"In this thoughtful, well-organized, and readable textbook, [the author] illuminates this period of South American history by comparing three of the most flagrant cases of military rule: Brazil (1964-1988), Chile (1973-1990), and Argentina (1976-1983). ...Dávila seeks to capture the urgency of this extraordinary period for contemporary readers and to help them to understand that if 'the stakes were enormous, so were the costs.' Since the book forms a part of Wiley-Blackwell's Viewpoints/Puntos de Vista series, which seeks to introduce students to a significant theme or topic in Latin American history, the author has designed the narrative in ways to enlighten and engage an undergraduate audience. An extremely helpful and thorough bibliography enhances the value of the text as a reference source not just for undergraduates but for scholars at all levels. In short, at a time when many professors are abandoning textbooks to rely on scattered internet materials, those who deal with twentieth century Latin America will find that this one compact volume will bring to the fore enough challenging questions and useful information to engage their students throughout a semester." - The Latin Americanist “This concise history of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile from the mid-20th century until its end is excellent... Invaluable for undergraduate collections. Summing up: Essential. All levels/libraries.”  (Choice, 1 October 2013)