This study compares the political economoy of elites and coffee production in central america and goes a long way to explain the political history of the region.

This is extremely well thought out, very nicely written and the underlying intellectual rigor of the book makes it one of the "best reads" for both scholars and just, well, travelers. A really good book

Although this book has been out of print for about 10 years, it is still, in my opinion, one of the best texts about the subject ever produced. The authors took hundreds of photographs of pathological lesions and conditions in the main red meat species, including horses, which are not generally classed as meat animals in this country (UK). Alongside the photographs are explanations of the conditions and the judgement of the authors of fitness of the meat for human consumption.
For anyone involved in the production of meat for human consumption - Vets, meat inspectors - this book is a must, if you can get your hands on a copy!

Raymond Fraser"s book "Costa Blanca" illustrates the barren, frightening landscape of alcoholism and leads us into the depths of a soul bereft of self. It's amusing, it's entertaining, but it's a book with serious intent, and snyone living with alcoholism either as a victim, enabler, or innocent bystander, would do well to read it. Fraser portrays his unlovely characters with a deep sense of compassion. Many of them are so depleted their attempts at hope-filled solutions with impossible odds are tinged with a kind of noble courage. "Costa Blanca" is a journey into a world a disturbing proportion of our society inhabits daily. It is a world not without love, joy, and wit but one that ultimately destroys. It is also a journey through a mind and soul in torment and can be likened to Lowry and Orwell, but with a distinct Maritimes flavour. Now looking forward to Fraser's next!

This book follows an 11 year old Costa Rican girl throughout a tipical day in her rural setting. The book is filled... *FILLED* with photographs, excellent captions and informative text. There is an information section in the back which provides even MORE useful details. I used it to write part of a Social Studies unit on Costa Rica! Fabulous source and fun to read!

Library Journal's review of this guide: "Combining encyclopedic coverage of destinations with loads of practical information and atlas- type maps, the series illuminates the wonders of nature but emphasizes the peculiarity of a place's people and their folklore."

Costa Rica Before Coffee is a book that clearly states that the myth of the land-holding self-sufficient peasant isn't true. Many Costa Ricans believe that before coffee our country was a paradise in which everybody used to own land and where there were no discrepancies in the society. With elegance, statistics and history; Lowell clearly expalins that coffee helped reinforce the democratic model in Costa Rica instead of undermining it.

Placing Costa Rica in the Central American context, Booth evaluates common myths about Costa Rican democracy. He finds the glass half full and half empty: Costa Rica's demanding citizens and a responsive government interact vibrantly, yet 1980s-90s financial crises permitted neoliberal foreign lenders to somewhat erode democracy and undermine redistributive programs that once supported it. Citizens' beliefs and demands sustain democracy, but frustration with hard times and politicians eroded election turnout in 1998. Not a travel guide, the book should interest students, scholars, policy makers, travellers seeking depth of information. Beginning with theories about the nature of democracy and how it develops, Booth traces the growth of Costa Rican politics from militarism and elite rule in the late 19th c. through the development of full democracy since 1949. Chapters focus on how the present constitution and institutions work, social structure and civil society. There are also chapters political participation and culture, political economy under external neoliberal pressures, and foreign policy. Tables and an appendix provide abundant data on elections, politics, economy, and society through 1998.

The author makes a valuable addition to the dialogue on democracy by not only incorporating older approaches but also moving beyond them. Based on both archival sources and original interview data, this revised dissertation provides cogent arguments, lucid writing, and credible references. The book weaves together two perspectives on democratization often viewed as mutually exclusive: structural and agency approaches. It integrates these two by introducing a third approach: political coalition-building. The author's postulates are tested by examining the histories of Costa Rica and Guatemala. The histories of these two countries actually provide three case studies: one example in each country where democratization failed, and one example in Costa Rica where it succeeded. By introducing a new emphasis on the importance to democratization of the mobilization of the countryside, the author sheds new light on known historical events. She also emphasizes that not only the timing but also the sequencing of events is important in attempts at democratization. Finally, other conditions necessary to the emergence and permanence of democracy are identified for use in future studies. This book should enliven the debate on democratizatio

"There is a mystical truth behind every physical fact even as there is a moral force behind every aspect of universal law"..."the letter of the law killeth but the spirit of the law giveth life". Hall's visually sumptuous interpretation of classical Greek creation myths is breathtaking. Both thrillingly readable and footnotely scholarly, his revelation of the common origins of the myths of East and West unfolds with the timeless rhythm of the Music of the Spheres!

This book is an important contribution to the study of Law, Courts and Politics in Costa Rica.