¡Y pensábamos que éramos los más arrechos!: como hacernos ricos o ahogarnos en el petróleo es una afrenta explosiva que desafía la esencia y la responsabilidad de la sociedad venezolana. Un controversial paseo por la Venezuela que muchos no se molestan en ver, bien sea porque no ofrece ninguna ganancia política o porque resulta dolorosa, bochornosa y difícil de procesar.

Cuenta la historia de un capitalismo fallido y sus consecuencias, la inherente ineficiencia y mediocridad criolla; revelando la mentalidad conservadora que arropa la mente y los corazones de los venezolanos. Un llamado crítico en un mar de ovejas ideológicas que van desde la extrema izquierda hasta la extrema derecha, idolatrando individualidades, en vez de brindar proyectos concretos de desarrollo.

Vásquez engloba cada consejo en su libro, desafiando cualquier ideología establecida. El libro posee una mentalidad abierta y flexible, mientras exhibe un estilo y análisis maleducado, burlista y vulgar; hacia típicos puntos de vistas observados diariamente en el discurso político contemporáneo venezolano.

Sin limitarse a pura crítica, el autor incluye una abundante variedad de soluciones, combinando el uso de innumerables hechos concretos y estadísticas frías. Capítulos de lectura esencial, incluyen: Marx como un crítico anti-venezolano de Bolívar, sorprendentes revelaciones sobre la pobreza en el imperio norteamericano, Japón, Francia y Alemania, la “fuga de cerebros” tanto de países subdesarrollados como de naciones desarrolladas, las verdaderas razones detrás del éxito popular del dictador bielorruso Aleksandr Lukashenko, la discusión sobre la educación y las libertades sexuales en Venezuela, así como la predisposición que posee el venezolano promedio a ser cochino y a “chulearse” al Estado, en vez de convertirse en una fuerza productiva a tono con otras economías, no solamente de naciones industrializadas, pero también economías emergentes, que salieron de la pobreza ejecutando medidas económicas y sociales no convencionales, en un mundo rápidamente globalizado.

The book, Mestizaje: Introducción a la cultura mexicoamericana, is basically an intermediate-level cultural reader for university Spanish-language students. It introduces students to the culture and history of Mexican-Americans from their pre-Columbian origin to the present. In addition to Spanish-language students, the book will also be of relevance and interest to students in Mexican-American studies, ethnic studies, and folklore in general. The subject of the book is important because of a nationwide effort to comprehend cultural diversity in the United States, and it is incumbent on our educational system to provide the research and dissemination of information which will help to achieve this national goal.

Written in an easy-flowing, narrative style, the reader differs from other books on this subject because it treats each topical chapter in a chronological and evolutionary manner so that the reader is made aware of the foundation and process of cultural development from its Indian-Spanish origin to its present day hybridized forms consisting of Spanish, Native-American, Mexican, African, and Anglo-American elements.

Effort at various universities across the nation to come to grips with cultural diversity necessitates the need for works which will aid in this evolving effort. The author’s experience as a professor of Mexican-American studies, and as a native member of the population, give him a unique insight into the sociocultural intricacies which comprise this ethnic group. Mestizaje: Introducción a la cultura mexicoamericana reflects this unique insight and addresses the need for works in cultural diversity.

The book, Mestizaje: Introducción a la cultura mexicoamericana, is basically an intermediate-level cultural reader for university Spanish-language students. It introduces students to the culture and history of Mexican-Americans from their pre-Columbian origin to the present. In addition to Spanish-language students, the book will also be of relevance and interest to students in Mexican-American studies, ethnic studies, and folklore in general. The subject of the book is important because of a nationwide effort to comprehend cultural diversity in the United States, and it is incumbent on our educational system to provide the research and dissemination of information which will help to achieve this national goal.

Written in an easy-flowing, narrative style, the reader differs from other books on this subject because it treats each topical chapter in a chronological and evolutionary manner so that the reader is made aware of the foundation and process of cultural development from its Indian-Spanish origin to its present day hybridized forms consisting of Spanish, Native-American, Mexican, African, and Anglo-American elements.

Effort at various universities across the nation to come to grips with cultural diversity necessitates the need for works which will aid in this evolving effort. The author’s experience as a professor of Mexican-American studies, and as a native member of the population, give him a unique insight into the sociocultural intricacies which comprise this ethnic group. Mestizaje: Introducción a la cultura mexicoamericana reflects this unique insight and addresses the need for works in cultural diversity.