Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson
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Book Reviews of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
Book Review: Che: Myth, man or both
Summary: 5 Stars
John Lee Anderson has written a great and comprehensive biography about Che Guevara.The author has put in a great effort in order to collect all the material used in this book. Lots of interviews with all kind of different people, that be family, friends or enemies.
The story of Che starting in his youth, his attending in medical school and the development af his thoughts of being a revolutionary doctor is good. It gives an idea of why and when Che developed his political ideas. Especially the descriptions of his journeys in South America where he got aware of the social injustice in the countries in South America are great.
Che's meeting with Fidel Castro in Mexico and the reasons he joined the fidelistas is also very interesting indeed. His participation in Castros uprising in Cuba and the work he did for the revolution afterwards is very well described.
Why did Che leave Cuba afterall? The question is never answered completely (and it might be impossible to answer it) but quite a few possible reasons are given in the book - reasons that gives the reader a good insigth to the thougts of Che Guevara.
One of the reasons could be Che's view on the problems between China og Russia. There is no doubt that Che found that the Chinese way to socialism was a better strategy for the countries in South America than the russian way.
Another explanation could be that Che wanted to prove his own theories about guerilla warfare by establishing new revolutions in other South American countries.
The last part of the book is dedicated to Che's disastrous struggle in Bolivia where he tried to throw over the government. That story is very interesting as well and John Lee Andersons book was the reason why the body of Che and his comrades where found.
The book really gives a good picture of the man behind the myth and an understanding of why the man became a myth.
I wouldnn't hesitate: Buy the book and read it!
Book Review: A Revolutionary Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Ernesto "Che" Guevara was a revolutionary. He was born in Argentina but never called the country home after his college years, studying medicine. Through his travels during his college years, he became aware of the povery and inequality in South America. This inspired him to fight for the equality he felt Marxism would bring. Che is known for his effect on the communist revolution in Cuba. He also fought in falied revolutions in Congo and Bolivia. It is safe to say that he is a man who impacted the world even if you do not agree with his political views. He is the man who invented guerrilla warfare.John Lee Anderson's book is the definitive book on Che Guevara. At times, it is almost too detailed with its nearly 800 page length. In reality, a book being too detailed is a compliment. The pictures he chose to include in the text are outstanding. Many of the pictures have been in CIA possession for years, and unseen to the public.
While not directly a goal of the book, I enjoyed the insight this book gives into the relationship between Che and Fidel Castro. Anderson lets the reader draw conclusions rather than telling the reader what to think. While Castro believed in communism, Guevara was held policies more closely to the writing of Karl Marx. Che was willing to criticize policy if he felt it was not "Marxist enough". Unlike Castro, Che was willing to criticize the Soviet Union leaders for not living in the true equality that communism is intended to be.
Despite Cuba's rivalry with the United States, I found it odd that more was not mentioned about the Cuba Missle Crisis. Guevara detested the United States, so it seems he would have had more to say in the matter. If he did have more to say, little is mentioned in the book.
Because of its length, readers need some spare time to take in this whole book. The thoroughness of the product makes reading this book a rewarding experience.
Book Review: Simply the best
Summary: 5 Stars
Having read the hardcover version of this book in the summer it was released it is good to see that the paperback version is available. Coming in at nearly 800 pages it is no easy weekend read but worth the time invested. Mr. Anderson has done extensive research, clarified inaccuracies in previous works by other authors on the life of Che and treats the subject of his life objectively. Mr.Anderson spent much of the time in Cuba rsearching this masterpiece, probably the dfinitive biography, with the help of Aleida March, his wife and her aide Maria del Carmen Ariet who together are probably the foremost experts on the life of Che Guevara. The story is complete from the birth of Che, his upbring and close relationship to his mother, the formative years, including his education and doctor training, his spirit for adventure as exemplified early on with his famous motorcycle excusion through South America, his fateful meeting with Fidel Castro and of course his participation in the overthrow of the Batista regime in Cuba and the aftermath which eventually would prove to be his demise. Many excellent reviews have been wriiten about this book and I only want to endorse the overwhelming positive majority and say that this book is a cut above the plethora of books about Che. If you have an interest in the life of one of the true revolutionary spirits of the 20th century this is a landmark book that answers many questions. An excellent book for the historian or someone just curious about the man known as Che. Mr. Anderson seperates fact from ficion and helps the reader understand the man from the myth. The human being is revealed and politics aside one comes away with compassion for the man who gave so much of himself, even his life,for the beliefs he held to be true. No greater love can a man display than to give of his life. Read this book, get to know Ernesto Guevara, the man known as Che.Book Review: Absorbing, informative,infuriating and ultimately heartbreak
Summary: 5 Stars
This meticulously researched and dashingly written book does justice to a fascinating subject. Nothing is harder to be objective and discerning about than a martyred myth who is a hero to some and a menace to others. Although Che was undoubtedly an idealogue to the bitter end he was also complex and so much more than the handsome face on the t-shirt, the beautiful slaughtered angel to Fidel's proletarian compadre who had the burden of having to live out the dream in the dim face of reality. Instead he came to his dogmatic outrage( whatever one can hold against Che he was a believer) by observation rather than indoctrination. People who snicker at his gusto for class warfare forget how dour the situation for the dispossessed was only 50 years ago in Latin America. Just like Marx encountered in England in the 19th century Che fuelled his passion on circumstances of such flagrant abuse we can no longer imagine and thus are easily moved to dismiss him as just another gun wielding nutcase with a martyr complex. I strongly disagree with some of the tactics employed in his battles but it is extreme figures such as Che who kick open the stonewalling smugness of the few who live on professional exploitation and absorb whole continents in their mania for micro-management. I'm deeply uncomfortable with hero worship of any kind and see Che as a flawed and driven man who let his drive for betterment through revolt be transformed into a death crazy nihilism but unlike so many daredevils with a messiah complex I have never really doubted the sincerity of his disgust with injustice.Mr Anderson doesn't continue the mythmaking nor does he really debunk it, he it gives us an intimate glimpse into an extraordinary life, tar, feathers, purity, madness and all.
Book Review: You've Met The Legend, Now Meet The Man.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're looking to get past the hype and myth of Tee Shirts and Che hats then look no further. And if you would please subscribe to my opinion, "Read the book, before you buy the Tee Shirt."
I mean everyone from TV stars to Jay Z and other rappers are sporting "Che" Tee's nowadays, but if I asked them to name the man on their chest beyond his nickname I seriously doubt they could tell me, or know the fact that El Che was an M.D. Both are things that should be known before you put a picture of man on your chest. Because by doing so, you make one hek of a powerful statement about yourself, politically.
But enough of my elitist attitudes polluting this review, if you really want to get to know the real Ernesto "Che" Guevara, then tackle this book, and I say tackle, because that's probably the only way you'll get through it. At times it's dry and not all that revealling into Ernesto's psyche, but then at other times it gives a surprisingly up close look at the man we now know as Che.
You will probably learn things that you ultimately did not want to learn about this man, for the myth of El Che is not one so very tarnished by history. I still view his courage and tenacity, along with his drive and will with god like awe, but there were also some things in this book that removed the bright blinding light surrounding the mythology of Che.
By the end of the book you will likely see him more as a great, if not sometimes misguided man trying to do the right thing than the god popular culture has made him out to be.
Though remember to keep an eye peeled for the bio movie coming out sometime in '08 With Benicio del Torro as
Che.
Viva de Revolucion!!!
Viva de CHE!!!