Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #283331 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 307 pages

From Library Journal
Costa Rica is unique among Latin American cultures. Ticos, as Costa Ricans call themselves, have a higher standard of living than their neighbors, with a higher literacy rate, a well-developed social security system, widespread access to electrical power, and a traditional system of education. Much more than a land of coffee and bananas, Costa Rica boasts more teachers than soldiers?it has even abolished its army. This book is divided into 11 chapters covering history, government and politics, the economy, the family, education, and religion. The authors draw on their experiences in the country, interviews with people from all walks of Costa Rican life, and secondary sources. The result is a solid monograph on Costa Rica that points out the contradictions in its perception by the rest of the world. The conclusions dwell on Costa Ricans' distrust of changes that await the country in future decades. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries that collect in the history and culture of our neighbors to the South.?Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Chris Couzens, La Voz, June 1999
When I was researching Costa Rica as a candidate place for retirement, despite some effort, I was unable to find much literature beyond the standard travel and retirement guides and a few rather dry tomes of some international institutions. I was therefore delighted to come across and read The Ticos.

The writing is a nice blend of hard facts and well-researched statistics with deductions from personal interviews, all of which is neatly intertwined with astute personal observation and personal anecdotes. It is very well-written. The language flows as easily as in a good novel.

All in all, a most interesting book. I strongly recommend it to foreign residents of Costa Rica. I equally recommend it to those considering Costa Rica as a country for residence, whether for retirement or business.

Rod Hughes, The Tico Times, December 24, 1998
When a new book by the Biesanzes comes out, observers of Costa Rica sit up and take note. The Ticos, a penetrating analysis of this society, is downright enjoyable reading, even for those who know (or care) little about this corner of Latin America.

Customer Reviews

No Page Turner but full of information
Other reviews suggested this for anyone moving to Costa Rica and I totally agree. I stuggled through it but it took me back to my days in college and some of dryer courses engineers had to take as compulsorary's to broaden our character and view of the world. :)
Just going as a tourist, I am sure I will appreciate a lot of this information once I get to Costa Rica. But I was looking for more of a Michner novel where I could learn about the country and its history through a story line. (Still looking if anyone has any ideas.)

A bit of light reading...
Do not expect an "in-depth" book about Costa Rican politics and sociology, but a light reading compendium for those who want to learn a bit about the political and social background of this wonderful country...

Dry but Informative and Readable
This book was a little dry and psuedo-academic at times, considering the informal methods used by the authors. Chapters on history and economy read a little like high school history lessons but are informative none the less. The rest of the book moves more quickly and the subjects of culture, class and society are interesting. The major strength of this book is that it burts the mythical bubble of Costa Rica as a perfectly tolerant utopian paradise where all problems have been solved by universal health care and the welfare state. It instead paints a more humane, down to earth picture of contrasts and presents a view of the dynamic social and cultural forces at work in Costa Rica. Aside from the occasionally overly-academic tone, the only other drawback is the composite picture/ broad brush approach the authors use. Many generalizations are made relative to each of the subjects covered by the book, but arguably no book that sums up an entire culture could avoid doing this--so its moot compared to the eye opening revelations presented by the authors. Lots of "guide books" are written like second rate book reports by people with no familiarity with the culture or country. This book is tryly authentic. It is not marketed as a guide book, and that makes it an even better guide!