Forgotten Continent, Michael Reid
Forgotten Continent, Michael Reid
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Forgotten Continent
The Battle for Latin Americas Soul

Author: Michael Reid

Narrator: Gary Dikeos

Unabridged: 18 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/19/2011


Synopsis

Latin America has often been condemned to failure. Neither poor enough to evoke Africas moral crusade nor as explosively booming as India and China, it has largely been overlooked by the West. Yet this vast continent, home to half a billion people, the worlds largest reserves of arable land, and 8.5 percent of global oil, is busily transforming its political and economic landscape. This book argues that rather than failing the test, Latin Americas efforts to build fairer and more prosperous societies make it one of the worlds most vigorous laboratories for capitalist democracy. In many countriesincluding Brazil, Chile, and Mexicodemocratic leaders are laying the foundations for faster economic growth and more inclusive politics, as well as tackling deeprooted problems of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. They face a new challenge from Hugo Chvezs oilfuelled populism, and much is at stake. Failure will increase the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants to the United States and Europe, jeopardize stability in a region rich in oil and other strategic commodities, and threaten some of the worlds most majestic natural environments. Drawing on Michael Reids many years of reporting from inside Latin Americas cities, presidential palaces, and shantytowns, this book provides a vivid, immediate, and informed account of a dynamic continent and its struggle to compete in a globalized world.

About Michael Reid

Michael Reid is a senior editor at the Economist. He was the magazine's Spain correspondent between 2016 and 2021. He is the author of Brazil: The Troubled Rise of a Global Power and Forgotten Continent. He lives in Madrid.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kevin on August 01, 2008

Just read this book, sorta had to. Reid writes well and clear and has a real balanced 3/4 of a book. A great history in the first few chapters, showing how the right and left have both betrayed democracy. However, he staunchly supports the Washington Consensus, arguing that everything that is good i......more

Goodreads review by Marc on February 14, 2018

I read that book to get an overview of South American history and politics. The author is an editor for The Economist and has worked in Peru Brazil and Mexico. Needless to say he knows the region very well. The book offers thoughts and analysis on several topics such as free trade, militarism, corru......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer on February 20, 2021

Took me some time to get through this beast, and I think I only absorbed 10%... but really enjoyed the walk around Central and Latin America, and the summary of the enormous political, economic, and social strides of each country on the content over the last few decades. @tyler and @sofia - you guys......more

Goodreads review by Natali on June 16, 2019

Este parece un libro de historia. Si el lector no sabe mucho de América Latina, este puede ser un buen inicio. Sin embargo, hay muchas observaciones sesgadas, sobre todo en lo que tiene que ver con los gobiernos de izquierda y su desconocimiento casi absoluto de los impactos de la derecha. El caso C......more

Goodreads review by Andres on September 30, 2020

Si uno quiere desasnarse del efecto nefasto que la teoría de la dependencia, los "estudios" "culturales", la izquierda y Las venas abiertas de América Latina han tenido en un continente, este libro es un remedio ideal. Es fuerte, contundente y necesario para entender el presente, el pasado y, sobre......more