Books on Brazil

Tyler Cowen's post on "The culture that is Brazil" reminded me of how important it is to read foreigners account on our home countries. ("Closing banks on soccer games"? What is wrong in that?"). I do appreciate reading guide books on Brazil and I have a few notes about them:

• How to Be a Carioca: The Alternative Guide for the Tourist in Rio is a non-academic anthropology book, disguised as book guide, on contemporary Brazil. Strongly recomended for tourists, researchers (and Brazilians). But you will need a traditional guide book for the practical stuff;
• Lonely Planet Brazil : far from complete and full of mistakes. I guess that it is the first or second LP edition on Brazil, so I hope it will improve.
• Culture Shock! Brazil: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: It is a must if you intend to reside in Brazil. It is not aimed to tourists, but has lots of practical info. (I bought it because a German couple told me that the book was funny. It isn't).