I have known Flávio (“Faveco”) Corrêa for thirty years. We were lucky to be together in an exciting, pleasant and stimulating working environment, the excellent Ogilvy culture. He had a key role in the successful development of our business in Brazil and as a leader in the international environment.
Flavio and I also became personal friends. He kindly invited me for non-business stays in São Paulo, Rio (including carnival) and his delightful holiday home on the coast. And we went cruising together on my sailboat in Sardinia.
Geração Editorial – June 2010His recent book, Curto & Grosso, is surprising in many ways. Not an autobiography, nor an essay on communication (though there are characteristically personal touches and vigorously candid comments on “the state of the art”). It’s mainly about the political, social and cultural situation in Brazil. Brave and brash, frank and aggressive, sometimes humorous and often biting, in Faveco’s style that I know so well.
Of course I am in no position to judge or discuss the current situation in his country, that I know only “from the outside”. But it’s intriguing to find that, while the world is admiring the luminous development of Brazil as one of the world’s emerging powers, a “view from the inside” can have darker shades. And many of the problems are uncannily similar to those in several other countries, including my own.
Faveco and I, though in somewhat different ways, share a basic trait and style. We are “politically incorrect” and “uncomfortable” for the establishment. We speak our minds where most people “comply”. We speak openly were others whisper, we are candid where others are sycophants, we are outspoken where others hide in fear. We are intolerant and impatient with compromise, corruption, lies, obedience, complacency, powermongering, intrigue, bigotry, stereotypes, commonplace, mediocrity – and stupidity.
A totally unexpected, and very pleasant, surprise was to find, in the last and conclusive chapter of Curto & Grosso, his interesting comments on my book on this subject.
I guess people who have a good understanding of the situation in Brazil may agree or disagree with some of Flavio’s observations. But they are clear, sincere and provocative. And that always helps.
In any case, his book is worth reading. I trust he will agree with me in believing that what matters isn’t if people share our views, but if what we say and write encourages them to think with their own minds.
