David Lida

John Price's review on Amazon:
Travel Advisory : Stories, December 20, 2002
David Lida has crawled deep inside the collective conscious of modern Mexico and America, turned on a glaring flood light and revealed to all the ugly side of both cultures. Having lived in Mexico City for 7 years, I found myself predicting the disturbing curves of some of Mr. Lida's stories.

His stories are an affront to the tequila doused illusions of so many middle aged American expats living in Gringo enclaves show more within Mexico. I applaud him for this brave reversal of the "happy go lucky" stereotypes of Mexico, so often conjured up in the writings of foreigners.

Mexico is a dark, mysterious and deeply complex culture incapable of stereotyping. Mr. Lida understands this by neither mocking Mexico nor glorifying it. Mexicans have lived under an oppressive but flexible rule for 700 years, first at the hands of Aztec royalty, later the Spaniards and now the Meztizo elite. 700 years has bred a level of cynicism that both handicaps Mexicans and serves as a source of comic relief. David Lida's book understands the cynic behind every Mexican smile.

If you really want a taste of Modern Mexico, read this book. show less

One Life should be required reading in these times. The writing is superb and perfect, engaging and accessible. Yes regions of Mexico are amongst the poorest on earth. No, this should not lead one to assume their is no dignity or culture. The writer of this book apparently has first-hand experience as a Mitigation specialist investigator in Mexico. That all this will not mean that it will be widely read makes me seethe with anger!

Wonderful. Insightful. An insiders look at one of the most chaotic, dynamic and vibrant cities in the world. Through a series of short vignettes David Lida provides the reader with an interesting if not poignant and colorful image of Mexico City. He has vividly captured the multi-layered complexity of the city and made a very, very large city approachable and human. A must read for anyone interested in Mexico or interested in trying to understand America's neighbor to the South.

One of the better books I've read on Mexico City. I'm not sure if it is because the author's time period of coverage overlaps with my own visits to the city, or if it is that the writing is both journalistic and personal at the same time. The book can be read as a collection of essays, and short chapters are interspersed among the major ones that give a more 'slice of life' portrayal. Not a tourist guide, but a good look at how everyday Mexico City denizens live in all socioeconomic classes. show more I would recommend this along with _The Mexico City Reader_. show less