Could anyone recommend a good introductory book on Santeria or Voudou?

I'm looking for something by a practitioner of either of these faiths, something that might give me insight into their distinctive practices and worldviews. Thanks.

You can probably get the info you want off the Internet, mind you, you'll have to dig through lots of bullshit first.

http://paganwiccan.about.com/sitesearch.htm?terms=Faith&SUName=paganwiccan&TopN ode=3660&type=1

Above site will answer the topic question. You used the word - faiths - to describe them. Looking at them and your profile - shows me a lack of faith. I provide the below site to address that.

http://www.explorefaith.org/life.html

Maybe not the answer you wanted; maybe infringes on your time constraints. Self-actualizing is a slow process as is researching/learning about any subject this broad. If your only faith is in yourself then fear will always be something you have to factor. True faith has no fear - that is already reconciled. Receiving Faith is total acceptance and studies there after are to enrich not disseminate.
Faith is patient & kind. Your welcome.

First, ask yourself why you would want to.

Haiti and Cuba are the only third world countries in the Western Hemisphere. Hatians live in extreme poverty, their island is ravaged by AIDS. Cubans likewise live in poverty, and risk death to escape the haven for Santeria on homemade rafts (most dying try to do so).

Does it sound like it works for them? Why don't they just use their magic to get rich?

Because it doesn't work! Nothing about the occult works (other than to complicate your life and waste your time).

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgXeuUT6PMwvqlnBRPezIfvsy6IX?qid=200609 18191343AA1dAL3&show=7#profile-info-f49ad034abd28a4bd6e30b7088b096a3aa

Furthermore, you can't combine Christinanity with African sorcery. Here's an answer to a different question, but it still applies:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtY0mxKoZHtpI56Zxm67CtHsy6IX?qid=200609 22162423AAcU9lu