Richard Lapper - Böcker

From the factory floor to the presidency: the extraordinary story of President Lula's fight to change BrazilIn October 2022, Lula was once again elected President of Brazil, replacing the far-right strongman Bolsonaro, sparking an insurrection, and exiling the fallen demagogue to the US. Lula won by promising to save the Amazon and to give power back to the Brazilian people. This has long been the dream of Latin American left-wing movements - many of which have ended in corruption, disaster and death. Lula has survived at least three curtain calls. Imprisoned for corruption in the notorious 'Car Wash' scandal, voted out, bullied and beaten, Lula continues to draw huge crowds of workers wherever he goes. He speaks of revolution and comes from the streets of São Paulo, and yet he is enmeshed in hidden bank accounts and lobbying scandals. This is the definitive biography of Lula and the history of modern Brazilian politics that gave rise to him.Richard Lapper ran the FT bureau on Latin America for two decades, and lived in Brazil for many years. His previous biography of Bolsonaro was for many the best book on the so-called Trump of the Tropics. Lapper's unparalleled reporting and access allows him to tell the full story - which encapsulates so much of why Latin America's left-wing movements both excite and fascinate us in the West.

Backed by Brazil’s wealthy agribusiness groups, a growing evangelical movement, and an emboldened military and police force, Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. Driven by the former army captain’s brand of controversial, aggressive rhetoric, the divisive presidential campaign saw fake news and misinformation shared with Bolsonaro’s tens of millions of social media followers.Bolsonaro promised simple solutions to Brazil’s rising violent crime, falling living standards and widespread corruption, but what has emerged is Latin America's most right-wing president since the military dictatorships of the 1970s. Famous for his racist, homophobic and sexist beliefs and his disregard for human rights, the so-called ‘Trump of the Tropics’ has established a reputation based on his polemical, sensationalist statements.Written by a journalist with decades of experience in the field, Beef, Bible and bullets is a compelling account of the origins of Brazil's unique brand of right-wing populism. Lapper offers the first major assessment of the Bolsonaro government and the growing tensions between extremist and moderate conservatives.