The Brazilians by Joseph A. Page Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Brazilians
Book Review: A realists look at Brazil
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Book Review: A superb portrait of contemporary Brazil
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: A vivid and accurate picture
Summary: 5 Stars
Outstanding! This book provides a fine insight into Brazil, explaining why Brazil is such a unique and fascinating country. Mr. Page paints a rich and comprehensive picture of Brazil, using a precise methodology that ensures that he covers the most relevant dimensions - e.g. culture, economy, problems, environment... - and irrelevant but fascinating particularities. The text is clear and often poetic, a delightful read. Scholars, tourists and enthusiasts will benefit from the book's insights.Book Review: Brazil: this book caught it!
Summary: 5 Stars
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...Book Review: Brazil: this book caught it!
Summary: 5 Stars
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...