God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre

I think this might be my favorite book! Great storytelling and it puts you in the action. Love it!

I am always favorably impressed when I find a book with impeccable research at its core. That's the case with GOD'S MIDDLE FINGER: INTO THE HEART OF THE SIERRA MADRE. [...] The Sierra Madre is an expanse of gnarly ridges, towering peaks, immense canyons, and high desert landscapes all scrunched into a 200-mile wide by 900-mile long swath that runs south in Mexico starting just below the US border states of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a violent and shadowy area inhabited by drug growers, narcotics traffickers, bandits, Indians, and poverty-stricken natives trying to hold on to a scruffy existence. And Grant can't wait to get in the middle of all this loveliness to explore its intriguing history. Warned about traveling in the wilds of the Sierra Madre where strangers are not welcome and often murdered, Grant thumbed his nose at the concerns, survived, and has written a compelling story of his adventures. He sought out unusual folk healing processes, strange religious practices, exotic food and drink (including mind altering recreational snacks), corrupt law enforcement officials, narcotics bigwigs, and macho bullies to get perspective on living tough in the neighborhood. In general, he just prowled around with his notebook, sometimes violating preferred guest behavior, and recording the reception he was given. Most of the time it was unfriendly. You'll find the author's audacity somewhat startling and will be amazed at his willingness to venture into uncomfortable situations. I kept turning the pages wondering when he was going to get the ass-kicking (or worse) that he seemed to be inviting. I'm not going to tell you whether or not it happened, because this is a book of suspense and I don't want to ruin it for you.

Books that explore the true culture of various parts of Mexico are fairly rare but Richard Grant's book does it really well. This is not the story of a quick trip through Mexico's Sierra Madre. It's obviously based on the author's long exploration and good research of the region. Even though the author discusses just the Sierra Madre region, this book hits into hundreds of perfect examples of how the culture of all of Mexico works. Some readers, and some reviewers, will find it hard to accept that Grant's story is entirely plausible and represents the authentic, chaotic, lawless, smoke-and-mirrors, unique culture of the country and its people in general. Americans want to think that Mexico is just a little bit different than back home. The truth is unveiled in this book. I don't mean that all of Mexico is filled with rowdy drug runners and blood thirsty gangsters like this book discusses. But the story beneath Grant's story is of the extremely different and highly complex culture that makes up Mexico and which very few Americans or other foreigners understand very well. I've lived all over Mexico on and off for 40 years...if you want to be fascinated by Mexico's real story, take my word for it and read this excellent book. On top of that, Grant is a fine writer and has put this book together in a way that grips the reader. It can't be put down.

Not really sure of what to make of this book. I can't say that I disliked it, but I can't say that I liked it either. I felt cheated out of character development, the sights and sounds around him and overwhelmed by the constant talk of drinking and drugs without a more realistic cause and effect of the story. The whole book could have been summed up with, "went to Mexico,got wasted on everything to get information about where the next place I am going to get wasted. I never felt that I knew what was the point of the writing the book in the first place.

This is a nice read, told without pulling punches. It certainly doesn’t make you yearn to visit this area of Mexico, some may swear off Mexico totally. It is a lawless, dangerous place due to the harsh land and cruel people. The worst example of the people the author runs into is women won’t report being raped to the police out of fear of being raped again: by the police. People get killed, bodies dumped, never heard from again. Excessive drinking among the men is the rule. Much of these tough conditions is blamed on the drug trade that feeds the U.S. The danger and bleak conditions can be hard to stomach, but it is truthfully told. The author also spends time on the history and natural beauty of the area, as well as the dangers he faced, which is well told.

Richard Grant is a great storyteller. Highly recommend this real account of his adventures in La Sierra Madre.

Richard Grant does not take Gonzo journalism to the places that Hunter S Thompson did, with the amped up, drug fueled non-stop self abuse that was written in the 1970's, but his version is the same premise. Go to a God-forsaken place where one's life is randomly spared each day the sun comes up, and live to write about it. At the soul of the story is Joe Brown, a seventy something author who has lived at the foothills of the Sierra Madre, and braved a rough, hardscrabble existence. Brown warns Richard Grant that he will surely die should he complete his fantasy of travelling through this area. Grant, of course, goes in spite of this, and makes some acute observations about the people he encounters. Some of the most eye-opening encounters are with local police. These are mean, corrupt, and hard living folk for whom justice is a concept that has never breached their consciousness. Envariably, the only way to get into their graces as an outsider is to smoke copious amounts of mota with them, or drink ones self into oblivion in their presence. Of course, buying them cocaine is a third option. There are some truly kind and helpful people to be found on this journey, however, they are few and far between. He writes with wonder of the Tarahumara's, and here, in my opinion he is at his best. Providing a historical context, he tells of these people who are so tough, that they cut up strips of rubber from tires, wrap them around their feet, and proceed to run 100 miles. A group of Tarahuma's were brought to Leadville, Colorado to compete in the ultra-marathon. With no training, no stretching and a diet rich in barley and hops (brewed in Mexico's finest breweries) they put the most finely trained athletes in this sport to shame. When he slips into his alcohol and mota filled paranoiac writing of fear and life preserving actions, it can be fun, but disjointed, and not nearly as interesting. Still, an excellent read. I am glad I learned about the lawlessness of our southern neighbors.

High and dangerous adventure that the author shares well with his reader. Another good reason not to be a drug user is the tragedy, destitution and utter misery it creates for peoples where the drug is produced let alone the users. The environmental damage is another heartbreak. That our world has so many people who are hardened killers, is a modern disgust and failure. A must read for all of us who will never venture into the Sierra Madre.

The first parts of the book are full of the kind of stories you expect to read. But the prologue puts the expectations too high.

I bought this book because I am a fan of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. As a reader, and also as a traveller to the Copper Canyons of Mexico, I felt that this book and its story were gross exaggerations from an obnoxious author trying to have a sensational story to tell. This does not pay justice to the beautiful People of the Copper Canyons or denounce the state of violence and unrest that they suffer due to the presence of drug traffickers. It is not informative, nor, in my opinion, untertaining.

From the blurb on the cover I expected something more than this, the authors experiences arent that amazing apart from his last one which drove him out of the Sierra altogether. He meets up with some interesting characters, relates a lot of second hand information about the drugs trade, but rarely gets into the heart of things, a few people trying to sell him drugs is about as about as deep as it gets. Granted it would have been pretty hard to get into the scene much further without getting killed, but I kept expecting him to do so. (Go deeper, not get killed.) Recommended though overall, and did make me want to go see for myself.

Beware...this is the same book as "Bandit Roads" by the same author, its just a different title. Not sure why its published under two different titles but Amazon doesn't tell you ! I bought both by mistake.

From an early age I was fascinated by native american indian culture,this book explores the territory of the apache peoples the Sierra Madre and Dragoon mountains.The book evokes images of people then and now as wild and fierce as the landscape.Now there are very few apache that inhabit the region but instead a wild bunch of assorted characters from folk healers to itinerant mexicans.The book captures the sense of latent menace that is always pervading even in the most seemingly harmless of situations.I had visions of one day visiting myself,but this book telling it like it is shows just how dangerous and lawless it can be.Never the less it is a fascinating read that will have your heart racing.