Books by Richard Gott
“What was interesting about Richard was that he identified Hugo Chávez as being a very, very important political actor. Way before Hugo Chávez was actually elected to the presidency of Venezuela, Richard Gott was able to create a relationship with Hugo Chávez, in which Chávez was very comfortable discussing all aspects of his life with him. This book is a really interesting piece of political biography. Obviously, it’s very sympathetic to Hugo Chávez…But it is also very important because it gives you an idea of how significant a political actor the Venezuelan armed forces are—the Bolivarian armed forces. Right now, one of the big challenges in Venezuela is trying to navigate around the Venezuelan military, because they’re the key stakeholder in the country. They’re the most powerful actor. Richard positions and explains the military, and the identity and the loyalties of the military, in a way that, unfortunately, US foreign policy has neglected. It’s really important in explaining why Chavismo remains in power today.” Read more...
Julia Buxton, Policy Analyst
“That is a book that I really enjoyed, written by a friend of mine who was influential in my education. It isn’t primarily about cosmology, but has a very interesting bit about how the Universe might have started. Rich presents some really fascinating ideas – he knows a lot about time travel and relativity – and it’s a great layman’s book for understanding a lot of concepts in general relativity.” Read more...
David Goldberg, Physicist
Interviews where books by Richard Gott were recommended
The best books on Cosmology, recommended by David Goldberg
David Goldberg, professor of physics at Drexel University, recommends the best books to start learning about cosmology. He explains his choices to high school student, Eric Bolton.
-
1
The Magical State: Nature, Money and Modernity in Venezuela
by Fernando Coronil -
2
The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture, and Society in Venezuela
by Miguel Tinker Salas -
3
Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution
by Richard Gott -
4
Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez’s Venezuela
by Sujatha Fernandes -
5
The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline 2012-2020
by Francisco Rodriguez
The best books on Venezuela, recommended by Julia Buxton
The best books on Venezuela, recommended by Julia Buxton
In early January 2026 US forces arrested the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro and took him into custody in the US, charged with drug offences. Political scientist Julia Buxton chooses five books on modern Venezuelan politics and explains that this is only the latest political catastrophe to befall a country that has been plagued by its vast oil reserves. An endowment of natural resources that was expected to make the country rich when they were discovered in the early 20th century has only succeeded in making it poor and politically unstable.
