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Brazil's Dance With The Devil: The World Cup, The Olympics, And The Fight For Democracy (2014)

by Dave Zirin(Favorite Author)

4.04 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1608464334 (ISBN13: 9781608464333)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Haymarket Books

review 1: If you are not interested in polemics, don't read this book. If you are interested in observing how neoliberalism diverts public wealth from the people into private hands, all for the sake of the "nation," then you should read this book. I learned a bit about Brazilian history and some of the sources of the country's historical inequality and corruption. (Hint: race, class, greed, etc.) Brazil spent billions to build stadiums that will never be used to capacity again, often driving the poor from their homes to complete these construction boondoggles. The people want bread, but all they get are circuses. The book is written with a passion for its cause and for the people he observes, particularly those of the favelas, the impoverished communities with reputations worse than... more they may deserve.
review 2: Zirin has a point and he makes it repeatedly: that the prestige and celebration wrought by mega-sports events comes at an unwieldy price. That price is put under the microscope as he examines the corruption and scandal perpetuated by FIFA and the IOC. While his argument can become screed-like at times, demonizing capitalism and romanticizing the impoverished, the book provides a historical and social context that is a breezy read. As the World Cup in Brazil gets underway, it will be fascinating to see what unfolds, for the whole world will indeed be watching. less

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