This is the book Chavez gave Obama: the hottest book written about the coolest continent. Since its U.S. debut a quarter-century ago, this brilliant text has set a new standard for historical scholarship of Latin America. It is also an outstanding political economy, a social and cultural narrative of the highest quality, and perhaps the finest description of primitive capital accumulation since Marx. Rather than chronology, geography, or political successions, Eduardo Galeano has organized the various facets of Latin American history according to the patterns of five centuries of exploitation. Thus he is concerned with gold and silver, cacao and cotton, rubber and coffee, fruit, hides and wool, petroleum, iron, nickel, manganese, copper, aluminum ore, nitrates, and tin. These are the veins which he traces through the body of the entire continent, up to the Rio Grande and throughout the Caribbean, and all the way to their open ends where they empty into the coffers of wealth in the United States and Europe. Weaving fact and imagery into a rich tapestry, Galeano fuses scientific analysis with the passions of a plundered and suffering people.
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"'He has more first-hand knowledge of Latin America than anybody else I can think of, and uses it to tell the world of the dreams and disillusions, the hopes and failures of its people... Galeano denounces exploitation with uncompromising ferocity, yet this book is almost poetic in its description of solidarity and human capacity for survival in the midst of the worst kind of despoliation' Isabel Allende * 'This book is a monument in our Latin American history. It allows us to learn history, and we have to build on this history' Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela * 'I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Galeano's vision is unswerving, surgical and yet immensely generous and humane... Eduardo Galeano ought to be a household name' Arundhati Roy"
--This text refers to an alternate
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edition.
About the Author
Eduardo Hughes Galeano (born September 3, 1940) is an Uruguayan journalist, writer and novelist. His books have been translated into many languages. He says: "I'm a writer obsessed with remembering, with remembering the past of America above all and above all that of Latin America, intimate land condemned to amnesia.' He is the author of Days and Nights of Love and War (winner of the 1978 Casa de las Americas Prize), The Book of Embraces, and the highly acclaimed Memory of Fire trilogy.
--This text refers to an alternate
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By elcaney97
Format:Paperback
This is a great book for those who want to look at things from a fresh perspective. It is not meant for those who believe capitalism and imperialism are the best options out there. Eduardo Galeano did an excellent job at investigating as well as setting forward a view of Latin America that very few North Americans ever get to know. One warning though: it is not for those faint of heart, this book is explicit and very painful to read; but that is only because the history of Latin America has been very sad and painful. An excellent read, you'll think about this book forever.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
From what I can see, the negative customer reviews on this book all point to the idea that Galeano is somehow attempting to blame the United States or Europe for all of the current problems in Latin America. Galeano never makes that claim. Anyone knows that Latin America has social and cultural problems that have become institutionalized, and at this point in most matters they have only themselves to blame. But societies are complex and there are multiple factors that determine them ("working hard" doesn't fix everything), one of those factors is history. It's blind, biased ignorance to attempt to deny the impact of history on the formation of social and power relations. Galeano's book is an attempt to tell that history, not so we can wallow in self-pity, but so we can chart a path forward. Read the book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Every now and then, whether the perpetrators want it or not, the truth is showing through the cracks of the hidden history. Wonderful writing. J.L.Viens
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3.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Facts are facts, but we cant blame others for out mistakes.
As a REAL LATINAMERICAN that was born and has lived in Latinamerica most of his life i have to say i disagree with this book. Read more
Published on Dec 7 2003 by "edgarn"
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic masterpiece
Eduardo Galeano's classic work serves as a testament to the world. His words resonate with all of us who have seen and felt the pillaging of Latin America first hand. Read more
Published on Oct 9 2003 by Alexis Manuel Montes
5.0 out of 5 stars
open veins of Latin america
Great response, good condition and better than average service thank you
Published on Feb 26 2003 by eileen pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Get it. Read it. Understand it. Facts are Facts.
Its a good one.
Its a good one.
Published on Nov 14 2002 by Tito
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great way of understanding the today's word by knowing past
Galeano definitly knows to show us the dramitacal consecuences from the Conquer of America by the European nations, and how the impositions of the culture, religion and economic... Read more
Published on July 5 2002 by Enrique MV
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self Deluding "Facts": Grow Up. You Did It To Yourself
An excellent example of why Hispanic countries are incapable of providing their people with either freedom, democracy, stability or economic security: too many pseudo-intellectuals... Read more
Published on Jun 2 2002
1.0 out of 5 stars
Enlightening
In truth this book deserves more than 1 star, but I would like to suggest that there are other sources that must be included to truly appreciate the plight of Latin America. Read more
Published on May 18 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
The other side of the history
We could easily say that this is a book again capitalism. It is. Or that the author shows a biased opinion. He does. Read more
Published on Jan 14 2002 by Justo S.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oh my God!
Please stop this man. The fantasy of blaming the US and Europe for the problems in Latin America has caused a lot of damage in Latin America. Read more
Published on Jan 3 2002
5.0 out of 5 stars
What we should study in school.
This book offers the reader the possibility to understand why the vast majority of the people of one of the richest part of the planet live in misery. Read more
Published on Sep 1 2001 by L. Massasso
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