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The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The Latin America Readers) Paperback – January 16, 2003
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
This massive compilation of articles, essays, poetry, and photographs provides a wonderful introduction to the history and culture of Mexico. Joseph and Henderson are both historians with extensive backgrounds in Latin American and Mexican history. They have selected an eclectic mix of writers, many of them Mexican, including Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz. Topics range from the origins and growth of the Aztec Empire to the causes of the Mexican Revolution to the problems facing modern Mexico. There are well-thought-out political tracts here, as well as screeds against political corruption and economic exploitation that drip with outrage. What emerges is a portrait of the "many Mexicos" in which the wealthy, the growing middle class, and the impoverished indigenous peoples are all struggling to find their place in an exciting and rapidly changing land. This work is ideal for general readers, and one hopes it will encourage many to read and learn more about this important and diverse nation. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
”For any journey through Mexican history, politics, social movements, and popular culture, travelers should start with this fascinating collection. Expertly edited and translated, each document adds to the rich landscape and each is cogently introduced to the reader. The perfect source book for any college course on Mexico from the Aztecs and Mayas to the 21st century.”—John H. Coatsworth, Harvard University
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By
Jack Epperson
on November 29, 2007
Format: Paperback
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Different and refreshing approach to Mexican history. Insightful and informative selections from both well known and more obscure original sources. Sections are brief and on point. Excellent bedside book. Outstanding as a stand alone work and valuable as a reference to more complete treatment of subjects you find particularly interesting. Balanced and objective. Best work on Mexico I've read in quite some time.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By
Rafae Furlong
on December 21, 2008
Format: Paperback
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If I had known this book before I could have helped my students a lot better than I did. Why do I like this book so much? Because it is a very
wise selection of a very wide variety of texts about Mexican history and culture. It is a great anthology that will give its readers a very good picture of Mexican Culture. The authors chosen are excellent. If you are a student or a teacher of Mexican Culture, this is a book you should read. Moreover, for those of you that only want to reach the Medieval ideal: Mixing learning and enjoyment, this is also a book for you.
Dr. Rafael Furlong De la G. (PhD Litt.)
wise selection of a very wide variety of texts about Mexican history and culture. It is a great anthology that will give its readers a very good picture of Mexican Culture. The authors chosen are excellent. If you are a student or a teacher of Mexican Culture, this is a book you should read. Moreover, for those of you that only want to reach the Medieval ideal: Mixing learning and enjoyment, this is also a book for you.
Dr. Rafael Furlong De la G. (PhD Litt.)
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By
Eric
on January 25, 2009
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The Mexico Reader is a compilation of essays, where you hear/read the authors voices, not the 21st century's historians point of view. What I enjoyed most about this book was the historian's selection of essays dealing with the same time period. Quite often they would chose very compelling essays showing opposite ends of the political discussion. That I found refreshing!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
James F. Natter
on January 11, 2012
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The wonderful historical anecdotes -- Villa's and Zapata's`meeting the night before their triumphant march into Mexico city, Cortez's own recount of his first meeting with Montezuma -- are worth the price of the book. But, it's the book's contribution to a person's attempt to understand Mexico's highly complex culture, that is (for me) what makes it so powerful. The editors demonstrate their skill in their selection of the first three essays: the first by a Mexican basher that's filled with sterotypes that unfortunately form the basis for the many misconceptions held by Mexico's neighbors to the north; the second is by a Mexican nut who can't decide whether he hates or admires the US, and holds racial views that are as radical as those of Adolph Hitler; the third essay is by the nobel laureate, Octavio Paz. When I saw his name, I immediately realized what the editors were getting at -- give the readers a nut from each side of the fringe and then give them a distinguished voice of reason. But, the editors surprise us by selecting an essay by Paz that is soley dedicated to the significance of the verb chingar (to f***) within the Mexican culture. The essay is brilliant, but it does nothing to dispel the craziness of the first two. In summary, this is a book that not only informs but, more importantly, makes one think! I treasure it.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By
Roger Whitehouse
on January 30, 2010
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Mexico's history in bite size chunks, and with plent of meat. Cannot recommend this book too higly. Nearly 800 pages containing close to 100 essays and excerpts, all carefully chosen and very readable, cover Mexico's history from the bad old heart-ripping-out days through the machinations of modern politics. While this kind of book can so often be dry and mind-numbing, this collection is fresh and fascinating, partly because of the varying viewpoints and writing style of the many authors.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By
lawrence david farrell
on February 20, 2013
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The foundational source for serious scholars of Mexican history. At over 750 pp, it is an endless font of information from scholarly works to the words of 'ordinary' people. Rich in primary source materials, from ships logs, Native accounts, personal correspondences; a real treasure trove. Not for the faint of heart.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Laura Whatley
on January 22, 2013
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The person I bought this for loves it. He is very well-read on the subject of Mexico so I consider him the best possible judge of this book. He said he loves it, and I observed that he can't put it down.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Al Price
on November 1, 2012
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I love history, so I was intrigued when I read the promo for this book. It lives up to everything said about it. Also arrived earlier than anticipated. Thanks. ---- Al
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