Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening
Review: In truth this book deserves more than 1 star, but I would like to suggest that there are other sources that must be included to truly appreciate the plight of Latin America. Galeano himself suggests that there are other books that should be read.
Latin Americans are far from victims of western exploitation, but in many instances they are collaborators, ignorance is no excuse.
Galeano suggests that Latin America was a fertile ground for western exploitation, as a hierarchical society already existed when the conquistadors arrived. This is true, one cannot dispute, but to suggest that there was somehow equality, or some sort of Eden, is fallacy. Complex political structures, competing forces, and ritual sacrifice paint quite a different picture. Had instability not previously existed, it would not have been possible to subdue the indigenous people quite as easily.
More than anything, this book points to the political power of the wealthy - how that power is maintained, and the cost in human lives.
In the U.S. the populace should be more aware of the words - conspicuous consumption, and what the cost of that is. As for Latin America, "in a land where there is no justice, self-interest governs all." Thus, there will never be any type of nationalism/patriotism without a real system of justice.
Very informative, and definitely one to make you think.
Rating:
Summary: Oh my God!
Review: Please stop this man. The fantasy of blaming the US and Europe for the problems in Latin America has caused a lot of damage in Latin America. Unfortunetly, a grat number of Latin American leaders of the last century follow this filosophy and adopt a kind of nationalism and socialism that just puts more latin americans in misery.
Rating: 
Summary: Every latin-american human been must read it
Review: The history is known as a real thing, but sometimes gets into a fiction world.This is exactly what happens in this book, because the steal made by the american people in my continent was something unbelievable... Because of that every latin-american person must read it, to know where are we living...what stories can tell our land, stories of sacrifice and pillage.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Historical Account
Review: The truth hurts sometimes, but it is good that we become aware of it. A masterpiece which gives chilling details of the abuse some people have had to suffer.
Rating:
Summary: The veins are open, and still bleeding!
Review: This book is a masterpiece. I understand why some people (just like Juan Bimba and a couple of reviewers here) hate it: It touches the real cut, the heart of capitalism, and explore it in a way few men dare. His references are not just excellent: they are irrefutable. This is one of the best books I've ever read. One of Galeano's best; a must read for Latin Americans! More than a history book, it's a compilation of essays that shows how the "strong" always abuses and stand over the "weak" mass.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This book is excellent, but unfortunately the author makes clear we brazilians are "sub imperialists", but nobody loans money from us, neither we invade other Latin America country culturally or militarily. This is unfornatelly a idea spread in the Spanish America maybe because our size or different language.
Rating:
Summary: What we should study in school.
Review: This book offers the reader the possibility to understand why the vast majority of the people of one of the richest part of the planet live in misery. The domination of Spain and England has been replaced in the last two centuries by the north American imperialism. The idea that the market is free worldwide is just an illusion, well utilized by the media and by the big corporations all around the world. Galeano was able to describe the complicate situation of the central and southern american countries with simple words, renouncing to the ermetic slang of sociologists and historians yet rigorously documenting the whole reasoning. A must for Europeans and northern Americans. Indispensable for whom want to understand how the global market functions and who are the major players.
Rating:
Summary: Learn More, Read this Book!
Review: This is a great book for those who want to look at things from a fresh perspective. It is not meant for those who believe capitalism and imperialism are the best options out there. Eduardo Galeano did an excellent job at investigating as well as setting forward a view of Latin America that very few North Americans ever get to know. One warning though: it is not for those faint of heart, this book is explicit and very painful to read; but that is only because the history of Latin America has been very sad and painful. An excellent read, you'll think about this book forever.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous!
Review: This is a must for people who like to know the truth of what happened in Latin America over the centuries of European influence... and the truth isn't pretty. Eduardo Galeano doesn't blame the American people for all of Latin American problems and incredible corruption at government and management levels, he points out at the American governments and their foreign policy; the fact remains we, Latin Americans, have been invaded by American marines more than 200 times, and every single time it hasn't been to defend the people and democracy but to support right wing corrupted officials and capitalists. Take Chile for example, it was American dollars and American advisors which help orchestrating the criminal and totally anti-democratic coupe d'etat of 1973...Eduardo Galeano is an excellent writer, and he has dedicated most of his life to put his writing at our service, so that we understand how we ended up in such mess and poverty having one of the richest continent on Earth. I first read this book when I was 13, now I am 38 and came to your site because I would like to have an updated copy of this book for my children. I read the other comments made before mine and could not let the opportunity go to give people the other side of the coin... In summary: THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT BOOK, WELL WRITTEN, WELL RESEARCHED AND WELL INTENTIONED! PS: I live in Australia and this book is a text book for some of the courses run by Australian universities.
Rating:
Summary: History...True History....
Review: Ups!!!...What is all this stuff?? Nothing, or very little of this was ever mentioned to me in school!!!! What is this?? Well,latino brothers, this is what really happened.This is it. If you want to have a vision of real history, read this book. It is not going to be a nice read. Not that the translation is not good,as a matter of fact it is great and Galeano is a very good writer, not to say brilliant. But it is going to be hard and ugly, because you will get to know why we are what we are and why we have what we have...
So, it will be worth your time.
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