Customer Reviews

Gods, Gachupines and Gringos: A People's History of Mexico

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Reviewed by Alex Gesheva for the Guadalajara Reporter (11/08)

Some historians burden students with a dreary list of facts and figures, and an unfortunate life-long allergy to the subject.

Others, the rare and wonderful kind, make the past transcend numbers and coax students into wanting to learn more.

Richard Grabman is not a historian, at least not in the academic sense. But his book, "Gods, Gachupines and Gringos: a people's history of Mexico," may inspire a slew of history-phobes to finally dip their toes into the subject.

Once upon a time, Grabman was a technical writer - and it shows. His style is crisp, clean, and includes not a single paragraph-length sentence or invented word (shame on academics who unnecessarily torture the English language).

Fortunately, aside from pristine grammar, there is nothing particularly technical about this book. Extremely complex events in Mexican history are made accessible to complete beginners in the subject with clarity, grace and wit. Short, eminently readable chapters with catchy titles go a long way towards easing deeply (and not so deeply) hidden adult fears of musty, dusty tomes.

Best of all, as a non-academic writer for a general audience, Grabman unhesitatingly selects the most compelling details of Mexico's long and convoluted history and uses them to turn a difficult story into a joyful, dynamic read. After all, self-professed serious readers still yearn to learn about dental care under Aztec rule, swashbuckling nuns, the Pastry War of 1838, Francisco Madero's conversations with the ghost of his dead brother, and President Jose Lopez Portillo's famous, ill-fated comment involving a dog.

Grabman has written "Gods, Gachupines and Gringos" with a specific goal: to explore Mexico's multi-faceted, multi-cultural past and to help foreigners become more familiar with a very ancient society. The quirky details, therefore, serve to smooth encounters with maddeningly complicated episodes of Mexican history that could otherwise alienate and befuddle uninitiated readers. In this case, the knowledge is also extremely relevant to understanding Mexico's geopolitical present.

"With Mexicans, `history is destiny,'" explains Grabman. "Unless we understand the history, and our own role in it, we will continue to be `distant neighbors.'"

Yes, yes, the goal-oriented reader may say impatiently, but is it an accurate history? Absolutely ... and to a point. Scholars will justifiably argue that no introductory history can exist without a fair amount of bias - in the choice of detail, in describing causality, in subtly courting the reader's sympathies for a particular cause. Introductory histories are by necessity either mindlessly dull or at least subtly slanted, often in ways that slip by novice historians.

"Gods, Gachupines and Gringos" is no different, and fortunately far from dull. Grabman's interpretations may inspire some history specialists to write a scathing letter or two (particularly over the choice of where to skim and where to focus). But they may also inspire many other readers (who would otherwise never dream of picking up a history book) to venture deeper into the subject. The book's well-crafted and accessible bibliography is a great start.

And those who choose to stop here can at least walk away having enjoyed an eminently readable, quirky history that explains and explores Mexico's past with sympathy and gentle humor.

"Gods, Gachupines and Gringos" is a great read for all those who know or remember little to nothing about Mexican history and wish they did, and for all those who may need to be prodded into knowing by well-meaning friends. It may even surprise those who thought they knew it all.

I have to begin by saying that I was raised in Mexico and was taught official Mexican history from elementary school through high school. As such, I have always had an interest in an "outsider's" (although the author is a Mexicanphile) point of view.

Having said that, I have to say that the title is a bit misleading. When I read "A people's history of Mexico," I was expecting a Howard Zinn-like history book. In other words, I didn't want to read about the official history, once more. That's what you get when you read this book. It's really not the "peoples'" history that you are reading, it's more like the history of the Mexican people, sanctioned by the official historians.

Now, I understand that it might be hard to find alternative sources of Mexican history. Believe me, I have been trying, and the only thing I've found is a book by a Mexican columnist (Armando "Caton" Fuentes Aguirre) - which I do not care for - but had no option. I started reading the book ("Juarez y Maximiliano"), even after the author confessed that his only source was audio-cassette tapes of lectures that he head in the '60s that he obtained some way. In other words, nothing is verifiable and nothing is really a serious study of Mexican history.

As such, I can understand that Mr. Grabman's only sources are official sources. Having said that, this book is a GREAT overview of Mexican history. I was really impressed with some of his knowledge (like the meaning of the number 41 in Mexican culture). However, I was disappointed with some of the things he left out (like the theory - could well be a conspiratorial theory - that sinking of Mexican ships were perpetrated by a certain country - other than the one that was waiving the flag - in order to draw Mexico into WWII). I think they merited at least a footnote.

In any event, fantastic overview of Mexican history. If you are looking for a narco-war book or other current issues, look elsewhere. The author is a historian, not an investigative journalist. For what it is, this book is great. I took one star off because of the misleading title.

As a North American who has has enjoyed his visits to Mexico, I approached "Gods, Gachupines and Gringos" with a sense of anticipation. I love the color, vitality and sheer "differentness" of the nation to the south of the United States. But my Spanish is limited at best. And sometimes the sheer busyness of Mexico has caused me to experience a kind of sensory overload. This book has helped dispel some of that sense of disorientation. Grabman's book begins at the beginning of what is known about the place that became Mexico. But he's never dry and academic. His conversational style, wit and brief chapters make the book easily digestible. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the forces and individuals that have shaped modern-day Mexico.

Richard Grabman's new Gods, Gachupines and Gringos is one of the first "people's history" volumes that I have enjoyed. Most such efforts are too superficial, polemic, or simply tourist trash. Dr. Grabman has used fact, metaphor and culture to illuminate a great deal of the culture of Mexico, not just the history.

Understanding the circumstances which brought Mexico to its present position helps me understand my experiences as an occasional visitor to our neighbor to the South. The interaction of politics with Mexico's northern neighbor is now much clearer, but so are the prejudices I knew growing up in south Texas. I was raised to think of Pancho Villa as a bandit. Grabman's book brought back my memory of, at 10 years of age, visiting an old gentleman, a Texas border town merchant, recount tales of Villa bringing his officers across the border to purchase clothing, have a haircut and bath.

Professional historians and serious advanced students will not find this to be their book. But for the rest of us, Dr. Grabman has provided a well-researched, cited, documented elucidation of Mexican history. It is not just informative, but fun and entertaining.

Of course, as a loyal Son of Texas, I do take objection to his deconstructing some of the myths with which I was raised--even though, historically and factually, he may be right. I sometimes prefer the myth.

In all seriousness, the United States is now in controversy about its relationship with Mexico and with the immigration of poor Mexicans. It is well to understand our historical contribution to the poverty which drives that relationship. Dr. Grabman's book helps forward that understanding.

This has been a marvelous and informative read. It would be required reading for anyone trying to make sense of the Mexico-US conundrum.

This book is fantastic, the book "fly" over the Mexican history but keep always simple and entertaining , the prose is well written with simple words ( but not simplistic) it is a real pleasure to read it.

I was able to fully dedicate myself to GGG during my recent cross-country flight, it was great travel reading; I have enjoyed it very much. It weaved the legends and stories that I was taught in elementary school in Mexico, the books in my parent's library, and the more academic reviews I learned in my college history courses. It was not dry academic work, but something very lively that read like a novel at times. The gods theme also helped organize the flow of the story, and that was helpful keeping in mind how convoluted history gets in the wars of independence and revolution.

I especially liked the highlighting of foreigners and their roles in history, as this is something that is greatly lacking in many "people's history" that can be found in Mexico; often, nationalism and patriotic legend obscures the view of a country's place in the world.

If you have never read a complete history of Mexico and are curious, this "Mexican History-Light" is excellent. Slightly tongue in cheek, this "complete" history of Mexico will at least keep you interested while giving you a Mexican slant on the History of our southern neighbor that goes way beyond what our U.S. public school education has given us. Even if you have read more extensively, "Gods, Gachupines and Gringos..." is a fun read.

I have recently developed an interest in Mexico and Spain. I confess I have very little knowledge of Mexico other than the Alamo. This book is a relatively brief, fast-paced, and absorbing overview of Mexican history. Indeed, this is a country that is action-packed with history extending from ancient times until today. This book moves very quickly through the different time periods. The author is witty and has a sense of humor that he craftily interjects with the history, so that the reading is not boring or text-book-like. Sometimes he is rather glib, making me wonder if he is exaggerating some points, but I believe I am getting the general thought of things. He is somewhat PC however, and I don't buy into the evil white man/good indigenous people attitude in this book. However, this is minor enough that I can overlook it and enjoy the rest of the writing.

I would heartily recommend this for any beginning Mexican history buff such as I, or just anyone interested in a quick, quirky historical book about a fascinating country.

This was a comprehensive history book about Mexico - some parts way more interesting than others. Overall however, gives the reader a good perspective of the years of struggle and bloodshed in Mexico, the sense of community and socialistic bent, the influences of external businesses, religion, and the driving personalities of it's leaders over the years. Will make my future travels to Mexico that much richer.

My wife is originally from Mexico and I have very little knowledge of her homeland. I decided that I wanted to learn a little about Mexico and decided to get this book for my Kindle. I am pleased with my purchase.

The author did an excellent job creating a history textbook that is enjoyable to read. It covers most of the major historical events and provides a good perspective on how the Mexican people viewed and reacted to these events. It also spends some time discussing Mexico's relations with the US and other countries throughout time.

The material can be a little dry at times. I don't know how the author could have avoided it.

I was also displeased at the price (nearly $20 for the Kindle edition). I almost didn't buy it due solely to the price. I don't think I received $20 worth of value, so I have to knock off at least a one star for this reason (I would grade this book at a 3.25 or 3.5 if Amazon would allow me to).

Overall, I would recommend this book, especially if it can be found at a discount. I didn't like the price, but the material was good and it gave this gringo an excellent overview of Mexico's history.