Central America Books

Is radio doomed by the Internet? When was its golden age? Is it a triumph of capitalist business or government planning?

In the course of telling tale after absorbing tale, Jesse Walker answers these questions and dozens of others in "Rebels on the Air."

Unlike most people who talk on the radio, however, Walker writing about radio doesn't come across as a simpleton. He is a very thoughtful appreciator of excellence as well as a fine diagnostician of failure. He understands the theory of radio as a business enterprise, and is unencumbered by a narrow ideology. He knows what happened; he is a master of fact. And he has insight into what might have happened; he is the master of the counterfactual. Further, being informed and no fool, he is as reliable prophet as any; it pays to listen to what he says.

From the beginnings of radio as point-to-point communication through its strange evolution to broadcasting, winding up in recent dispensations of "piracy," micro radio, community radio, and even the Citizens Band, Walker ushers the reader through a rogue's gallery of fascinating revolutionaries. Radio, it turns out, is not just a humdrum affair. It has featured strange people saying odd, perceptive and occasionally wise things, playing music other than top 40 or classical warhorses, turning listeners on their ears.

To most people, commercial radio and NPR delimit the narrow confines of the medium: to these, Walker's history will come as a revelation. To the knowing few who have heard (or at least heard of) Firesign Theater or Jean Shepherd or The Crazy Cajun Show, Walker is a sensible surveyor of diversity on radio, the ideal defender of both idiosyncratic entertainment and responsible "enlightenment."

Radio may usually be boring, but Walker's book is not. For anyone who cares about the medium or its messages, "Rebels on the Air" is indispensable.

So many other radio 'history' books just tell you all about what programs were on which corporate network and which DJs were indicted for payola -- without bothering to explore how radio broadcasting came about, where the innovations came from, and how and why most of the current spectrum has become so bland in the last twenty years. Jesse Walker gets into all this and more: he gives just about the best and most complete history of radio broadcasting's *true* pioneers, from spark-gap to internet: the underground and alternative radio movement. I thought I knew a lot about the subject (at least regarding pre-1980 radio), but Walker's book has five times more in it than I even knew existed -- and extends right to the end of the 1990s. I highly recommend this book!

I was first introduced to this book through a children's literature class years ago. It later became one of my daughter's favorite books. The pictures are well done and eye-catching. I'd highly recommend the book either as part of a classroom library or as part of a home children's library.

I especially like that the story is just a matter-of-fact story that happens to be in Puerto Rico. It's a good multicultural story that isn't focused on any any perspective, it's just telling a story. Highly recommended!

This is a great book about how villagers helped slave runaways to hide and start a new life. It has beautiful illustrations, good humor and it's based on historical facts. My daughter loves it!!

I bought this book out of my interest in Indian literature, but found that it resonated as deeply with my non-Indian womaness. Simple and clear, the writings take you all over the place and bring you back to yourself. Thanks to my Indian sisters.

I teach Native American literature. Since the publication of this book I have been unable to exclude it from my syllabus. Students almost unanimously have endorsed this choice, even when they had to shell out the money for the hardcover. Now that it is in paperback, no one should exclude it.

I only regret that an anthology of similar quality of organization, focus, and selection does not exist for male and female Native writers.

This is the best book so far on recent political developments in South America. Although concise at 249 pages, it provides answers to the most important questions raised and a fair and objective interpretation of well documented events. Having lived and worked in Ecuador and followed political developments there over the past five years, I can attest to the accuracy of the data presented and the clarity and objectivity of the interpretations. One might not consider these developments "revolutionary", but Kozloff describes them accurately and well.

This book is packed with information about the changing social and political situation in 6 major South American countries. Personal observations and reflections are woven throughout, as well as interviews with a wide range of characters. The sea change in our hemisphere is one of the major events of this time in history, but has been largely ignored or misunderstood by our media. Revolution: South America and the Rise of the New Left is an invaluable contribution to a discussion which has just begun.

Having been touched by a previous story by Mr. Figueredo, I recently added this one to my collection.

This story underlines the challenges that a lot of cuban children experienced during and after the cuban revolution. Politics aside, it emphasizes world experiences through a child's eyes.

For children, all that is experienced is an adventure. It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized the elements of danger that I went through growing up in a country going through political turmoil.

Great story, beautifully illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla. The illustrations reminded me so much of the memories I have of my land of birth. Don't miss sharing this information with your children.

Reading Mr. Figueredo's book was a delight! All through the book I felt as if I was there with him experiencing everything he went through as he and his family traveled to Santiago. I even had to feel my chin after he received his bunelo from his abuela. I was sure it was going to be sticky from the dripping honey! I don't have any children but this was a delightful book to read and I highly recommend it. I bought this book for my mom and she said she felt the same way..."I felt I was there." I am a proud owner of 3 of Mr. Figueredo's books and a giver of them to my family as gifts.

Bought this book for research, a lot to read, all photos are black and white.

The interviews are what stand out more than anything. The conversation between Smithson and Kaprow is really worth checking out. Anyone who will be having a show of their own should at the very least flip through this book. Also sheds some light into Smithson's early work (some text based things and a few paintings and so forth). Who would have thought that it would be a fun read too?
This is the kind of collection you can return to again and again.

Detailed and thorough, full of entertaining anecdotes andtranscriptions of correspondence; covers major political figures aswell as tribespeople.

This book was wonderful. I love hearing about the history of my tribe (Siletz). Also, the author included information about my great-great-great grandfather Charlie Depoe. I learned about my own family from this book. I cried to see a picture of my ancestor for the first time ever. I thank you E.A. Schwartz for putting together such a comprehensive piece of what is essentially a very important, yet small piece of history for many American Indians. I waited patiently for years for this story to be told. Now I can pass this piece of history on to my children and all of their children. Thank you.

We found this guide very helpful in planning our trip, especially in finding a few off the beaten path spots.

I got this book on a reccomendation from the Toucan Trail, A budget traveler's online guide to Belize. I have to say that this is the most comprehensive guide for vacationers that I have ever seen. I had to wait a while for the most receent edition, but it was worth it. Topics that hadn't even occured to me to research are included here (thank gawd!). The book even covers traveling into Guatemala to vist the ruins at Tikal. If you only buy one guide for your trip to Belize, this should be the one.

A great book to start with. We bought First-Time Asia before we took off to Asia for 6 months and it was extremely useful to help with all the planning and decide where we wanted to go. This time we know we want to go to Latin America but have no idea how south we will go or what so this book is great for the rampant changing of minds that occurs while we plan trips bc the information is so broad and covers everything. But it's just the basics. You will need a guide for each country you go to to take with you (we usually buy them used and trade them in when we arrive). Leave this one at home.

I bought this book when I first began planning my trip to Latin America. I hadn't ever been to the region and wanted to know as much about it as possible. When I bought the book, my prior travels included the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and I knew that Latin America would be a bit different! It's a great book for travelers planning a first trip to Central or South America, and also a great guide for first-time travelers in general. I think people of any age would find this book helpful, too--it's information that any traveler will find useful.

There is a chapter on each country in the region with highlights to consider visiting, plus practical information on what to take, how to get around, routes to consider, visas, health, safety, and lots more. It's not a book you will probably take with you when you leave, but one you'll want to read in the beginning or mid-stages of planning your adventure. It'll answer a lot of your questions and concerns and help you have a better idea of what to expect.

I'm definitely glad I bought and read this book as it prepared me well for my three month adventure in Central America and addressed many of my concerns and questions. Recommended for everyone considering or planning a trip to Latin America.