The Brazil Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The Latin America Readers) (Paperback)

by Amelia Simpson (Contributor), Robert Levine (Editor), John Crocitti (Editor), Orin Starn (Series Editor) "Exotic images of Brazil's tropicality have dominated the West's perception of this vast subcontinent..." (more)
Key Phrases: blocos afros, licensed builder, racial democracy, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Capturing the scope of this country's rich diversity--with over 100 entries from a wealth of perspectives--"The Brazil Reader" offers a fascinating guide to Brazilian life, culture, and history. 52 photos. Map & illustrations.

From the Back Cover
“A worthy successor to the pioneering Peru Reader, this volume provides a comprehensive guide to Brazil’s history and culture from the Portuguese colonial past to the postmodern present. Defty crossing disciplines and integrating elite and popular realms, The Brazil Reader is certain to please both the serious student and the general reader.”—Gil Joseph, Yale University

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Duke University Press (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822322900
• ISBN-13: 978-0822322900
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,243 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #29 in	Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Brazil
  #30 in	Books > History > Americas > South America > Brazil

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Perspective, Generally Interesting, May 10, 2000

By	J. Wright (Cedar Hills, UT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a collection of short essays on Brazil. I found at least half to be quite interesting, though I probably skimmed about a quarter of them. Many of the essays frequently give a first hand account of life as a small farmer, favela resident or fisherman in Brazil. These essays capture and explain to the English reader the hopes, values and experiences of actual Brazilians. Most English readers gain their understanding of Brazil only second hand through academics or journalists. This book offers a fresh, reality based perspective on Brazil for English readers who haven't learned about Brazil outside of academia, the New York Times, or the beaches of Rio.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book was in Portuguese, July 4, 2000

By	Joao (Porto Alegre, RS) - See all my reviews

I brought this book in Los Angeles on the way back from a trip to Disney with my children. I finished it almost when I arrived home. The book has great insight and should be read by Brazilians, because it presents things as they are, not as they are supposed to be. Maybe the book will be públished in Brazil some day. I hope so.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book on Brazil, December 5, 1999

By A Customer

This is a great book for learning about Brazil from the earliest days to today. The selections are unusually interesting and varied. As a Brazilian, this book brings me "saudades."