top of page
"A Great and Informative Overview, and much more"
“The book was beyond my expectations as to facts and overall content. I would say that if you are planning to visit or settle in Mexico, make the book your info Bible. Very well written.”
- BFW 11/5/2018
"A Most Excellent Read"
“In my research for information for my impending move to México, I came across this book and after just the first few pages, I thought:" Wow. This guy loves México as much as I do". The articles are informative, concise and a good understanding of the Mexican people and their culture. I read this on my Kindle and loved it so much I wanted to have a hard copy to loan to friends.”
- RS 6/14/2020
"A Diverse Collection of Mexican Tidbits"
“If you've spent much time in Mexico, you've probably run across names like Benito Juarez, Pedro Infante, Cesar Chavez, Augustin de Iturbide, Santa Ana, etc. Likewise, you've probably encountered Mennonites, Muslims, Africans, Poinsettias and Monarch Butterflies. And perhaps you've even wondered about the Mexican perspectives on wine, obesity, migrants, and civil unrest. Well, this wonderfully entertaining book provides both historical and contemporary insights on all these diverse topics and more. And it does so in bite-size, easy to digest short articles. The presentation ranges from historical facts (at times overwhelming) to whimsical trivia. Oftentimes, I found the stories whetting my appetite to go learn more about a given topic. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who lives in Mexico, and/or has a desire to learn about Mexican history and culture.”
- Diego 11/5/2018
"Chock full of information"
“Having recently moved to Mexico, and having a major in history, I jumped at the chance to obtain a copy of this book for free - and even though there is no obligation to do so, I am happy to leave my thoughts. I am pleased that it exceeded my expectations and that I could honestly give this book a “should read” recommendation.
The author of The Gringo Guide to Mexico, Murray Page, is a retired lawyer and his affinity for facts shows. For those who are fascinated with facts and love hearing about the stories behind the scenes, this book is for you. Volume One is a collection of 28 essays written on a variety of topics that should interest expats - or those thinking about moving to Mexico - and inspire them to learn more about the history, culture, and people of Mexico.
From the Aztec origin story to the invention of the margarita, Page covers many different aspects of Mexico. He doesn’t shy away from the controversial or darker sides, either, with topics discussing the obesity problem in Mexico, the consequences of slave and sex trafficking, and more. For many of the essays in The Gringo Guide to Mexico, Page incorporates personal experiences and opinions along with the facts, which help draw the reader into the stories.
Each essay stands on its own and they are not presented in any chronological order, so you can pick and choose topics that interest you – and every reader should be able to find a topic of interest in this compilation! I would recommend, however, that you read them all. Even with my history background, I still discovered facts I wasn’t aware of in nearly every chapter. Many of the topics have peaked my curiosity and have me wanting to do further research. That’s my one extremely minor “complaint” with the book – I wish there had been some references included for those who would like to read more. Obviously, I can research on my own, but it would be interesting to dive into some of the original sources.
Page states in his preface that the purpose of his writings is to give information to foreigners who have or want to make Mexico their home that will “make their life here more interesting and meaningful.” I believe he definitely has succeeded, and I highly recommend The Gringo Guide to Mexico. It is short enough to read in one or two sessions, but interesting enough to have handy for rereading and as a reference.”
- DPVID 11/6/2018
bottom of page