"Against Empire" by Michael Parenti exposes the harsh realities of the US empire and its hidden costs. The book delves into the pretexts and lies used to justify violent intervention and maldevelopment abroad, exposing how finance capital is triumphing over democracy. Parenti's engaging writing style reveals how policies that benefit the rich and powerful transnational corporations and national security state impoverish civil society, sweeping away the hard-won gains made by ordinary people.