This book is one of the most bias and harmful books ever written on Latin America. The only reason for his success would be it was written in the midst of the Cold War, with the support of all the comunist propoganda. The book have no depth and lacks the most basic historical, economic and social analysis. Written by a bunch of second-rate writers, it hardly scratch the surface, limiting itself to play the victim's role some leaders like Hugo Chavez are trying to play today. There're many serious books out there to waste time with this one. If you're interested with the subject, maybe you should start with a history one, like "The two empires of América".

I tried to read this trash-book,here in Brazil, about twenty years ago.This book is so bad, that I never finished it.The author is a marxist and knowed faker, ridiculous and Fidel Castro's friend.
The core's idea of this trash book is the fantasy that Latin America became poor, from outside exploration and capitalism.
Nonsense believe.
Before latin America be discovered, slavery, human sacrifice and canibalism were normal day life for all latin-americans.About 98% of indians were unliterate, before european discovery.For the feminists, I must tell that women were sexual's products and work's source in the fake "paradises".I won't discuss massive human sacrifice, slavery,genocides, massives extintion of animals(such as mamouth) maden by "good savages" more.I must tell you that latin American was far worse before european influence, than today.
The fact that capitalism or exploration be, the source of latin-american's poverty is also absurd.Since colonial times, government's taxes, controls, government's robbery are normal in latin America.And this happens centuries ago.
Latin American is poor not from capitalism or exploration, but the lack of them.The most socialist country in Latin America is Cuba, and this the poorest of latin american countries.At the same time, the most capitalist country in Latin America is Chile, who also has the best quality of life.
This book is one of the biggests sources of latin American moronic believes.The autho itself is an expert in ridiculous books.

This book must and has to be read in conjunction with
"Confessions of an Economic Hitman", which talks about how US and western corporations purposely wreck, penalize, and destroy third world nation's economies and societies. Then you get the full view, one from the side of the nations that are effected, and one from a former agent who had a hand in the destruction. Oh yes, and it's still not complete without "The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and it's Geostrategic Imperatives", by Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the main founders of neocon, and really, corporate domination through government thought.

When you put everything together, yes, you will be either very very angry, or very very sad. I was both.

'We are poor, because they are rich'. This book is the bible of the perfect latin american idiot