Mañana o pasado: El misterio de los mexicanos

by Jorge G. Castañeda

El rostro enigmático de México presenta hoy hondas cicatrices y un gesto que va del escepticismo a la ironía, del resentimiento al desprecio: ¿Cómo pueden descifrarse las inquietudes de ese rostro? ¿Qué estigmas conservan los mexicanos, a qué mitos se aferran? ¿Qué fracturas hay tras la guerra contra el narcotráfico, la vorágine migratoria y el descrédito de sus gobiernos, de sus aparatos de justicia y sus instituciones?
 
Jorge Castañeda nos ofrece aquí el análisis más profundo que se ha hecho en los últimos años sobre el carácter de su país. Sustentado por un estudio riguroso de filósofos, historiadores, economistas y demás intelectuales que han expresado su fervor o  contrariedad por México, así como por las reflexiones de extranjeros que han visto en ese país a una nación marcada por la hospitalidad o la barbarie, Castañeda nos advierte sobre las idiosincrasias de los mexicanos: la indiferencia a la competencia; la desgana a defender sus convicciones; el por qué se resisten a las acciones colectivas y a la participación comprometida en luchas políticas; de qué manera el descuido de la industria turística afecta su economía; y cómo el crecimiento de la clase media no es necesariamente una señal contundente de bienestar y confianza en los gobiernos. Por las deducciones implacables sobre la realidad moderna mexicana, afiladas por la ironía en la crítica y el reconocimiento de sus zonas más oscuras y dolorosas, Mañana o pasado es, sin duda, la obra imprescindible para entender el México contemporáneo.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Cultural, Politics, Sociology, Spanish Literature

431 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

From Wikipedia:

Jorge Castañeda Gutman (born May 24, 1953) is a Mexican politician and academic who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2000–2003).
Castañeda was born in Mexico City. He received the French Baccalauréat from the Lycée Franco-Mexicain in Mexico City. Then after receiving his B.A. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Economic History from the University of Paris (Panthéon-La Sorbonne) he worked as a professor at several universities, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, New York University, and the University of Cambridge. He was a Bernard Schwartz fellow at The New America Foundation. He also authored more than a dozen books, including a biography of Che Guevara, and he regularly contributes to newspapers such as Reforma (Mexico), El País (Spain), Los Angeles Times (USA) and Newsweek magazine.
His father was Jorge Castañeda y Álvarez de la Rosa who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1979–1982), during the administration of José López Portillo. He was married to Miriam Morales (a Chilean citizen) and he has one son, Jorge Andrés.

Reviews

[Gabriel Lucena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobre o livro em si: os primeiros capítulos são interessantes, com destaque o capítulo que fala sobre a classe média. Porém, depois disso, acredito que ele se atém de uma análise cultural que eu não julgo a melhor - tratando os problemas como culturais e da coletividade do que mais histórico-estruturais. Mas eu também não conheço muito da história do México.
Os dois apêndices são ótimos! Achei eles bem introdutórios porém extremamente provocativos. Fiquei com muita vontade de ler e estudar mais sobre a integração latino-americana e sobre narcotráfico. Achei que foram os dois melhores capítulos do livros, mesmo que não seja exatamente sobre o México.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Según Jorge Castaneda, México es como un niño olvidado quien ha desarollado ciertos mecanismos para sobrevivir, pero que ya no le valen en el mundo moderno.

Los Mexicanos, por ejemplo, resultan ser individuales que acuden muy pocas veces a los proyectos colectivos como puede ser construir un estado de derecho o una sociedad civil.

Es lo principal y aqui dicho por Castaneda, "La supuesta devoción mexicana por la democracia choca con el individualismo de los mexicanos, y con su rechazo categórico a cualquier red horizontal de solidaridad, asociación, trabajo voluntario o forma simple de organización. El país presenta altos grados de desconfianza hacia sus instituciónes; carece de un sentido de la representación política y muestra un sentimiento profundo de ineficiencia e intolerancia politíca, ademas de un desapego generalizado respecto a la ley y una concomitante propensión a la corrupción."

Mucha palabrería, pero traza bien las fronteras de la propuesta encontrado en "Mañana o pasado, el misterio de los mexicanos."

Este deseo solitario nace de muchas cosas, entre ellas una "completa desconfianza mexicana hacia el gobierno y las instituciónes" en un país donde "la posesión de una parcela de tierra sigue representando la mejor defensa frente a un mundo exterior predatorio," opina el autor, un ex-ministro de asuntos exteriores en la administración de Vicente Fox.

Pero México anda camino hace el nuevo mundo. Castaneda nos informa que, "Para al final del periodo de Felipe Calderon, la población del país será, más o menos, dos terceras partes de clase media con todo lo que ello impílica política, económica, y socialmente; pero tal vez no, desafortunadamente, en terminos culturales."

Otro imperfección, o sea cosa poca perfecta, es la tendencia de esquivar el enfrentamiento.

Para el mexicano, "El único benefício posible derivado del la confrontación directa es que alguien pierda y alguien gane, y casi siempre, el que pierde va a ser mas 'mexicano' o mas' 'popular' que el ganador."

O, dicho de otra manera, el mexicano piensa que "Es mejor decir aquí corrio, que aquí murio."

Se tropieza con este tendencia en los ambitos de la economia, la política, los sindicatos o los medios de communicación.

En lo que se refiere al la democracia, los mexicanos lo valúa como un instrumento para "permitir y promover la convergencia entre fuerzas políticas" en ver de guarantizár que las divergencias "permanezcan en el rango de las resoluciónes pacíficas," tal y como el autor lo prefiere.

El país también sufre de una concentración del poder, poca sana para el futuro de la sagrada clase media.

Sugiere el autor que estas actitudes son arraigadas en la historia indígena de Mexico, "un tanto distinta de las otras por que la víctima es rey, la derrota es glorificada y las influencias y agentes extranjeros son decisivos e implacable," dice Castaneda.

El autor utilíza tal cantidad de datos que casi se aburre al lector, salvo que estos ejercícios académicos son compaginados con otros pensamientos mas curiosos, si no tan empiricos, como puede ser lo significado del cantor Juan Gabriel, el arte de Cantinflas, o el por que la selección Mexicana de futbol no vale diez pesos.

Un tóque suave ejerce Castaneda aqui. No grita, no insiste, sino sugiere y hasta entretiene con sus propuestas para México que, si no resuelven las grandes cuestiones aquí enumerados, abren camino hacía posibles debates y respuestas.

Para los que se interesan, quieren o aman a México, merece la pena sorber algúno de los pensamientos aquí presentados.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about Mexican culture. It was hard for me to read, since the Spanish vocabulary wasn't familiar to me and the concepts were quite deep.

It made me realize how dependent a country is on the thinking and beliefs of its forebears. Those who helped start our new nation were of the belief that if you don't like something (your country), then go find out how to change it, be that to leave the country and start over. Americans find a way to do something, somehow. It's a "can-do" attitude. It's such a simple concept, yet it has helped us to become the great nation we are. The forebears of the Mexicans were people who were defeated. Before Columbus, the Mexican people had been defeated over and over by various tribes of pre-Colombian people. Post-Columbus, the Mexican people were defeated again and again by the advanced technology and diseases of the Europeans. Because they were a "defeated" people, they learned to find pride in being a "good" people, even in defeat. If you live your life with this attitude, you're not going to achieve as much in the world, as if you live your life with a "can-do" attitude. This is a gross over-simplification of the concept, of course. In addition, there are many more concepts discussed in the book. Very interesting.

One thing that has always interested me is: how do you change a culture? This book doesn't answer the question, but suggests that the leader of France changed the culture in France after WWII. The leader knew that France would be better off if their country was on favorable terms with Germany, so somehow he encouraged the people of France to appreciate the Germans more, which was hard, after 2 terrible wars. Yet, somehow he did it. I'd like to know how; what did he do to accomplish this?

[Ricardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book is a little misleading. This s not an anthropological or sociological study about Mexicans (such as The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz) but rather the proposal of a theory. Mr. Castañeda suggests that the Mexican identity, that is, the way Mexicans see themselves, is preventing Mexico from being a strong participant in the global economy. The author describes pretty much the way that identity has been formed through the years, even before the destruction of the ancient cultures in Mexico. Although the Catholic Church is mentioned somewhat in this book, Mr. Castañeda doesn't give it enough weight in the creation of the Mexican identity, even though it is perhaps (one of) the most important aspect(s) of and a strong influence on the Mexican culture. After reading the book, it is still not clear to me how Mexicans are supposed to change (or how they can change) if it is not through a radical change in the government structure and political power and the emphasis on education that the country deserves.

[Carlos Alonso-Niemeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jorge Castan-eda has written a truly insightful book. I am an immigrant from Mexico and was able to see myself in these pages. After 20 years of being away from Mexico, this book helped me to understand what two generations of Mexicans have gone through. Anyone how is dealing with modern day Mexico should read this book. I will be recommending it to my friends who are engaged in doing business with Mexico.
Castan_eda lives between two worlds (flying from NY to Mexico) and is able to describe with facts and figures the current mentality of the various faces of Mexico.
Finally, he offers a provocative invitation to address one of the most untapped resources in the United States: Mexican immigrant Women!
Yes, as we are finalizing the current 2012 elections, and the Republican Party is trying to figure out how to address the "Hispanic" vote. They should focus their energy on the true engine of assimilation and cultural influence in america: Mexican (and other Latin) immigrant Women. They are the true channel of change.
The book was a gift from my sister who teaches economic history of Latin America at Rice University in Houston.

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno. Conciso, claro, al punto. Casi diría que es "El laberinto de la soledad" actualizado, aunque no es tan filosófico ni antropológico; está más bien enfocado hacia lo económico y lo social. En ocho capítulos Castañeda nos aclara qué es lo que le estorba a México para ser el país que debe (y puede) ser. Es cierto que sus tesis pueden ser discutibles y, aunque proporciona datos, números y multitud de citas, no necesariamente tiene la verdad en la mano (una actitud que muchos le criticamos siempre). Pero, arrogancias aparte, la propuesta es valiosísima, sobre todo en estos momentos, en los que México goza de una situación envidiable que, si queremos, podría ser el inicio del futuro que queremos. Muy recomendable.

[Cold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly insightful, if a little self-indulgent, book about Mexico and its people.

Castaneda, an elected former politician (Foreign minister from 2000-2003), sets about writing about the Mexican national character. His project is political in a grand sense, but he mostly rises above party politics. He wants to understand why Mexico has not become an en ecomically and politically modern state, aka a liberal democracy as seen in the West. This huge topic sees him meander across political anecdotes, large scale polling data (e.g. questionnaires), public intellectuals, culture and his own impressions of travelling to various Mexican places.

He is ultimately pessimistic about Mexicans as democratic and productive citizens. He characterizes Mexicans as individualistic, as evidenced by not forming/joining civic organizations, not living in apmt buildings, not trusting others beyond the family etc. Mexican culture glorifies political victims rather than winners, the majority of political heroes were murdered (Villa, Zapatista, Madero etc), and they dislike political conflict (e.g. the Mexicans prefer to leave a rude employer than fight for change, prefer to accept a corrupt election and wait 10 years to get rid of the PRI).

The roots for the lawlessness lie in deep history, e.g. the way the conquistadors ruled. They acted outside the law, down to Cortes who knowingly over-stepped his authority in conquering the Aztecs.

There's also some great writing about Mestizaje society. Castaneda is relatively cynical about how this idea is weaponized by politicians. He questions whether rural Mexico is meaningfully mestizo given they continued to live indigenous cultures, speak indigenous languages etc. The main claim to Spanishness is that a few passing conquistadors impreganted indigenous women and these genes slowly spread, but the culture is indigenous. However, a broad definition of mestizo helps westernised Mexican politicians to appear at one with the largely indigenous people in rural communities. He questions whether this lie makes sense.

Mexicans living in the US is the one area where he is optimistic. They are law abiding (and their arrival in the 90s coincided with a drop in violent crime), they save and work hard, they join civic unions etc. In particular, Mexican women in the US are even more modern. Castaneda hopes this is the mexican future.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you want to understand Mexican culture. It seems like a conservative tract, but he is so much more thoughtful. He draws out the voices of progressive cultural critics and artists, who often agree with him (e.g. Paz). Even if he's wrong (likely somewhat), he is wrong in illuminating ways. What a book.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I certainly enjoyed this book and was surprized and entertained by some of the things he suggested about the Mexican psyche. He was a former Foreign Minister under the Vicente Fox presidency as well as a professor in both Mexico and the U.S..

The basic premise is that a vast majority of Mexicans are now becoming middle class as well as mestizo (mixed race) and despite some of their more traditional view, they need to become more "modern" in their views to progress the country. His feels that the immigrant woman in the U.S. should be more of the role model for the future. They are hardworking, have high ethical views, retain their Mexican culture while at the same time, have respect for American values and the law (something missing in their native country). Coming from a Mexican, one has to respect his views although I am not sure most would share his view.

The one drawback for other readers is that he relies heavily on numerous statistics, opinions and polls but I had few issues with them. They do back up his theory although he often repeated the same poll to back a view only pages apart. I enjoyed his humour and many of his personal stories (including the one of his best friend) point out how so much has changed in Mexico - for both the good and bad - since he was a child. Mexico has come a long way but as he puts it, " the last haul is the toughest one".

For those wanting an overall view of Mexicans right up to current times (from the Civil War in the early 1900s to the drug war today), this is an excellent book told from an insider's point of view.

[Oscar Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my own humble opinion, the best book about why we are how we are and the many reasons why.

An excellent source of information that is not only great and usable information but also provides the necessary back up data.

Now--the challenge--if we (Mexicans as myself) decide to take it; is to change for the better....and never give up. We know we can--all we have to do is continue learning and work together, as one.

Thank you Mr. Castañeda, this is indeed an excellent work--about Mexico, its history, its people and its complexities. I learned a lot from your book.

I wish Mexico's education system implements this book in their recommended readings--we will learn from it for sure. And if we still don't have one--we should start with it.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone--young and old--that wishes to learn about Mexico and its people. You will definitely enjoy it and learn much from it.

[Xiuh Montes león · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro que describe al mexicano en varios de sus rubros. Es un "must read" para los mexicanos a manera de autocrítica. Explica cosas esenciales acerca del individualismo del mexicano, su supuesta hospitalidad hasta por qué no gana el mundial. Personalmente me gustó mucho donde describe el estoicismo de nuestra naturaleza y que debemos dejar de sentirnos las víctimas. A pesar de haber sido escrito por un político (y dejando de lado sus soluciones derechistas y capitalistas) es una muy buena lectura para reflexionar.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it presents a remarkable effort to summarize in few pages the great problems that Mexico faces many of which have been postponed for so long and which are often misunderstood especially by mexicans.I consider it a good starting read for those who want to get a good grasp about who Mexicans are, the roots of their contradictions and perspectives for the future.

[Jacob Basque · Rating 3 out of 5]

Los mexicanos somos bastante populistas (digo esto estando de acuerdo con el autor sobre este punto), por lo que es normal que muchas personas ataquen el libro por el simple hecho de haber sido escrito por el hijo de un diplomático quien tuvo la fortuna de vivir en distintos países y quien se duchó de cientos de privilegios, de los cuales la mayoría de los mexicanos jamás vieron ni verán en sus vidas. Sin embargo, ¿no es acaso la distancia cultural aquello que nos hace ver desde un mejor punto de vista nuestra propia realidad? Jorge G. Castañeda, en su vida como internacionalista, politólogo y académico nos propone un espejo idiosincrático que nos puede enseñar algunas cosas sobre nuestro propio estado psicosocial. ¿Por qué somos los mexicanos tan "sentidos" y emocionales? ¿Por qué nos jactamos de ser tan hospitalarios y bondadosos con los extranjeros, mientras que al mismo tiempo somos seres tan individualistas entre nosotros mismos? ¿Por qué nos identificamos con una identidad indigenista cuando en realidad solo el 11% habla una lengua nativa de nuestro territorio y practica tradiciones propias indígenas? Todas estas preguntas emergen de una voluntad por querer comprender, con lupa en mano, las causas de nuestras debilidades culturales. La verdad es que "Mañana o pasado..." toca temas sumamente interesantes, pero no se envuelve con otros fenómenos post-Enrique Peña Nieto que han verdaderamente reformateado el país en muchas cuestiones diversas, tanto buenas como malas (AMLO, las comunidades LGBTQ, el guachicoleo, el tren maya, la nueva reforma energética, etc.) A pesar de ello, Castañeda observa el nacionalismo mexicano con profunda tristeza al revelar que nos importa más la hipócrita identidad disfuncional de un proteccionismo indigenista, que el mejoramiento de nuestras instituciones, esto gracias a los mitos históricos que se han ido enlazando hermosamente con el discurso priista de centro-izquierda. ¡Hay mucho más! Recomiendo el libro para los que alguna vez han pensado en lo mucho que nuestro país podría mejor si decidiéramos cambiar nuestra cultura por algo mejor.

[Justinian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2018-03 - Manana Forever?: Mexico and the Mexicans. Jorge G. Castañeda (Author) 2011. 320 Pages.

Picked this up at a book store that was going out of business and had a big clear the shelves sale … as in $2 per book. I anticipated an anthropology book or an essay collection akin to “The Labyrinth of Solitude” … segments of the book were similar. Very little reflection. This is modern anthropology, through the use of statistics and polling data to collect, analyze, and distribute information … a very technical approach to understanding a people, society, and trends. It is easy in this book to get lost in the data. It is overwhelming and at times distracting. Some of it is useful in explain more than it is in understanding. The data on housing was good as was the data on immigrants to the USA and crime. A good book, not a great one. Would have been great if maybe it was 120 pages of text followed by the reams of data organized in appendices instead of in the text. So in the end ... you should ask .. Did I learn anything that gives me additional insight into Mexico and its people? The answer is …Yes.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me sorprendió leer sobre el individualismo de los mexicanos en el primer capítulo (aunque es un individualismo familiar) y de donde venga esa tendencia y como ha afectado al país y su desarrollo. Más que los datos y detalles que provee el autor, me gustan las historias y ejemplos que saca de la historia para apoyar su teoría.....el ejemplo del plan para construir un aeropuerto en las afueras de la ciudad de México donde vivían unos campesinos....y también el ejemplo de la supuesta ley a favor de "class action lawsuits" que fue aprobada al principio pero no completamente por la importancia dada a los derechos individuales encima de los derechos colectivos.

Este párrafo sintetiza la tesis del libro creo....cada sociedad tiene sus contradicciones....
"Así, los mexicanos prefieren evitar la confrontación y perseguir puras cosas buenas simultáneamente: seguir siendo un país de tradiciones y valores familiares y acceder a la modernidad; pertenecer a Latinoamérica y tener una relación más cercana con Estados Unidos; disfrutar de los beneficios de una economía de mercado, pero también de los íconos políticos y culturales de la soberanía y el dirigisme; sostener elecciones con candidatos rivales y lograr que estén de acuerdo en todo; vivir bajo el imperio de la ley y asegurar la sobreviviencia de usos y costumbres, y de la justicia individual. A su manera contradictoria, los mexicanos desean participar de las delicias de ser parte del mundo y mantener al resto del mundo fuera de México; quieren conservar su individualismo, su desagrado ante los altercados, preservar los muros alrededor de sus jardines y sus casas, y convertirse en una sociedad de clase media, abierta, hospitalaria."

[Mario Olgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book several years ago but didn't finish. I decided to to finish the book by restarting and completing the book. I think the reason I did not initially finish the book was the large amount of statistics provided by Castaneda. I also realize the need for the statistics in providing factual findings and thoughts to his writing.

In reading the manuscript, I found myself agreeing to the majority of Castaneda's findings. Although, I was not born in Mexico and have only visited the country on several occasions, I am of Mexican ancestry and can relate to many of examples written.

The book details the nature of the Mexican culture and characteristics of what Mexico is by recounting the history before and after Cortez landed in 1519. It outlines the steps needed and progress attained in Mexico's stride in achieving modernity.

A great read and starting point for anyone interested in understanding the Mexican culture and political atmosphere in Mexico.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my own humble opinion, the best book about why we are how we are and the many reasons why.

An excellent source of information that is not only great and usable information but also provides the necessary back up data.

Now--the challenge--if we (Mexicans as myself) decide to take it; is to change for the better....and never give up. We know we can--all we have to do is continue learning and work together, as one.

Thank you Mr. Castañeda, this is indeed an excellent work--about Mexico, its history, its people and its complexities. I learned a lot from your book.

I wish Mexico's education system implements this book in their recommended readings--we will learn from it for sure. And if we still don't have one--we should start with it.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone--young and old--that wishes to learn about Mexico and its people. You will definitely enjoy it and learn much from it.

[Jack Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Castañeda provides a comprehensive outline of a ‘national character.’ As someone hoping to learn more about Mexico, it’s politics and culture, this is helpful but only to a certain extent. An overarching normative tone takes away from some of the books finer points. Although the author presents a strong argument for his viewpoint, it is hard to believe that a ‘national character’ is at the root of all the nation’s issues and only through neoliberal influence can the country develop, which is what I think is the point of the final two chapters. Learned a lot. Maybe deserving of 4 stars.

[Michael Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicente Fox's (2000-2006) foreign minister sort of takes an inventory of Mexico today, makes some probably informed generalizations and a few questionable political statements, but mostly provides an interesting and insightful analysis. He charts out the surprising growth of the Mexican middle class and the transition to democracy. Makes you think deeply about what is democracy and how does it function, what does it to do to a country and what does a country need for it to work effectively.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some interesting anecdotes, and I didn't *dislike* it. But it was very dry and sociological. At times the sentence and paragraph structures were complex enough to obscure understanding. However, I do feel like I was warned about that in the intro and should have known better. So my lack of enjoyment can't be laid at the door of the author!

[Patrick Sprunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to penetrate Mañana Forever's heavy reliance on statists and psychobabble is a little daunting. One does not have to have aced his/her college economics classes to follow Jorge Castañeda's narrative, but having taken a couple of 100 level courses doesn't hurt. The book's strength lies in its value as an introductory course into contemporary Mexican politics. Unless one is from a community with a prominent Mexican immigrant population, many North Americans may not understand the differences between the Mexican and US societies and governments. Or - more probably - don't correctly identify those differences.

Though I was a little put off by the author's psychobabble concerning the Mexican character, it is necessary to correctly understand how Mexicans differ from their North American neighbors. Castañeda details the way Mexicans change psychologically following emigration to the US. This is an important point. Anyone who's worked with the diaspora community - particularly in "new" areas of immigrant expansion* - instinctively feels the differences among naturalized versus precarious/undocumented immigrants, the old versus young (particularly the American children of latino immigrants and their native-born parents), and mestizo versus indio (even if unaware of the terms) through the course of casual contact. Americans tend to be able to understand the way new immigrants change when that change makes them more like us; if we can do that, we can understand the way they were originally in the country of their birth.

Though the statistics are a bit dense, the fact that Mexico is currently the product of new constitutional amendments is not missed. Americans tend to make assumptions about the world through a certain lens. Other countries tend to fall into one of two categories: (A) Countries with established constitutions that were long ago decided and given form, and (B) brand new countries in the process of drafting constitutional governments expected to be durable for the future. We really lack a concept for dynamic countries in constant constitutional flux. If Americans learned anything about Mexico in school, it was probably the way Mexico was at that point in time - depending on a person's age, this could run the gamut from quasi-socialism to laissez-faire disarray. We are less aware that the country goes through transformations more or less in tandem with continental forces driven here in the north. Just as the US went through a decentralization in the first decade of the new millenium, Mexico changed dramatically under the presidents Fox and Calderon. If the vintage of one's education isn't the factor that decides the quality of Americans' understanding, misunderstanding can be attributed to the fact Mexican trends are not mirror images of US trends. For the most part, Mexican trends are indivisible and original - but they do tend to happen at more or less the same time as big changes in the US.

This change is prompted by multiple influences, but none more influential than the controlling trade partnership between the two countries. As America shifts psychologically into increasingly anti-immigrant attitudes, it is dangerous not to understand the origin of wholesale Mexican immigration. The individual migrant worker is a single atom in a larger chemical process. The migration is a direct result of economic policies in the sending country. Mexico trades almost exclusively with the US. Furthermore, remittances and illegal activity (the drug trade) are quasi-formal features of Mexico's official economic model. On both the formal (remittances from migrant workers) and informal (drug trafficking) ends the relationship is two sided, but the fact is that Mexicans emigrate as much because of Mexican economic policy as perceived opportunity in the US. It has never been particularly important to American voters to understand the reasons behind immigration (both legal and illegal), but those voters are generally clueless as to the actual origin of the phenomenon.

I found Mañana Forever more interesting in the aggregate than as the author's line of thought. I didn't find certain facts that interesting or relevant, partly because of the sociological complexity that is - frankly - a little suspect. How certain can the author actually be that Mexicans' low response to organized sport is directly related to the prominence of dangerous, protectionist property laws? Any reader willing to hack through that sort of jungle may find Mañana Forever a great read. To others less inclined to indulge the author's interpretations its informative value is tied to the diligence of the reader's forraging ability. The latter could certainly do worse. Even if Mañana Forever isn't the definitive text on contemporary Mexico, it is colorful and eclectic.

...........................................

*Castañeda helps the reader understand that Mexican immigration used to be limited to American border states and tended to be impermanent. Get-tough immigration policy and changes to the US economy have forced new latino immigrants further afield into the American hinterland.

[Eric Sbar · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to know why Mexico lacks a middle class and the type of teamwork seen in other parts of the world, look elsewhere. This book recites an issue without providing any positives about a hardworking people.

[Georgia Kapitsaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can learn a lot about Mexico and Mexican people from this book. About politics, history, the way they behave, problems and poll results. I may not agree with all conclusions of the author but definitely a nice read to understand some facts about Mexico.

[Mary D · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times meandering and hard to follow from the perspective of an evidence based argument, Castañeda offers some interesting anecdotal theories for why Mexico can't get out of its own way.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mexico seems to be a land of contradictions. Mexicans want to avoid all types of conflict, yes, but they don't seem to mind too much those who do use violence to gain economic goodies. Castaneda sets the stage for us to get a glimpse of the characteristics of Mexicans and why he thinks they cannot seem to, as a people, make more of Mexico, a country of great resources and beauty. He uses his impressive knowledge to make his argument, through sociological studies and personal observations. A very useful and fascinating look at the Mexican psyche.

[Vania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Castañeda details how Mexico’s past influences its current national character. He argues that its national character inhibits the country from modernizing and fulfilling its maximum potential, and he provides very strong support for his arguments (with statistics from various sources). However, I found the the book to be one-sided; positive aspects of Mexico and its national character were rarely discussed. It was likely Castañeda’s intention to ignore the strengths of the country for the purposes of his book, but my point is that the reader should take the book for what it is: A highlight of the country’s flaws and potential solutions for them, NOT an all-encompassing summary of Mexican society and culture. Still, the book was intriguing and insightful. I gleaned valuable insight about Mexico, Mexicans, and Mexican immigrants in the US that I will have a good time discussing with others.

[Vedia Lupae · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case someone assumes I'm a prolific reader, I had already read half of this book a while back, and just got back to finishing it up yesterday. In truth, I'm not all the way to the end quite yet, but intend to finish it by today; still, I doubt the conclusion will significantly alter my overall opinion of this book.

I do recommend reading this book, and I did like it, but my rating is pretty low as I found Jorge G. Castaneda to repeat himself a little too much, and I would have preferred a bit more chronological flow in some issues. Still, he makes two things in this book:

One is, a good insight into the mentality of Mexico, and its "love of victims", but lack of desire to not be a victim...

The second is, a powerful argument for Mexico to change its views and alter its xenophobia, to ally with the US and bring in more outside business to bolster not only the Mexican economy, but also to have Mexico step out into the world and have influence.

It was a very convincing book, but at times I found my eyes glossing over, in spite of the rather simple vocabulary. Maybe it was just my mindset at the time, but it might also be that he jumps around when making his point and repeats the thesis to the point he's making a few too many times.

Still, a good read, and one I do recommend, if one is interested in Mexico and/or the future of Mexico, or Mexico's view of its own past and how it influences its views in the present.

[Darrenglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Castaneda's book is quite interesting, as it delves into the nature of the Mexican character, even while writing at length about how the concept of a national character doesn't really make sense. He investigates some of the contradictions in Mexican attitudes about things, and talks at length about Mexico's relationship with the US and other countries, a topic he knows a lot about as he served as the foreign minister under Fox. Parts of the book are definitely somewhat uncomfortable to read, as Castaneda necessarily paints the Mexican people with broad brushstrokes that veer on stereotyping. But many of his observations are very interesting, as are his stories of the last century of Mexican history and in particular his anecdotes about his own time in government. The book is far more nuanced and subtle than most political polemics in the US, but there were times I would have liked to read people who disagreed with the authors. Still, I learned a lot from the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in learning about a country whose fortunes (and misfortunes) are so intertwined with our own.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book. Thought it would be interesting with a chapter titled something like "why Mexicans aren't good at soccer and hate skyscrapers." After a punishing 25 page preface and 13 pages into the "exciting" titled chapter I knew I couldn't make it. You know when an author takes 25 pages to explain what he's trying to say, well, what is he trying to say? I couldn't finish the chapter let alone the book. Lots of rambling and I was never clear what he was trying to say. He invokes many of Mexico's literary heroes with some great quotes but then seems to contradict himself. Reads more like peer reviewed literature. Long preface on distinguishing between national identity and national character. Give me a journalist over an academic any day as an author.

[Imelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un excelente trabajo. Hay muchas cosas en el libro con las que no concuerdo pero creo que el libro tiene muchos aciertos y hace reflexionar sobre muchos aspectos de la cultura mexicana que nos impiden convertirnos en un verdadero país moderno. Creo que es una lectura obligada para todo el que esté interesado en México y su futuro.

Una cosa que le celebro bastante al autor es el estilo del libro. El autor presenta sus puntos de una forma clara, sin ser verboso. El autor presenta también datos como apoyo a sus afirmaciones pero no los sobre analiza, los presenta de una forma simple de enteder y explica sus interpretaciones muy bién.

[Leonel Fernandez Novelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

¡Por fin se terminó! Es un libro complicado. SI bien tiene grandes observaciones y en el fondo (muy en el fondo) grandes aportaciones, el autor no logra vencer dos cosas: 1) su punto de vista quasi aristocrático-académico y 2) el divagar entre un mundo de anécdotas y datos.

En caída capítulo se pueden encontrar puntos interesantes para debatir sobre "el mexicano promedio" y la "mexicanidad" pero hay que tener la paciencia suficiente para avanzar en sus páginas con toda la concentración y encontrarlos sin perderse entre un montón de lugares comunes.

Recomendado para quien tenga la paciencia suficiente y el valor de leer a Castañeda.