God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre
Mar 2008 · Sold by Simon and Schuster
star
7 reviews
Ebook
304
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
From the acclaimed author of Dispatches From Pluto and Deepest South of All, a harrowing travelogue into Mexico’s lawless Sierra Madre mountains.
Twenty miles south of the Arizona-Mexico border, the rugged, beautiful Sierra Madre mountains begin their dramatic ascent. Almost 900 miles long, the range climbs to nearly 11,000 feet and boasts several canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon. The rules of law and society have never taken hold in the Sierra Madre, which is home to bandits, drug smugglers, Mormons, cave-dwelling Tarahumara Indians, opium farmers, cowboys, and other assorted outcasts. Outsiders are not welcome; drugs are the primary source of income; murder is all but a regional pastime. The Mexican army occasionally goes in to burn marijuana and opium crops—the modern treasure of the Sierra Madre—but otherwise the government stays away. In its stead are the drug lords, who have made it one of the biggest drug-producing areas in the world.
Fifteen years ago, journalist Richard Grant developed what he calls "an unfortunate fascination" with this lawless place. Locals warned that he would meet his death there, but he didn't believe them—until his last trip. During his travels Grant visited a folk healer for his insomnia and was prescribed rattlesnake pills, attended bizarre religious rituals, consorted with cocaine-snorting policemen, taught English to Guarijio Indians, and dug for buried treasure. On his last visit, his reckless adventure spiraled into his own personal heart of darkness when cocaine-fueled Mexican hillbillies hunted him through the woods all night, bent on killing him for sport.
With gorgeous detail, fascinating insight, and an undercurrent of dark humor, God's Middle Finger brings to vivid life a truly unique and uncharted world.
Twenty miles south of the Arizona-Mexico border, the rugged, beautiful Sierra Madre mountains begin their dramatic ascent. Almost 900 miles long, the range climbs to nearly 11,000 feet and boasts several canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon. The rules of law and society have never taken hold in the Sierra Madre, which is home to bandits, drug smugglers, Mormons, cave-dwelling Tarahumara Indians, opium farmers, cowboys, and other assorted outcasts. Outsiders are not welcome; drugs are the primary source of income; murder is all but a regional pastime. The Mexican army occasionally goes in to burn marijuana and opium crops—the modern treasure of the Sierra Madre—but otherwise the government stays away. In its stead are the drug lords, who have made it one of the biggest drug-producing areas in the world.
Fifteen years ago, journalist Richard Grant developed what he calls "an unfortunate fascination" with this lawless place. Locals warned that he would meet his death there, but he didn't believe them—until his last trip. During his travels Grant visited a folk healer for his insomnia and was prescribed rattlesnake pills, attended bizarre religious rituals, consorted with cocaine-snorting policemen, taught English to Guarijio Indians, and dug for buried treasure. On his last visit, his reckless adventure spiraled into his own personal heart of darkness when cocaine-fueled Mexican hillbillies hunted him through the woods all night, bent on killing him for sport.
With gorgeous detail, fascinating insight, and an undercurrent of dark humor, God's Middle Finger brings to vivid life a truly unique and uncharted world.
From the acclaimed author of Dispatches From Pluto and Deepest South of All, a harrowing travelogue into Mexico’s lawless Sierra Madre mountains.
Twenty miles south of the Arizona-Mexico border, the rugged, beautiful Sierra Madre mountains begin their dramatic ascent. Almost 900 miles long, the ...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
7 reviews
A Google user
- Flag inappropriate
April 14, 2011
The author is so completely innacurate in his charecterization of this land that I wonder if he ever really went there. He claims he went into Casino Senorial. He said it was a big concrete barn. Nope... been there. It is a spanish colonial building... not a big red barn. I have spent much time in Alamos, Sonora, MX. His tails are made up or the locals were pulling his leg. There are many people who never lock their doors in Alamos. I can walk at night down any street alone (I'm a woman) and feel safe. There was an incident deep in the mountains behind Alamos in around 2006 where the federales burned marijuna crops. Since then, there are no crops even close to Alamos. He has exagerated the murders and all other crime. There is an amazingly close relationship between the local people and the 250 US citizens who live there full time. I have driven into the Sierra Madres alopne often.. no one has bothered me... In fact if I meet people along the way they are friendly and kind.
This is a pure case of yellow journalism and sensationalism to sell a story. Don't buy it.
Furthermore, I live right near the border town of Nogales. I go there regularly... where is all of the shooting? where are all of the slimy drug dealers? I don't see them. I talk to Border patrol regularly -- it just isn't as we are being led to believe by yellow journalists who want to sell stories.
I still go to alamos and even oan land there.
You are being duped people.... It is a great place....
Rod Randle
- Flag inappropriate
April 3, 2016
A great read
Chris King
- Flag inappropriate
March 22, 2013
About the author
Richard Grant is the New York Times bestselling author of Dispatches from Pluto, The Deepest South of All, and four additional works of adventure travel writing and Americana. Currently a contributor to Smithsonian magazine, his journalism has appeared in Esquire, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He lives with his wife and daughter in Tucson, Arizona.
Richard Grant is the New York Times bestselling author of Dispatches from Pluto, The Deepest South of All, and four additional works of adventure travel writing and Americana. Currently a contributor to Smithsonian magazine, his journalism has appeared in Esquire, The New York Times, The Wall Str...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
