Latin American Book Reviews -- March 1999
By Major Robert Fagan
I believe it goes without saying that anyone with an interest in Latin America should have at least one
or two books about Brazil, the largest and most important country of the region.
The first book in the Brazilian section of your shelf should be Brazil: A Country
Study edited by Rex Hudson. This 1998 version of the famous white covered country study series
printed by the U.S. Government was in dire need of updating since the last version in 1983. This version is
not the same encyclopedic tome of data like the last version. It's easier to use, better organized and
presented in a clearer format. For example, the editor has included two tables at the front of the book. One
for easy reference to selected acronyms and abbreviations, which is a must for anyone reading primary
sources in Brazil. The second is a handy chronology of important events in Brazil's history not easily
found in other sources.
One very important chapter for FAOs is the updated chapter on national security. This chapter
includes the military's role in the intelligence services, defense industries and the latest developments on
armed forces missions in the Amazon, counterdrug operations and civic action. Another important chapter
for FAOs not included in the last version is the new chapter on science and technology which not only
includes the historical evolution of science and research development, but also important sections on
Brazil's nuclear, space, and missile programs.
It's obvious that we needed the update of this work since it comes in at a full 250 pages
larger than it's predecessor. We can only hope than our government will not wait another fifteen years to
document the changes in one of Latin America's most dynamic countries.
As the second book for your shelf I recommend The
Brazilians by Joseph Page.
For a self-proclaimed non-academic "Brazilianist" he does a fantastic job of exploring the contrasts that
make up modern day Brazil. He explores just enough history to explain current events and phenomenon
without becoming tedious. But history only makes up a small part of this book. I would call it more of a
cultural guide that includes economics, sociology, film and literature. Page has written a very complete
one-volume guide that explains the complexities of this continent-sized nation. After reading Page's work
one understands why Brazil is so different from her neighbors.
Hudson, Rex A., ed. Brazil: A Country Study. Washington: Library of Congress,
1998.
Page, Joseph A. The Brazilians. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc.,
1995.
1999, Foreign Area Officer Association
Springfield,
Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org