The Life of Costa Rica [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Gloria Calderon (Author), Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Author), Benjamin Villegas (Editor), Jimmy Weiskopf (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The "rich coast" of the conquistadores remains an abundant land both geographically and in humanity: here is a vibrant democratic society flourishing in spectacular natural settings. Native photographer Calderon shows the true life of the country in spontaneous photographic moments-over 300-like the smiles of its children, colorful processions, the indefatigable tenacity of everyday Costa Ricans at work and play set in a variety of urban, rural, historical and natural scenes. In the introduction, President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, says "Costa Rica is a song of hope. These forceful photos of its women and men confirm it. Here everything is an expression of life. And this is, perhaps, our greatest strength."


About the Author
Gloria Calderón Bejarano studied at University of Boston where she was awarded a bachelor´s degree in journalism. Calderón now teaches photojournalism at the Universidad Veritas in San José, Costa Rica.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Villegas Editores; 1 edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9588156009
• ISBN-13: 978-9588156002
• Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 10.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,483,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

  #30 in	Books > History > Americas > Central America > Costa Rica
  #73 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > Central America

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll certainly enjoy it., August 19, 2002

By A Customer

If you want a touristic brochure you may want to order something else. But if you want to see the "Life of Costa Rica" and enjoy the natural and human side of this unique country, you'll like it. Going through this book is like telling a great photographer to get the essence of her country and translate it for you in a way you'll enjoy and will want to see again and again. Saying that Costa Rica is just beaches and parrots is like saying that the U.S. is just hot dogs and football. If you want to see what Costa Rica means to a costarican, things you enjoyed or missed while being here, or the things you'll want to see the next time you come, this book is a great start.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The REAL Costa Rica is captured here, June 12, 2003

By	Lawrence J. Hines "Joe Hines" (San Jose, California USA) - See all my reviews

Costa Rica is a beautiful and complex country with an outlook that is unique in the Americas. It is hopeful, proud, respectful of its natural beauty - and complex and contradictory. I've traveled to Costa Rica several times and I was completely impressed with how the pictures captured Tico life. I think a more powerful testimony, however, was provided by my friend, a Costa Rican living in America for over a decade: When I showed him the book, it brought him to tears with homesickness.

Few books tell better stories or capture more with pictures.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent photographs, but limited coverage, July 18, 2002

By	Sue A. Crane "etruscan1" (GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Holding claim to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, I was disappointed that this book did not have more Costa Rican beach shots. I did enjoy the unique perspective of covering the culture from a human standpoint, but I would have enjoyed a little more diversity.