as good a job.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Matthew
    5.0 out of 5 stars An important, well-researched history of a company with enormous influence in the country.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Hartung does an excellent job of putting all the pieces together to give a complete history of the "super company" Lockheed Martin. Understandably, any corporation with a long track record of wasting taxpayer money, frequent scandals, bribing officials (foreign and domestic), and a host of other seriously illegal and ethically shameful activities would not want someone to collect all of these misdeeds and present it as a cohesive, well-written story, as Hartung has done in Prophets of War. Importantly, the text is extensively supported with citations to trustworthy sources. Many times even, Hartung actually uses Lockheed presidents' and other company officials' own comments and admissions to present a case - a source that is quite hard to discredit.

    What Hartung's book also does is give somewhat of an inside look at the complex interactions and connections between mega-corporations, the legislative and executive branches of the Federal government, and the military. We have all heard of the various infringements on democracy that take place daily in Washington - such as lobbying, pork barrel politics, massive campaign donations, the "revolving door" between senior industry jobs and important government posts, etc. - but this book gives us many opportunities to follow a controversial issue from beginning to end, see exactly how Lockheed Martin used the aforementioned tactics to get their way, and see exactly why such tactics work and how disastrous the result is on our democracy, and on our tax dollars.

    The book is also written in simple prose - many common, colloquial phrases; not really the sometimes difficult to take academic style.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Retired Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Military-Industrial Complex in Action
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This book is built around two intertwined themes: a minor theme on the corporate history of the Lockheed Martin Aerospace Company (LM); and a major theme on the workings of what President Eisenhower famously referred to as the "military-industrial complex." This book is not an attack on LM, but uses the aerospace giant as the center piece of an exposition on the inter-action of the Department of Defense (DOD), the Congress, and private contractors in the design and acquisition of defense systems.

    Actually the corporate history of LM is interesting enough that one wished Hartung had gone into more detail. In any event it provides enough of a sketchy history to follow how small scale airplane manufacturing effort begun by the Loughead brothers (who latter changed the spelling to Lockheed to avoid having people mispronounce their name) was gradually transformed into the aero-space giant that it is today.

    The bulk of the book really is concerned with showing why what should be a fairly straight forward process of a military service buying a weapon system has become such a convoluted and complicated business. Since before its merger with Martin Marietta, LM was primarily an aircraft manufacturer, Hartung provides a lot of examples of USAF procurement practices with the unwritten assumption they are representative of DOD as a whole.

    First there is the universal practice of low bidding. That is a contractor will purposely try to win a contractor by offering to produce a system at a much lower cost than what it will actually cost to produce. Once the contract is awarded the cost then can be adjusted upward in collusion with the client. Then there is the matter of `requirements creep' once a contract is awarded the client has no qualms about changing or adding to the original requirements. Engineering new requirements into a system can be very costly. Finally there is congress and the matter of protecting jobs in states and congressional districts. Cost overruns are supported by congress to keep plants open and job growth going in key districts.

    Although LM is used to exemplify this process throughout this book, it is the DOD procurement system and pork barrel politics that are actually at fault here. There are no villains here, but a lot of short sighted fools.
    49 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • G. A. Hewson
    3.0 out of 5 stars The author clearly doesn’t like Lockheed Martin
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Whilst an interesting read and being a compilation of various bad examples of Lockheed Martin programmes and products, I find it strange how such a ‘bad’ company is still so highly rated by the US Government? Clearly a number of years out of date as programmes such as the F35 and other weapon systems are proving, the unfortunate situation in Ukraine is demonstrating the capability of equipment provided by the company. Similar books could be, and probably are, available regarding numerous large defence companies and equipments, but come the day the public seem to appreciate the dollars spent on securing their freedom. The book does tend to just repeat itself regarding the authors view of how bad Lockheed Martin is but I would suggest it has been overtaken by events.
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  • Flammia
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in Canada on August 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    good read
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  • Peter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lockheed inside
    Reviewed in Germany on October 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Wen das Thema interessiert der sollte dieses Buch unbedingt lesen....gut recherchiert und vieles war auch für mich neu kenne kaum ein buch das bessere insights zu lockheed bietet
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  • Jaimie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Prophets of War
    Reviewed in Australia on June 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative and thoroughly researched. Gives a detailed breakdown of the military industrial complex and Lockheeds influence at every level of government and there decisions.
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  • 不審人物ではありません
    5.0 out of 5 stars 雇用は最大の武器
    Reviewed in Japan on December 14, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    グライダーに魅せられた兄弟が創った小さな飛行機製造会社が、どういう仕組みを使ってどういう経緯を経て軍産複合体を構成するに至ったのかの物語。ペンタゴンとの人脈関係、契約の仕組み、ロビー活動の実態といったものが具体的に語られている。個人的には、おそらく2011年に書かれたのであろう「Epilogue to the Paperback Edition」で著者が熱くなっていることが感じられて楽しめた（このエピローグは日本語版には収録されていない）。きわめて良識に富んだ良書だと思う。それにしても、アフガニスタンの憲法の起草にまで手を出していたとは、さすがロッキードやのお(･o･)
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