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Description of  Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela

A nuanced and deeply-reported account of the collapse of Venezuela, and what it could mean for the rest of the world. Today, Venezuela is a country of perpetual crisisa country of rolling blackouts, nearly worthless currency, uncertain supply of water and food, and extreme poverty. In the same land where oilthe largest reserve in the worldsits so close to the surface that it bubbles from the ground, where gold and other mineral resources are abundant, and where the government spends billions of dollars on public works projects that go abandoned, the supermarket shelves are bare and the hospitals have no medicine. Twenty percent of the population has fled, creating the largest refugee exodus in the world, rivaling only war-torn Syrias crisis. Venezuelas collapse affects all of Latin America, as well as the United States and the international community. Republicans like to point to Venezuela as the perfect example of the emptiness of socialism, but it is a better model for something else: the destructive potential of charismatic populist leadership. The ascent of Hugo Chvez was a precursor to the emergence of strongmen that can now be seen all over the world, and the success of the corrupt economy he presided over only lasted while oil sold for more than $100 a barrel. Chvezs regime and policies, which have been reinforced under Nicols Maduro, squandered abundant resources and ultimately bankrupted the country. is a fluid combination of journalism, memoir, and history that chronicles Venezuelas tragic journey from petro-riches to poverty. Author William Neuman witnessed it all firsthand while living in Caracas and serving as the Andes Region Bureau Chief. His book paints a clear-eyed, riveting, and highly personal portrait of the crisis unfolding in real time, with all of its tropical surrealism, extremes of wealth and suffering, and gripping drama. It is also a heartfelt reflection of the countrys great beauty and vibrancyand the energy, passion, and humor of its people, even under the most challenging circumstances. Read more