Includes bibliographical references and index.

Definitions : Rice -- In the beginning -- Realpolitik and dreams -- An imperfect likeness -- The shaman's apprentice -- The god of bread and the god of corn -- The Mesoamerican origins of generosity -- The envious origins of generosity -- The chosen people -- The fate of independents -- The conception of the Aztec -- His royal highness -- Centripetal forces -- The defeat of August Comte -- Revolutionary dreams -- The spirits of Madero -- The land of Zapata -- Villa's angels -- Carranza, Obregon, Calles, and the constitution -- The dream of a word -- Totalitarian threads -- The werejaguar -- Diego Rivera's dogs -- The nationality of the rose -- Once there was a circle -- Real magic -- The reinforcement of the worst -- Indio, Lepero, Pelado, Naco : four stages of race and class -- A savage bite -- A dearth of beginners -- Maquiladora nation -- Where the future falls -- The science of dismal prospects -- Alternations -- Doctors -- The ninth Mexican -- The book of predictions.