"A small number of people, motivated by a commonly held desire for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers, have driven the world to the brink of destruction. These are the super-villains of corruption and war, some with a power greater than nation states and with the capacity to derail the world order. Propping up their opulent lifestyles is crime, violence and deception on a monumental scale. There is a chink in their armour, however. A small but fearless group of brilliant undercover sleuths who are closing in on them, one step at a time. One terrible human at a time."
What began as three friends wanting to end the decades-long civil war in a far-away country is now an award-winning organisation, Global Witness, dedicated to rooting out worldwide corruption. Patrick Alley and his colleagues shine a light into dark places. They go where angels fear to tread and ask questions others are afraid to ask. They move within the dark underbelly of the super powerful, the wealthy yet wicked people prepared to exploit anything and everyone for their own benefit. They risk all, funds, reputations and life itself to bring the truth to the eyes of the public.
What we learn is that super-villains described by the likes of Fleming, Forsythe and Le Carré are not simply figments of their creative imaginations. These people exist. Whether it be the manipulation of share prices, the secret provision of combat jet fuel to the Russians or the industrial scale trafficking of wild animals, Alley opens our eyes to the appalling reality where organised crime masquerades as legitimate business.
A fascinating read, if a little uncomfortable. And an education as to what really goes on behind the scenes.
| Primary Genre | Biographies & Autobiographies |
| Other Genres: |
A small number of people, motivated by an insatiable greed for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers (and sometimes real armies too), have driven the world to the brink of destruction. They are the super-villains of corruption and war, some with a power greater than nation state and the capacity to derail the world order. Propping up their opulent lifestyles is a mess of crime, violence and deception on a monumental scale. But there is a fightback: small but fearless groups of brilliant undercover sleuths closing in on them, one step at a time.
In Terrible Humans, Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and the author of Very Bad People, introduces us to some of the world's worst warlords, grifters and kleptocrats who can be found everywhere from presidential palaces to the board rooms of some of the world's best known companies. Pitted against them, the book also follows the people unravelling the deals, tracking the money and going undercover at great risk. From the oligarch charged with ordering the killing of an investigative journalist to the mercenary army seizing the natural resources of an entire African country, this is a whirlwind tour of the dark underbelly of the world's super powerful and wickedly wealthy, and the daring investigators dragging them into the light.
Terrible Humans features in the following genres: Biographies & Autobiographies, True crime, Memoirs, Political activism / Political engagement, Corruption in politics, government and society, Criminal law: corruption, Biography, Literature and Literary studies, True stories: general, Society and Social Sciences, Politics and government, Law, Laws of specific jurisdictions and specific areas of law, Criminal law: procedure and offences
Terrible Humans is available in Paperback, Hardback
Terrible Humans was written by Patrick Alley and published by Monoray an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group
Terrible Humans has 352 pages
£19.80
