A RICH AND REVEALING PORTRAIT OF A COUNTRY ON THE CUTTING EDGE
An alluring land famous for samba, soccer, supermodels, and stunning tropical beaches, Brazil was described as “paradise on earth” by its first Portuguese explorers. Its annual Carnival is known the world over for its Dionysian revelry, and its Amazon rainforest is considered one of the planet’s most precious resources. Yet nature’s gifts have not always spelled national prosperity: two decades ago Brazil had a crippling debt and was emerging from a military dictatorship that censored journalists and oppressed dissenters. Today Brazil is not only the world’s eighth largest economy with a vibrant democracy; it has achieved energy independence, and its discovery of the largest oil field thus far this century should soon make it a major energy exporter. With its successful bid as host for the 2016 Olympics and the soccer World Cup in 2014, Brazil is at last ready to take its place on the global stage. What led to the transformation?
In this rich and textured account, New York Times reporter Larry Rohter gives us the definitive look at the country’s amazing rebirth. As the paper’s bureau chief in Rio, Rohter had a front-row seat for many of the dramatic changes that have unfolded in Brazil in recent years. Through interviews with every important political, business, cultural, and religious leader on the scene, Rohter delivers a sharp and fresh account of the country’s rapid and radical changes, uncovering:
An alluring land famous for samba, soccer, supermodels, and stunning tropical beaches, Brazil was described as “paradise on earth” by its first Portuguese explorers. Its annual Carnival is known the world over for its Dionysian revelry, and its Amazon rainforest is considered one of the planet’s most precious resources. Yet nature’s gifts have not always spelled national prosperity: two decades ago Brazil had a crippling debt and was emerging from a military dictatorship that censored journalists and oppressed dissenters. Today Brazil is not only the world’s eighth largest economy with a vibrant democracy; it has achieved energy independence, and its discovery of the largest oil field thus far this century should soon make it a major energy exporter. With its successful bid as host for the 2016 Olympics and the soccer World Cup in 2014, Brazil is at last ready to take its place on the global stage. What led to the transformation?
In this rich and textured account, New York Times reporter Larry Rohter gives us the definitive look at the country’s amazing rebirth. As the paper’s bureau chief in Rio, Rohter had a front-row seat for many of the dramatic changes that have unfolded in Brazil in recent years. Through interviews with every important political, business, cultural, and religious leader on the scene, Rohter delivers a sharp and fresh account of the country’s rapid and radical changes, uncovering:
- As Brazil continues its meteoric rise, this is an authoritative guide to understanding a country that will be a major player on the world stage in the years ahead.
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