
War is a Racket
And Other Essential Truths from General Smedley Butler
Smedley Butler(Author)
Steerforth Press
Will be published approx. on 15. September 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-58642-462-6 (ISBN)
Description
Includes a new introduction by Kristofer Goldsmith, the nation’s most recognized authority on the targeting of American troops and veterans with disinformation and extremist recruiting efforts.
Updated with fresh material, this edition brings the prophetic warnings of the 2-time Medal of Honor recipient to a new generation.
"A short, blunt, and extremely vigorous blast." —The New York Times
Smedley Butler, a retired Marine Corps major general and the most decorated combat veteran of his era, is best known today for War is a Racket (1935), a searing anti-war, anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism critique of U.S. military interventionism that has remained perennially in-print and is as relevant today as ever.
This new collection features additional writings that underscore Butler’s role as a staunch advocate for veterans' rights and a fearless defender of democracy. In addition to his 1932 call-to-action, "You've Got to Get Mad," this volume includes his explosive 1934 testimony before the McCormack-Dickstein Committee. There, Butler exposed "The Business Plot"—a conspiracy by a group of Wall Street and other powerful figures that sought to convince Buter to use his influence over disgruntled veterans to seize control of the federal government and install a fascist regime.
With America’s present day military activity more closely tied to corporate profits and the enrichment of its leaders than ever, Butler’s insightful breakdown of the military-industrial complex remains highly resonant. Featuring a new introduction from combat veteran and advocate Kristofer Goldsmith, this edition is an essential resource for anyone looking to build their antifascist toolkit.
Updated with fresh material, this edition brings the prophetic warnings of the 2-time Medal of Honor recipient to a new generation.
"A short, blunt, and extremely vigorous blast." —The New York Times
Smedley Butler, a retired Marine Corps major general and the most decorated combat veteran of his era, is best known today for War is a Racket (1935), a searing anti-war, anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism critique of U.S. military interventionism that has remained perennially in-print and is as relevant today as ever.
This new collection features additional writings that underscore Butler’s role as a staunch advocate for veterans' rights and a fearless defender of democracy. In addition to his 1932 call-to-action, "You've Got to Get Mad," this volume includes his explosive 1934 testimony before the McCormack-Dickstein Committee. There, Butler exposed "The Business Plot"—a conspiracy by a group of Wall Street and other powerful figures that sought to convince Buter to use his influence over disgruntled veterans to seize control of the federal government and install a fascist regime.
With America’s present day military activity more closely tied to corporate profits and the enrichment of its leaders than ever, Butler’s insightful breakdown of the military-industrial complex remains highly resonant. Featuring a new introduction from combat veteran and advocate Kristofer Goldsmith, this edition is an essential resource for anyone looking to build their antifascist toolkit.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
South Royalton
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1 B&W PHOTO
Dimensions
Height: 159 mm
Width: 111 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-58642-462-6 (9781586424626)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Smedley Butler
Content
Foreword
You’ve Got to Get Mad
The Business Plot
War is a Racket
You’ve Got to Get Mad
The Business Plot
War is a Racket