Fantasy Island

Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico

By: Ed Morales

Narrated by: Sean Duffy

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A crucial, clear-eyed accounting of Puerto Rico's 122 years as a colony of the US.

Since its acquisition by the US in 1898, Puerto Rico has served as a testing ground for the most aggressive and exploitative US economic, political, and social policies. The devastation that ensued finally grew impossible to ignore in 2017, in the wake of Hurricane María, as the physical destruction compounded the infrastructure collapse and trauma inflicted by the debt crisis. In Fantasy Island, Ed Morales traces how, over the years, Puerto Rico has served as a colonial satellite, a Cold War Caribbean showcase, a dumping ground for US manufactured goods, and a corporate tax shelter. He also shows how it has become a blank canvas for mercenary experiments in disaster capitalism on the frontlines of climate change, hamstrung by internal political corruption and the US federal government's prioritization of outside financial interests.

Taking listeners from San Juan to New York City and back to his family's home in the Luquillo Mountains, Morales shows us the machinations of financial and political interests in both the US and Puerto Rico, and the resistance efforts of Puerto Rican artists and activists. Through it all, he emphasizes that the only way to stop Puerto Rico from being bled is to let Puerto Ricans take control of their own destiny, going beyond the statehood-commonwealth-independence debate to complete decolonization.

©2019 Ed Morales (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The hurricanes, the debt, the depopulation. Ed Morales has written an urgent, fascinating, and impassioned portrait of Puerto Rico, the world's oldest colony." (Daniel Immerwahr, author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States)

"Ed Morales has put together a compelling indictment of U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico, based on journalistic and academic sources as well as his personal experiences as a New York-born Puerto Rican who cares deeply about his ancestral homeland. His work is an engaging, compassionate, well-documented, and crisply written analysis of the political, economic, and demographic downturn of the Island, after more than a decade of economic recession and almost two years since hurricane Maria." (Jorge Duany, author of Puerto Rico: What Everyone Needs to Know)

I had no idea...

I sincerely loved this book. I love Puerto Rico, the people I've met there, and overall everything I've ever known about the island... but, I had no idea at the severity of the issues at hand. I definitely feel as if the "Fantasy" part was talking to me directly even. I'm simply blown away at the level of problems that island faces. For those interested in these types of books, it's well worth the listen. Enjoy!

wow just wow

I was thoroughly impressed. very informative. well written. Pa'lante mi gente!!! required reading for all Puertorriqueños

👁🇵🇷👁

Heartbreaking saga with no end in sight. People kept divided over legal status. Independence is a long way off.

Gringo Narrattion

The content of this audiobook would have been better served by having the Author narrate his own book instead using gringo narrator who’s attempt at pronouncing Latin words took away from my passion to connect author and his message.

confusing take aways

the social side of the book is very informative, but as the book creeps on the economic side it doesn't know how to assign blame, responsibility or understanding. At some points, it acknowledged that the government has been corrupt and incompetent, but then does a 180 and blames neo liberalism for the situation and government you have more control. All of this while arguing against the US government and for it to intervene and leave alone.

Very informative book I hope more people Listen

I think if you're interested in learning about Puerto Rico, is empty economic situation, it's political situation come this is the book for you

The Island of Puerto Rico/La Isla del Encanto

A well meaning overview of the problems and obstacles facing Puerto Rico. The author addresses many of the fundamental problems and offers general solutions. Unfortunately the author drowns himself in negativity and very left wing politics that have never been sought by the vast majority of the people of Puerto Rico. I'll leave it to my family, friends, and people living in Puerto Rico to decide the future of the island.

Needed just a bit more fluency...

Loved it! it was very informative. Though I wish the narrator was more fluent in Spanish so as not to mispronounce words or mess up names of groups like Calle 13 that is actually read Calle Trece NOT "Calle Thirteen." There were also one too many times where the reading was obvious and run-on.

Left Wing Based. Anti American

Very left wing based book. I was looking for a history of Puerto Rico book. Found a anti American one.

A lot of insight but Extremely biased

I just finished listening to this audiobook and for some context I am a puerto rican male and I was born and lived in Puerto Rico for 22 years and the book does show a lot of insight into the problems of the island but at the same time and a big negative is that the author is extremely biased towards left leaning politics. And also I have never heard a real 1st generation puerto rican called himself a Latin X just saying