Chavez's gesture turns obscure book into bestseller

Chavez's gesture turns obscure book into bestseller
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CNN) -- The big winner out of this week's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad may be a decades-old book about the exploitation of Latin American people throughout history.


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose anti-U.S. rhetoric has included calling former President George W. Bush the devil, approached Obama Friday and handed him a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent."

In just hours, the book, by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, rocketed to bestseller status on online book store Amazon.com.

The English version was at No. 11 on the site's list of top sellers Saturday night. On Friday, it had been No. 60,280.

The book topped Amazon's "Movers and Shakers" list on Saturday -- with a reported 466,378-percent increase in popularity on the site.



It was at least the second time Obama and Chavez spoke at a summit during which Obama made overtures to improve U.S. relations with many of its Latin American neighbors.

After receiving the gift, Obama jokingly said he thought it was a book Chavez had written.

"I was going to give him one of mine," he quipped.

Asked if the encounters with Chavez were paving the way for a meeting, Obama simply responded, "I think we're making progress at the summit."

However, former U.S. ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, an advisor to the president, noted that "a shake and a smile does not constitute a new relationship."

"The president was in a meeting with 33 other heads of state," he said. "He shook hands and smiled, I think, with all of them."

THE BOOK

Written in the early '70s and reissued in several new editions since then, the book is an "analysis of the effects and causes of capitalist underdevelopment in Latin America," according to one reviewer, who called it a "passionate account of 500 years of Latin American history, written with drama, humor, and compassion."

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[LoboLoko007]

have you even red the book(before posting this vid) to say that it is obscure?

[nofunclub]

don't shoot the messenger

cnn calls it obscure, not me.

and no, I havent had the privilege to read the book yet..

I hope to do soon..

[ParamoreVzla]

Obscure? Are you crazy?

[nofunclub]

Obscure? - the book ?, I don't think so..but cnn do

Are you crazy? - yes, but that has nothing to do with it.

:)

[groove40]

Although nobody really likes Chaves he had a brilliant moment here,I think there are lots of theories about what I wrote above and the book (despite what you may think about it) opens great opportunitty for dialogue,this moment however may be lost by most of the stupid North American newsmedia...again books are only "obscure" FOR PEOPLE WHO DON´T READ....

[groove40]

this is NOT an "obscure book"....According to many it´s famous in Latin America and in Europe,the book is interesting and deals with the so called North-American Imperialism and the way the USA have supported Facism and Anti-Democracy coups in Latin America in order to gain and mantain it´s economical and political influence all over the Continent.

[manuelabeltran]

when is the US going to head towards democratic practices, nationally and internationally? then, they might actually have something to contribute to other nations

[julacudima]

Obscure is obama's ass!

[orlando1967]

CNN is obscure!!

[cheracocacola]

maybe thats why you are so ignorant. If you try to find, probably tou will see this book translated for those both lenguages

[cheracocacola]

obscure book???? only because you are ignorant and dont like to read it dont means that the book is obscure. I include recommend the book for you: perhaps, you learn something about latin america and stop a little to say so supid things.

[nofunclub]

oh, me ?

I am scandinavian,

live in the Netherlands.

[AurelianoBuendia100d]

yes sir!

about tu?

[elSargentoPimienta]

I recommend this book, it could be obscure for any indifferent and manipulated person (most of people, sadly), but actually it is direct, intelligent, and deeply critical. Not only this book has written Eduardo Galeano, actually he is a great writter, historian and humanist. His several books deal with issues that matters not only in my America (for many of u Latinamerica) but the whole world. So, realize why the majority of our continent is like this, and stop the dangerous ignorance between u.