Deschutes Public Library

Things are never so bad that they can't get worse, inside the collapse of Venezuela, William Neuman

Label
Things are never so bad that they can't get worse, inside the collapse of Venezuela, William Neuman
Language
eng
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-325) and index
resource.biographical
contains biographical information
Index
index present
Literary Form
non fiction
Main title
Things are never so bad that they can't get worse
Nature of contents
bibliography
Oclc number
1246144652
Responsibility statement
William Neuman
Sub title
inside the collapse of Venezuela
Summary
"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. Ten percent of the population has fled, creating the largest refugee exodus in the hemisphere, rivaling only war-torn Libya'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. Hugo Chavez's ascent 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 established only lasted while oil sold for $120 a barrel. 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"--, Provided by publisher
Table Of Contents
Prologue: Mene grande -- Blackout -- The shouting country -- Blackout -- To be Bolívar -- Blackout -- Crude -- The man under the palm tree -- First, I want to say good morning -- Irrevocable, absolute, total -- The barrio -- Little bird -- Blackout -- Things are never so bad -- Blackout -- Kidnapped -- Blackout -- Means without production -- Piñata -- Blackout -- Not anymore -- Maximum pressure -- Exodus -- Swearing in -- Avalanche -- Bubble -- Dead houses -- A wooden knife -- Golden hearts -- Newsprint -- The screw-up at Macuto -- Blackout -- Venezuela agonistes
Target audience
adult
resource.variantTitle
Things are never so bad that they can not get worseThings are never so bad that they cannot get worseInside the collapse of Venezuela