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Brazil

The Troubled Rise of a Global Power

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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 2016 Olympics, Brazil has been rocked by mass protest.

©2014 Michael Reid (P)2016 Tantor 20th Century 21st Century Americas Caribbean & Latin America Modern Politics & Government South America World Latin American Socialism Africa Imperialism Capitalism Economic Inequality Taxation Liberalism China Self-Determination Russia Military American History Economic disparity US Economy Social justice Caribbean

Critic reviews

"A thorough study deeply informed by on-the-ground reporting." ( Kirkus)
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The narrator was so bad at pronouncing Portuguese that it was exceptionally distracting from Michael Reid's discussion. As a book, this was a good introduction to Brazil’s troubled political and economic status, but the performer was just wretched to the point where I almost didn't finish.

Mr. Healy can't pronounce Portuguese

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When I started this book, all I knew about Brazil were the cliches of carnival, violent favelas, and rain-forest destruction. Sixteen and a half hours later, I feel I have a much better grounding about this vast, diverse and often contradictory nation: that is so little discussed in the west. The author has an obvious deep interest in the country, has interviewed most of its leading figures in over the past two decades, and does a great job of outlining the historical forces that have shaped it, as well as bringing out the challenges and opportunities it faces going forward.

There is a strong focus in the second half of the book on recent economics, unsurprising when you know the author is a writer for the "Economist" magazine. This suited me just fine as I'm more than usually interested in such things, but it may exhaust the patience of a general reader. I would however have liked a bit more "colour commentary" about Brazil's people and culture. There is precious little about the daily lives of its inhabitants beyond the broad categorizations of different social classes.

The narrator is decent.

Great guide to a fascinating country.

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Good comprehensive account of Brazils history, economic story and touch upon geopolitics, but narrator is so painfully British ( poor at pronouncing Portuguese words) and dry in his delivery, it almost makes you question the validity authors words (I know they are separate people). Would suggest buying the book not listening to it.

Good story and detail, horrid narration

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