Customer Reviews

The Brazilians

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Joseph Page's "The Brazilians" is a very enjoyable portrait of modern-day Brazil, quite possibly the best book on the country in English. Anyone traveling to Brazil for business or pleasure should read it. The book's jacket describes Page as a law professor at Georgetown, and with a lawyer's thoroughness and balance, Page explores the characteristics that make Brazil special -- the warmth, spontaneity and sensuality of the people, their unique blend of African, European and indigenous heritage, the music, soccer, Carnival, telenovelas -- without overlooking the country's often overwhelming problems, such as crushing poverty, environmental degradation, a boom-and-bust economy, violence and corruption.

Although Page presents a comprehensive view of Brazil, he unfortunately neglects two topics that should be part of any portrait of the country. The first is its much-maligned capital, Brasília, which gets hardly a mention in this book. Brasília's founding in the late 1950's, its rapid growth and its decline into a moth-eaten, sun-baked museum of outmoded architectural ideas could have filled an entire chapter. For an engaging and upbeat view of Brasília -- more positive than anything I've ever heard from the Brazilians themselves, all of whom seem to loathe their capital -- check out Alex Shoumatoff's "The Capital of Hope."

Page also doesn't say much about Brazilian food and drink, which is too bad, because from the moquecas of Pernambuco to the huge steaks of the South to the fish of the Amazon, Brazilian cuisine is a delight. A cup of Brazil's strong coffee accompanied by pão de queijo, a kind of popover laced with cheese, makes a breakfast fit for an emperor. Brazilian beer is just right for a hot afternoon, its wines are underrated, and the caipirinha -- a refreshing concoction of cachaça (a spirit distilled from sugarcane), crushed limes and sugar -- is surely one of the best cocktails in the Western world. Brazilian food and drink deserve wider recognition outside Brazil, but they don't seem to get any here.

These minor complaints aside, Page has written a superb book. If you read only one book on Brazil, read this one.

I've lived in Brazil, and read many books about various aspects of Brazil's people, economy, history, government, military and culture. This book contains a lot of information that I hadn't known, and that I find fascinating. So it's well worth reading.

But it's a foreigner's view; Page has visited many times, knows many Brazilians, and is married to a Brazilian. Even so, I found many of his comments and views unrecognizable to me; perhaps one must live in the country and work there, in the local economy, paid in Brazilian currency and working with ordinary Brazilians, to absorb various subtleties of life in Brazil and of interaction among ordinary Brazilians, that Page omits, or may even be unaware of. For example, his account of economic activity in Brazil makes it clear that connections are vital for business success and that many of the most successful firms in Brazil are family firms. But what he doesn't say, surprisingly in view of the fact that he's a professor of law in the US, is that Brazilian commercial law is so different from commercial law in the US that it is very hard, and takes a very long time, to get a commercial dispute settled through the Brazilian legal system. So, as a practical fact, any sensible business owner in Brazil depends on family connections and close friends to straighten out and resolve problems involving contracts.

Page also plays down the size and vitality of Brazil's middle class. This seems to be because of his own political views, but it seriously misrepresents the way Brazil actually functions. A good example of the true Brazil of today is the aircraft company EMBRAER, which I recently saw referred to as "the Boeing of regional jets"; indeed, right now in the US I keep seeing EMBRAER turboprops and EMBRAER regional jets in use all over the US by a lot of airlines. EMBRAER started out as a Brazilian government initiative, but became truly successful after it was privatized. I knew a number of the engineers and technicians who helped to found EMBRAER and make it successful, and they were neither members of the elite nor from impoverished backgrounds. A very few came from rich families and a very few came from impoverished backgrounds, but the large majority were from families of professionals or families that owned small businesses. What they had in common was extremely high intelligence, a good education, and determination to make EMBRAER succeed in the commercial market, which it has. Most of them got their primary, secondary and university education in the public educational system, which is much better, at least in the Southeast, than Page gives it credit for. People I have since encountered, from similar backgrounds, are at the heart of the steady effort in Brazil to master nuclear technology.

US government treatment of Brazil and the government of Brazil has often been shabby, to put it kindly. Everyone I knew in Brazil welcomed Americans, including me, provided we identified with Brazilian views on international relations, rather than with US government views. I don't know how many times, but it was many, while I lived there, that the local CIA station chief visited me so that I could tell him what lay behind some grievance that had Brazilians badmouthing the US government; he lived in an American compound, drove an American automobile, and was regarded with deep suspicion by almost all the ordinary Brazilians he met.

As for the destruction of rainforest and the awful treatment of the few remaining clans of wild native Americans, it is no worse, and in most ways less destructive, than the way in which the European settlers of North America treated indigenous people and despoiled the environment. Many Brazilians, possibly most of them, resent being lectured by people from the US and Europe about how Brazilians should conduct themselves in the Amazon basin, in the Pantanal, in the remaining fragments of the original coastal forest, in the extensive grasslands of Goias and in the part of the Northeast that is subject to frequent drought. Almost all the Brazilians I knew when I lived there were as aware as people in the US and Europe of the ecological and social problems involved in opening up the backlands. But what would you have had them do? Turn 3/4 of Brazil into a wilderness preserve? impossible. I think Brazil has done quite well to preserve its ecology and the culture of its remaining native Americans as well as it has, and, what's more, Brazilians are still learning in these topics, just as we are, and the record is improving steadily.

In summary, Prof. Page's portrayal of Brazil is analogous to what I would expect to find in a book by Jacques Chirac purporting to explain the United States to French readers; there are a lot of good facts here, but a conceptual disconnect.

This book is marvelous. It offers plenty of keen insight into Brazil, and helps explains why Brazil is such an enthralling country. Page has the learned discipline of an academic, but covers interesting and serious topics in a style that is easily understood and digested. All English speakers will enjoy reading this book before they journey to Brazil, and you'll be able to appreciate and understand Brazil much better after reading this book. Furthermore, this book has no serious competition. There isn't another book that can so concisely give you a better understanding of modern day Brazil.

Brazil has certainly captured the imagination of most people around the world mainly because of its biological diversity, the carnival in Rio, and its soccer superstars. In fact, people tend to glamorize the country and its people, thinking of the sensuality and docility of Brazilians, the nice rhythyms of 'bossa nova' and 'samba', and the colorful tropical setting. There is, however, a strong, violent undercurrent in Brazilian culture, and Page's book exposes all the sources and manifestations of these in a clear way. There is violence against nature (as the despoiling of the Amazon forest and the sad case of Cubatao show); there is violence against homeless children in the streets; there is violence against women in order to 'save the honor'; there is violence against the poor in the 'favelas', mostly by neglect and drug trafficking... One wonders, by the end of the book, how Brazilians have been able to strive thus far and how they'll be able to cope with the serious challenges posed by overpopulation and poverty, among other things.

Page does a good job at trying to explain what is Brazilian by delving into the history of the country. The colonial past certainly branded the country, with its strong slavery component (slavery was abolished only in 1888 in Brazil) and almost medieval social stratification of masters and slaves or, later, peons. Page contends that many of the attitudes and dynamics generated by these have perdured, in one way or another, to this day, even in big cities. Also, Page emphasizes the influence of the many immigrant groups (Portuguese, Japanese, Italians, and Germans)and religions (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and 'candomble' and 'umbanda') in marking the country. It is, indeed, so rich a tapestry of influences, that one sometimes feels somewhat lost in trying to grasp what is truly Brazilian.

I highly recommend this book to anybody interested in this fascinating country. Page is sometimes condescending in his exposition, but he is always interesting and provides good food for thought and discussion.

Being a Brazilian myself, reading this book was like revisiting a very well known place, with the help of a different and outstanding "tourist guide". I could see my country, its history, its past and its present through highly qualified and sensitive eyes. Page's book is a brilliant analysis for a complex society. He gets exactly what is it that makes us Brazilians: diversity, multiplicity of influences, variety, lack of clear limits, lack of clear boundaries. I think Brazil is unpredictable, difficult to catch, even for people that have lived there all their lives. Page got the main traits, the most important aspects of Brazilian personality, the features that really make us Brazilians. Of course, one does not agree with everything that is written in the book. And, as a Brazilian, it is not easy to read the chapter about "the culture of brutality", for example. Also the author has some kind of "bias", probably related to the places where he lived in Brazil, towards Rio or Pernambuco (I am from Bahia, I can't help complaining...! If you read the book, you'll understand). But when my friends from other countries - usually curious and amazed about what they hear and see on the news - ask me what Brazil is, I have no doubts about where to send them to find an answer...

My wife and I met in Seminary. She is from Brazil and we plan on moving there when I graduate. I have been to Brazil several times over the past few years and have fallen in love with their culture. But until I read this book, I did not know much of the history of South America's largest country. Page's book is an easy read, entertaining, and very factual. I found my self turning to my wife on a regular basis to discuss what I had just read. He was always right on! If you are planning a mission, vacation, or know a bunch of Brazilians, you have got to read this book. Call it Brazilian History 101. A great intro into Brazil's culture and history

This book effectively captures the spirit of "brazilianess" and presents it to the reader in an easy to understand format. Page openly admits that the analysis presented in the book is through his eyes, which is an honest admission that this is not necessarily a scholarly study of Brazilian culture. That said, the book does not lack for adequate research and Page obviously knows his Brazilian history and culture and spent years putting this book together. The fact that it is not a "scholarly study" is probably what makes it an interesting read.

This is a great book to get a basic understanding of Brazil, its culture and its wonderful people. If you are traveling to Brazil I highly recommend reading this before you go or while you are there. It will help you understand a lot of what you encounter.

I bought this book because I was planning a trip to Brazil and I wanted something that would provide me with a good frame of reference for my trip. In this capacity I was VERY satisfied. I particularly enjoyed the anecdotal style which made this a very easy read - It took me two evenings, and I was never tempted to skim / skip.

The book is colorful, and I am particularly grateful to the author for not neglecting popular culture in favor of socio-economic data. The chapters on telenovelas, the Carnival, and Soccer were particularly interesting and enlightening. I think it is great that he refers to book and movie portrayals of various events in his discussion of certain events - it helps bring everything together when he mentions, that scene in "The Mission..." A flood of images returns and suddenly everything is in a larger context. I thought it was superb that he spend careful attention discussing the history and character of various states. All too often, life outside the 'captial' cities of a country are neglected. Who would characterize the US by New York City or Russia by Moscow, or Japan by Tokyo?

The only downside is the portrayal of poverty and violence. While important topics, I came away with the impression that the author was arguing that Brazil was especially violent, poverty-stricken and unjust... I doubt that it is much more so than other lesser-developed countries, and probably some US inner-cities. Some un-baised comparative data would have been appropriate here to put it all in context.

For anyone planning to travel to Brazil that wants to get beyond the basic tourist-guide understanding of the country, I highly recommend the book.

I wish I could have read this before living in Brazil for three years. This book covers all of Brazilian history from a cultural point of view. If you're interested in modern Brazilian culture (Carnival, TV, etc.), there are some very interesting insights. I'm not sure how this book would read if you haven't experienced Brazil first-hand. I'm not sure Brazilians will appreciate it since it's not always a flattering portrait. I think there are many insights that pertain the history of American slavery and being African-American in this country

This is a wonderful book and a must-read for anyone who wishes to either live in Brazil or to travel in Brazil.

It covers Brazil's contemprary history in depth and from the optic of a realist. It is beautifully written and pulls no punches about the things in Brazil's history which are challenging Brazil today as it struggles to take it's place on the world satge as an emerging economic power.

Sadly the book's coverage misses out on the ascension of Lula to the presidency, but this matters not a jot, as the book's wide sweep through Brazil's recent past is compelling in its clarity of opinion as to the social pressures Brazil faces.

Thoughout the book Brazil is referred to as a paradox in all senses, and as anyone who has ever spent time in Brazil will tell you - that is it's wonder and it's power.