The Mexicans

The Mexicans is a multifaceted portrait of our complex, increasingly turbulent neighbor to the south. It is the compelling story of a country in crisis, as told by a diverse group of individuals. Author Patrick Oster profiles Mexicans from all over the country, from the honest cop who describes the ways in which Mexican police use torture solve crimes, to the newspaper editor who talks about the omnipresent threat of kidnapping, to the homosexual teacher wary of bigotry in a land of machismo. The people profiled in The Mexicans reveal something vital about Mexico, and in doing so, help students understand why so many decide to risk their lives in order to have the opportunity to live in the United States. Patrick Oster, whose reporting from Mexico has won awards from the Overseas Press Club and the Inter-American Press Association, was Mexico City bureau chief for Knight-Ridder Newspapers. He is currently the editor in chief of the National Law Journal. He lives with his wife and son in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. “This reviewer knows of no finer book on Mexico for the general reader than Oster’s. He shows what makes Mexicans tick.” — San Diego Union