It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Brazil
592220
Although there have been many news stories about the recent economic development of Brazil, "Brazil: the Troubled Rise of a Global Power" is one of the few books that provides a historical context and an analysis of the current country.

Historical events discussed in Part I are carefully focused to help the reader understand their importance to modern Brazil.  These include Brazil's unique transition from a colony to an independent nation, the traditional power of landowners such as coffee planters, the effects of Getulio Vargas' incorporation of many Fascist labor laws, and finally the transition from the military dictatorship to democracy.

Part II is the most interesting section for readers interested in current Brazil.  Reid discusses the administrations of three post-military-dictatorship presidents:  Cardoso, Lula, and Dilma.  He points out how each has helped change Brazil into a nation with a expanding economy with a growing middle class.  His discussions of the current middle class and of the developing agriculture and petroleum industries are especially interesting. And of course, his information about the development of the Amazon Rain Forest is of international interest.

Michael Reid spent several years as an Economist of London reporter in Brazil and published this book as the country prepared to host the World Cup Soccer tournament.  He knows his subject. He is objective, but he writes from his British perspective supporting democratic development.  It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Brazil, its current development, and the changing world economic situation as BRICS nations take a larger role.
1752325
This book is an excellent scholarly account on Brazil's redemocratization process and a discussion on the possibilities opened by the growth of participatory institutions. The author expertly takes us through a theory of participatory institutions to a discussion on the changes leading to the emergency of participatory institutions and on three most successful participatory institutions (bottom-up) in Brazil: participatory budgeting (one of Brazil's most interesting and promising contributions to urban pluralism and democratic cities), health councils, and master planning (a mandatory framework for community participation set by the 1988 National Constitution and the Statute of the City national law of 2001). Avritzer utilizes case studies in Porto Alegre, Sao Paulo and Salvador to illustrate his analysis, showing the limits and effectiveness of participatory institutions in producing a stronger civil society. The Brazilian case can be expanded and serve as an inspiration to other Latin American countries, and the author's theoretical framework would be useful for anyone's political analysis of different contexts. An easy reading but grounded on strong theory from social and political sciences.
4002964
this is a good resource, filled with very interesting and insightful information, easily accessible to lay and professional readers alike
3113795
An excellent resource for anyone studying the making of pianos over the centuries.  Covers many facets of the development of the instrument from the days when it was made of wood in various shapes and forms from giraffe to square to grand pianos, to the introduction of the iron frame once more octaves became necessary, escpecially in the highter range to match the higher pitches of woodwind and other instruments coming into vogue. Dates for individuals mentioned in the appendices reflect the state of record availability at the time of writing and are not always accurate. Highly recommended.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Piano-Forte-Its-History-Traced-to-the-Great-Exhibition-of-1851-Da-Capo-Press-Music-Reprint-Series/dp/0306710846/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Piano-Forte: Its History Traced to the Great Exhibition of 1851 (Da Capo Press Music Reprint Series)</a>
1189896
Very interesting book. It feels authentic and genuine. But don't expect much about traditional Brazilian cuisine, it is more about the gaucho food from the southern part of Brazil and Argentina, rustic and mostly meat. I was reluctant about ordering it because I thought it would be all about promoting the restaurant Texas de Brazil but actually it is very nicely done with great tips, pictures and stories. I am a fanatic about cooking with live fire, South American outdoor grilling, asados and parrillas and this book is really awesome. I got so many great ideas from the book that i am already planning a summer outdoor cooking with friends to try some of the recipes.
1317750
I about mid way into this book, and it is very resourceful.  I encourage all to read it.  Apart from giving me an in-depth look at the Evolution of the Steelband, the author also illustrates how the steelband movement affected the socio- economic, political and religious aspects of life in Trinidad & Tobago pre as well as post Independence.
Names which I heard about growing up are brought to life on the pages.  While I heard about Attorney Lenox Pierre and his involvement, I was not aware of the huge part Albert Gomes played in assisting the steelband movement in getting respectability and recognition of the musical art form.
There is a lot of information, be warned.
785622
Pradeep Krishen, a film director and a tree-enthusiast has created an excellent resource for tree lovers and for the curious. In this superbly printed book, he has covered possibly all the known species of trees in Delhi, most of which he has photographed himself. The book has a soft cover, with a cloth backed spine and signature binding. It is just about the right size to carry and use.

He starts the book with some useful background information about Delhi and its botanical history. This section also has basic information about trees in general and explanation of the layout of the book, all done in a rivetingly light manner.

The main book is divided into sections according to type of trees. Here he has used a very simple, layman like classification based on what the leaves look like (Jamun like leaves, Imli like leaves, and so on). Each section gives an overview of the leaves of that particular type, and is followed by the two-page layout common with Dorling Kindersley books. There is a photograph of the tree, and several close-ups of the flowers, leaves, fruits and bark. There is a small key along with a height chart, all of which help you identify the trees so very easily. Then there is a side bar giving information on habitat, range and uses.

And the best part is that he provides a list of common names for each tree, so that you can have an intelligent conversation with the gardener. In fact, he uses the common name in preference over others, which makes the book more interesting for the common reader. He also adds tips on what the tree is commonly confused with. He also gives a guide to the locations where the particular tree can be seen. All in all, there are some 1100 full colour photographs

The third part of the book contains some interesting, though somewhat technical notes about various trees. And of course, there is an extensive index.

Having bought the book sometime ago, I gave the first copy to my elder brother, who introduced me to trees long ago. I bought another copy for myself, and have often used it to enrich my understanding, or to liven up a casual conversation. Once you start using this book, it gives you a second sight - trees which merely looked like a bunch of leaves earlier, acquire a lively history, and become people.

And all thanks to the passion of a solitary individual with a camera, and a passion for trees.

An excellent book for you to cherish if you are interested in trees in Delhi (252 species) or if you want to gift it to friend who lives in Delhi. This edition is available in India only (at a printed price of Rs. 799).

The book has been brought out in cooperation with Delhi Tourism - one wishes that such books would soon be published for other regions as well.
176547
This was a very interesting book and I recommend it to anyone who wishes to have a better understanding of Brazil and Brazilian [business] culture. You'll also have a chance to pickup some Portuguese vocabulary (Glossary included! A very nice touch) and learn about many cultural intricacies. All told, I came away with a better picture of Brazil's very wealthy, learned some interesting stories, and, most importantly, had my knowledge of current affairs in Brazil brought up to speed (to roughly Spring 2016).

Another reviewer mentioned that the book "meanders" and, while this is true for a part of it, I felt that this subject is a difficult one to organize and Alex did a pretty great job -- such that anyone could pickup this book and learn something new about Brazil.
3225161
An excellent resource and worth every penny. I work extensively with the Hispanic migrant community in south Georgia, and the insights gained from this book have proven time and time invaluable. Sure some of his translations are shoddy at best, but he doesn't claim to be a linguist. I have spent a lot of time on the border and on the other side, and and wrapping up a degree in Spanish, and am frequently complimented on my cultural fluency. The book does deal in some stereotypes; however, honest people will admit that there is truth in stereotypes else they would not exist. View this book as a door opener to a wonderful world.
2894137
A fine resource, supplying great overviews of the regions, inspiration, cultural perspective, recommendations & nitty-gritty survival tips (like renting a flat in Lisbon & where to buy regional maps before you go). I did also purchase, & liked as well, "TImeOut Lisbon" (because half our trip was to be there).  A great read, cover to cover, but most importantly it's easy to get the answers you need through the index & sectional guides when you're in the thick of the journey.  If you're going to buy one Portugal country travel guide, "Lonely Planet Portugal" is it.
3360841
A beautiful handout, a primer maybe on urban interventions in Brazil during the past two decades that could enlighten and enrich the smart growth movement here in the United States. Indeed, I find it amazing when I get the chance to compare how different cities cope under cultural and urban circumstances that are dissimilar but often alike.

In this book one will find examples of planning strategies, new city design, downtown revitalizations, shopping mall integration, waterfront redevelopment, traffic and transportation coping mechanisms, segregated neighborhood effective interventions, and above all the new focus of urbanism, what Jane Jacobs and new urbanists have been clamoring during the past decades, the importance of community in decision making and the revitalizing of streets and open spaces.

The importance of community participation as a way to invest in the self-esteem of the communities and produce more effective and lasting urban processes, the importance of strengthening the identity of neighborhoods, and the abandonment of `clean slate' attempts to urban solutions loom paramount throughout the book. So, yes, we are not the only ones attempting to improve our cities, they are doing it in Brazil also and this book offers many insightful lessons.

Finally, what I also enjoyed about the book was the addition of a theoretical base of modern versus post-modern that is offered throughout the book along with the case studies. It is truly amazing to see the way of thinking of a period percolate down to street life. Devastating in the modern era and attempting to regenerate the street in our times.

Phrases such as, `urban acupuncture,' `creative urbanism' and `symbiosis of a waterfront with the urban network,' are some additional gifts I extracted from the book.
3245987
I'm studying for my CPDT and I found this book to be an excellent resource .
1975439
If you want to know more about Brazil for education, business or amusement I can't see why you'd start anywhere else. Comprehensive and well organized information on seemingly all aspects of society, history government, business, agriculture and more is presented in a straight forward and accessible way.
592934
Harvard law professor Michael Klarman contributes an outstanding resource to our understanding of our country's origins with The Framer's Coup. The title refers to the events and attitudes that might have derailed the document, and the author's approach is not limited to the discussions inside Liberty Hall, but begins with chapters on the flaws in the Articles of Confederation and the economic turmoil in the states prior to the constitutional convention.

Fittingly, Klarman devotes a chapter to the issue of slavery and the Constitution, and I found this very interesting. Later chapters address anti-federalist opinion, the ratification process and the Bill of Rights.

Besides its authoritative and comprehensive nature, this book is valuable because it is eminently readable and accessible, perhaps because there are 182 pages of notes, which contain nuanced material that might have bogged down the text, yet are essential for deeper understanding.

The book concludes with a bibliography and excellent index. And it smells good!
3726748
I moved to Paraguay less than a year ago. Finding information about the country was an adventure, so my search for a guide book eventually led to a somewhat dead end. I own Lonely Planet South America which has a small chapter about Paraguay. It's better than nothing, but the chapter pales in comparison to chapters written about other countries in South America.

So when I heard about this book, I was excited. It is great, with the most current information about the country. There's detailed information about not just Asuncion, the capital, but about other lesser known places in Paraguay. I particularly like that the book isn't written either from a backpacker's perspective or from a high-end traveler's perspective. It offers an objective view on Paraguay, giving information that would be helpful in any situation.

The author has lived in Paraguay a while now, so the information is reliable. I really couldn't put this book down; I was so excited to finally have a guide book about this country in which I will be living for the next two to three years.
1507446
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Black-Writers-in-Latin-America/dp/0826305016/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Black Writers in Latin America</a>&nbsp;I purchased this book from Amazon for one of my courses on Hispanic Literature at North Carolina Central University and have found it an invaluable resource. The shipping was prompt and I had the book within about a week or two of order. The product came in the condition it was advertised to be in and has been kept in that conditon. I wish I had known, however, that the dust jacket was removable as it keeps falling off of my book, so much so that I HAD  to remove it so that it does not distract from or interfere with my reading. Dr. Jackson presents a high quality work that provides interesting facts about the African presence in Latin America. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.
1016184
Good overview of the country. Any book of this type might be criticized for its oversimplifications, but if you have a limited time to learn about Brazil (I used before a vacation), this is a good (and very cheap) way to get the information you need. I would recommend it. I also read Brazil (by Errol Lincoln Uys) during the trip and it was a good complement of what I was seeing during the day.