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Brazil: The Troubled Rise of a Global Power Paperback – Illustrated, January 12, 2016

by Michael Reid (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 126 ratings
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A knowledgeable appreciation of a complex, vital South American giant, destined to be one of the world’s premier economic powers

Experts believe that Brazil, the world’s fifth largest country and its seventh largest economy, will be one of the most important global powers by the year 2030. Yet far more attention has been paid to the other rising behemoths Russia, India, and China. Often ignored and underappreciated, Brazil, according to renowned, award-winning journalist Michael Reid, has finally begun to live up to its potential, but faces important challenges before it becomes a nation of substantial global significance.
 
After decades of military rule, the fourth most populous democracy enjoyed effective reformist leadership that tamed inflation, opened the country up to trade, and addressed poverty and other social issues, enabling Brazil to become more of an essential participant in global affairs. But as it prepares to host the 2014 soccer World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil has been rocked by mass protest. This insightful volume considers the nation’s still abundant problems—an inefficient state, widespread corruption, dysfunctional politics, and violent crime in its cities—alongside its achievements to provide a fully rounded portrait of a vibrant country about to take a commanding position on the world stage.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    January 12, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    7.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0300216971
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300216974
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A knowledgeable overview of [a] vast, vibrant country . . . a thorough study deeply informed by on-the-ground reporting.”—Kirkus Reviews ― Kirkus Reviews

‘Until now, there has been no concise English-language history of Brazil – vastness has perhaps overwhelmed previous attempts. Michael Reid’s Brazil fills the gap with a valuable study likely to remain a well-thumbed reference for years. . .His clear, deeply researched account reaches back 500 years to identify three broad themes that continue to shape Brazil’s development.’—John Paul Rathbone, The Financial Times -- Michael Reid ― Financial Times Published On: 2014-06-07

‘Perfectly timed for the World Cup, Reid’s book is highly readable and scholarly. His subtle analysis is captured in a subtitle that makes clear that Brazil is both an emerging world power and a nation with deep-seated problems rooted in its colonial past, slavery and official paternalism.’—Gideon Rachman, The Financial Times -- Gideon Rachman ― The Financial Times Published On: 2014-06-28

“A rich, detailed account of Brazil’s tug-of-war between hope and disappointment”—Marcos Troyjo, Americas Quarterly -- Marcos Troyjo ― Americas Quarterly

“This compelling account of the country’s history . . . represents the most thoughtful and balanced recent assessment of Brazil’s enormous triumphs and crushing failures, and of what lies ahead.”—Peter Hakim, Foreign Affairs -- Peter Hakim ― Foreign Affairs

About the Author

Michael Reid is The Economist’s Latin American columnist. He lived in Brazil from 1996 to 1999 and has been a frequent visitor since.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; Reprint edition (January 12, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300216971
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300216974
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

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Michael Reid

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
126 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Elizabete
5.0 out of 5 stars It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
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.
9 people found this helpful
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4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2015
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Well wrote and Very intersting point Point of view of brazilian Life
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William D. Brisbane
5.0 out of 5 stars HIghly RECOMMENDED read...but NOT for readers un-initiated with Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
I am an American who has lived and worked in Brazil since '74...not continuously but, spiritually and intellectually, have never really left and have family living there. I recommend this book if you want a refresher course on Brazil but not if you merely want to familiarize yourself with the country. It was written by an economic journalist who for years was The ECONOMIST's reporter in Brazil and, in my humble view, was intended for serious students of the country, business people and the academic classroom. It reads, needless to say, much like a lengthy column about Brazil written from the perspective of a newspaper person stationed in the country and, as a result, is stuffed with facts and data....and with possibly a bit of factual overkill in some sections, but I found few if any errors or flaws in Mr. Reid's research, information, observations and prose style. While the author is more than aware of the perverse corruption that infects most facets of Brazilian life, especially at all levels of government (and admittedly it truly is hard to get a credible, statistical handle on it even after years of residence and day-to-day life in the country), it is the one area of Mr. Reid's effort where his in-depth analysis breaks down. The author is not to blame - corruption is just too perversely hidden to detect and comment on in objective terms. Read this book if you are serious about Brazil, its past, present and future. By the way, Mr. Reid, is it just my imagination but you and Lula do share an odd resemblance judging from your photo on the inside rear cover flap!
6 people found this helpful
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T. Lucas
5.0 out of 5 stars Not timely but excellent background
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2016
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Part of me is a policy wonk but a bigger part just wants to know how things, including countries, work. I read this book on a trip to Brazil in March of 2016, when two of the main characters, Lula and Dilma, were under fire. The book really helped me understand the complexity--and the potential--of this country. It is slightly dated only because things there change rapidly. But this book provides the underlying framework to permit the reader to make sense of these later events. I highly recommend it if you want to learn about Brazil and are limited to only one book. I did, by the way, try it on Audible and found it too difficult to follow.
2 people found this helpful
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C. Conde
5.0 out of 5 stars That is an excellent book.
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
That is an excellent book. If you are interested in knowing about Brazil and why there are so many protests going on, that is the book to buy. Unfortunately, it took a major event like the World Cup to inspire someone to write a book in English about a poor country that dreams one day to be rich. The so called país do futuro.

The author understood that the reality Brazil is facing has its roots in history and culture. But it is the people who are ultimately responsible for how things are in general, not prepared to sacrifice alegria for modernization, at least not yet.

Growing up during the "Brazilian Miracle" of the 70's, I thought the country would be a super power in next twenty years or so. That did not happen, even with the military having total political control, there was not enough reforms done in time to deal with the oil crisis. I saw the same euphoric reaction during the Lula presidency as a repeat of those years, and once again, the excitement gave way to disillusion.

Living in the US for so many years, I now understand and agree with what the author mentioned will take to achieve that better future waited for so long.

I recommend it.
19 people found this helpful
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Russell Standridge
4.0 out of 5 stars Met my expectations
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
Met my expectations as an overview of Brazilian economic, cultural, social, and political history.
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Serge J. Van Steenkiste
5.0 out of 5 stars Shining a Bright Light on the Benevolent South American Gulliver
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
Michael Reid gives his readers a much-needed overview of the history, economy, society, and politics of Brazil since 1500. Too often, the country seems to live in the shadows of the other BRICS, i.e. Russia, India, China, and South Africa. To his credit, Mr. Reid examines with much objectivity the repeated disappointments that Brazil has had to endure both domestically and abroad. In summary, the book under review will hopefully give its readers a better appreciation for a country which is called to play an increasingly important role in the 21st century.
9 people found this helpful
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Changrisani
3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book. Recommend it.
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
Good book. Well written. Good historical examples. Fair analysis on the perspectives and challenges for Brazil's development.
I'd recommend it for foreigners interested in learning a bit of current Brazil and how it got here.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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jeancsp
5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo panorama
Reviewed in Brazil on January 5, 2015
Verified Purchase
Livro excelente: traça uma visão geral do Brasil, passando por todos os períodos da nossa história e encerrando com previsões para o futuro, abordando temas relacionados a história, geografia, política, economia, cultura etc. Não é um livro feito para estrangeiros: é feito para quem quer ter uma visão geral do nosso país. Por isso, não há aprofundamento dos temas. Não conheço nenhum outro livro, nem mesmo escrito por brasileiros em língua portuguesa, que faz apresentação geral tão satisfatória.
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B
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anybody wanting to understand Brazil
Reviewed in Germany on August 28, 2016
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As a foreigner living in Brazil, I found Reid's book an absolute must. Highly recommend to anybody wanting to understand the country. Eloquent, concise, balanced and up to date.
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Mr. Paul Crane
5.0 out of 5 stars Getting to the heart of Brazil
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
I felt that Michael Reid’s energetic and deeply insightful writing truly did justice to his immense subject – the country and society of Brazil. He is, of course, very well placed for this challenge: he was formerly The Economist’s America’s editor and is now its Latin America ‘Bello’ columnist, as well as the author of 'The Forgotten Continent'. He gives you the main story of Brazil in three parts. Reid is an extremely skilful and knowledgeable guide, brilliantly and concisely weaving a highly informed narrative of some 500 years in the first part. It is an astonishing tale of the some of the best and worst things people can do . The second part is his clear-headed charting of the country’s journey following the end of decades of dictatorship to the making of contemporary democratic Brazil. He has interviewed many of the leading players. In the concluding part of the book, Reid presents his own warts-and-all take on the prospects, good and bad, for the politics, economy and society of Brazil and its position on the world stage. It’s difficult to imagine a more illuminating, de-mystifying or enjoyable book about the country that former President Lula described as one of the “greatest human, ecological and social complexity”. The hardback book I bought is handsomely produced with an excellent 16-page section of illustrations and photographs.
2 people found this helpful
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Riccardoo
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in Italy on August 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
After the humiliating defeat to Germany in the World Cup, many observers tried to draft a parallel between the defeat in 1950 and the recent one. Michael Reid help us remember that Brazil is a success story, not anymore the "country of the future"
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Smorg
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good & useful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
Bought this book for a family member moving to Brazil. She loved it and find it very helpful to understand the country. Very useful to her to follow dinner conversations or bring up topics in the book when conversing with Brazilians. Her whole family read the book before she moved. Well recommended!!
One person found this helpful
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