Portrait of a Nation: Culture and Progress in Ecuador [Hardcover]

Osvaldo Hurtado (Author), Barbara Sipe (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2010

A case study of why Third World countries are still poor, the premise of this book is that while some progress has been made in transforming the political economy of Ecuador, certain behaviors, beliefs and attitudes have kept the country from developing in ways that otherwise would have been possible. As the author asserts, for almost five centuries the cultural habits of Ecuadorian citizens have constituted a stumbling block for individual economic success. Still, he concludes, people's cultural values are not immutable: inconvenient customs can be changed or influenced by the economic success of immigrants. This is the challenge that Ecuador faces in the twenty-first century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of the most important books published in the last forty years. (John Sanbrailo Executive Director, Pan American Development Foundation )

About the Author

Osvaldo Hurtado is an Ecuadorian author and politician who served as president of Ecuador from 1981 to 1984. He lives in Quito, Ecuador.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Madison Books (January 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568332629
• ISBN-13: 978-1568332628
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > History > Americas > South America > Ecuador

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely and Current, May 28, 2010

By 

Bonnie Leigh (Destin, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Portrait of a Nation: Culture and Progress in Ecuador (Hardcover)

I purchased this book prior to a school trip to Ecuador. Once there, I leared this book is required reading in international studies. It is current and give a good history and retrospecive view of the history and political culture of Ecuador.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars don't buy this book for kindle!!!, August 3, 2011

By 

Paulyn Buechly - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Portrait of a Nation: Culture and Progress in Ecuador (Kindle Edition)

THIS BOOK IS NOT FROMATTED FOR KINKLE. THE PAGES ARE REPRODUCED ONTO THE KINDLE AS THEY APPEAR IN THE BOOK - THAT IS THEY ARE VERY TINY ON THE KINDLE SCREEN AS A WHOLE BOOK PAGE APPEARS ON YOUR SCREEN. YOU CANNOT ENLARGE THE TYPE OR MAKE ANY OTHER CHANGE TO THE FORMAT TO MAKE IT READABLE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I SPENT MY MONEY! IT IS USELESS TO ME.

4 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Eye Opener on Ecuiador, January 17, 2011

By 

Rodrigooo "True Believer" (MEXICO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Portrait of a Nation: Culture and Progress in Ecuador (Hardcover)

Wow...........What en Eye Opener to the Mores of a beautiful country. The author goes DEEP inside the Ecuadorian Soul to UNCOVR just "WHY" Ecuador has not emerged into the 21st on Top! The Collective Psyche of Ecuadorian People is LAZY, INDOLENT UNTRUSTWORTHY, + many other "NEGATIVE" Adjectives. This is Prevalent throughout Ecuadorian Society from the TOP to the bottom socioeconomic classes!

THERE, its DEFINATELY NOT......What you know....its "WHO" you know! Lawlessness, corruption runs Deep in the Social Fabric as evidenced by Ecuadors LOW rating versus the rest of its South American neighbors in just about every economic indicators. The History of this Malfeasance runs all the way back to the Spanish Conquerors, Including the Suspect Catholic Church.

A compelling read for any Future American retiree coaxed to RETIRE there by the Glowing reports from groups such as INTERNATIONAL LIVING with their HIGH HIGH & Low Cost of Living! I had planned to retire there & OPEN A Business but Now my Eyes have been OPENED really wide and will proceed with Much More Caution. Just treturne from a prelim 12 day trip to Ecuador & found some of the points in the book exemplified..............USE CAUTION & LOOK b/4 you leap! Currently living ion Mexico but now the NARCO Trafficantes are ruining the country fast & its time to MOVE ON! I thought "MANYA was bad here, but you aint seen nuthin yet until you experience Ecuadors Manyana.....Not just tommorrow, maybe NEVER! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!