|
| 
| Author: Jon Lee Anderson
Publisher: Grove Press
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy Used: $5.44
You Save: $14.56 (73%)
New (32) Used (59) from $5.44
Avg. Customer Rating:  133 reviews
Sales Rank: 24093
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 814
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.6
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1.7
ISBN: 0802135587
Dewey Decimal Number: 980.033092
EAN: 9780802135582
Publication Date: March 9, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: PAGES ARE CLEAN;
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Read it critically; Enesto was a murderer... March 31, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This was a really well written bio on the man. It is historically well researched with plenty of good first-hand accounts. I think the writer did a poor job balancing some of the Latin geopolitical realities ofthe time. It is important to understand that not everyting written in books is nescessary concrete fact and there are other interpretations. This was a leader of a revolution who murdered people. He authorized bank robberies and executions. This is by no means someone that should be looked up to, but I believe that is exactly what John Anderson does. I would not tell anyone to avoid this book. I think it was definitely worth the read, but take it with a grain of salt and read it critically.
It is a good strong chronicle of Latin American sentiment at the time. It is very poor in that it always paints a picture of the evil Americans, when the reality was far different. He did not talk about the corrupt influences in Latin America enough when he directed a lot of scorn towards the US government at the time. I am not arguing that he shouldn't have, I am arguing that he should have been a little more objective.
As for all those out there sporting 'Che' T-shirts, and flags, I would highly recommend they do a little more research into the man they love so much. There is a good chance they will not like what they see.
 Great, unbiased book February 25, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I would always see people wear his shirts, but knew little of him. I read a few things online about him, but I wanted something more complete about him. This book is definetely it! This book has so many sources about Che that I can't think of any other book that can match it. Although it's a very long book (about 700 pages, excluding the intros, appendix, sources, index, etc) you will not want to put it down. This book gives you details from his childhood all the way to Bolivia. You will see him in a total different light.
Last of The Little Christs December 21, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Kierkegaard had an essential theory that that the optimum way for a human to live out his existence was as a "little Christ." A man, in other words, who was an emulation of the Christian theological icon. A selfless man who gave his individuated existence wholly to the greater good; the improvement of the human condition for the most was the purpose and meaning of life for this sort of being. Che seems to have adopted fully this ethic and incorporated it into the mode of his experience. The biography is of a selfless being, a man living wholly for the greater good. Richard Lee Anderson captures this basic essence while disclosing the imperfections that plague all human beings, even exceptional specimens like Che.
A valuable lesson in what is possible for all of us. Not recommended to those who adopt a Limbaugh Land bibliography as "selfless" replaces "selfish" as the theme of the studied life.
Excellent biography of Che November 5, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Growing up I thought Che was a Cuban. A friend from Argentina got me interested in Che's life and recommended this book. The book is thouroughly researched and the author hints at access to materials no one else has ever been able to see. As a critical reader that makes me wonder about his relationships with the Cuban higher-ups and preconcieved notions about Che before writing the book, but I was unable to tell much bias and found the book to be a fascinating read. I would recommend the book for someone wanting to know what all the fuss about "Che" is about.
Simply the Best August 27, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is an excellent biography. It shows Guevara from all perspectives; personal, political, and as a historical figure. I can't recommend this book highly enough. My only serious criticism for Anderson is that he should have included better documentation for some of his sources.
One interesting item of note for the would-be "revolutionary vanguard" sorts is Anderson's masterful analysis of how and why Guevara's revolutionary incursions into the Congo and Bolivia failed (the latter resulting in his death).
As a Marxist-Leninist Guevara should have known better; you can't sustain a popularly supported guerilla campaign if the political and economic conditions aren't right. In Cuba in 1959 the conditions were right, but they were not in either the Congo of 1965 or Bolivia in 1967. Guevara had no organized revolutionary base among the people of those countries. And so the Congo proved to be a waste of his time; but the Bolivian misjudgment proved to be fatal for him.
If all it took to overthrow capitalist imperialism or reactionary despotism was a committed armed cadre of revolutionists with political resolve and good logistical support, then the red flag would already be flying over every nation everywhere by now, eh?
|
|
|
Discount Shopping Online by Web-Mart.com | |
