Having read some of Monsivais works in Spanish, including his thoughts as reflected in the Mexican press, I was extremely pleased to see a book of his finally available in the English language.This book is written with the sharp, critical eye of Carlos Monsivais whose commentary on Mexican culture is astounding and full of insight. Monsivais reflects in his unique style; part history lesson, part social commentary, his analysis of events leads the reader to draw their own conclusions as he plays devils advocate and torch bearer all at once. With a keen eye for historical significance he portrays the icons of society in their greater majesty, their ultimate place in history, their affect on the mores and values of society at large. He goes one step further illustrating the consequences of the media and the political machines behind the people and the images and their lasting effect on the minds and hearts of the Mexican people. He tackles a variety of subjects including the literary works of Juan Rulfo, the lovely matinee idol, Dolores Del Rio, the everymans comic, Cantinflas, with his legendary ability to say so much and never say anything and the lexicon of the pachuco via the verbal collage of Tin Tan. Monsivais does not just limit his analysis to the field of entertainment as he examines religion and the role of the Boy Fidencio, Guadalupismo and Chrsitianity. Naturally he critiques the government, its contemporary leaders as well as historical figures and even examines the Zapatistas. No part of society is sacred as he lends criticism to many subjects dear to many peoples hearts including the romantic bolero. Of particular interest is his scathing view of Mexico's penchant for gory details in the tabloid press where daily one can find a picture of dead person lying in the street with the bloody headlines screeming at you to come closer and take a look. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the author to give a fasinating peek into Mexcian culture. If you are interested in Mexcian culture I would recommend this book. If you read Spanish I would also recommened his articles in the Mexican press and two books of note, "Amor Perdido" and " Rituales del Caos" where he does much of the same only examining other aspects of Mexican society.

After I bought Masako Takahasi and her husband Tony Cohen's book "Mexicolor", I thought no other book I purchased would EVER compare to that experience. When I discovered "Mexican Tiles", I opened it with fear and trepidation, hoping against all hope, yet hardly daring to believe that it could be even half as good as their first.

But this book is AWESOME!! I think I finally figured out why, after reading Tony Cohen's book "On Mexican Time": these people simply ADORE Mexico, and it comes through in everything they do. All of the wonder and breathless anticipation and teary-eyed beauty that I feel and am so hopelessly unqualified to express when I am either in Mexico or adding to my collection of artesania, Tony vividly portrays in his prose and Masako captures with her camera.

As for subject matter, I LOVE Talavera tiles, Talavera pottery, Talavera ANYTHING, because they are so INCREDIBLY Mexican, and this book is simply PAGE after GORGEOUS PAGE of Talavera-lined kitchens, bathrooms, stairs, floors...you name it, it's tiled. If you at all appreciate ethnic interior design or Mexican handicrafts, this is an AWESOME book!!!

I grew up in Mexico and I grew up reading this book. To revist its light prose, delicately drawn village and carefully delineated shadows was an incredible pleasure. I'm so glad I have this copy in my possesion, I've missed it.
I wish I knew more about Josephina Nigli, though.

This book is great because it thoroughly covers a theatre of the Mexican War that has been neglected. There was much combat and heroism in the Baja during the war. Much of the local population looked forward to becoming a part of the U.S. after the war and we let them down and gave Baja back to Mexico in the peace treaty. Perhaps that's why you tend to hear little about these events.

One of the few accounts of the Mexican War, Kirkham's journal contains many unique descriptions of U.S. military activity. He graduated from West Point in 1842. After serving on garrison and frontier duty, he participated in the Mexican War, where he was took part in the battles at Contreras and Clmrubusco and was wounded in the battle of Molino del Rey. He was noted for gallant and meritorious conduct in the storming of Chapultepec and assisted in the capture of Mexico City. While in Mexico he was one of a party of six American officers who climbed to the summit of Popocatapetl which hadn't been climbed since the time of Cortez.

Wonderful Work! Pedro Santoni does a great job of making the reader understand the near political impossibility of keeping the power and keeping the peace in Mexico in 1846. Following Parades, his party, and his lust for power, Santoni allows the reader to see the complexities in Mexico during the Mexican War. He also does well in helping the reader to understand the Santa Ana Wild Card. Essential for any true study of the Mexican War.

Harold Coy does a great job of going through the history of mexicans. In this book, we not only learn about the revolution but about what Mexico was like before the Spaniards. This book is a great read, highly recommend it:)

This book makes it clear that the vast majority of the history of "Mexico and Central America" has nothing to do with Europeans or anything "Latin American."

Many readers may be surprised (but really it's just common sense) to learn that we Indigenous people of "Mexican" descent do not call ourselves "Mesoamericans," a term coined by a white Westerner, Paul Kirchoff, as this book makes clear.

Nevertheless, this book is the best general history of "Mexico" (itself another Euro-Iberian/American creation, twice over: 1821 and 1848).

This truly is a "pioneering synthesis" in that it takes the reader along a journey of one of the world's richest and truly original civilizations. Even more impressive when compared to the achievements of Europe: despite a 3 1/2 millenium lag time in agriculture, the peoples of Anahuac nevertheless constructed a monumental and highly sophisticated civilization, rivalling (and often dwarfing) those of Christendom at the same time.

**Compare Western Europe in the Neolithic Age to Mexico in it's own "Neolithic Age": the disparity of achievement is truly embarrassing to anyone holding onto notions of "European cultural superiority." Yikes, what a difference!
Don't take my word on it, read the Spaniards' own first-hand accounts on it!

Considering the lack of metallurgy in the land until after 800 AD, it is truly astonishing to behold the prolific construction of massive temple-pyramids and sophisticated cities across Anahuac.

Our people called the land Anáhuac (accent placed on purpose), meaning "the land between the waters" in the still-pervasive Nahuatl language. Just as there is something historically known as "Christendom" or "Western Civilization"
(oddly enough, both are based upon non-Western achievements in Sumeria and Egypt!),
even more so is there the historical justification for the term "Anahuac Civilization" (built upon the home-grown achievements of Mexico, and not outsiders as in the case of Europe/Christendom).

** This last statement is probably the most important thing that the reader will come away with from Professor Coe's book.

As the reader of both of the recent editions of "Mexico" and "The Maya" will also learn, there was a unitary and common cultural matrix which connected and sustained all the cultures of "Mexico" and "Central America" down to Costa Rica. The divisions were far more political than cultural, just as in "Christendom" or the the modern European world.

(At the time of the Spanish Invasion, Nahuatl was spoken almost everywhere, just as many modern Europeans often speak English in addition to their own languages.)

The so-called "U.S. Southwest" must necessarily be includied in this epic unfolding of civilization, as is made abundantly clear in Coe's 5th edition.

Present-day political borders and archeolgical abstractions of our presnt time get in the way of understanding this dramatic story. Post-European Invasion divisions are not the way to understand this history, just as British imperial definitions do not do justice to the understanding of the Irish people.

(One should understand an apple on an apple's terms, not an orange's!)

I have noticed an interesting trend among "Westerners" to treat the Maya as some New Age plaything along the lines of Fung Sheui and Yoga, projecting their own fanciful wishes upon the people, mutating them into a pseudo-Greek/Hellenistic carbon copy that can easily be played with like a Dream Catcher and a Buddhist wind chime.

These "Fast Food Mayanists" will be disappointed to learn that the Maya historically been "Mexicanized" by the all-pervasive influence of that central Mexican juggernaut: Teotihuacan.
Yes, the Maya did not live in a vaccuum, and their achievements were built on the achievements of the Olmec of southeastern Mexico.
Of course, the Maya deserve their place as the people who made the greatest achievements in our Anahuac Civiization.

And the reader will find that this is truly a story of a common civilization unfolding across the land (branches off the same Olmec tree), unified in religios outlook (with regional modifications just as in Europe), religious systems, architecture, diet, dysnaties, and much more.

(Keep in mind that Copan--the Maya's greatest city-- was founded with a 400-year dysnasty by a central Mexican from Teotihuacan: Yax Kuk Mo.
Also, no Post-Classic Maya dysnasty worth its salt would fail to claim descent from the Toltec of central Mexico.)

Truly, our people of Anahuac are in the equivalent of Europe's Dark Ages (Middle Ages) where we have lost our way, but are now emerging out of the darkness, as anyone with a cursory interest in the current "Indigenous Renaissance" will discover both in Mexico, Central America, and yes, the US Southwest.

My only gripe with the book is Coe's insistence on the "gods" school of thought, when it was clear (he states it himself) that the Aztecs possessed a monotheistic state religion with ONE GOD (yes you read that correctly): Ometeotl....and for the Maya this was called "Hunab-Ku."

Same concept.

For some reason, Westerners are readily able to accept the concept of a multi-facted God (trinity), along with deified Saints, antagonistic demons, Mary the Mother of God, and Satan...and still declare to be "Monotheists!"

The Aztec and Maya "gods" are the innumerable names and faces of one God: physical forces of the Universe, comprised of a Divine Embrace of Material and Spirit. Just as the true student of Hinduism will learn that all the Hindu gods are really manifestations of a unitary God.
If only that point had been stressed a little more in the book...

The reader would also do well to keep in mind that all this rich and impressive civilization is only recently been gleaned from what are it's "leftovers": 95% of the astronomical almanacs and encyclopedias were burned by the Spaniards, by their own admission.

What other wonders went up in those flames?!

This is a fascinating history that reads like a real-life detective story. Buy the book!

Mexico is simply stunning. I couldn't put it down. A fabulous story of rememberence and love for a nation. The amazing bullfight sequences are superbly written, and more amazing details could not have been seen if one had been there. A must read for anyone interested in Mexico, Spain, or just wanting to read a GREAT book.

I took this book to Mexico with me recently and was amazed by how well researched and authoritative it still was despite having been written a decade ago. The sisters have a great insight into the country and a sense of humor to go with it. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Mexico and its culture.

Professor Jeree Brissenden, UEA