Reviews with the most likes.
This is a strange book. I gather it is part of a series of books on, well, islands it seems.
For me it doesn't fit as a guidebook. I guess it history... Published in 1973, it is obviously a work of its time. There can't be criticism of that - it is just an observation.
What it really reads like is a project from Social Studies class. Or maybe it is an expanded Wikipedia page on Puerto Rico.
The books chapters outline the project, with an introduction (the guidebooky part); followed by a chapter on the period of Spanish Rule; then the American rule; then a chapter on the Constitution (of the time). Then into the agriculture; then industry and the economy; followed by tourism; and the people and their culture. A chapter on religion and education; then health and welfare; then transport and communications. the last couple of chapters are The Mainland Puerto Ricans (about Puerto Ricans in the USA) and then a speculative chapter on the future of Puerto Rico.
This last chapter (along with the first chapter probably) is the most interesting. This chapter road-maps three scenarios for the future of Puerto Rico:
The Case for Statehood - Puerto Rico throwing in as the Fifty First state of the USA.
The Case for Independence - Puerto Rico going it alone.
The Idea of an Antillean Federation - Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico as a combined federation.
The reality is not quite any of these - Puerto Rico is now an ‘unincorporated territory' of the USA:
An unincorporated territory in American law is an area controlled by the United States government “where fundamental rights apply as a matter of law, but other constitutional rights are not available”. Selected constitutional provisions variously apply depending on Congressional Organic Acts and judicial rulings according to U.S. constitutional practice, local tradition and law. All five modern inhabited territories are organized but unincorporated.
Puerto Rico shares this status with other territories such as American Samoa and Guam,amongst others.
I guess it sits somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, but had a couple of interesting chapters. Rounded up to 3 stars.
