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Peter Chapman
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Bananas: How the United Fruit Company Shaped the World Paperback – July 8, 2009

by Peter Chapman (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 328 ratings
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In this compelling history of the United Fruit Company, Financial Times writer Peter Chapman weaves a dramatic tale of big business, deceit, and violence, exploring the origins of arguably one of the most controversial global corporations ever, and the ways in which their pioneering example set the precedent for the institutionalized greed of today’s multinational companies.
The story has its source in United Fruit’s nineteenth-century beginnings in the jungles of Costa Rica. What follows is a damning examination of the company’s policies: from the marketing of the banana as the first fast food, to the company’s involvement in an invasion of Honduras, a massacre in Colombia, and a bloody coup in Guatemala. Along the way the company fostered covert links with U.S. power brokers such as Richard Nixon and CIA operative Howard Hunt, manipulated the press in new, and stoked the revolutionary ire of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.
From the exploited banana republics of Central America to the concrete jungle of New York City, Peter Chapman’s Bananas is a lively and insightful cultural history of the coveted yellow fruit, as well as a gripping narrative about the infamous rise and fall of the United Fruit Company.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Canongate U.S.
  4. Publication date
    July 8, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1847671942
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1847671943
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Canongate U.S.; First Trade Paper edition (July 8, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1847671942
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847671943
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 328 ratings

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Peter Chapman

Peter Chapman

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
328 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Victor L
5.0 out of 5 stars A popular history packed with information
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
I bought this book because I grew up in a few of the banana Republics and wanted to learn more about the United Fruit Co. octopus. The book was better than anticipated. If you are interested in the history of Central America between 1865 and 2000, this book is essential. If your interest in International conglomerates, this book should be required reading. If you have a passing interest in how the banana became such a popular food stuff, you will find the book interesting. If your interest is in how the US deals with the politics of smaller, poorer countries, this book will be educational and perhaps will make you a little angry.

It is a popular history and a fairly easy read, but it is well written and is packed with a great deal of information.
4 people found this helpful
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Malvin
4.0 out of 5 stars From jungle capitalism to neoliberalism
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2008
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"Bananas: How the United Fruit Company Shaped the World" by Peter Chapman is a sardonic history of the archetypal multinational corporation, United Fruit Company. The articulately researched book benefits from Mr. Chapman's decades of interest in the subject, including a student thesis written at the University of Sussex in 1975 and later as a news correspondent based in Central America. Possessing a mature understanding of business and politics, the intelligent and witty British author proves to be a perfect fit for the project; his vivid writing style and thoughtful analysis conveys to us a colorful but vitally important piece of history that is understood to be highly relevant to our contemporary world.

Mr. Chapman discusses how the banana became a consumer staple and cultural symbol due to United Fruit's masterful coordination of its massive production, marketing and distribution systems. Mr. Chapman recounts the exploits of the company's founders and their numerous adventures in power politics both in Central America and in the U.S., laying bare a particular form of capitalism where the company and state repeatedly colluded against the interests of the working class and was not reluctant to use violence when necessary. We learn how United Fruit was a leader in the art of corporate branding to win consumer loyalty. However, as the United Fruit's extreme labor practices drove its peasant laborer into desperation and rebellion, the U.S. government turned against the company and helped lay the groundwork for its demise.

In the Epilogue, Mr. Chapman brilliantly connects the "jungle capitalism" that was exemplified by United Fruit with the neoliberalism of today. Mr. Chapman explains that United Fruit insisted on low taxes and deregulation, exploited its labor force, abused its environmental resources, insinuated itself with the politically powerful and falsely proclaimed its social responsibility well before others recognized these tactics to be so-called corporate best practices. The author astutely concludes that as globalization has taken hold in the post-Cold War era, the Banana Republic way of life has increasingly become the norm, with profound consequences for us all.

I highly recommend this entertaining and engaging book to everyone.
7 people found this helpful
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Travelbuff
3.0 out of 5 stars This s**t is Bananas, B-a-n-a-n-a-s.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019
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This book was very informative but confusing and a bit boring. I picked up someone else's copy and the first chapter grabbed me, so I recommended it to my book club. We read it and all felt the same. The main body of the book although extremely informative was hard to follow and slightly boring. Written in an almost academic style. I now know more about bananas than I ever wanted to and feel guilty every time I eat one. If you love bananas, government conspiracy, price-fixing, monopolies, spies and general wrongdoing you might like this book. I found it confusing and poorly written.
9 people found this helpful
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Katie
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
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Well-researched, well-written and at times humorous, Bananas follows the history of United Fruit from its inception to its demise. Chapman also draws a parallel between the tactics of United Fruit and the multi-national corporations of today. Highly recommend!
One person found this helpful
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Percy Dovetonsils
5.0 out of 5 stars Corruption uncovered!
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
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Not knowing much about bananas nor banana republics, I found this book educating me on both. On the technical side, I now understand the fragility of our banana supply. On the business side, I now understand how American business has corrupted American politics with respect to banana republics and workers rights or lack thereof. I now understand the true meaning and derivation of that term. The problems today in Central America can be laid squarely on the company described by the book
And I am sure that the policies described apply not only to the yellow vegetable but other commodities as well.
I recommend this boot to any student of business or political science.
I also recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the topic as it is not a textbook but an interesting read.
If you are going to vacation in the Caribbean, it would make a great beach read.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Happy Shopper
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2022
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This book was referred to in Che's illustrated book so I decided to buy it to get a better understanding of the feeling the South American had at the time with regards to capitalism. This book provides an overview of why there is a distrust with capitalism and how United Fruit Company has shaped the current financial market and its approach.
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Joyce Lawrence
5.0 out of 5 stars A timely lesson from the past
Reviewed in Mexico on August 3, 2020
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This very well written and fascinating history of America,s shameful past is right on the mark in view of the current problems with major U.S. corporations, lobbyists and other negative influences like the NRA. America needs to wake up and start worrying about the enemy within and not necessarily communism abroad. The story of the United Fruit company is an example of what should NOT be happening in today.s more enlightened world. Globalisation has brought many advantages to countries but also alot of new responsiblities to improve conditions in the so called third world and not just exploit their resources human and other. This book points this out very clearly.
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Dias
1.0 out of 5 stars c'est l'histoire "horriblement" dramatique de la united fruit compagny...
Reviewed in France on May 28, 2018
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j'aurai pu mettre 0 étoile, ceci ne concerne en aucun cas le contenu fort intéressant, mais plutôt l'éditeur, en fait c'est une arnaque éditoriale!! c'est la copie exacte du livre que j'avais et qui s'intitule "the jungle capitalists".... et aucune mention ne précisait que c'était le même livre, dommage!!
One person found this helpful
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Ina Wermelskirchen
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolut spannend - besser als ein Krimi!
Reviewed in Germany on April 14, 2014
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Absolut spannend - besser als ein Krimi! Warum noch niemand auf die Idee gekommen daraus einen Film zu machen? Wäre bestimmt ein Kassenschlager
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Khaled Jhail
2.0 out of 5 stars More of an essay than a book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2019
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This book was very poorly structured. Yes, the writer literally jams a number of important facts, figures, and points in the book (that could easily be found in Wikipedia) however his writing skills are extremely bland. Aside from the stale writing skills, I must emphasize that the way this book is constructed is very confusing. It repeatedly jumps from topic to topic within the same chapter, eventually distracting you from the overall point.

You can see the writer invests heavily into the book with certain facts that educate the reader on said topic, but its written more like an essay rather than a book, a poorly written essay. The writer tends to lose focus on the overall point and brings up points in a different chapter to support his ideas, resulting in distraction.

I would like to add that he barely scratches the surface on how United Fruit affects the internal environment of Central America and puts much more emphasis on the US.
One person found this helpful
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