Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life

Coming from a family of Latin American exiles, I was a bit skeptical of the book at first. But having read it, I can honestly say that you will not find a more honest appraisal about Guevara or the Cuban revolution in general.The book is a bit on the long side, with much attention given to Che's personal letters and speeches. (He was a prolific writer and speaker, though definitely on the long-winded and repetitive side). But the wealth of detail paints a grim picture of the man that is hard to refute.In his own circuitous way, Anderson peels away the veneer of myth and romanticism that has long overshadowed this infamous political leader and reveals the very flawed man who helped usher in the Castro regime. Che, far from the liberal progressive icon he would later become, was in life a cold, hard-nosed man with a penchant for violence and a wide authoritarian streak, the kind who wore his almost puritanical, ascetic devotion to Marxist dogma as a cloak of self-righteous authority that isolated him from friend and foe alike.Such martial attitudes were an asset to him in his guerilla campaigns, but as a leader in peacetime, that same brutal, uncompromising spirit served Cuba poorly. He was, for lack of a better word, a fanatic, one who felt a deep and abiding hatred of the US and his domestic political opponents that went much deeper than the historical injustices of the region and spoke more to his wounded sense of national pride and male machismo than to the mere redressing of societal wrongs. It was a quality that served him well in his early guerrilla campaigns, as leader of a ragtag group of insurgents, but which translated to poorly to civilian office. In remaking Cuban society, he sought to turn the island into a communist Sparta whose sole worthwhile goal was the impediment of America’s “imperialist” designs, a goal for which everything else, including the economic or individual freedoms of the average Cuban, was tragically secondary.This hard, unyielding stance put him at odds with Cuba’s other revolutionary figures, those who saw for Cuba a more democratic future that would have seen change come more slowly albeit in a manner that would not have put the country on such a disastrous collision course with the US. Unfortunately for Cuba (and for Latin America as a whole) it would be Che’s fanatic vision, more aligned with Castro’s innate caudillismo, that would ultimately prevail. Those who pushed for a freer society, many of whom displayed just as much bravery in the revolution against Batista, who would be shunted aside by Che’s overwhelming persona and forced to live in his shadow for the rest of their days. The result is that Cuba today remains an autocracy, and while it can be veritably argued that Che and Castro were not the worst of Latin America’s autocratic leaders, they were also hardly different.

This is a well researched work by an author who has had exceptional access to primary materials.The book describes Che's entire life and does not try to either idolize or demonize him. Instead, it shows a very complicated individual driven to achieve an unattainable world adhering to an unshakable purity of vision. Che's intelligence, his gift of leadership, as well as his mercilessness all come through in this work. I most highly recommend this well written work.

For years I have seen Che’s picture on shirts of celebrities and even friends. I always wondered who he was and what he had done to create this legend. I had heard some horrible things and I wondered if they were overblown. I suspected they might be.Then I read this book and noticed none of these things are mentioned really. There was nothing in this book regarding Che’s opinions on Blacks, gays, and other historically marginalized groups.How could this be? Were all my preconceived notions a lie?I’ve come to the conclusion that this book is mostly true but withholds intentionally to perpetuate and underpin this myth of Che as the valiant revolutionary.The book is well-researched. It’s boring at times and drags. It’s chronological which is a standard way to deliver a life story. But things were left out and the chronological nature frankly while well researched was quite boring. Putting more of the warts and truth into this book would have likely made it more interesting.The book was positioned as fair and accurate. I suspect the info included was accurate but after further research things were left out and clearly intentionally so.Read it but as propaganda. It is very boring and the author should be cited for furthering a myth instead of telling the true story of the whole man.

The author has done tremendous amount of work to complete this biography. Well written and eyes opening. After finishing the book I still don't know whether the author admired Che or not. He remained an outside observer without too much judgement. Anyone interested in Che and the Cuban revolution and how they affected to guerrilla warfare globally in the 60s should read this. All five stars well deserved.

Having read a number of books, seen films and UTubes re Che Guevara ( often offering highly conflicting assessments), sought a balanced look at the man and what contributed to the making of the whole person. This is the most objective and comprehensive assessment I have encountered to date of this highly complex man and his context in Latin American history and society--well written--have since continued to read of well researched current events and people written about with authority by Jon Lee Anderson, ( i.e. The New Yorker) always informative and and timely. I gained a deep appreciation for Che's intellect, his profound idealism and lofty goals, and his continuing place in history in the context of his all too human shortcomings.

The author named too many names and got bogged down in so many details I really didn't need to know - things unrelated to Che. He did a great job explaining Che's backstory and his growth into becoming a rebel fighter, in what felt like an un-biased manner. I learned a lot about Che and South America in this book. The book didn't "pull" me in like other books about historical figures, but was good overall

The Legend of Che.From his birth to his death Jon Lee Anderson covers as much as humanely possible about this man, a man who has survived through generations by a simple photograph. But there is more behind this photograph which Anderson divulges and with incredible detail and objectiveness, in this behemoth book, dissects almost every part of his life giving almost a complete picture of the choices he made, lived and died for. The book gives us more than the mere universal fact he was a rebel, guerrilla, freedom fighter and to even some people a terrorist. This book displays a man with ideals, aspirations, principles and dreams. Which he was willing to give his own life for.In a few short words, I sincerely believe he was a man with good intentions for not only Latin America, but for humanity itself. He was no doubt an extremist, was hard headed and some can even argue (and I would concur) naive. Whether you despise, admire or even not know the man. I would strongly advise picking up this book as it will allow you to make your own opinion on him yourself. As such I finish this review with a quote from the man himself."We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it." - Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

This is a comprehensive biography of Che Guevara. It describes his family's background, his early life as a child, his student years, his becoming a revolutionary, and his political activism. Each aspect of Che's life is discussed in detail.In addition, the author seeks to offer analysis and explanation on Che's ideas. This is done in an effort to better understand the man's personality, as well as to situate him in the context of 20th century world affairs.It's a thorough study of Che's life (and death). The author seeks to adopt a broadly neutral standpoint ... which is, really, the only negative aspect of the work - as the narrative does, on occasion, become somewhat bland.Yet I enjoyed reading the book, and I learnt a lot about Che's life. I recommend this book for anyone interested in this important figure of modern history.

‘What a man can be, he must be’Those were the words of American psychologist Abraham Maslow, a contemporary of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna-Lynch or, simply, ‘Che’. Little could have Maslow known then that a man would rise to global renown from the southernmost part of his own continent, trying to be what he could be – a revolutionary of the highest caliber. And in the process, that man would become one of the most dangerous enemies of Maslow’s homeland.Che is relevant to Maslow for another reason too. In transforming himself from a radical reformist of one region into a global revolutionary, Che upturned Maslow’s famed pyramid of human needs. For Che, his socialist cause, self-actualization through Revolution, was the most primitive need while food, sleep, love of friends and family, or even personal safety, did all become luxuries. Power and position did not even figure in his scheme of things. Such was his commitment that he spurned all imaginable comforts like an ascetic, missed the opportunity to be with his dying mother, gave up the pleasures of being a doting father, a loving husband. All because he wanted to uplift the downtrodden and destitute, no matter which part of the world they belonged to.There are people who adopt a cause and devote their lives to it. Then there are some who are born destined for the cause. Ernesto Che Guevara belongs to the latter category. His romantic passion towards his socialistic cause, the sheer determination with which he went about achieving it despite opposition from even closer quarters are all lessons for ages of young minds to come. This biography by Jon Lee Anderson is a comprehensive guide to understanding Che and his ways.Writing the biography of any famous figure, let alone that of someone as charismatic as Che Guevara, is a tough task. Be too overawed by the person, the book runs the risk of becoming a hagiography. Be too distanced, one ends up presenting a dry tome, listing the chronological order of events. It takes a rare mind to treat the subject with respect and at the same time present a faithful perspective. Jon Lee Anderson manages to pull it off. Che is presented as he was, playful as a youngster, one who did sow his wild oats, flirting around, having casual flings, playful and funny. His maturing as a rebel, growth in his social consciousness that was assisted in great measure by his motorcycle journeys across the continent, first by himself and then with his friend Alberto Granado have all been presented in great measure. Che’s gradual pull into the volatile political situation of Central America, his introduction to Fidel, their collaboration in the guerilla war to liberate Cuba, Che’s ascension to the role of Minister of Industries, his life during those calm (before the storm) days in Cuba, his eventual return to the field – literally – to spread revolution around the world, the debacle at Congo, and the tragic-but-glorious end at the nondescript Bolivian village of La Higuera are all laid out in such detail that one can only wonder whether Jon Lee Anderson was present in the times of Che, documenting history as it unraveled. Tremendous efforts and research have gone into this book.Che was a man so ahead of his time, just like every great human being that came before him. Like those great minds, political or otherwise, he had ideas that were too progressive to be grasped by his contemporaries. He was revered by many, feared by many more, loved by a lot of people, hated by equally so many, praised by multitude but understood completely by very few. Like the many heroes before him, he understood his strengths, realized his weaknesses, pushed his companions to emulate his strengths, strived to overcome his weaknesses, and led by being a shining example. Simply put, he practiced what he preached.It won’t be a blasphemy, though an irony, to compare Che with Jesus Christ. Both men were born ahead of their times, amidst people too narrow-minded to think about purposes greater than themselves, hoped that the people around them would see the worth of their arguments, wanted to make humans realize their potential and become better, but in the end were left to carry the cross for the sins of people that were too petty-minded and incapable of appreciating their worth. While one man tried to achieve mass deliverance through love and peace, the other chose to use bullets. In the end, betrayal by their own people took them both to their graves. One emerged from his grave three days later and went on to become a god. The other took three decades and has attained an almost equal mystical status amidst droves of youngsters, even amongst those that don’t even know his complete name.Whether Che’s methods were right or wrong is a topic for debate. But his place in the pages of human history, as a persona that future generations can look up to, is undisputed. This unbiased, authentic work by Jon Lee Anderson is an ultimate guide to that Heroic Guerilla’s life and times, as good as any autobiography that Che himself could have written. Must read, must own.

Who hasn't heard of Che Guevara? That's an easy one. How much do you know about him? Much harder! I, for one, knew virtually nothing, except for the usual tidbits that have gone the rounds. For that reason I thought it was time I filled in that rather obvious gap in my knowledge, and how better to do so than read this exceptional biography.I obviously can't presume to offer an informed assessment on the subject, but I can certainly confirm that you won't be left with too many unanswered questions after reading this book. Exhaustive would perhaps be an understatement, since the author seems to have investigated every nook and cranny about this obsessively driven character. In fact, so obsessive did he appear to be about the revolutionary life that at times it became quite oppressive to read. This is no fault of the author, whole prose is as clear and precise as it can be. It's just that Che was a character who never let up on his Marxist mission, even at the expense of those most near and dear to him.The politics of the period are extremely well captured in this book, and the insights into the communist world during the 60s are fascinating.This is not a light read - but for anyone with an interest in this very icon of world revolutionaries, not to mention the political backdrop that makes this book so rewarding - I can't imagine it will be superseded.

I think like everyone else, I had an idea of Che Guervera as some kind of cool revolutionary hero. This was based on a single split second in time that is the famous Alberto Korda photo.Che Guervera was slightly before my time, and so I knew only snippets of his life. Following a visit to Cuba, I decided that I should find out more and so decided on John Lee Anderson's biography.This was a good decision. It is probably the best biography I have read. Anderson provides a complete, definitive and in my opinion, un-biased account of Guevara. Everything has been thoroughly researched and all his sources accounted for. It also opened my eyes to what really went on between governments during the cold war period. It's a long read, over 800 pages, and did occasionally feel like heavy going, but it was worth it.It was an insight into a man who, because of the success in overthrowing the old regime in Cuba, believed he knew the formula to revolutionise the whole of South America and beyond.In the end, did I still think of him as a `cool hero'? Not at all, and nor did I really like him, or his ideals. The iconic image though, lives on.If you want to read a book on Che Guervera, this is the one. It's a definite recommend.