Book Review:
Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela
by William Neuman
March 15, 2022
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
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Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela
by William Neuman
Winner of the 2022 Cornelius Ryan Award of the Overseas Press Club of America for the best nonfiction book on international affairs.
Foreign Affairs Best Books of 2022
National Endowment for Democracy Notable Books of 2022
"Richly reported...a thorough and important history." -Tim Padgett, The New York Times
A nuanced and deeply-reported account of the collapse of Venezuela, and what it could mean for the rest of the world.
Today, Venezuela is a country of perpetual crisis—a country of rolling blackouts, nearly worthless currency, uncertain supply of water and food, and extreme poverty. In the same land where oil—the largest reserve in the world—sits so close to the surface that it bubbles from the ground, where gold and other mineral resources are abundant, and where the government spends billions of dollars on public works projects that go abandoned, the supermarket shelves are bare and the hospitals have no medicine. Twenty percent of the population has fled, creating the largest refugee exodus in the world, rivaling only war-torn Syria’s crisis. Venezuela’s collapse affects all of Latin America, as well as the United States and the international community.
Republicans like to point to Venezuela as the perfect example of the emptiness of socialism, but it is a better model for something else: the destructive potential of charismatic populist leadership. The ascent of Hugo Chávez was a precursor to the emergence of strongmen that can now be seen all over the world, and the success of the corrupt economy he presided over only lasted while oil sold for more than $100 a barrel. Chávez’s regime and policies, which have been reinforced under Nicolás Maduro, squandered abundant resources and ultimately bankrupted the country.
Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse is a fluid combination of journalism, memoir, and history that chronicles Venezuela’s tragic journey from petro-riches to poverty. Author William Neuman witnessed it all firsthand while living in Caracas and serving as the New York Times Andes Region Bureau Chief. His book paints a clear-eyed, riveting, and highly personal portrait of the crisis unfolding in real time, with all of its tropical surrealism, extremes of wealth and suffering, and gripping drama. It is also a heartfelt reflection of the country’s great beauty and vibrancy—and the energy, passion, and humor of its people, even under the most challenging circumstances.
Indigo / Amazon (Only Available in E-book format) |
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"Richly reported...a thorough and important history." -Tim Padgett,—New York Times
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About the book:
Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela
by William Neuman
St. Martin's Press - 336 pages $21.99 (Kindle)
Publication Date: March 15, 2022
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About the Author: William Neuman
William Neuman is an author and journalist who reported for the New York Times for over 15 years. He served as the Times Andes Region Bureau Chief from 2012 to 2016 while based in Caracas, Venezuela. He previously reported for the New York Post and his work has also been featured by the San Francisco Chronicle, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and The Independent, among others.
He began his journalism career while living in Mexico, and has published English translations of several Spanish-language novels.
Biography Credit: MacMillan Publishers
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À propos du livre :
Les choses ne sont jamais si mauvaises qu'elles ne puissent empirer : dans les coulisses de l'effondrement du Venezuela
par William Neuman
St. Martin's Press - 336 pages 21,99 $ (Kindle)
Date de publication : 15 mars 2022 |
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Book Review / Revue de livres
Disclaimer: Articles are chosen for relevance and circulated for information only. Views expressed are those of the respective journalists / authors. Republication does not infer endorsement.
Book Review Editor: Ralph Mahar - Suggestions for Book Reviews will be gratefully received at thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
Avertissement : Les articles sont choisis pour leur pertinence et sont diffusés à titre d'information seulement. Les opinions exprimées sont celles des journalistes/auteurs respectifs. La republication n'implique pas d'approbation.
Rédacteur en chef des critiques de livres : Ralph Mahar - Les suggestions de critiques de livres sont les bienvenues à l'adresse suivante : thepillarsociety.bulletins@gmail.com
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