the author adds to contemporary and important discourse on core topics related to the slums, such as social control, community, poverty, inequality and citizenship.

the text was released around the same time as cinematic productions such as city of god, working alongside them to uncover an alternative rio - burgos unites two years of sustained academic field work undertaken in the rio das pedras favela with his own highly astute sociopolitical views about the community. 

the fieldwork examined the history of the community, its socio-spatial organization and its community life - ten articles were compiled based on participant observation, scripted interviews, focus groups and personal stories, accompanied by beautiful photographs of the unique community.