The Latino Studies Reader: Culture, Economy, and Society

Rating:
Summary: An excellent collection of Essays on Latinos in the U.S.
Review: Most collections on Latinos in the United States suffer form a number of problems. Most notably the absense of specific groups and critical perspectives seems to plague many Latino readers. Therefore Darder and Torres are to be commended for putting together an excellent collection which is both inclusive and rigorous. The dynamics of social class, geography, gender and race as they operate among different Latino groups in the United States are treated in innovative ways. Much of the existant scholarship on Latinos is effectively surpassed and new paths for research and study are suggested by several authors. A case in point is the devastating critique of how race among Puerto Ricans in the U.S.has been treated by traditional mainstream scholars within Puerto Rican Studies, and the need to move beyond limiting perspectives such as the Rainbow conception of race. This collection is a welcome addition to the field of Latino Studies.