Andrew Downie
@adowniebrazil.bsky.social
Scottish foreign correspondent and author. Biographer of Sócrates. Currently writing a biography of Pelé. Português and Espan̈ol. #GGTTH São Paulo/Madrid/Edinburgh
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
December 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Best books I read this year
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Best books I read this year
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
December 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Best books I read this year
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Best books I read this year
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
December 5, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Best books I read this year
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
December 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Best books I read this year
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year.
GLORIOUS EXPLOITS
Brilliant fiction, taking an outlandish idea and turning it into a novel that is both fresh and interesting. We'll see imitators soon.
GLORIOUS EXPLOITS
Brilliant fiction, taking an outlandish idea and turning it into a novel that is both fresh and interesting. We'll see imitators soon.
December 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Best books I read this year.
GLORIOUS EXPLOITS
Brilliant fiction, taking an outlandish idea and turning it into a novel that is both fresh and interesting. We'll see imitators soon.
GLORIOUS EXPLOITS
Brilliant fiction, taking an outlandish idea and turning it into a novel that is both fresh and interesting. We'll see imitators soon.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year.
DAYS OF ABANDONMENT Came to this after reading the four Neapolitan novels. This is different, capturing the unhinged spirals of a woman whose husband leaves her. No one writes female characters like Elena Ferrante.
DAYS OF ABANDONMENT Came to this after reading the four Neapolitan novels. This is different, capturing the unhinged spirals of a woman whose husband leaves her. No one writes female characters like Elena Ferrante.
December 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Best books I read this year.
DAYS OF ABANDONMENT Came to this after reading the four Neapolitan novels. This is different, capturing the unhinged spirals of a woman whose husband leaves her. No one writes female characters like Elena Ferrante.
DAYS OF ABANDONMENT Came to this after reading the four Neapolitan novels. This is different, capturing the unhinged spirals of a woman whose husband leaves her. No one writes female characters like Elena Ferrante.
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Best books I read this year.
WINNIE AND NELSON
What a book. Steinberg goes where the story takes him, unafraid of contradicting established and sacred narratives. He found so much incredible information. The result is an absolute masterpiece of research and organisation.
WINNIE AND NELSON
What a book. Steinberg goes where the story takes him, unafraid of contradicting established and sacred narratives. He found so much incredible information. The result is an absolute masterpiece of research and organisation.
December 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Best books I read this year.
WINNIE AND NELSON
What a book. Steinberg goes where the story takes him, unafraid of contradicting established and sacred narratives. He found so much incredible information. The result is an absolute masterpiece of research and organisation.
WINNIE AND NELSON
What a book. Steinberg goes where the story takes him, unafraid of contradicting established and sacred narratives. He found so much incredible information. The result is an absolute masterpiece of research and organisation.
And the Oscar for the worst comedy goes to....
December 9, 2025 at 12:41 AM
And the Oscar for the worst comedy goes to....
Reposted by Andrew Downie
“journalist”
December 5, 2025 at 8:19 PM
“journalist”
Hunter and the hunted, more like.....
December 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Hunter and the hunted, more like.....
Reposted by Andrew Downie
Thank you for your talent and vision.
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96
May his memory be a blessing
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96
May his memory be a blessing
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Thank you for your talent and vision.
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96
May his memory be a blessing
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Frank O. Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96
May his memory be a blessing
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/a...
Remember in 6 previous World Cup appearances Scotland have won three games....
December 5, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Remember in 6 previous World Cup appearances Scotland have won three games....
Reposted by Andrew Downie
World Cup draw. Remember half of the third placed teams go through. Unlikely to be a gripping group stage, but some fun matchups nonetheless.
December 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
World Cup draw. Remember half of the third placed teams go through. Unlikely to be a gripping group stage, but some fun matchups nonetheless.
As a former resident of Port-au-Prince and a man whose greatest achievement in football was gettinga trial for Haitian first division club Violet FC, I hope Haiti win the group. 🇭🇹
December 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
As a former resident of Port-au-Prince and a man whose greatest achievement in football was gettinga trial for Haitian first division club Violet FC, I hope Haiti win the group. 🇭🇹
Fifa deserve some credit. They beat out the Old Firm, VAR and neologisms like "low block" as the biggest reason to hate football.
December 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Fifa deserve some credit. They beat out the Old Firm, VAR and neologisms like "low block" as the biggest reason to hate football.
Scotland v Brazil. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
December 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Scotland v Brazil. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
Group B. Group of life.
December 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Group B. Group of life.
Best books I read this year
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
December 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Best books I read this year
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
ALL FOURS
Mad, captivating, and worthy of all the praise it got. Read it in two sittings.
Best books I read this year
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Best books I read this year
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
OLD SCHOOL
If you like films such as Dead Poet's Society then you'll love this beautifully written novel about a teacher at a midcentury New England private school. Wolff is a top notch stylist. Not one word is out of place.
Best books I read this year
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
December 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Best books I read this year
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
EAST WEST STREET and THE RATLINE
Excelling in one field is impressive. Excelling in two, like barrister/author Philippe Sands, doubly so. A huge feat of reporting went into both books. Can't wait to read the third in the trilogy when it comes out in paperback in 2026.
Best books I read this year
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Best books I read this year
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
SUBMISSION
Picked this up in a second hand book shop in Madrid and was instantly captivated. Easy to see why Hollebuecq is such a star (and so controversial).
Best books I read this year
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
December 5, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Best books I read this year
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
STATE OF FEAR
Short but incredibly powerful memoir by a journalist covering the start of the Argentine military dictatorship in the 1970s. Has instantly jumped on to my top 20 list of favourite books of all time.
Best books I read this year
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
December 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Best books I read this year
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.
THE MANY LIVES OF JAMES LOVELOCK
Fascinating biography by Guardian environment journalist Jonathan Watts of someone I knew nothing about and am now pleased that I do. Lovelock had so many strings to his bow and Watts does them all justice.