Category: History Books A Concise History of Mexico (Cambridge Concise Histories) by David M. Kennedy is a well-written and informative book that provides an overview of Mexican history from prehistory to the present day. The author covers all major events, including the Aztec civilization, Spanish conquest, independence war, and modern political developments. One of the strengths of this book is its concise yet comprehensive approach to Mexican history. Kennedy manages to cover a vast amount of ground in just over 200 pages, while still providing enough detail to give readers a good understanding of each period. The author also includes maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to break up the text and make it more engaging. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Kennedy provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on the role of women and indigenous peoples in Mexican history, these topics could have been explored further. Overall, A Concise History of Mexico is a solid choice for anyone looking for an introduction to Mexican history. It provides a good balance between breadth and detail, and its concise format makes it easy to read and understand. Mexico: Biography of Power by John W. Chaffee is another excellent book on Mexican history. This biography focuses specifically on the life and career of Porfirio Díaz, one of Mexico's most influential leaders in the late 19th century. The author provides a detailed account of Díaz's rise to power, his policies, and his impact on Mexican society and politics. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on a single individual, which allows for a more in-depth analysis of their life and career. Chaffee also includes numerous primary sources, such as letters and government documents, which help to give readers a better understanding of Díaz's perspective and the historical context in which he lived. However, one potential downside is that the book can be somewhat dry at times. While Chaffee provides a wealth of information on Díaz and his era, some of the more interesting aspects of Mexican history during this time are not explored in as much depth. Additionally, while the author does touch on some of the social and political issues facing Mexico during this period, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, Mexico: Biography of Power is a well-written and informative book that provides a detailed look at one of Mexico's most important leaders. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a broader overview of Mexican history, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in the life and career of Porfirio Díaz. The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History (Non Series) by John M. Belcher is an engaging book that explores the history of the Gulf of Mexico from prehistory to the present day. The author covers all major events, including the indigenous cultures that once inhabited the region, Spanish exploration and colonization, the development of maritime trade routes, and modern political developments. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on the Gulf of Mexico as a unique historical entity. Belcher provides a detailed account of the region's history, highlighting its distinctive features and the ways in which they have shaped the area's development over time. The author also includes numerous maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to bring the history of the Gulf to life. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Belcher provides a brief mention of the Mexican-American War, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on the role of women and indigenous peoples in Gulf history, these topics could have been explored further. Overall, The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about the history of this unique region. It provides a good balance between breadth and detail, and its engaging writing style makes it easy to read and understand. The Oxford History of Mexico by William H. Lewis is another comprehensive book on Mexican history that covers all major periods from prehistory to the present day. The author includes chapters on everything from indigenous cultures to modern political developments, providing a detailed account of each period. One of the strengths of this book is its breadth and depth of coverage. Lewis provides a wealth of information on every aspect of Mexican history, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the country's past. The author also includes numerous primary sources, such as letters and government documents, which help to give readers a better understanding of Mexican society and politics throughout history. However, one potential downside is that the book can be somewhat dry at times. While Lewis provides a wealth of information on every aspect of Mexican history, some of the more interesting aspects of the country's past are not explored in as much depth. Additionally, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, The Oxford History of Mexico is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of Mexican history. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a more engaging or in-depth look at the country's past, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in learning more about the history and culture of Mexico. Mexico: A History by Hugh Thomas is another well-written book on Mexican history that covers all major periods from prehistory to the present day. The author includes chapters on everything from indigenous cultures to modern political developments, providing a detailed account of each period. One of the strengths of this book is its engaging writing style. Thomas provides a lively and accessible account of Mexican history that is easy to read and understand, making it an excellent choice for readers who are looking for a more engaging look at the country's past. The author also includes numerous primary sources, such as letters and government documents, which help to give readers a better understanding of Mexican society and politics throughout history. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Thomas provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, Mexico: A History is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an engaging overview of Mexican history. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a more comprehensive or in-depth look at the country's past, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in learning more about the history and culture of Mexico. Mexico: A History by James D. Richardson is another book on Mexican history that covers all major periods from prehistory to the present day. The author includes chapters on everything from indigenous cultures to modern political developments, providing a detailed account of each period. One of the strengths of this book is its concise yet comprehensive approach to Mexican history. Richardson manages to cover a vast amount of ground in just over 200 pages, while still providing enough detail to give readers a good understanding of each period. The author also includes numerous maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to break up the text and make it more engaging. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Richardson provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, Mexico: A History is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a concise yet comprehensive overview of Mexican history. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a more in-depth or engaging look at the country's past, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in learning more about the history and culture of Mexico. A Narco History: How the United States and Mexico Jointly Created the "Mexican Drug War" by Ioannis Agorastos is a unique book that explores the role of both the United States and Mexico in creating the current drug war in Mexico. The author provides a detailed account of how the country's history, politics, and society have contributed to the rise of organized crime and drug trafficking. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on the complex interplay between the United States and Mexico in shaping Mexican history. Agorastos provides a nuanced and insightful analysis of how both countries' actions and policies have contributed to the current state of affairs, making it an excellent choice for readers who are looking for a more in-depth understanding of the drug war in Mexico. The author also includes numerous primary sources, such as government documents and news articles, which help to give readers a better understanding of the historical context in which the drug war developed. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Agorastos provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, A Narco History is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about the complex interplay between the United States and Mexico in shaping Mexican history. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a broader overview of Mexican history or the drug war specifically, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in understanding the root causes of this ongoing conflict. History of Mexico by William H. Lewis is another book on Mexican history that covers all major periods from prehistory to the present day. The author includes chapters on everything from indigenous cultures to modern political developments, providing a detailed account of each period. One of the strengths of this book is its concise yet comprehensive approach to Mexican history. Lewis manages to cover a vast amount of ground in just over 200 pages, while still providing enough detail to give readers a good understanding of each period. The author also includes numerous maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to break up the text and make it more engaging. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Lewis provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, History of Mexico is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a concise yet comprehensive overview of Mexican history. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a more in-depth or engaging look at the country's past, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in learning more about the history and culture of Mexico. Mexico - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture by John W. Chaffee is an engaging book that explores Mexican customs and culture from prehistory to the present day. The author provides a detailed account of everything from indigenous cultures to modern social norms, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of Mexican society and its values. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on the unique aspects of Mexican culture and society. Chaffee provides an in-depth analysis of how Mexican customs and traditions have evolved over time, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about the country's history and culture. The author also includes numerous maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to break up the text and make it more engaging. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Chaffee provides a brief mention of the Mexican Revolution, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing Mexico during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, Mexico - Culture Smart! is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about the unique aspects of Mexican culture and society. While it may not be suitable for readers who are looking for a broader overview of Mexican history or politics, it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in understanding the cultural norms and values that have shaped Mexico's past and present. Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs by Michael E. Smith is an engaging book that explores the history of the Aztec civilization from its origins to its fall during the Spanish conquest. The author provides a detailed account of everything from indigenous cultures to modern political developments, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of the Aztecs and their society. One of the strengths of this book is its focus on the unique aspects of Aztec culture and history. Smith provides an in-depth analysis of how the Aztecs evolved as a civilization over time, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about one of Mexico's most important indigenous cultures. The author also includes numerous maps and illustrations throughout the book, which help to break up the text and make it more engaging. However, one potential downside is that some of the more complex historical events are glossed over in favor of a broader overview. For example, while Smith provides a brief mention of the Spanish conquest, he does not delve into its causes or consequences in any depth. Similarly, while he touches on social and political issues facing the Aztecs during various periods, these topics could have been expanded upon further. Overall, Fifth Sun is an excellent choice for anyone looking to learn more about the history and culture of the Aztec civilization.