Are you a traveler looking for destinations, attractions or new vacation ideas? Have you ever been to Brazil? Before I travel to a country I’ve never visited, I try to do some research. You might have read some of my fun facts posts about countries. I think it is important to learn some things about the country, its history and culture before arrival. So, we put together a selection of what books to read. If you are looking for what movies to watch, I even have some DVD recommendation for you. Here are some books and movies about Brazil that I think you would enjoy.
And in case you were wondering, the picture above is Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Travel Guides
History and Culture
Run For It: Stories of Slaves who Fought for Their Freedom
by Marcelo D'Salete
If you read our post on slavery in Brazil, you will find this book fascinating. Most people would never have known that Brazil used a large number of slaves. An estimated 4.9 million slaves from Africa were brought to Brazil during the period from 1501 to 1866. This is a very educational book.
Diaspora and Identity: Japanese Brazilians in Brazil and Japan
by Mieko Nishida
We wrote a post on the Japanese immigration to Brazil. We were quite surprised to find that São Paulo, Brazil has the largest number of Japanese descendants outside of Japan. Many families have been in Brazil for six generations.
Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City
by Greg Grandin
I never heard of this story until we researched more about Brazil. This is the story of Henry Ford who purchased a huge tract of land in Brazil during the 1920s and attempted to create an American culture called Fordlandia. This is a great book - very entertaining.