"Swanson's penetrating analysis of the lies behind wars, backed by his extensive historical knowledge, shine a light not only on the destructive wars but on the irrational, delusional thinking and propaganda that starts and prolongs them and leads to so much death, destruction, and suffering. In the last chapter he also gives peace activists hope and some practical means to overcome the Scourge of War and build a more peaceful world for the children. Let's hope this book gets wide circulation. Swanson is an inspiration to all of us with his tireless energy in educating and motivating people that a better world of peace and justice is possible. If we work together we can make it happen." -- Jay Kvale, member of the Minnesota Peace Project.
"I've been reading a bit of this book every night since I got it. The effect it's having on me is hard to explain. Like I've been born into a cult whether or not I want it, but now the lies are being washed away by the rain. Bringing down the rain of truth, that's something. Trapped people, taken hostage, facing death, if they want to live, they start to agree with their captors, their oppressors - they start playing their game, thinking what they're told to think, seeing what they're told to see. The Stockholm Syndrome, that's something. The grieving mother takes home the folded flag. You think she'd take a match and watch it burn. But she sets it in a place of honor in a plastic bag. Don't even approach her about it, she'll never learn. Honoring the thing that kills you, that's something." -- John Bostrom
"When you signed my copy at the Charlottesville, VA reading/signing you asked me to let you know what I thought of War is a Lie. I just finished reading it. Excellent, comprehensive and well written. Great manual for spotting the lies and countering arguments for war. Just what I needed after a discouraging campaign season to get me charged up and back in the peacemaking game. Thanks for broadening our knowledge and telling what needed to be told." -- Harry Davis
"Well, here we are in the 21st century of the Common Era, and given the violent history of the past decade, evidently the arguments about the disutility of warfare still need to be made, again and again and again... Depressing, really. But thank goodness David Swanson has taken up the effort. Buy the book!" -- Helena Cobban
"David Swanson's new book has given me a fresh perspective on a topic I've dedicated my life to: America's war culture and its ever-nuanced fall out. Economic collapse, pollution, dependence on fossil fuels, even global warming: you can't begin to fathom our predicaments until you conceive of the American War monster. Swanson rips away the public relations/advertising of this military industrial giant to show its true cancerous colors. Read slowly, America. This is a powerful mirror for those still clinging to our media distortions. It's an indictment of a culture grown dependent on, and distorted by the machinery of violence. But there is a compassion, an empathy to the author's tone. We are all victims, Swanson argues. We are a people kept blind to the true costs, the human tragedies, by the never ending lie of war." -- Charles Bivona
"I am less than halfway through the book - and - I am learning so much! I consider myself very well read, a student of history, TV-free for over 14 years, etc. etc. - but - your book is a revelation. I've known for decades that the history we were fed in school is nothing but propaganda and lies, but the information in your book takes that to a whole new level. I have told people to read your book and that I rate its importance, for what it reveals about the mendacity of scholars, historians, the liberal class, politicians and propagandists, up there with Zinn's People's History. I'm serious about that - I don't say it lightly. Thank you for writing this book. I hope sales are going better than you expected. I am telling people about the book and making sure that when I'm reading it in a public place people see the title. I've had a couple people approach me, so I've been happy to tell them about such an important work. My husband is an artist and focused on his work (landscapes in oils) but I read him a lot of things that I read -- and last night while he was making dinner, I read excerpts -- things he didn't know either. He wants me to read him more -- which I will happily do! I've been reading it at lunch and in what little free time I have in the evenings and weekends -- which isn't much. My proverbial hat is off to you, David. I'm really impressed. Of course, I thought it would be another good and valuable addition to 'left' literature, but it is proving to be much more than that to me. I strongly feel the facts you have revealed are intrinsic to Americans' understanding of our real history -- history which is forgotten, deliberately hidden and covered with the propaganda masquerading as history in our schools. I have an awful feeling that your book may not have a wide readership -- which it certainly should -- because of how books are marketed these days and the problems inherent within the publishing industry. I'm doing what little I can do alert people to its value and importance. And I'm not even quite halfway through yet!" -- Maria Allwine
"It's been a week since I finished "War Is A Lie," and I can't stop thinking/talking about it.... Everyone in my life is getting a copy for their b-day this year and I'm composing a letter to the editor of every major paper in ID. I'm also working w/ a local organization to contact you to come speak here and hoefully other places in ID. (although this is a blue county, unfortunately, this is the reddest of states as a whole). Thank you for rocking my world." -- Kim Mazik
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