Ruy Castro's Bossa Nova: The Story of the Brazilian Music That Seduced the World is an excellent history of Brazil's bossa nova music and musicians, tracing it from its 40s jazz fan roots to its full flowering in the late 50s to its diffusion around the world in the 60s. Originally published in Brazil in 1990, this 2000 English translation (by Lysa Salsbury) demonstrates that music history definitely need not be flat-footed -- telling the long and complex story of many characters with charmingly conversational narrative flow. The only weak point may be an occasional tendency to lapse into long lists of songs, performers and composers, but overall, it's a terrific read, covering a fascinating music scene in detail you are unlikely to find anywhere else -- at least outside of Brazil. Read, learn, listen.