Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America
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
