Brazil

By: Michael Reid

Narrated by: Michael Healy

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

Critic Reviews

"A thorough study deeply informed by on-the-ground reporting." ( Kirkus)

Terrific read and listen

Very insightful and comprehensive work on a fascination nation that is Brazil.... must read for those with an interest in emerging nations of the world

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good short history of Brazil, lame pronunciation

This is definitely a good book on Brazil, but as other reviewers mentioned, the reader’s pronunciation of Portuguese/Brazilian names and words is pathetic and distracting, at least for those who know the right pronunciation.

Mr. Healy obviously did not take the care and regard to try to learn at least the approximation. It’s almost like he intends to butcher it throughout the book.

Very good and informative

The book is comprehensive and we'll written. It reveals the main virtues and vices of Brazilian society and it's origins.

A comprehensive history

The information was very thorough. However, not all events stayed in chronological order, which made it confusing at times. The narrator could have used some coaching on how to properly pronounce the Portuguese terminology and names, but, overall it was a very enjoyable experience and I learned a lot about the background of the problems Brazil faces today.

2016 is a perfect time to read/listen to this.

If you could sum up Brazil in three words, what would they be?

Complex, Relevant, Enticing

What did you like best about this story?

The reading was solid, and as an audio listen, it worked well.

Which scene was your favorite?

Lula and Dilma Rouseff relationship

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Lula's childhood was grim - shaped his politics.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Mr. Healy can't pronounce Portuguese

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great guide to a fascinating country.

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.