Rinaldo dos Santos was born in 1947, in Penápolis (SP). He dedicated his professional life to journalism and non-fiction literature. His first contact with the publishing market took place at Editora Abril, in the early 1970s, and at Editora Propaganda, where he created the “Promotional Calendar” - which was later included in the “Anuário Brasileiro de Propaganda” (Brazilian Advertising Yearbook). Upon moving to Paraíba, he worked as an editorialist and columnist for the “Jornal da Paraíba” and consolidated the magazines “Campina Grande Empresarial” and “Paraíba Pecuária”.
From the 1980s, he stood out in the agricultural market, launching the reference magazine in the area: “Agropecuária Tropical”, which reached 155 editions, in addition to specialized technical books (see list below). Traveling through the northeastern hinterlands, between 1978-83, he observed the tragedy of the drought and embarked on historical and social studies of the region, in articles, comments, arriving at the first book, “A Epopeia das Secas” (“The Drought Epic”). Realizing the need for adequate livestock farming in rustic regions, he developed the concepts of Zoognomony (Zoo + Gnosis + Monia) for livestock farming, with 430 hand drawings, leading to the book “A Geometria do Zebu” (1984). Then he authored books and articles for all Zebu breeds bred in Brazil, usually officialized by the Breeders' Associations.
Invited by the breeders, he moved to Uberaba (capital of the Brazilian Zebu) where he wrote 4 books with promotional and technical support from the largest livestock entity, the ABCZ: “Zebu: 60 years of genealogical record” (1998; 860 p.); “Zebu Year 2000” (516 p.); Zebu: Fundamental Livestock (2013, 970 p.); “From Zri-Bhu to Zebu: Holy Cattle in India and Brazil” (2016, 650 p., over 2,000 illustrations).
For goats and sheep, he created the “Brazilian Goat & Sheep Magazine” (O Berro, “the bleating”). Between 1983 and 2016, he released 180 editions and also founded “TV do Berro” (daily program that had 660 editions). In 2012 he subscribed to YouTube, where 1,152 videos are available, the largest film collection on goats & sheep in the western world, with tens of thousands of subscribers and millions of views. The channel is maintained until the present date.
His interest in literature is not limited to agriculture, having published hundreds of articles on Economics, Politics. He published, since 2016, books on the History of Brazil: “Os Sertaníadas” (The Hinterland Men, in 2 volumes). About politics: “As Alegres Comadres do Brasil” (The Merry Godmothers of Brazil, in 3 volumes). About spirituality: “The very, very funny Bible” (a modernization of “La Bible Amusante”, from 1882) and “The Bible in the light of Reason, Science and Traditions – Genesis”, in 2 volumes.
In his nights and spare time, he is a composer of classical music, having completed hundreds of pieces for piano since 1960, recorded in 4 volumes of “Musical Moments” at the National Library (Reg: 802.875; 802.919; 802.877 / 802.879), totaling 202 sheet-music, or 1.180 p.). The collection of his musical compositions is available at the Department of Culture of Penápolis (SP), including “Contos Penapolenses” (Reg:802.881; Penapolis Tales), a series of twenty childhood memories transcribed in a musical format.
