History of Puerto Rico: A Panorama Of Its People

by Fernando Picó

Entender el pasado para comprender el presente no parece un empeño intelectual retador hasta que lo intentamos. Diversos historiadores han encontrado claves en los siglos precedentes para apreciar las contradicciones en nuestra sociedad y las ambigüedades en nuestras instituciones. Pero la historia enseña algo, o son más bien los historiadores los que- revistiéndose del manto de Clío- asumen la tarea de enseñar? Esta revisión de la Historia general de Puerto Rico no dilucida esas discusiones, pero si pretende poner al día nuestros entendimientos sobre la formación y el desarrollo de nuestra sociedad. En las últimas décadas se ha publicado mucho, pero no siempre se ha logrado hacer una síntesis de los avances logrados por los investigadores. Una vez más esta edición actualizada de la Historia general intenta realizar esa tarea.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Latin American History, Spanish Literature, Travel

351 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

Reviews

[Jorge Camuñas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever start reading a history book and could not put it down? This is it!

[Hannah (Klein) Rockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly thorough and well-written. It was a slow read at times, but that is expected with history books. 10/10 recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Puerto Rican history, culture, and politics through the ages.

[Marielyvazquezlive.come]

Zukommt Books like Biographie Puerto Rico San Juan Cruise iPods

[zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amen

[Luis Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro es un resumen de la historia de P.R. usualmente mis compañeros maestros me hacen referencia de que es el mejor libro de historia de P.R.

[Melina Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para aquellos que buscan una forma de conocer la historia de Puerto Rico en un libro, este es uno de los mejores.

[Danyie and the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanta la historia de Puerto Rico ya nos enseña todo lo que nuestros ancestros tuvieron que pasar para que nosotros tuviéramos un mejor país.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectura obligada para todo puertorriqueño que quiera entender mejor su país.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro pero no es para todo el mundo. Muchos datos y data, es bastante cronológico y obviamente es un libro de historia no una novela.

[Alberto Lagomarsini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siempre que leo a Fernando Pico tengo solamente una palabra: magistral!!!

[Pedro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little more then a textbook describing the events of Puerto Rico's history without any sense of historical narrative. I have read better textbooks then this, but it is not bad or incompetent work in any way. I just feel that the island deserves something more.

The reason that this book fails to engage its readers is because the history of Puerto Rico has always been imposed upon it from above. For better or worse the island has been colony since Ponce de Leon first arrived on its shores in 1508.

It is possible to create an engaging and original narrative of Puerto Rico's history, but not if you insist on describing the island principally in terms of policy and economics which are foreign to it. I will readily agree that economics is the driving force behind most historical, cultural, and technological developments in our history. However, only by examining the interplay between an island's culture and the larger trends that affect it can you truly get a sense of what it is.

The most interesting parts of the book are those in which the author describes the development of Puerto Rico's culture and identity. Many books could be written about these brief snippets he touches upon. However for the most part he prefers to print tables upon tables of demographics and production outputs. Furthermore the ending of the new edition could be better integrated.

Pico created a clear and informative history of Puerto Rico in which he lists what happened and fails to say anything original about it.

[Joanna Hazelden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suggested by a bookseller in San Juan as the best history of the island. It is dense with ideas and stories of the people-something that can be picked up and re-read to see new points. Its focus on the development of the country from the inside, versus just how it was shaped by outside forces gives it an intimate feel. You don’t have to read the introduction to know that this is a passion project, the work of many years of reading, discussing, researching, and asking questions. Because the author passed away just before Hurricane Maria, his history ends there, without the examination of event. There is an extensive notes and bibliography, but unfortunately no index (at least for the English translation) but it is still a wonderful book.

I read it last year when I visited and again this year-it adds something to read the pages of Pico’s history and then look up to see the hills and mountains he mentions-makes the book come alive.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very complete look at the history of the island. The picture starts with the very formation of the land; and ends in 2005; when the form of government is shared with the USA. It reviews every possible aspect of the people of Puerto Rico: their culture; their economics; their diet; where they come from and why they are the way they are. Puerto Ricans are a very special kind of human beings: their philosophy of life is a mixture between the fishermen (why work if I have eaten today) and the american dreamer (try to gather as much money and toys as you can in order to attain happiness). From that mixture; one can find really bizarre bedfellows.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resume muy bien la historia de Puerto Rico. Se lo recomiendo a cualquiera que quiera conocer esta magnífica historia de este gran pueblo. Lo único que no me gustó es que en algunas partes se enfocó demasiado en datos no tan importantes como las cantidades exactas de exportación de tal y tal material, también no hablo tanto de los años más recientes como hablo de siglos pasados. Si te gusta la historia léelo.

[Donosti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente síntesis de la Historia de un país aún en formación. Es un libro que todo puertorriqueño debe leer, al ser un resumén de muchos siglos de historia claramente hay temas que no son tan ampliamente tratados. Es un libro de referencia que nos adentra en nuestra historia y nos anima a buscar y conocer más de ella.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly dry, and weirdly obsessed with trying to convince you that Puerto Rico wasn't that big a deal to the Spanish empire--which just stands in odd contrast to the sheer amount of investment that must have gone into building the two huge forts in San Juan.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive book on the history of Puerto Rico

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book its sort of a condense view on the history from Puerto Rico, from it ecological beginnings to more contemporary times. Really good reading. (My copy is in Spanish)

[Fabianna Himet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every Puerto Rican should read.