Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 327
EAN: 9780307391650
ISBN: 0307391655
Label: Random House Mondadori
Manufacturer: Random House Mondadori
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 300
Publication Date: 2007-10-23
Publisher: Random House Mondadori
Release Date: 2007-10-23
Studio: Random House Mondadori

“Once again, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Andres
Oppenheimer shows his deep understanding of the dramatic
changes in Latin America, and the impact of America’s ongoing
indifference to the region. For anyone seeking to understand Latin
America’s re-emerging populism and the effects of this
administration’s disastrous foreign policy in the region, this book
is a must read. Oppenheimer gives his readers hope for a new
vision in Latin America.”
—Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico

This new book out in October illustrates in detail how the current administration’s policy towards Latin America is actually creating the very immigration issues President Bush is fighting to solve. Saving the Americas: The Dangerous Decline of Latin America…and What the U.S. Must Do, by Pulitzer-prive co-winner and The Miami Herald sundicated columnist Andres Oppenheimer, highlights the Bush administration’s failure to reach out to its own neighbors in order to create a stable environment for the people of the United States.

“When it comes to everyday issues that affect most Americans —whether immigration, trade, the environment or, increasingly, energy— no region in the world has a bigger impact on the United States than Latin America,” writes Oppenheimer.

As an acknowledged expert on Latin America, Oppenheimer uses his experience and reporting skills to show how this region is becoming increasingly less important on the world stage, and the resulting negative effects on the lives of Americans. “This book began as a message to Latin Americans about the decline of their region into global irrelevance. But it soon became clear to me that what I was learning was equally
important to people in the United States,” says Oppenheimer. “Though less apparent to most Americans —and less costly— than its blunders elsewhere in the world, the Bush Administration was making major mistakes in Latin America, among other things by declaring the region a major U.S. priority while ignoring it almost entirely, and reflexively pushing free trade as if that alone would ensure hemispheric prosperity.”

Oppenheimer traveled to China, India, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland and more than a dozen Latin American countries to see first-hand what is pushing some nations ahead and others back. And in his characteristic style – mixing travel anecdotes, humor and political analysis – he came to surprising conclusion: that despite its current troubles, Latin America can rise from economic and political obscurity, to become a booming market and an influential player in world affairs.


The Spanish-language version of Saving the Americas: The Dangerous Decline of Latin America…and What the U.S. Must Do (Cuentos Chinos) has sold nearly 200,000 copies throughout Latin America and made the region to take a hard look at itself. Costa Rican President and Nobel Prize laureate Oscar Arias has called Oppenheimer's book "A landmark work...that politicians, academics, journalists and other leaders will be citing for years to come," and former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso describred it as "a must-read."
Now the English version is set to cause the same reaction within the United States.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Quick, Simple read
Comment: Easy to read and to understand, this timely book sums up the major issues currently faced by Latin America. Although the author makes it clear that the book is not written as essays, the chapters and sections read very much in that way. I usually do not like this type of structure; however, I take exception in this case. Mr. Oppenheimer's comfortable and non-academic tone makes this text accessible to this most important issue which most certainly should be understood by a wide audience.
My criticism of the book are few, but must be made clear to potential consumers. First, as mentioned before, this is a non-academic text. The author relies heavily on second-hand resources. His objective is to only to bring the major themes, ideas, and events and provide commentary on them, which he does well. So, if considering buying this book be aware that that this book is non-academic and not appropriate for research.
Secondly, I found the title of the book misleading. The book is a translation of an earlier work in Spanish which carries a different and more appropriate title: "Cuentos Chinos" (Chinese Stories). Oppenheimer spends a considerable amount of time contrasting Latin Americas struggle with its economies and democratization to Eastern Asia. Little mention is actually made about the U.S. with few exceptions. The author provides a "prologue" and an "afterword" to the North American edition, but that is it. Therefore, the subtitle that reads "...and what the U.S. Must Do" should more correctly read "...what the World Must Do" because it certainly isn't written specifically for the U.S.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Latin America must rise again
Comment: This book is a revolution in the making, a quo vidas, or 'E Tu Brute' to the Latin American states demanding, J'Accuse like, why they are failing and how they deserve to suceed on the world stage. Latin America is one of the great cultures of the world, with a diverse and brilliant history and yet, oddly, it is one a continent that is considered a sort of backyard, a place where nothing matter and little happens. Why is this? How can this be reversed. The only thing one hears about Latin America are complaints from tin pot dictators like Chavez when they show up at international gatherings and get in shouting matches with the United States or Spanish Royalty. But what of the great economies of Latin America, what of the potential it has to teach the world?

A fascinating book that deserves to be read and re-read. A translation from the Spanish, it is a must buy.

Seth J. Frantzman

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Customer Rating:
Summary: most interesting book in years!
Comment: This is the best book on Latin American affairs I have read in a long time. That's because instead of simply looking at the region, like most authors do, Oppenheimer compares Latin America's development with that of Asia, Eastern Europe and even Africa. I wish more authors would do this kind of comparative work, because it shows how Latin America, despite growing at 5 percent rates a year, is falling behind the rest of the developing world.And on top of it, it's a very entertaining book!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Important reading
Comment: I first read this in Spanish and am now reading it in English. It is a crucial book for U.S. readers to have and to help them know about the issues facing the U.S. in Latin America. --Kenneth D. MacHarg, author, From Rio to the Rio Grande, Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America From Rio to the Rio Grande: Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America

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Customer Rating:
Summary: TGood commentary on US - Latin American Relations
Comment: Saving the Americas: The Dangerous Decline of Latin America and What The U.S. Must Do
Good commentary on many problems in Latin America with pointed suggestions as to actions the US can take to help the LA Region, as well as ourselves.
Good insight into Latin American politics

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