Editorial Review:
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In a series of mock lesson plans, the author of the incomparable Memory of Fire trilogy provides an eloquent, passionate, funny, and shocking expos of our first world privileges and assumptions. From a master class in "The Impunity of Power" to a seminar on "The Sacred Car"-with tips along the way on "How to Resist Useless Vices" and a declaration of "The Right to Rave"-he guides us through a world unevenly divided between abundance and deprivation, power and helplessness.
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Reader Reviews for Upside Down: A Primer for the Looking-Glass World:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: A rant from the the Latin American socialist left.
Comment: I'm purposely giving this book a mid level 3 star rating. That's because depending upon your political ideology, you are most likely either going to love this book or hate it according to that ideology. So I'm placing my rating right in the middle.
Let me tell you why I bought this book: Every so often, I try to expand my horizons by reading something that differs from my own comfort zone. When I purchased this book, it was with the hope that I might learn something, or at least understand something from those who see the world differently than I do. Well, to be perfectly honest, I have to say that I really didn't gain that much from this particular book because 1) it fails to elaborate any well thought out arguments to support the problems it claims to identify and 2) it offers no substantive solutions for the problems it describes. In the end, this book is really nothing more than a rant against western civilization. Ok. I accept that. The author can rant away. I was willing to listen. But when you don't have any concrete facts (the pieces you spew don't fit together) and when you offer no solutions (other than the continued claim that western civilization is evil), then you rapidly lose my attention (and any semblance of credibility).
In the end, this book falls flat because of it's inability to create any meaningful dialogue. I am not a socialist, because I want to live in a society where there are meaningful incentives to working hard, to achieving progress and to advancing one's own station in life, but nor am I a fan of unfettered capitalism. For example, if there is one thing I would change, it would be impose limits on the passing of wealth from one generation of a family to the next. It's an unfortunate fact that those who have money are the most poised to make more. I admit this can be true of nations as well. But unlike the author, I believe there are sensible answers to these problems that do not involve redistribution of wealth, carbon credits, and elitism (which results every single time in godlessness, corruption and placing the burden on the middle class).
To the author: I'm sorry. Your rant didn't help me understand your views. The sole purpose of your book seems to be to demonize western civilization (which I will add is simply a method for you to excuse yourself of any responsibility in the process, otherwise known as passing the blame).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Disgusting true
Comment: The "second" part of Open Veins of Latin America. Here Galeano gives an insight of how things are running in the world present time. Full of examples and a sarcastic way to reflect how we are controlled by a small group of greedy people. If you liked Zeitgeist, you will enjoy (in a twisted way) this book. Made me sick, but couldn't stop reading it. If you can read in Spanish, go for it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: really great book
Comment: Folks, no sense repeating what everyone else has said about this book other than a big DITTO.
If you would like to get a non-American view of many of the worlds problems I highly recommend this book.
Definitely a 5 star publication which I do not give to many readings. /DaveB
Customer Rating:
Summary: Smug ranting
Comment: I really like Galeano's works, especially the Memory of Fire trilogy, but this one was disappointing. There were a few epithets and boxes of wit and insight, but most of it was pretentious ranting without any real point that I could understand. Unless you've read everything else he's done, please start with something else.
Customer Rating:
Summary: English teacher gives this book a B
Comment: Modeled on a textbook, Eduardo Galeano's "Upside Down" is an expose of a Southern world hidden (by design and spin) from view of the affluent North. While Galeano's writing style (as always) is brilliant in its description and sarcasm, the fact that "Upside Down" reads like a textbook (complete w/tangential information/anecdotes in boxes interspersed w/in the text) detracts from its power. Topics don't flow smoothly into each other; rather, like an overworn transmission, the next topic clunks into place.
Many other reviewers didn't appreciate Galeano's "sermonizing", but I actually thought the book picked up when the author injected some of his ire and pathos, rather than abstractly reporting facts of the misery and hopelessness which many of our fellow human beings suffer on a daily basis. I felt like he was speaking on my behalf.
Defnitiely not a cheery read, but an enlightening one. Galeano speaks some hard truths that many in the North would rather not hear (The oppression/abuse of common workers; the gluttony of desire that unchecked Capitalism has created; corruption as a way of life in many parts of the world; the hyposcrisy of the "Friends of the Environment" who also happen to be the biggest polluters; et al).
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