Vida Vertiginosa is a collection of chronicles by João do Rio, an author known for his portraits of early 20th-century Rio de Janeiro. The book opens with one of his most famous chronicles, "The Era of the Automobile," a witty and insightful account of the arrival of automobiles in the then-capital of Brazil. Throughout the book, Rio's reflections on the changing city mix social commentary and satire in a unique and engaging way.