Brazil: A Biography
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Brazil: A Biography Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 161 ratings
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For many Americans, Brazil is a land of contradictions: vast natural resources and entrenched corruption; extraordinary wealth and grinding poverty; beautiful beaches and violence-torn favelas. Brazil occupies a vivid place in the American imagination, and yet it remains largely unknown.

In an extraordinary journey that spans 500 years, from European colonization to the 2016 Summer Olympics, Lilia M. Schwarcz and Heloisa M. Starling's Brazil offers a rich, dramatic history of this complex country. The authors not only reconstruct the epic story of the nation, but follow the shifting byways of food, art, and popular culture; the plights of minorities; and the ups and downs of economic cycles.

Drawing on a range of original scholarship in history, anthropology, political science, and economics, Schwarcz and Starling reveal a long process of unfinished social, political, and economic progress and struggle, a story in which the troubled legacy of the mixing of races and postcolonial political dysfunction persists to this day.

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  1. Listening Length
    28 hours and 27 minutes
  2. Author
    Lilia M. Schwarcz, see all
  3. Narrator
    Sarah Mollo-Christensen
  4. Audible release date
    January 17, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Tantor Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07LGGSMG5
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 28 hours and 27 minutes
Author Lilia M. Schwarcz, Heloisa M. Starling
Narrator Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 17, 2019
Publisher Tantor Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07LGGSMG5
Best Sellers Rank #151,708 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#53 in South American History (Audible Books & Originals)
#77 in Brazilian History
#96 in General Brazil Travel Guides

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
161 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Leonick
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
A wonderful journey through Brazilian history and culture written by two of the country’s best historians. Truly illuminating. A real joy to read.

If you read only one book about Brazil, make sure it’s this one!
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MandoPando
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Excellent Book on Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2022
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It is shameful that a book like this will never be made again probably on the United States

Excellent book
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Nbeltran
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Analysis of Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
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The book does a great job talking about the politics and culture of brazil. The progression through the year was smooth and interesting.
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Renata
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful authored Biography of Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2019
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It was a very well written book with an in-depth look at the history of Brazil.
One person found this helpful
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ed33037
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2018
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For those that are interested and thorough history of Brazil from it’s discovery through 2017, this is your go to source
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Biography about Brazil
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book! I listen to the CD in my car.
One person found this helpful
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Rob
3.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but not a particularly interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020
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This book is an odd cat, in that it includes a ton of details most people won't care about, and casually glosses over some things that could be viewed as critical.

The beginning uses a lot of melodramatic phrasing, and successfully crosses the line between introspection and self-hatred. Later, the wording drops off, but the overzealous introspection remains. I grabbed this book to get an idea about what makes Brazil tick, and this is in my opinion wrong book to do that. Good if you are charting political parties and martyrs, though.
7 people found this helpful
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THT
1.0 out of 5 stars Disorganized & poorly written
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
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Couldn't make it to 100 pages despite being an avid history reader. I should have checked the author's credentials first, because you can really tell this was not written by a historian. After spending the first 15 pages establishing her politically correct race- and class-consciousness, the book aimlessly wanders and jumps around repeating itself without any sense of historical narrative and aimless digressions into the nature of religious belief, the history of European fashion and sugar consumption, etc. etc. I'm keen to learn about the history of Brazil, and I could tell this book wouldn't get me there. Avoid!
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great start for beginners to Brazil
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2021
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For anyone interested in learning about Brazil's extensive history this book is a great foundation to start on. It begins from the beginning of European discovery and goes to modern times. Although it's a big book and some parts are a bit long winded due to the translation challenges it is still a very good and detailed book. I found myself reading the book fairly fast, fascinated by the content and straightforward writing style. Highly recommended!
One person found this helpful
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Pierfrancesco Pagella
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book overall
Reviewed in Italy on July 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
The authors really convey both the "classic" history as succession of events and people, as well as a clear portrait of the social reality of Brazil throughout its history.
Absolutely recommended.
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Easton W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2019
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Brought this as a present for my wife at Christmas and she hasn't put it down yet she lived in Brazil for many years did not realise how great Brazil was and how challenging the society was so best book I bought in ages
4 people found this helpful
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Montreal, Canada
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book
Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2019
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I love this book about Brazil. A fascinating journey of wonder and discovery of this beautiful and exotic country.
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Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly rewarding book for those who want to discover the history of this fascinating country
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
Great book. Well-researched, offers a vivid insight into a country with a colourful and painful history. Don’t expect a tourist guide with lots of pictures. But greatly rewarding all the same.
One person found this helpful
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