Books About Latin America Recommended by Latin Americans
Latin America is often neglected by the global economy and in politics, but after studying for three months in Bogotá, learning so much about its history, entrepreneurship, capitalism, and sustainability issues, and having first-hand experiences working and interacting with local people, I have to say Latin America is a truly magical place. A land with a tragic history, but also full of hope, passion, and happiness!
I have been struggling to pen down this magical, bitter-sweet experience, so I turned to what we love most in GLOCAL — BOOKS! I will let these amazing Latin American authors tell you about their homes and stories!
Below, I have collected recommended books from my Latin American GLOCAL friends and Los Andes professors to help readers understand more about this amazing region. If you are traveling to Bogota for the third semester, it’s recommended to read some of these books to get yourself prepared. But even if you are not going to Colombia during your third semester, these books will certainly take you there!
Colombian History
Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society
Author: Frank Safford and Marco Palacios
First Published Year: 2001
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
Between Legitimacy and Violence: A History of Colombia, 1875–2002
Author: Marco Palacios
First Published Year: 2006
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
Marijuana Boom: The Rise and Fall of Colombia’s First Drug Paradise
Author: Lina Britto
First Published Year: 2020
Recommended by: Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)
Latin American History, Culture, and Politics
The Economic History of Latin America since Independence
Author: Victor Bulmer-Thomas
First Published Year: 1995
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina) Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)
Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America
Author: John Charles Chasteen
First Published Year: 2000
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
Latin America: The Allure and Power of an Idea
Editor: Mauricio Tenorio-Trillo
First Published Year: 2017
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
“For a discussion of the idea of Latin America (cultural studies)”
Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations
Editor: James A. Wood and John Charles Chasteen
First Published Year: 2009
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
From Silver to Cocaine: Latin American Commodity Chains and the Building of the World Economy, 1500-2000
Editors: Steven Topik, Carlos Marichal, Zephyr L. Frank
First Published Year: 2006
Recommended by: Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)
Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug
Author: Paul Gootenberg
First Published Year: 2008
Recommended by: Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)
Football in the Americas: FayTbol, Futebol, Soccer
Editor: Rory M. Miller
First Published Year: 2007
Recommended by: Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)
Exile within Exiles: Herbert Daniel, Gay Brazilian Revolutionary
Editor: James N. Green
First Published Year: 2018
Recommended by: Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)