Books about Peru & Bolivia?

May 18, 2009 4:15 PM

Books about Peru & Bolivia?

Looking for recommendations for books (fiction or non-fiction) to read as background info for an upcoming trip to Peru & Bolivia.

posted by UbuRoivas to writing & language (10 comments total)

Marching Powder.
posted by nitsuj at 4:17 PM on May 18, 2009

When invisible chlldren sing.
posted by devbrain at 4:35 PM on May 18, 2009

Cochineal Red: Travels Through Ancient Peru by Hugh Thomson. (The Amazon link is for the hardbound version; I couldn't find a link to the paperback but I know it exists, I bought mine at a Heathrow bookstore.)
posted by Wet Spot at 6:08 PM on May 18, 2009

You might find 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus interesting.
posted by X4ster at 7:23 PM on May 18, 2009

The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto Che Guevara
posted by Abiezer at 7:48 PM on May 18, 2009

Books about Bolivia:

Fiction books by Bolivian Authors available in English:

In the Land of Silence by Jesus Urzagasti
Aurora by Giancarla de Quiroga

Non-fiction:
A Concise History of Bolivia by Herbert S. Klein. This is a history book that the Bolivians themselves read.

Travel/true adventure
Jungle: a harrowing true story of survival by Yossi Ghinsberg. Also published as Return to Tuichi.
posted by luneray at 8:24 PM on May 18, 2009

"the white rock" about peru
posted by genmonster at 9:08 PM on May 18, 2009

For Peru:
The Royal Commentaries of the Incas, by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega

Inca history from an inca descendant. You get to read the story and visit the places and see the temples! By the way you can buy it for cheap in most cities, and it is a fun reading to do while you travel there.
posted by ddaavviidd at 9:18 PM on May 18, 2009

As far as guide books go, I found Rough Guide to be the best.
posted by billysumday at 5:05 AM on May 19, 2009

Cochamba! Water War in Bolivia by Oscar Olivera & Tom Lewis

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers

Revolutionary Horizons: Popular Struggle in Bolivia by Forrest Hylton
posted by jammy at 1:25 PM on May 19, 2009