By: John Charles Chasteen
If you are interested in a compelling and easy-to-read overview of the history of Latin America, this is the book for you. Instead of trying to relate the events that took place throughout Latin America over five centuries, Chasteen looks at larger themes and movements shared by countries throughout Latin America. These themes include the first indigenous encounters with Spaniards, colonialism, independence, neocolonialism (America’s policy of influencing Latin America), national movements, and neoliberalism, among others. Each chapter is broken into a theme, and Chasteen effectively demonstrates how that theme affected and directed the energies of countries throughout the hemisphere. The book is enjoyable to read, and perfect if you need to know the high points of Latin American history but would also like a more in-depth insight into its complexities. If you are traveling in Latin America, doing business there, interested in the relationship between the U.S. and Latin America, or just interested in history, this is the book for you.
Reviewer:
AJ Johnson
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By: Bryan Yansky
Simon hates his life – he doesn’t get along with his adopted parents, his girlfriend just dumped him, he’s been in trouble with the police for possession of (and selling) pot, and he hates school. In a fit of desperation, he finds the name of his birth parents, steals his father’s car, and leaves Iowa in a cloud of smoke. He hits the road in search of his dream “perfect” parents, picking up all manner of interesting characters along the way. This book chronicles his travels and his parent quest, which brings him here to Austin. We get a great picture of what Austin was like in 1979, when the story takes place. On 6th street, for instance, Simon encounters a street person who asks if Simon knows him. Simon shrugs.
“I’m Jesus Christ the Savior. I died for your sins. I can’t even afford a cup of coffee. Don’t you think you could spare a couple of cents for the Savior? Don’t you think that’s the least you can do?” . . . I reached in my pocket and gave him what I had. He made a bugle sound by blowing through his closed hand. He turned to me. “May I be with you,” he said.
And yes, as you may have guessed, Austin is the pretty girl capital of the world.
Reviewer:
AJ Johnson
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