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Alan Riding
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Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans Kindle Edition

by Alan Riding (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 94 ratings
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A study of Mexico - political, social, cultural, economic - by a journalist who was for the past 6 years the NYT bureau chief in Mexico City. With portraits of Mexico's top leaders, about a nation whose stability is vital to our national well-being.
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  1. Print length
    434 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    July 6, 2011
  5. File size
    3.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A former Mexico City bureau chief for the New York Times, Riding shows himself to be a sympathetic, informed observer of the complex changes wracking Mexican society and is especially insightful about recent political and economic turbulence and the tension between the Mexican majority and the "Americanized" minority. PW called Riding's analysis "broad, absorbing and up-to-date." January
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A spectacular piece of work. Alan Riding has a rich under-standing of [Mexico]: anthropology, history, economics, politics, culture, and--not least--psychology."--Anthony Lewis


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004QZA3C0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reissue edition (July 6, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 6, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0679724419
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 94 ratings

About the author

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Alan Riding

Alan Riding

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ALAN RIDING is a Brazilian-born Briton who studied economics and law before becoming a journalist and writer. Working successively for Reuters, The Financial Times, The Economist and The New York Times, he reported from the United Nations in New York, Latin America and Western Europe. During much of his career, Riding covered political and economic affairs. During the final 12 years before he retired from journalism in 2007, he was the European cultural correspondent for The New York Times, based in Paris. In 1980, Riding was awarded the Maria Moors Cabot Prize by Columbia University for his coverage of Latin America and he has also been honored by the Overseas Press Club and the Latin American Studies Association in the United States. He is author of the best-selling book, "Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans," and co-author of "Essential Shakespeare Handbook" and "Opera." His most recent book, published in 2010, is "And The Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-Occupied Paris." It has since also been published in French, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese and Polish.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
94 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative, with one mentioning it provides valuable insight for Americans living in Mexico. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as lucidly written, and another noting it's good for skipping around to different topics. However, the book's pacing receives criticism for being somewhat dated.

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13 customers mention "Information quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, with one mentioning it provides a comprehensive history of Mexico and another noting it offers valuable insights into cross-cultural differences.

"...Distant Neighbors" has become a classic because it's so well informed and reads like a novel. A must-read." Read more

"...It explains the history, the cultural, the people and traditions, both good and bad...." Read more

"too much about politics but very informative" Read more

"...Just as relevant today as it was in the mid 80's. Gives you a new mindset, not every Mexican is longing to move to the U.S...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and easy to read, with one customer noting it's good for skipping around to different topics.

"...I have just re-read this book - a good one for skipping around to different topics if that's your bent - and the puzzle was how an economist could..." Read more

"...It’s a bit dated now but still a great read." Read more

"...are like and, historically, why, look no farther than this lucidly written book...." Read more

"...so many aspects of Mexican life and custom to me, it really is an incredible read." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing negative, with some noting it is a little dated.

"...Felt a little dated, but spot on in regard to the issues...." Read more

"A little dated, but essential...." Read more

"Insightful but outdated book..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • yankee-in-ca
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's been updated to the year 2000
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    It's a sign of how essential this book is that older reviews express frustration that it's twenty years out of date. But this paperback comes with an extensive Afterword about the historic peaceful surrender of power by the dominant party [which created euphoria depressingly like the hopeful Obama election], and I hope Riding finds time to cover the Fox years and the tragic unraveling of Mexico following the bitter Bush vs Gore-like elections of 2006.

    I have just re-read this book - a good one for skipping around to different topics if that's your bent - and the puzzle was how an economist could write so well and so engagingly. Riding, it turns out, is a Shakespeare scholar! Reader comments in his "Essential Shakespeare Handbook," written with Leslie Dunton-Downer, could apply to "Distant Neighbors":

    "... also a good read (a quality lacking in most books of this type)"!

    Riding is too good an historian to be judgmental, but he's a bit hard on the Mexican father. Fortunately, there's a very different book that shines a bright light on the Mexican mindset in a realm Riding hasn't lived, having been ambassador and dealt mainly with the upper echelons. "Con Respeto... An Ethnographic Portrait" by Guadalupe Valdes plumbs the depths of the financially struggling but deeply committed, famously strong Mexican family. The couples she follows rely on each other far too much to be abusive. To his credit, Riding does point out that the higher up the socio-economic ladder, the more likely husbands are to physically "correct" (and cheat on) their wives. "Con Respeto" studies the poignantly steadfast marriages on the lower rungs of that ladder.

    (In our nation of spoiled brats, we have a great deal to learn from Mexicans, something no one seems eager to point out.)

    "Distant Neighbors" has become a classic because it's so well informed and reads like a novel. A must-read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Tom Davies
    5.0 out of 5 stars Still a manual for Americans doing biz in Mexico
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I’d recommend this book to any gringo either doing business or wanting to live in Mexico as an ex pat. It explains the history, the cultural, the people and traditions, both good and bad. It hits some deep points lots of Mexicans won’t like but sometimes the truth hurts. It’s a bit dated now but still a great read.
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  • Oscar1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Even though this book was written so long ago, some truths remain.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I was very impressed with what Mr. Riding is telling us about Mexico. He seems to know more about Mexico and the Mexicans than myself or any Mexican I know, about all topics, especially about politics. Even though this book was written so long ago, some truths remain.

    I hope we take notice of what he is telling us and I too hope we can change for the better...if we really want to change. Otherwise, we will remain as we are. A very strong contender to get out of the "developing nations status" but, that somehow; still trying...close, but no cigar.

    I know we can--all we have to do is work together in the same direction. I want our distant neighbors to be our closest and most wanted neighbors....because it is good for all of us.
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  • Harold Cabot
    4.0 out of 5 stars A little dated, but essential.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    If you want sharp insights into what Mexicans are like and, historically, why, look no farther than this lucidly written book. Much news has been made since it was published - setbacks for the PRI, some progress for PAN, the halting beginnings of a middle class. But the basic culture remains as it has been for centuries - and very different from that of the USA. If you plan to interact significantly with Mexicans, this a must read.
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    too much about politics but very informative
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  • McDeb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Real Mexico
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I read this several years ago while traveling in Oaxaca and Chiapas. Purchased again for a reread.Just as relevant today as it was in the mid 80's. Gives you a new mindset, not every Mexican is longing to move to the U.S.
    The people I met were lovely, welcoming and
    happy. They had so little and were honored to share what they had with you. Of course this was the small Indian. villages in the southern mountains and Pacific coast. The Big City is just like anyplace else. The Mexican Indians are looked down upon .by the Mexicans of Spanish descent. I saw it for myself. Lived in Southern
    Mexico for 2 years. I can say though I am not of Spanish descent and was very happy to cross the Border and be back to my home in the USA. Read it and get some insight into our Distant Neighbor.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Maite
    5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable info
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I first got an introduction to this book in 2006. I was supposed to read it for a literature class and never finished the first chapter, but I was thoroughly impressed by what I did read. Being Mexican myself and having grown up in the U.S., I did have a craving for an understanding of the culture I did not get to thoroughly know. This has clarified so many aspects of Mexican life and custom to me, it really is an incredible read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Paul L. Alford
    5.0 out of 5 stars decoding the culture
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book years ago and still use it as a reference. I have traveled and studied in Mexico for many years and speak Spanish. So few Americans really understand Mexico, especially the roots of corruption, things like Mordidas, the military, police etc. This book enlightens and explains. A number of Mexican friends (certainly not those in the Government)agree. The sad fact is there are many things about Mexico that the Mexican government would rather not discuss or have us know. One of the reasons so few books deal honestly with the problems of Mexico. This book or (any book) that deals honestly with the problems of Mexico must necessarily risk engendering some feelings of hopelessness among some readers but such is, often, the nature of truth.
    4 people found this helpful
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