Mexico : Biography of Power

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious - too ambitious!
Review: Krauze writes a BIG BOOK, but even almost 900 pages can't really do justice to 500+ years of history, although the focus is from 1810 - 1996. The concept is interesting. Mexico has, perhaps more than any other country, been influenced by the personalities and individual traits of its leaders. Therefore, this book looks at the leaders' backgrounds, upbringing, fortunes and misfortunes, and attempts to draw a comparison between events in their formative period and how they effected their rule, all done in "biographical style". Well, OK. But this may be taking amateur psychology a little far. A very frustrating part of the book is the Revolution. Given the number of rulers during this time period, a biography of any one of them naturally has to include reference to 3 or 4 others. However, as these 3 or 4 others have not had their biographies told yet in the book, then reference to them is confusing to say the least. Unless you're already an expert in Mexican history, this book is quite confusing and realy needs to be read twice. The biography format, however, makes histroy far more fun to read. Finally, if you know Spanish you'll realize that the English translation is fairly suspect in places.

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious - too ambitious!
Review: Krauze writes a BIG BOOK, but even almost 900 pages can't really do justice to 500+ years of history. The concept is interesting. Mexico has, perhaps more than any other country, been influenced by the personalities and individual traits of its leaders. Therefore, this book looks at the leaders' backgrounds, upbringing, fortunes and misfortunes, and attempts to draw a comparison between events in their formative period and how they effected their rule, all done in "biographical style". Well, OK. But this may be taking amateur psychology a little far. A very frustrating part of the book is the Revolution. Given the number of rulers during this time period, a biography of any one of them naturally has to include reference to 3 or 4 others. However, as these 3 or 4 others have not had their biographies told yet in the book, then reference to them is confusing to say the least. Unless you're already an expert in Mexican history, this book is quite confusing and realy needs to be read twice. The biography format, however, makes histroy far more fun to read.

Rating:
Summary: Deep understanding of Mexico's History
Review: Krauze's book is insightful and full of anecdote. It will surely be the guideline to follow for years to come while dealing with the tough job of understanding a complex country.

Rating:
Summary: Too Many Dots, Not Enough Lines
Review: Portions of this book are fascinating. But there's a problem -- too many portions. The historical timeline is supposed to connect all these "dots" that cover hundreds of years and numerous social movements. As you near the 20th century, you realize too much is in this work -- people, years, personal biographies. It's a good era-related reference or outline. But tackling this book from cover-to-cover is a difficult, concentrated task -- where earlier chapters receive little allusion, and the brief historical bio's get awfully monotonous.

Rating:
Summary: G-R-E-A-T ! ! !
Review: The emphasis and focus on history makes this book a MUST if one is interested to acquire knowledge of Mexican politics.

Rating:
Summary: Excellente overview of Mexico's power brokers
Review: This book is both scholarly and entertaining to read. The profile of Mexico's past leaders are not just retreads for insighful observations that uncover little known facts aboutt these almost mythological figures. Great book for anyone interested in finding out how Mexico got to be what it is today.

Rating:
Summary: best Mexican history
Review: This book was recommended to me by a Mexican political jounalist. Using the Big Man theory of history, which really applies to Mexico in spades, Krauze provides tremendous insights into the how and why of current Mexican national policy and felings through a well written biography of each of the important charaters in Mexican HIstory. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Readable and Excellent history of leading Mexican figures
Review: Using biographies of Mexican leaders, the author takes us from pre-independence Mexico to today. It offers a real insight into Mexican politics and the problems the current administration faces. Surprisingly readable for an "academic" book.

Rating:
Summary: Readable and Excellent history of leading Mexican figures
Review: Using biographies of Mexican leaders, the author takes us from pre-independence Mexico to today. It offers a real insight into Mexican politics and the problems the current administration faces. Surprisingly readable for an "academic" book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent to fill in the gaps of the "official" history
Review: Very good review of Mexican history following the leaders of the country since Independence. You can notice the effort to be impartial.