This short book packs in a great deal of honest and accurate information about the beautiful, complex, culturally rich, and ecologically threatened country of Ecuador. It is not a tourist guide, but recommended for prospective visitors who want to understand the culture and politics of Ecuador, and understand it quickly. It is especially valuable for its summary of the destructive effects of the petroleum industry on the ecology and economy of the country, and for its its brief but accurate introduction to the country's powerful indigenous movement. It gives a sense of the country's cultural riches, and has some great color photos.