I've been in Brazil for five months now and still feel myself battle with imposter's syndrome on an almost daily basis. I have a colleague who often says "Brazil is not for beginners"....yeah, tell me about it. Aside from the language, it's a country that's nearly a continent unto itself and that presents a bewildering landscape and breadth of people, and culture to understand. From para ingles ver to the "Brazilian No" serai interessante que I learn something new every day.
When I found out I would be an Africa FAO some 13 years ago, I dove headlong into devouring every book and article I could find on the continent.
And so I continue that habit here in Brazil. After you first read Brazil: A Biography, I recommend you read list below (in their chronological order of publication). I didn't read them in chronological order personally (I actually did it in reverse) and am realizing now as I read a "A Death in Brazil" that it would have been useful to digest the stories and reporting in a more linear fashion. Many of the timelines overlap of course but hopefully it will be helpful.
Caveat: the Brazil Biography is loooong...so maybe read it while you read through the list below.
- A Death in Brazil (2004). Currently reading. This quasi autobiographical book is packed with very readable vignettes covering important parts of Brazilian history. My short summary will be here.
- The Invisibles (2007). My short summary is here.
- Dancing with the Devil in the City of God (2015). My short summary is here.
- Brazillionaires (2016). My short summary is here.
- The Collector of Leftover Souls: Field Notes on Brazil's Everyday Insurrections (2019). My short summary is here.
