These books about Brazil, a country of immense beauty, rich cultural diversity, and a complex history, have captured the imagination of writers and readers around the world.
From the lush Amazon rainforest to the vibrant rhythms of samba, Brazil offers a tapestry of experiences that can be explored through its literature.
Whether you’re looking to delve into its tumultuous past, understand its social issues, or simply get lost in a gripping story set against its stunning backdrop, there are numerous books that offer deep insights into the heart and soul of Brazil.
Books About Brazil
These 10 best books about Brazil, span genres, themes, and time periods. There are links in each books section where you can get the book on Amazon if you wish to.
The Brazil Reader: History, Culture, Politics edited by James N. Green
The Brazil Reader: History, Culture, Politics is an anthology edited by James N. Green. This book is part of the “The Latin America Readers” series, which aims to provide readers with a comprehensive introduction to the history, culture, and politics of various Latin American countries.
“The Brazil Reader” offers a collection of essays, articles, and excerpts from various sources that cover a wide range of topics related to Brazil. These topics include Brazilian history, politics, culture, society, and more.
The book is designed to provide readers with a multifaceted understanding of Brazil, its people, and its complex history.
James N. Green, the editor of the book, is a renowned scholar of Brazilian history and has made significant contributions to the field. The anthology is meant to be an accessible and engaging resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in learning more about Brazil’s rich and diverse heritage.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon is a non-fiction book written by American author David Grann. The book was published in 2009 and explores the life and expeditions of British explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett, who became obsessed with finding a lost ancient city in the uncharted Amazon rainforest.
The central figure of the book is Percy Fawcett, a British geographer, archaeologist, and soldier. Fawcett embarked on multiple expeditions to the Amazon in the early 20th century in search of what he called the “City of Z,” which he believed to be a complex, advanced civilization hidden deep within the jungle.
The book delves into Fawcett’s unwavering obsession with the idea of discovering the lost city. Despite facing numerous hardships, dangers, and setbacks, Fawcett continued to return to the Amazon in his quest, even as his expeditions became increasingly perilous.
Grann provides insights into the culture of exploration during the early 20th century when uncharted territories still existed on the map. The book explores the motivations and risks taken by explorers like Fawcett as they sought fame and glory through their discoveries.
Fawcett and his son disappeared during their final expedition in 1925, sparking a mystery that would capture the imagination of people for decades. Grann’s book investigates the fate of the Fawcetts and explores various theories and attempts to solve the mystery.
In addition to chronicling Fawcett’s expeditions, the book also describes Grann’s own journey to the Amazon, where he retraced Fawcett’s steps and uncovered new evidence about the explorer’s fate.
The Lost City of Z combines elements of biography, adventure, and historical mystery. It paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by early explorers in the Amazon. Out of all these books about Brazil, this one is one of the most adventurous.
Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon by Jorge Amado
Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon is a novel written by Brazilian author Jorge Amado. It was first published in 1958 and has since become one of his most famous and beloved works. The novel is set in the fictional town of Ilhéus in the state of Bahia, Brazil, during the 1920s.
The story revolves around the character Gabriela, a beautiful and sensual woman from the impoverished Northeast of Brazil, who comes to work as a cook for Nacib, a Syrian-born bar owner in Ilhéus.
Gabriela’s natural charm and sensuality quickly captivate the men of the town, causing a stir in the conservative and traditional community. Nacib and Gabriela’s relationship becomes central to the plot as they navigate love, desire, and societal expectations.
The novel explores themes such as love, lust, race, class, and the clash between tradition and modernity. It vividly portrays the colourful and diverse culture of Bahia and the social dynamics of the time.
Jorge Amado’s writing is known for its rich character development, humour, and social commentary, and “Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon” is no exception. This is one of the classics out of these books about Brazil.
Brazil: Five Centuries of Change by Thomas E. Skidmore
Brazil: Five Centuries of Change is a book written by historian Thomas E. Skidmore. It offers a comprehensive overview of Brazilian history from the time of European colonization to the late 20th century.
The book explores the political, social, economic, and cultural changes that have shaped Brazil’s development over the centuries.
It delves into Brazil’s early history as a Portuguese colony, examining the impact of slavery, the plantation economy, and the interaction between indigenous peoples, Europeans, and African slaves.
It also discusses Brazil’s struggle for independence from Portugal in the early 19th century and the establishment of the Brazilian Empire under Dom Pedro I and Dom Pedro II.
Skidmore explores the process of emancipation and the end of slavery in Brazil, which occurred later than in many other countries in the Americas and covers the transition from monarchy to republic in Brazil.
It examines the various political movements, including the Vargas era, military rule, and the return to democracy, as well as social issues such as inequality and urbanization.
The book also touches on Brazilian literature, music, and art, highlighting the cultural contributions of Brazil to the world.
Brazil: Five Centuries of Change has been used as a textbook in many courses on Brazilian history and is a respected reference for scholars and students alike.
If you want a thorough overview of the history of Brazil then this is one of the best books about Brazil that you can get.
Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle by Daniel L. Everett
Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle is a book written by Daniel L. Everett, an American linguist and anthropologist.
The book was published in 2008 and provides a fascinating account of Everett’s experiences living among the Pirahã people, an indigenous group in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, and his research into their unique language and culture.
Everett describes his interactions with the Pirahã, a small and isolated indigenous group known for their distinctive way of life and language. He shares his observations of their daily activities, including hunting, gathering, and social interactions.
One of the central focuses of the book is Everett’s linguistic research on the Pirahã language. He discusses the challenges he faced in trying to understand and document the language, which is unlike most other languages in the world.
The Pirahã language is known for its simplicity, lack of fixed grammatical structures, and its role in shaping the worldview of its speakers.
He also explores the cultural differences between the Pirahã people and Western societies. He discusses their beliefs, rituals, and worldviews, which are often at odds with Western concepts and values.
For example, the Pirahã have a strong emphasis on the present moment and a lack of interest in abstract concepts or religious beliefs.
The book provides insights into the challenges faced by anthropologists and linguists conducting fieldwork in remote and culturally distinct communities like the Pirahã.
Everett’s experiences shed light on the complexities of cross-cultural communication and the need for researchers to adapt to the customs and perspectives of the people they study.
Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes has been praised for its engaging storytelling and its exploration of the intersection of language, culture, and human cognition. A brilliant one to read from these books about Brazil.
City of God by Paulo Lins
City of God is a novel written by Brazilian author Paulo Lins. It was first published in 1997 and later adapted into a critically acclaimed film of the same name.
The story is set in the favela known as “Cidade de Deus” (City of God), which is a real neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. The novel provides a gritty and often brutal portrayal of life in the favela, focusing on the experiences of young residents who grow up in a world marked by poverty, violence, drug trafficking, and crime.
It offers a raw and unfiltered look at the challenges and struggles faced by the residents of Cidade de Deus.
The narrative follows the lives of various characters, including Rocket, a young aspiring photographer who seeks to escape the cycle of violence; Lil’ Zé, a ruthless and ambitious drug lord; and several others who are caught up in the complex web of the favela’s social dynamics.
Paulo Lins drew from his own experiences growing up in a favela in Rio de Janeiro and conducted extensive research to create a realistic and powerful portrayal of the environment and the people who inhabit it.
The novel and the film adaptation have been praised for their authenticity, compelling characters, and the way they shed light on the social and economic disparities in Brazil.
City of God is not only a gripping story but also a social commentary on the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Brazil and the impact of poverty and violence on the lives of young people.
On a personal note, out of these books about Brazil, this is one of my favourites.
Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by Jorge Amado
Another masterpiece by Jorge Amado, Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands was first published in 1966 and has since become one of his most famous and widely read works.
The novel combines elements of humour, romance, and magical realism and is set in the vibrant city of Salvador, Bahia, in Brazil.
The story revolves around the life of Dona Flor, a young and beautiful woman who is married to Vadinho, a charming but irresponsible and promiscuous man. Despite Vadinho’s flaws, Dona Flor loves him deeply. However, Vadinho dies unexpectedly during Carnival, leaving Dona Flor a widow.
Dona Flor eventually marries again, this time to a very different man named Dr. Teodoro Madureira. Dr. Teodoro is the complete opposite of Vadinho – he is responsible, respectable, and a respected citizen in the community.
While Dona Flor is happy with her new husband, she cannot forget Vadinho and his passionate, exciting, and sensual nature.
One night, Vadinho returns from the dead as a ghost and begins to visit Dona Flor. This ghostly presence causes both humour and tension in the story as Dona Flor finds herself torn between her two very different husbands, one alive and one dead.
Jorge Amado’s novel explores themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. It is known for its vivid portrayal of Bahian culture, its colourful characters, and its use of magical realism, where the supernatural is seamlessly woven into the everyday lives of the characters.
This is easily one of the best books about Brazil.
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas by Machado de Assis
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas was first published in 1881 and is considered one of the most important and influential works in Brazilian literature. The novel is known for its innovative narrative style and its satirical exploration of Brazilian society and human nature.
The story is narrated by the protagonist, Brás Cubas, who is already deceased when the novel begins. He tells his life story and observations from the afterlife, addressing the reader directly from beyond the grave. This narrative technique is unconventional and was groundbreaking for its time.
Brás Cubas is a wealthy and educated man, but he is also cynical, self-absorbed, and somewhat misanthropic. As he reflects on his life and the society in which he lived, he provides humorous and often scathing commentary on the moral and social values of his time.
The novel is filled with irony and satire, and it pokes fun at various aspects of Brazilian society, including its politics, religion, and social hierarchies.
One of the most famous elements of the novel is the character of Capitu, who is Brás Cubas’s great love interest. Their relationship is complicated and passionate, and it serves as a central theme in the story.
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas is often regarded as a precursor to the Latin American literary movement known as “magical realism,” as it incorporates elements of the fantastical and the absurd into its narrative.
This is an absolute classic out of all these books about Brazil.
Brazillionaires: The Godfathers of Modern Brazil by Alex Cuadros
Brazillionaires: The Godfathers of Modern Brazil was published in 2016 and provides an in-depth exploration of the economic elite in Brazil and their roles in shaping the country’s modern economy and society.
The book examines the lives and fortunes of some of Brazil’s wealthiest individuals and families, often referred to as the “Brazillionaires.” These individuals have amassed vast wealth through various industries, including banking, mining, and construction, and they have played significant roles in Brazil’s economic development and political landscape.
Alex Cuadros, a journalist with experience covering Brazil, delves into the stories of these billionaires, their rise to power, and the complex web of politics and business that has allowed them to thrive.
He also examines the challenges and controversies surrounding their wealth, including issues related to corruption, inequality, and social unrest.
Brazillionaires offers readers a glimpse into the world of extreme wealth and power in Brazil, as well as the broader economic and social issues facing the country.
It sheds light on the connections between business, politics, and society in Brazil and provides a critical analysis of the impact of these billionaires on the nation’s development.
It provides valuable insights into the challenges and complexities of wealth and power in one of the world’s largest and most influential emerging economies. This is one of the best books about Brazil for a look at the modern economy.
Travel Guides To Brazil
Just added 10 more to the end of this article that aren’t “books about Brazil” in the traditional sense but are travel guides to the country.
Lonely Planet Brazil
Lonely Planet Brazil offers detailed information about various destinations, accommodations, and activities in Brazil. It also includes maps, cultural insights, and practical travel advice.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Brazil
DK Eyewitness Brazil provides information about Brazil’s top attractions, history, and culture, with excellent visual aids.
Rough Guides Brazil
Rough Guides Brazil offers a balance of practical travel tips and cultural insights. This guide covers various regions and provides advice for budget travellers and those seeking unique experiences.
There are many other separate guides to specific regions of the country as well. As there are quite a few it’s best to just pop a search into Amazon or whatever book site you use and have a general browse around for those.
One of my personal favourite extra ones though is the Pantanal Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide To Brazil’s Great Wetland. This one is perfect if you love nature.
Brazil
These books about Brazil offer a diverse and insightful look into the history, culture, and contemporary issues of the country, making them essential reads for anyone interested in this vibrant and complex nation.
Take a look at the 10 best documentaries about Brazil to further your understanding of the country.
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