The fascinating Bolivian president Evo Morales is vying with the brash and provocative leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, as the most influential figure in South American politics today. His rule has already had direct repercussions for the United States, and as one of our top oil exporters, Bolivia will become increasingly significant to our economy. Since coming into office four years ago, Morales has been intensely critical of the United States, speaking out agaisnt the drug war at the United Nations and implementing socialist programs at home, including the nationalization of British Petroleum holdings and other foreign investments. And he has reached out to our political enemies, including Cuba and Iran. In this first biography of this fascinating figure - ranked as one of the top books of last year by the Spanish press - Argentinean journalist Martin Sivak provides a fast-paced and in-depth look at the man behind the president. Based on personal interviews and unprecedented access Sivak traces his rise from its humble origins in a family of migrant workers to his youth as union organizer and explosion on the natioanl stage. Sivak offers a close up portrait that reveals a consequential world leader whose international platform is growing.