A friend (Aaron) writes:
I recently dropped $1 for Time Inc.'s 1963 "LIFE World Library" book on Brazil (i also have the South Africa one). It has some great historical photography, of agriculture, architecture, society events, and so on. Most of its text is pretty reasonable, occasionally insightful, and still applicable; however,
Brazilians are a remarkably sober people. [14]
Perhaps Brazilians are usually as indifferent to cooking as they are to physical comfort; the food is very bad. [15]
Sophisticated music, too, was slow to develop in Brazil, and the body of work is comparatively small. [101]
A favorite way for Brazilian writers to have their pictures taken is pleasantly supine, in a fringed hammock. Too many genuine Brazilian talents seem to take to their beds too early - or to their hammocks. [104]
Some [Brazilian women] will insist that they are happier than North American women - but that is usually after that have visited the United States and seen how American women do so much of their own work without servants, take care of their own children, support themselves, or are otherwise rushed and harassed. [117]
Edson ("Pele") Arantes do Nascimento stars for Santos and takes in $50,000 a year. [124]
Democracy in the contemporary world demands, among other things, an educated and informed people. Up until now Brazil has not had one. [127]
Of course, the Brazilian constantly blames himself and his countrymen for expecting too much from the government and for trusting that the government will take care of problems that might be better handled in other ways. [146]
The country is coping with its Indian problem as well as, if not better than, any other country with a similar problem of aboriginal inhabitants. [146]
[Brazilians'] enjoyment of life has not yet been spoiled by the craze for making money; they have not yet come to the point where they automatically equate so much work with so much pay. [146]
Although the army has helped put an occasional president in or out of power, Brazil has never had a military dictatorship, nor does the military show signs of craving one - and this was clearly demonstrated again in the government crisis following the resignation of President Quadros. [147]