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The Caribbean is an exotic but not too distant land, full of rich cultural traditions. The literature of the Caribbean reflects the social, political, and cultural concerns of the region and is a valuable tool for learning about the area and its people. This book includes chapters on roughly a dozen contemporary Caribbean writers. Along with plot summaries, these sections discuss major themes and give close attention to how Caribbean culture figures in the writer's texts. To help students conduct further research, each chapter cites works for further reading.

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An invaluable survey for any student of the region
Any high school to college-level library strong in Caribbean or world literature will find LITERATURE OF THE CARIBBEAN a powerful survey. From analysis of Jamaica Kincaid to Michelle Cliff, extensive biographical and literary history for selected Caribbean authors tie into the underlying writings of Caribbean authors as a whole, making this an invaluable survey for any student of the region.
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In this practical, yet animated and captivating guide to Caribbean life and style, readers are reminded of the simple steps to easy living. Considered the doyenne of Caribbean etiquette, Gordon imparts how to advice for the modern Caribbean man and woman in a variety of areas including courtship and wedding planning. From what to wear, to what to say, which fork to use and what gifts to give, whether at Carnival or at a cocktail, in the company of dignitaries or with family and friends, the administrative assistant or the chairman of the board alike will find Manners and Entertaining a handy reference for easy etiquette and entertaining. ... Read more

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The real Caribbean, both social and professional
So many people making contact with the Caribbean and its peoples approach the region with the notion that all is easy-going and "laid back" in this part of the world.Well, it is but like everywhere else in this world it's also complex and with a rich history of the way things are considered done "the right way", whether in the workplace or at social occasions.Then again, so many other people who actually live in the region also encounter a situation in their career, personal lives or at social events where they are left not knowing the best way to deal with it for the first time.Marguerite Gordon and her book are like a wise friend and mentor for every occasion and event, whether you have spent your life in the Caribbean, are arriving there for the first time, or are preparing to deal with a social or business event or group that has a Caribbean connection to it.Her range of knowledge and insight on the "right way" to do it from a Caribbean perspective has something to say to every individual and at every stage of life.From the smaller personal and social events that are still always important to the etiquette involved in official and business events and situations, her advice and points will steer you in the right direction every step of the way.

A Great Window into the true Caribbean!
Marguerite Gordon might be most famous for appearing in the first James Bond film, Dr. No. She has lived her live in the Caribbean, a place she sees fully as a way of life that reaches beyond the physical beauty of the island nations and tropical breezes. In this book, Gordon urges a return to the manners and entertaining customs of a post-war era, a time where many island women emulated European Colonial ways. In the book, Gordon paints a picture of the Caribbean unseen by most visitors--one starkly different from the party boats blasting Jimmy Buffett songs, or Jamaican tunes glorifying "rude boys". She writes for the middle and upper-class, island-born population, whose voices often struggle to be heard in our popular conception on the tropical paradise. Rather than an "anything goes" attitude, Gordon reminds us that the great families of the Caribbean are often socially conservative, elegant and sophisticated. As cruise ships come and disgorge thousands of passengers for six-hour excursions and all-inclusive resorts wall off the best beaches from the local population, the Caribbean has needed more voices that discuss daily life and social structure for those whose island experiences do not end in just a few days. Gordon's easy-to-read book serves as a guide for more than West Indians who want structure in their social lives, but also for those who have left the islands for American or Europe. In between the lines, Gordon weaves a story of cultures, of the Caribbean and Western culture. She paints a delightful picture (with all the practicalities included) of how many West Indians bridge the cultural gap and stay true to their Caribbean roots.

A gracious hostess and a lovely person.
I'm not surprised that Marguerite would write a book about manners and gracious living.She is a consummate hostess.What a lovely and inspiring presence!

perfect mothers day gift
great book - easy reading - great mothers day gift that she will use all year - good reference book to keep.I enjoyed this book. ... Read more

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Explains how the people of the Caribbean islands grow, cook and eat their food, looking at regional styles of cooking, everyday meals and specialities, with instructions for 6 simple recipes. Illustrated with colour artwork and photographs, a new title in the FOOD AROUND THE WORLD series. ... Read more

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Conflict in Cuba is not new. Since early in the Caribbean nation’s colonial history a small elite has used centralized power to rule for what they viewed as the common good. Officials often created monopolies which limited accountability, social mobility, fair play, and economic development. This work traces this ethos, efforts to change it, and its manifestations in present-day Cuba.

The first of seven chapters discusses the history of Cuba’s government and economy, and the ongoing conflict of monism and pluralism. Several chapters then detail the insights the author gained through his work in the country: Cubans are only too aware that, with very few exceptions, they have long been under one form of tyranny or another; they hate their chains but fear to lose them; Cubans and their friends and enemies both want and fear a pluralistic Cuba; and Cubans understand that though Cuban rightists in the United States hate Castro, they share many of his principles and methods. In a final chapter, the work explores various possibilities that the future may hold for the island. ... Read more

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Super Brief History of Cuba
The first chapter is a fantastic and very brief history of Cuba which puts into perspective the long reign of Fidel Castro. Considering the importance of this island to the United States, these are facts every American should know, but 99% do not and do not care. The following chapters are the author's personal travels and travails through Cuba, but I must say (despite personally knowing the author) that not all will find this as interesting as I. Nevertheless, the book in it's entirety is a worthwhile read if not only to understand Cuba but so too to understand our own political system. My message to the author: we need more such works on other Latin American countries, such as Bolivia and Venuzuela which we as a people know little about but which should. Bravo! ... Read more

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An enlightening look at a unique and remarkable Jewish community. ... Read more

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Great Historical Reading
Dr. Cohen presents a well-written account of the Jewish community of the Virgin Islands.I'm a direct descendent of Solomon Benjamin, a vessel merchant mentioned in the book and it was fascinating to learn more about my ancestry.Judaism generally is seen from a European-perspective.Since the Inquisition in 1492, many Jews found their way to the British West Indies, but little is written about their settlements, accomplishments and ways of life.This book shows a historical look at communities, both religious and economic. ... Read more

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This indispensable text reader provides a broad-ranging and thoughtfully organized feminist introduction to the ongoing controversies of development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Designed for use in a variety of college courses, the volume collects an influential group of essays first published in Latin American Perspectives. Each part is organized into thematic sections that focus on work, politics, and culture, and each includes substantive introductions that identify key issues in the scholarly literature on women and gender in the region. Demonstrating the rich, multidisciplinary nature of Latin American studies, these essays promote critical thinking about women's place and power, about theory and research strategies, and about contemporary economic, political, and social conditions. They convincingly show why women have become an increasingly important subject of research, acknowledge their gains and struggles over time, and explore the contributions that feminist theory has made toward the recognition of gender as a relevant--indeed essential--category for analyzing the political economy of development. ... Read more

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As a child of five, Ruth Behar left Cuba with her Jewish family. Growing up in the United States, she wondered about the Jews who stayed behind. Who were they and why had they stayed? What traces were left of the Jewish presence, of the cemeteries, synagogues, and Torahs? Who was taking care of this legacy? What Jewish memories had managed to survive the years of revolutionary atheism?

A stunning memoir, An Island Called Home is the story of Behar's journey back to find answers to these questions. Behar uncovers a side of Cuban Jews that is poignant and personal. Her moving vignettes of the individuals she meets are coupled with the sensitive photographs of Havana-based photographer Humberto Mayol, who traveled with her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

memories ...
This book brings back many happy memories of growing up in Cuba until the Castro takeover. If nothing else I highly recommend this book for all of us who were there and those who want to know what it was like, for rich and poor alike, living in a tropical paradise.

This book demonstrates the most amazing value in the synergy of the Internet. While researching "Hanoar Hatzioni" and "Cuba" for a new website of pictures about this Zionist Youth movement, I found this book available at Amazon. With the "Look Inside" feature, I searched the book and found the picture and story ofAlberto Mechulam, a long lost chaver.

Poignant
A hegira worth reading which will break your heart while at the same time give you a history of a people who have either gone into exile a second time or chose to remain in an island where most members of their family have abandoned. Excellent chronicle of Ruth Behar's return to the island that she left as a child. Thank you for allowing us who thirst for a visit to the island where we were born and only have a distant recollection of what we left behind.

An Island Called Home, Returning to Jewish Cuba
Dr. Ruth Behar has written an insightful book about the Jews of Cuba and personal memories of the island passed down to her from family members who left Cuba after Fidel Castro's revolution.Although Dr. Behar was only a child when she left Cuba with her family and had no personal memories of the events that happend during her childhood, her many trips to Cuba as an anthropologist have allowed her to recreate that period of history and update it to the current time. Her emotional interviews with Jews still living in Cuba have allowed her to document how Jewish lives and the practice of Judaism have evolved through three time periods; 1)Prior to the revolution,2) During Cuba's officially atheistic period, 1959-1992, and 3) During its secular period, 1992 to the present. Dr. Behar also discribes the influence of American Jewish tourists and organizations which provide both humanitarian aid and funds for the reconstruction and operation of synagogues and cemeteries in various Jewish communities throughout Cuba.

great book with wonderful photography
a great book with wonderful photography. it's written by an academic, but is widely accessible. would make a wonderful addition to any library.

Lyrical and merging memoir and ethnography
This is a touching and lyrical account that mixes memoir with ethnography in ways that enrich both.A pleasure to read.Those who want to see how an anthropologist can also reveal something of herself as she reveals others would do well to read this book ... Read more

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Internationally renowned scholars address the Cuban diaspora from multiple perspectives and locations. ... Read more

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In 'Caribbean Contours' eight leading scholars in the humanities and the social sciences survey the history, politics, economics, demography, and culture of the Caribbean to provide an authoritative yet accessible introduction to this complex and geographically fragmented region. ... Read more

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Modern Blackness is a rich ethnographic exploration of Jamaican identity in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Analyzing nationalism, popular culture, and political economy in relation to one another, Deborah A. Thomas illuminates an ongoing struggle in Jamaica between the values associated with the postcolonial state and those generated in and through popular culture. Following independence in 1962, cultural and political policy in Jamaica was geared toward the development of a universal creole nationalism reflected in the country’s motto: "Out of many, one people." As Thomas shows, by the late 1990s, creole nationalism was superceded by "modern blackness"—an urban blackness rooted in youth culture and influenced by African American popular culture. Expressions of blackness that had been marginalized in national cultural policy became paramount in contemporary understandings of what it is to be Jamaican.

Thomas combines historical research with fieldwork she conducted in Jamaica between 1993 and 2003. She situates contemporary struggles over Jamaican identity in relation to late-nineteenth and early- to mid-twentieth century nationalists, scholars, and cultural activists; their visions of progress and development; and their efforts to formulate and institutionalize cultural policy. Drawing on her research in a rural hillside community just outside Kingston, she looks at how nationalist policies and popular ideologies about progress have been interpreted and reproduced or transformed on the local level. She chronicles the strategies poorer community members have used to advance their interests and discusses how these strategies are represented in popular culture. With detailed descriptions of daily life in Jamaica set against a backdrop of postcolonial nation-building and neoliberal globalization, Modern Blackness is an important examination of the competing identities that mobilize Jamaicans locally and represent them internationally. ... Read more

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Music for a new generation
Forget your troubles and dance!
Forget your sorrows and dance!
Forget your sickness and dance!
Forget your weakness and dance!

Lyrics to Them Belly Full (But We Hungry).(1974) Composed by Legon Cogill and Carlton Barrett.

Bob Marley's music helped define a generation of Jamaican culture through reggae.In Modern Blackness, Deborah Thomas proposes that the reggae "soundtrack" for Jamaica has been succeeded by dancehall, just as cultural identity has evolved to fit a new vision of blackness.She suggests that the "modern blackness of late-twentieth century. . . is urban, migratory, based in youth-oriented popular culture, and influenced by African American popular style" (p. 229).Thomas also asserts that black identity in Jamaica is not post-modern, which suggests a break with the past, rather connected to the development of an identity rooted in the local and historical yet dependent on national and transnational pressures.Thomas explores modern blackness by dissecting these influences on culture in Jamaica.She breaks her analysis into three sections: the global-national, the national-local, and the local-global.This separation allows for a critical analysis of the various influences while displaying both the connections and dissonances.

In order to guide her analysis of modern blackness in Jamaica, Thomas uses two years of ethnographic research conducted between 1993 and 2003.In this book, she brings us to a real community outside Kingston, fictitiously named Mango Mount, as a means of illustrating the concepts of modern blackness on a local community.Using this community as an example of the influence of modern blackness and a source of information provides a tangible illustration of how modern blackness is set in the everyday, yet linked to a national and global community. In addition to information about Mango Mount, Thomas delves into the historical influences on Jamaica prior to independence, as a new state, and within the context of a transnational society.She looks at modern blackness in the context of race issues, gender identity, socioeconomic differences and as an aspect of Jamaican culture.Her research also pulls in national and international institutions and their influences within Jamaica and Mango Mount.This wide scope provides the reader with a comprehensive yet contextualized understanding of cultural influences in Jamaica while illustrating that "culture is both the problem to solve and the recipe to follow" (p. 87).

Thomas begins her book with the global-national.She illustrates how the modern identity and culture are connected to pre-independence institutions, norms, and social hierarchies.Here she connects Jamaican identify to religious doctrines, emancipation literature, and the remnants of colonialism.In providing a historical context for her book, she links "blackness (a racial identity) and Jamaicanness (a national identify)" in order to elucidate the complex origins of the modern blackness (p. 30).In her focus on race and nationality, Thomas explores how concepts of blackness and brownness as well as notions of what it means to be Jamaican have contributed to national and global influences in the creation of modern blackness.

In understanding the national-local, Thomas' discussion of the reemergence of state-supported Emancipation Day celebrations provides insight into community connections to national policies.She pairs sections from the Report on National Symbols and Observations with quotes from Mango Mount community members regarding the renewed state interested in the celebration of Emancipation Day.She notes that "the dominant sense among nationalist elites was that the removal of Emancipation Day as a public holiday had left Jamaican youth without an awareness of their heritage and the steps in Jamaica's evolution toward modern statehood" (p. 162).However, community members generally did not see the Emancipation Day celebration as an educational movement, rather they viewed it as related to political maneuvering, as a distraction from "the government's ability to implement successful economic policies," or as "meaningless and irrelevant" to the average person (p. 168-169).Thomas also shows how the local celebration of Emancipation Day celebrations did not escape contemporary influences; inclusion of traditional kumina dance rhythm into the Emancipation Day play in Mango Mount was replaced by steps to a dancehall beat (p. 172).Thomas' illustration of the contrasting visions regarding the purpose of the reinstatement of Emancipation Day reflects the greater disparity between national and local views of modernity.

As Thomas explores the local-global, she places Mango Mount within the global economy.She illustrates the influences of global institutions and marketing in local choices and looks at how trends at the local level reflect global influences.She notes, the "entrepreneurial zeal with which people in Mango Mount seek to take advantage of migratory possibilities has facilitated their relative success within a global labor market," yet it has contributed to leadership deficits at the local level, problems for those unable to migrate, and "perpetuated an outward outlook whereby local ambitions require foreign realization" (p. 261).Nevertheless, in interviewing people in Mango Mount, Thomas finds that many people feel that "the United States was the place to make a living while Jamaica was the place to make life," illustrating that while economic opportunities necessitate global movement, local lifestyles continue to define aspects of national identity (p. 224). She also identifies the influences of the global on local music choices (such as dancehall rather than drumming) and culture.For example, she notes that dancehall music is a function of global influences tempered by Jamaican underclass definitions. Thomas notes, "Dancehall is not merely a response to hegemonic power but marks the changing aesthetic and political space that both contests and (re)produces broader relations of power" (p. 243).

Thomas provides a readable, enjoyable, yet critical look at modernity in Jamaica that bridges the past to connect to the future.She demonstrates that the global society has complex influences on blackness that are intertwined within Jamaica's historical context and national identity. Thus, Bob Marley's command, "You're gonna dance to Jah music" continues to push people to dance, even as the background music of modern blackness has changed from reggae to dancehall.

Redefining Jamaicanness in the Evolving Global Climate
"Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, gear on up, it's bobsled time!"This quote from the all-too forgettable movie Cool Runnings about a team of Jamaicans that made it to the Olympics accentuates how music becomes a part of the transnational Jamaican identity through global popular culture.An association to identity, such as music, reflects what Deborah Thomas refers to as "modern blackness," which has superceded the postcolonial identity of a creole nation with the motto "Out of many, one people."By ethnographically exploring Jamaican nationalism from the end of the 19th century to the present, Thomas sorts out the complex effects of colonialism and globalization on inequalities of race, class, and gender in her inspiring work Modern Blackness.Cultural practices, such as reggae, which were developed by lower class Jamaicans are unrecognized as part of the broader national identity.
Deborah Thomas structure's the text in an interesting way by outlining the relationships between the global-national, national-local, and local-global.By contextualizing the evolution of Jamaican identity, Thomas' argument flows from historical perspective during the "Crown Colony rule" to a contemporary understanding that effectively "clarifies the links between global processes, nationalist visions, and local practices (p. 31, then 19)."The capstone of her fieldwork is in Mango Mount where she uncovers the culture being shaped under neoliberal policies that continue to economically restrain the community.
The diasporal feeling of nationalism before Jamaica's independence from Britain in 1962 is based on the ongoing struggle of asserting an identity of the "respectable state."The early works by black Jamaicans such as Jamaican's Jubilee highlight their attempt to prove advancements in the black community, both morally and culturally.Asserting various aspects of Jamaicanness was an effort to unite one people with values held by the middle-class.Thomas posits, "As black intellectuals, the Jubilee writers insisted that they articulated important mass concerns on the basis of their shared blackness, but they distanced themselves from lower-class blacks and African-derived cultural expressions (pg. 48)."Jamaican pride was racially characterized through forms of artistic expression and reflections of Creole multiracialism.The author adds that this identity "more closely resembled classical European nationalism (which) was founded on a concept of common history and culture rather than race and, as in Europe, obscured the conflation of class with race (pg. 55)."By embracing Jamaican heritage, the country demarcated themselves from historical representations of Africanness, as well as the practices of the poorer urban class.This reflected the attitudes of many previously enslaved individuals coming from rural areas with "values" and "respectable" culture.Thomas argues that references to "values" emulate the history of colonialism and reinvent the inequalities of power and class.
The national-local relationship is displayed by the author through the cultural politics of a tiny village with the fictitious name Mango Mount, just outside of Kingston.Throughout the end of the twentieth century, the leadership of the national government followed global economic policies through democracy and capitalism; therefore disconnecting themselves from the indigenous localities, one of which is Mango Mount.Thomas explains, "It has remained difficult for many Jamaicans to sustain the imagination of a community whose primary political, economic, and sociocultural institutions have been developed by black lower-class Jamaicans (pg. 91)."In her work in Mango Mount, the author demonstrates the practices that distinguish lower-class and local youth culture as forthcoming in flamboyant ways, especially during celebrations in the town square.The square becomes a noisy dancehall that is routinely scrutinized by middle-class residences.Thomas describes her experience and the comments of a participant in the following way: "Rhythm and blues and reggae gave way to hardcore dancehall toward the wee hours of the morning...and (unfortunately) were never as good as in other communities because the "rich people" would always call the police to `lock down the music' because `dem nuh like fi see wi do wha we a do' (pg. 114)."Although I do not understand exactly what this Jamaican was trying to express, it is valid to see how the shift to youthful urban blackness has been influenced by American popular culture and has redefined what it means to be "very, very, Jamaican."The ordinary lower class is challenging the previously held Afro-Jamaican identities of their postemancipation history.Thomas justifies these contradicting attitudes by stating, "Their worlds were increasingly urban and transnational and because they had apprehended the fundamental disjuncture between political and economic development strategies and cultural development initiatives they had to (look back, take pride, but move forward) (pg. 190)."Moving forward has caused a transition of political hegemony and has been characterized by activism and agency at the local level.
The racialized version of nationalism, which excluded urban culture, is now personified as contemporary `modern blackness'.Distinctions are being made between definitions of black and brown, as well as what constitutes Africanness and Blackness.Thomas adds, "If consciousness of an African heritage operated primarily on a symbolic level, even within popular expressive culture, racial consciousness was continually through day to day experiences of color prejudice and discrimination, both in Jamaica and abroad (pg. 183)."The relationship between local and international now bypasses state efforts that hold identities of British imperialism and further define Jamaicanness in terms of globalization and popular style.Thomas focuses on the influences of America on Jamaican culture, as well as Jamaica's ability to influence American culture.The irony of this "two-way process" is the size of Jamaica as a country and their power to impose Jamaicanness globally.The author states, "The frequency of these invocations also suggests a need to carve out spaces in which Jamaicans feel, and indeed have, power and recognition within a global public sphere (pg. 250)."Many Jamaican immigrants have spread this power and presented future possibilities for `moving ahead.'
Deborah Thomas' work is important in understanding the lasting effects of colonial rule, as well as the changing socio-political climates of globalization.What is clear is that Jamaicanness is not American, European, African, black, white, or brown.It is its own evolving identity that has become shaped by all these identities within the global environment.Finally, Modern Blackness presents possibilities for change and improvement where dreams become realized in the context of Jamaica's future.

Simply a superb ethnography
Deborah A. Thomas is a cartographer of culture who maps the topography of Jamaican culture through time, across class, between urban and rural locales, and over a variety political landscapes.What emerges from her work is a detailed analysis of the various contours of culture that follow the shifting fault lines of Jamaica's political economy. Deborah Thomas has written a beautiful ethnography. Central to her analysis are several questions: what does it mean to be Jamaican? what role does culture play for a black and brown nation? and, what role does a black and brown nation play in shaping Jamaica's culture?

Dr. Thomas frames her important study by documenting the way a multi-racial creole culture was significantly eclipsed, during the late 1990s,by a culture of blackness forged in modernity but produced and re-produced in decidedly post-modern ways.Aligning this shift with shifts in the global economy, she 'reads' these changes through a variety of performances. Some of the performances she explores explicitly claim to represent Jamaica's national culture, but other performances she describes explicitly claim to counter notions of respectability to represent a sort of in-your-face booty grinding blackness, which ends up emerging as the cultural practices of the nation's people.


Thomas brilliantly illustrates how culture, nation, and the ideology of progress are implicated in an understanding of what blackness and Jamaican identity actually mean in various contexts. As she notes, "context is everything" and she takes the reader inside a variety of institutions that seek to define and redefine both race and culture in turn-of-the-century Jamaica. This approach is refreshing. She not only identifies structural entities that dictates cultural policy in Jamaica, but she identifies the agents within those structures, actually putting a name to both the powerful and the powerless,who constantly jostle over who gets to claim and name what constitutes Jamaican culture.From the organized and powerful National Dance Theater Company to the unorganized and entertaining"roots" theater performances, she allows the reader to experience the way theparticipants (dancers/actors and audience) perform, respond, and contest ideologies of race, nation, and progress. She does not stop there, however, weddings and dance hall session, movies and newspaper clippings are each scrutinized in an effort to buttress her argument that the multi-racial creole nationalism is waning as a modern blackness tied to the global economy waxes and the meaning of what it means to be Jamaican hangs in the balance.

Deborah Thomas has written a bold, refreshing, and powerful ethnography that grapples with some of the most sticky theoretical issues in contemporary theory today -- blackness, globalization, modernity, and the idea progress. ... Read more

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Whether travelers to Cuba plan to stay for a week or a year, they'll benefit from such topics as the rules of driving and monetary systems, religious practices, and making friend. This "Culture Shock!" volume attempts to cross the bridge into a new and exciting culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Irresponsible!
I must say I agree with Cramer when it comes to the wealth of Cuban culture.However I have a few concerns about this book.A most shocking part of this book is what is not in it.While it is true that Cuban citizens have no right to bear arms since all weapons were confiscated at the start of the revolution, gun violence is still a factor to consider in Cuba.Consider the case of Joachim Løvschall a Danish student learning Spanish in Cuba who was shot in the back and killed by Cuban state security with an AK-47...In addition, I did not care to hear about how JoAnne Chesimard aka "Asaka Shakur" a fugitive from justice, convicted of killing a NJ state trooper, had learned to adapt to life in Cuba.By sharing the story of Ms. Chesimard Cramer lends credence to her "story" of persecuted victim.In addition, Cramer says he will be balanced but by mentioning the story of Ms. Chesimard an allegedly former political prisoner in the US and not mentioning the plight of dissidents in Cuba (such as Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet... his commitment falls through. The US Department of State has suggestions not mentioned in Culture Shock for those wanting to visit Cuban schools and universities...

A Great Read
I bought this book after I fell in love with the Buena Vista Social Club series and thus Cuba.It is difficult to find unbiased reporting on life in Cuba because most people have very strong feelings about this island.Cramer carefully considers all opinions but actually talks to the people who live there.He doesn't just interview those who love Castro -- in fact, most think Castro should step down.He interviews people who feel that Cuba is racist and those who feel that the "social experiment" has eliminated racism.The book is very intellectually honest which is rare any work but especially one on Cuba.Cramer demonstrates why he is horserace betting's most effective writer.He can teach while he tells amazing stories.

Cramer has written a fascinating look at an amazing island.

Gain insight *before* you go!
Culture Shock Cuba really did it for me. Any imaginable situation you get yourself in while visiting Cuba is mentioned. Coming from a Northern European culture there was just a lot for me to understand, if I didn'twant to behave like a total weirdo. It is an easy and fun to read book Iabsolutely recommend. ... Read more

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preserving identities
The question of cultural or national identity has arisen in many contexts. But what if the nations in question are small, like various Caribbean islands? Goldman looks at those with Hispanic background. We see how they have, so far anyway, managed to preserve their identities in the face of trends like globalisation, which is the ethos of a massive consumerist capitalism.

Much of the book is an analysis of regional literature. The fiction works are cited as symptomatic placemarkers of cultural identity, through the descriptions of their characters and attitudes. Other sections of the book go into the history of some regions, like Hispaniola, divided between Haiti and Dominican Republic. The most prominent example has to be Cuba, whose present government has defined itself largely by being able to resist the political and economic blandishments of American capitalism.

It appears that the islands will be able to preserve indefinitely some unique aspects that add up to cultural identities. ... Read more

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The first intellectual history of the Caribbean written by a top Caribbean studies scholar, this book examines both writings penned by natives of the region as well as a body of texts interpretive of the region produced by Western authors. Stressing the experiential and cultural particularity of the Caribbean, the study considers four major questions: What art, literature or thought can come from the minds of people who have undergone a catastrophic history? What makes the conceptual paradigms fashioned by the Western intellectual industry capable of illuminating the distinct experience of Antilleans, but not vice versa? Do Antilleans lack the mental endowments required for the interpretation of culture, whether in their region or elsewhere in the world? Why is the specificity of Caribbean humanity such that it cannot be used as a paradigm for humanity as a whole?
... Read more

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Beyond the Canebrakes: West Indian Women Writers in Canada is a text of fifteen essays and two interviews that examine the work of West Indian Women Writers living in Canada. The essays examine the work of literary artists Claire Harris, Olive Senior, Lillian Allen, Afua Cooper, Dionne Brand, M. Nourbese Philip, Nalo Hopkinson, Pamela Mordecai, and Makeda Silvera as an integral not marginal element of the Canadian and World Literature canons. The authors of these essays and interviews dissect issues of history, gender, power, identity, and levels of discourse in moving scholars, researchers, and students into arenas of more vigorous study and critique of the West Indian Woman Writer in Canada. These essays further examine how these women writers literary works reflect their foundations as Caribbean-born while illustrating their movement beyond the canebrakes Caribbean homeland in a reflection and synthesis of their birth-home/heritage with diasporic-home. ... Read more

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This up-to-date, fully comprehensive textbook examines in detail every aspect of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, from Paleoindian times to the European intrusion. ... Read more

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Incredible book
as i am archaeologist, this is a good book to have a ancient cultural, ecological, archaeological backgrounf about mesoamerican civilization. it is really very gooooooooooooooood ... ... Read more