Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, NEMESIS IS CHALMERS JOHNSON’S “FIERCEST BOOK – AND HIS BEST (ANDREW J. BACEVICH).

In his prophetic book Blowback, Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA’s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home. In The Sorrows olEmpire, he explored the ways in which the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have jeopardized our stability. In Nemesis, the bestselling and final volume in what has become known as the Blowback Trilogy, he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically.

Delving into new areas—from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home and the devastating corruption of a toothless Congress—Nemesis offers a striking description of the trap into which the reckless ambitions of America’s leaders have taken us. Johnson confronts questions of pressing urgency: What are the unintended consequences of our dependence on a permanent war economy? What does it mean when a nation’s main intelligence organization becomes the president’s secret army? Or when the globe’s sole “hyper-power” becomes the greatest hyper-debtor of all time?

Writing “as if the very existence of the nation is at stake” (San Francisco Chronicle), Johnson offers his most bracing and important exploration of the crisis facing America.

‘IN THE THIRD VOLUME IN JOHNSON’S BLISTERING TRILOGY. HE WANTS THE SCALES TO FALL FROM AMERICAN EYES SO THAT THE NATION CAN SEE THE TRUTH ABOUTTTS ROLE IN THE WORLD. HIS IS A PATRIOTS PASSION: HIS MOTIVE IS TO SAVE THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC HE LOVES.’’

—JONATHAN FREEDLAND, THE NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS

“LET US HOPE THE HISTORIANS OF WHATEVER FUTURE EMPIRES MAY ARISE WILL HAVE CAUSE TO FILE JOHNSON’S GLOOMY PROGNOSTICATIONS UNDER ADMIRABLY INTENDED BUT ERRONEOUS—AND NOT UNDER PROPHETIC AND ASTOUNDINGLY PRESCIENT.”

—TROY JOLLIMORE, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE