Upside Down is a shocking and passionate documentation of the world's injustices that our "upside down" First World society has turned our back upon. This book will not merely evoke sympathy and remorse, but will leave you screaming for change. I found myself drawn especially to Galeano's dark humor and satirical, poetic style. Galeano's fiery language left me speechless. However, at times I did become glazed after reading list after list of facts. I found that the most inspirational and telling portions of the book were the rare asides and anecdotes in which individuals' stories were recounted. Galeano shows us the bleak reality that we have accepted- a reality where children toil from dawn to dusk to stay alive- a reality where power is driven by security, money and terror. This book will make you ashamed to be privileged.

While Eduardo Galeano makes some very valid points about how messed up our perception of what a properly functioning world is, He doesnt offer much more then that. He gives minimal suggestions as to how to turn our world right again. This perhaps was his point that this book was only to point out the problems and leave the reader to find the means to fix it.
I would highly recomend to any reader that they read this book cover to cover and then go reread the few parts that dont quite sink in. I found that after the second time through I was able to relate a lot more of his thoughts. Also try to keep an open political and economic outlook I garantee if you a strongly(First world) opinionated you will find yourself wanting to tear the pages up.

Galeano is well known for his histories of Empire, but here he presents us with an entirely different - if related - book. UPSIDE DOWN strives to illuminate the absurdities of our world: a world where the strong devour the weak, where corporations devastate the planet, and TV colonizes our souls. Written in the most penetrating and damning language, Galeano is not afraid to tell it like it is. In other words, this is not a feel-good book. For this reason, some have discredited it as a "diatribe," without fully knowing the meaning, history or import of the word. Defined as "learned discourse" mixed with "bitter resentment," UPSIDE DOWN is indeed a diatribe - but the most necessary, illuminating and effective diatriabe out there (with the possible except of Derrick Jenson's A LANGUAGE OLDER THAN WORDS and CULTURE OF MAKE BELIEVE). Similar to those books, UPSIDE DOWN is a scathing indictment of the injustices of modern life. But it is also a shrill, poetic cry for change. This book will unlock more than feelings remorse for the suffering, it will also unlock anger and infuse you with passion for change. All together, a strange little book of riddles, sardonic poems of dissent, mind-boggling statistics, perspective warps, linguistic twists, and poetic flares. Hooked from the first page, it blew me away. In the end, I must have commonplaced over a quarter of it. Another Galeano masterpiece. Should not be overlooked.

"We may be badly made, but we're not finished, and it's the adventure of changing reality and changing ourselves that makes our blip in the history of the universe worthwhile, this fleeting warmth between two glaciers that is us."

Drawing from first-hand experience and an impressive list of documentation, Galeano describes the effects of imperialism in the Americas. He writes in a style that is surprisingly clear for all the information he packs into each sentence.

This is an angry, insightful book worth reading twice.

In order for people to come up with solutions, they must be aware of problems. Eduardo Galeano provides insight into the world that I have been unable to find in such a digestable format. The book is there to inform those who are unaware. Not to provide answers to people who already know those problems exist. Other reviews have critisized Galeano for not providing solutions. If only it were that easy! If only one person could provide us with answers! This book will make you think. It will help you come up with your own answers. If not, it will give you the information you need to get started.