Underdevelopment Is a State of Mind
Author: Lawrence E. Harrison
List Price: $29.95
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ISBN: 1568331479
Publisher: Madison Books (March, 2000)
Sales Rank: 82,726
Average Customer Rating: 4.29 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Yes ...it is !!!
I read this book a long time ago ...I actually borrowed it from a friend at the USAID office in Santo Domingo and never returned it. It was an eye opener and at the same time a confirmation for a lot of our opinions. This book is ,a very clear
description of the underdeveloped mind...the way of thinking and of viewing the world that we inherited from our spanish colonial era. Not only religion is a burden...but also the
rent-seeking ,oportunistic and corrupt ways of our politicians ....and worst of all...that we the people..don't do a thing to end this mess.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Thomas Sowell recommends it, and for good reason.
Unlike one of the reviewers of this book which declared this book to reek of white supremacy stench, a portrayal which couldn't be further from the truth, I found this book to be very insightful and very well reasoned. I read this book as a recommendation from Thomas Sowell (a noted black economist and author of a trilogy on cultures - and one of my favorite authors and economists) and I found that he was right on the money with his recommendation. There is no reason in the world that any population, with or without natural resources, can't progress and become developed in a generation or -at most - two (as long as they have guarantee of liberty including the iron clad right to own property without danger of seizure from the government). The author reveals very well the stumbling blocks that prevent some countries from developing regardless of the billions given in foreign aid. Culture does play a part in this and in some cases - a major part. As an example, how do two countries of a comparable economic situation (Hong Kong - no natural resources - and Mexico - with considerable reserves of oil - in the early 50s) become so diverse in their development in a scant 50 years? Culture and economic liberty are an obvious answer. Do yourself a favor and read a copy of this book. It'll open your eyes utilizing clear and basic economics as to one of the root causes to third world poverty.
Rating: 5 out of 5
The truth that you should heed
If you are one of those people who disingenously think that all cultures are the same and that cultural attitudes do not impinge on economical issues, move on and keep on reading the same type of pseudo-scholarship that created and sustains all those described in two other works the reader should take into account: "El Manual del perfecto idiota latinoamericano" (The Manual of the Perfect Latin American Idiot")and "Fabricantes de miseria" (Makers of Misery). Otherwise, buy books like this and one day you might learn the truth. Similar Products
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Who Prospers?: How Cultural Values Shape Economic and Political Success
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor
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