Through the lens of Brazil's trademark sport, Alex Bellos brings us a fascinating portrait of Brazilian identity.

The Brazilian soccer team is one of the modern wonders of the world. Its essence is a game in which prodigious individual skills outshine team tactics, where dribbles and flicks are preferred over physical challenges or long-distance passes, where technique has all the elements of dance and, indeed, is often described as such. At their best Brazilians are, we like to think, both athletes and artists. Soccer is how the world sees Brazil, but it is also how Brazilians see themselves. The game symbolizes racial harmony, flamboyance, youth, innovation, and skill, and yet it is also a microcosm of the country itself, containing all of its contradictions.

A must have atlas of the Amazon Basin
This is simply the best atlas I have ever reviewed on the subject of riverine hydrology, and presents the huge scope of the Amazon Basin (not just the river itself but all of the contributory watersheds)in a wonderful mix of maps, photographs and accompanying text.

Short Pieces for Fun Reading
From exerpts of historical claims to letters from diplomats, from essays on slavery to descriptions of food, this book gives insights on the spirit and history of Brazil in easy to read snippets. A picture of a people emerges from original sources and non-academic evaluations that adds debth to what you will see when you go there.

Capoeira is a synthesis of dance and personal defense from Brazil. The Little Capoeira Book presents some of the popular theories of how and why capoeira began and profiles the most famous capoeiristas and their contributions to the art. The book contains diagrams showing various positions and movements and discusses attacking and defending strategies and the critical aspects of feinting. Over 100 photographs and illustrations are included.

For everyone interested in Brazilian Portuguese
If Brazilian Portuguese is what you are interested in, this is the right grammar for you. It will teach you how to speak like native speakers, without sounding artificial (too formal or too bookish).

An inspiration for the plantation style decoration
A very beautiful collection of the best traditional "fazendas" depicting the wealthy lifestyles of that period. A great resource for portuguese colonial furniture with Brazilian hardwoods - a great combination !

Very Good
These tapes really helped me to start off well and with the right pronunciation. Made a big difference!

A harrowing look at street children in Brazil
It has been said that there are two Brazils--the"firstworld" modern archipelago where the rich lived behindwalled compounds, own several houses and apartments, and buy consumer items without regard for price. The rest of the country lives in the Third World--in poverty. Anthropologist Tobias Hecht applies careful, compassionate research and study to the urban dimension of lower class life. On par with Nancy Scheper-Hughes, the book brilliantly brings the tribulations and small triumphs of homeless children to life.

From samba clubs to soccer stadiums, Rio de Janeiro offers plenty of places to sweat. Out updated and easy-to-follow guide includes everything you need to explore the Citade Maravilhoas (Marvelous Hall) like a local. where to eat, from suco bars to churrascarias accommodations for all budgets, from hip hostels to deluxe beach-front resort day trips and excursioins, including Parati, the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgaos and the Itatiaia region Portuguese language chapter that brings you from 'tudo bem' to 'chauzinho' 9 full-color city maps