Book excerpt: By opening the ever-escalating debate regarding Latin America's "underdeveloped" status and cloaking the seriousness of the situation with wit and humor, the Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot reached number one status on the nonfiction bestseller lists in many countries in Latin America. It reveals the connection between economic success and cultural values—attitudes toward work, education, health care and community—and the consequence of the Latin American people retaining or evolving these values.