Che: Diario de Bolivia

by Ernesto Che Guevara

Ernesto Che Guevara se ha convertido un símbolo para la rebeldia y un héroe de la Revolución Cubana. En este diario que dura doce meses nos enseña el mundo intenso de los guerrilleros y el diario sigue vigente aún treinta años después.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Biography, Memoir, War, Bolivia

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.

His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.

After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.

Reviews

[Rural Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Hildita, Aledita, Camilo, Celia, and Ernesto: If you ever had to read this letter, it will be because I am no longer with you.

You practically will not remember me, and the smaller ones will not remember at all.

Your father has been a man who acted on his beliefs and has certainly been loyal to his convictions.

Grow up as good revolutionaries. Study hard so that you can master technology, which allows us to master nature. Remember that the revolution is what is important, and each one of us, alone, is worth nothing.

Above all, always be capable of feeling deeply any injustice committed against anyone, anywhere in the world. This is the most beautiful quality in a revolutionary.

Until forever, my children. I still hope to see you. A great big kiss and a big hug from
Pap

To be honest I didn't enjoy reading it because it wasn't fiction. It was real. It was dry because it was a diary not a book but two letters at the end of it totally shook me. One was to Castro and One to His family.
You can be proud to be a revolutionary if you posses the qualities He mentioned to attain to His children. In simple words, If you feel rage about injustice you find anywhere then you are a revolutionary. It should make you extremely rageful as anything makes you when it is happened to you and your family. This is rage is the reason which can cast you to jungles of Bolivia to fight for people who didn't even know you before.

Road to revolution isn't walk in the park. These memoirs tell you that how they lost men even in flowing waters (Dying while combating is another matter to grieve), how did they starve with hunger, their illness, they even drank their piss as they didn't have water.

What will you do ? You cant even drag your ass out on election day to vote anyone who is less corrupt than others. What will you do about injustice in world while you cant even sense in your own motherland ? You don't feel anything because either your mom & dad earn enough or you are dumb piece of ignorance.

[Debbie W.]

I borrowed this book to learn more about Ernesto Che Guevara but it confused me. To be fair, I should have read a different book detailing this man's life before tackling this particular volume. This book did not give the background information I needed to understand this man and his ideals. Oops!

[Jonathan Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camping Trip from Hell

Real warfare is boring. Guerrilla warfare is also boring, just more uncomfortable. The Bolivian diary describes the petty squabbles and minor victories of camping and hiking around the outskirts of civilization in what seems to have been a hopeless struggle at the end of Che's short life. Think boy-scouts with more starvation and an occasional ambush.

The Diary is not lyrical, nor does it contain much in the way of the overall mission that Che was trying to achieve. Monthly summaries contained the same lack of progress, hope for future progress, and expectation of success. Most entries included the elevation that he camped at. Even right near the end, the most pessimism Che can muster was The peasants are not helping us with anything, and are now becoming informers. It's a short read, but a quick and bitter dose of reality to remember what the selective use of force entails.

Written from an elevation of 30 meters.

[Mohammad Ali Shamekhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

انبوهی از داده های غیر قابل استفاده دارد؛ به این معنا که اسامی زیاد است و حفظ کردن اینکه هر کسی کجا بود و باید چه می کرد و چه شد و ... برای من عملا ممکن نبود. نباید فراموش کرد که این ها همه یادداشت های روزانه و مختصر چه گوارا بوده اند و نه یک کتاب تاریخی. همچنین انبوهی از اشارات به افراد و احزاب و ... هست که برای من که تاریخ مبارزات چریکی و سیاسی آمریکای جنوبی را نمی دانم قابل فهم نیست. اما جدای از همه ی اینها آنچه بسیار در این اثر جالب است وصف نفس تجربه ی مبارزه ی چریکی و مشکلات و دشواری های آن است. از مشکلات بهداشتی و خوراکی تا دعواهای بین فردی و جاسوسی و خبرچینی و فرار و بزدلی و ... .

وقتی به آخرین یادداشت می رسی - که یاداشتی است مثل باقی یادداشت ها، با این فرق که تو در این یادداشت های آخری بوی حادثه را حس می کنی - و ناگهان می بینی که یادداشت ها تمام شد و می فهمی که فردای آن روز چه گوارا دستگیر و بعدتر تیرباران شد، در حالتی از ناباوری و رعب فرو می روی.

نکته ی آخر اینکه مقدمه ی فیدل کاسترو آنقدر جپ و پر از اصطلاحات چپی است که آدم کمی حالش بد می شود - آن روی پررنگ ایدئولوژی چپ خود را نشان می دهد. اما با این حال حال و هوای آن مبارزات را منتقل می کند...

نکته ی دیگر پیوند چه گوارا با روشنفکران اروپایی است مثلا در جایی از قصد خود برای نوشتن نامه ای به راسل و سارتر صحبت می کند تا از آنها بخواهد برای جمع آوری پول جهت مبارزات آمریکای جنوبی کاری بکنند.

[Sajede · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب رو چندسال پیش گرفتم و نمی‌دونم چرا. امروز خوندمش تا از جلوی چشمم جمع بشه. چیزی که برام جالبه این نظم و دقت چه در ثبت و ضبط وقایعه و قسمت تجزیه و تحلیل هرماه.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Che Guevara waas more than just an icon on a T-shirt, in his time he was a real revolutionary who played a key part in the Cuban revolution and was aiming to overthrow South American dictatorships to free the people.

This book is a translation of the diary that he wrote when he was in Bolivia with a small team of revolutionaries. It is written with daily notes and reports on their progress as they move through the jungle, avoiding the army that is looking for them and talking to the peasants to get them onside.

They have some early success in skirmishes with the army, but as they go on they suffer from health issues and have to keep continually moving. Their small numbers mean that every battle counts, but as the number of men on the government side increases, they start to lose men and the initiative that they had. Before long they are caught and captured.

Takes a while to get going, and in the end isn't too bad as a read. It is full of facts about where they are and their progress, but throughout you get a sense of fear of the men as the net closes. The introduction is by Fidel Castro, and is a bit of a rant. Otherwise it is a reasonable read

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction from Fidel Castro and the final diary of a figure like Guevara? It would qualify as worth a read on the back of that alone.

The accompanying notes are very helpful as a Who's Who as you read through - I found myself referring to it frequently to keep on top of this.

If you're looking to learn about the Guevara's history, there will be better books to start on. If, however, you want to get into the man's head, then what better place than his diary. It strikes me as honest and it's certainly interesting.

[Ali_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

آخرین یادداشت های روزانه از آخرین ماه ها و روزهای زندگی ارنستو چه گوارا. سرگرد آزاد اندیش و دلیری که رهبری رهبری یک گروه کوچک چریکی را به عهده دارد. با خواندن این کتاب در یک سال آخر زندگی چه گوارا کنار او خواهیم بود. شیوه نگارش اگرچه هیچکدام از مولفه های ظاهری داستان و رمان را ندارد و نویسنده هم تلاشی به پر و بال دادن به نوشته ها نمیکند اما دست به قلم بودن مدام و دقت در نوشتن مهمترین وقایع روزانه در کوتاه ترین جملات ممکن، کتاب را خواندنی تر از هزاران رمان جنگی در خانه نوشته شده میکند. محیط زیستی که ماجرا درون آن رخ می دهد پر از حیات است اما فعالان اصلی این ماجرا سهمی زیادی از این حیات نخواهند داشت...
قسمتی از کتاب:
تا آن زمان که خروش نبرد ما به گوش شنوایی رسد و دست دیگری برای بر گرفتن اسلحه ما دراز شود و جنگاوران دیگری پیش آیند و سرود سوگ ما را با تق تق مسلسلها و خروشهای تازه نبرد و ظفر درآمیزند، هرجا که مرگ غافلگیرمان کند، گو خوش آمد.

[Farhana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read in many places that youths get attracted to Marxism being fascinated by socialist romanticism, they are carried away by the heroism of Che etc. After reading this diary I would say, if anybody gets carried away by Marxist values, knowing about all the hardships that lie ahead, then he/ she is aware of his/her choice. It's not any kind of bleak fascination for romanticism or heroism, only sheer determination of the comrades could stand the hardship, sufferings & intense struggle of Guerrilla life.

About the diary, I don't know, I couldn't focus in it at all. The writing is precise, easy going but I couldn't keep my concentration!

[Donna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is he when we need him?

[Shadin Pranto · Rating 3 out of 5]

চে গুয়েভারা নিয়মিত দিনলিপি লিখতেন। তাই তাঁর একাধিক ডায়েরি পাঠকের পড়ার সুযোগ হয়েছে। এই দিনলিপিটি তাঁর শেষ দিনলিপি। বলিভিয়াতে শহিদ হওয়ার আগের এগারো মাসের গেরিলা যুদ্ধের দিনগুলির কথা লিপিবদ্ধ করেছেন এবার। বইটির ভূমিকা লিখেছেন চে'র বন্ধু এবং বিপ্লবী ফিদেল কাস্ত্রো। কাস্ত্রোর লেখা ভূমিকাটি চে'র ডায়েরির চাইতে কম গুরুত্বপূর্ণ নয়, বরং ডায়েটিতে লেখা অনেক ঘটনার ব্যাখা-বিশ্লেষণ পাওয়া যায় ভূমিকা থেকে। এই ভূমিকা পড়েই দৃঢ় হয় সাম্রাজ্যবাদের মোকাবেলায় কেন চাই বিপ্লব।

৭ নভেম্বর, ১৯৬৬ থেকে দিনলিপি শুরু। ছদ্মবেশে প্রবেশ করেছেন বলিভিয়ার কোচাবাম্বায়। প্রথম থেকেই বিপদ যেন পিছু ছাড়ছে না। এক খামারে পৌঁছেছে চে'র নেতৃত্বাধীন বিপ্লবী দল। কিন্তু সেখানে,

" গুজব রটাচ্ছিল যে আমাদের দল সম্ভবত কোকেন তৈরির ব্যাপারে লিপ্ত। "

বুঝুন অবস্থা!

ঘন পাহাড়ি বনের মধ্য দিয়ে চলতে হচ্ছে দলটিকে। সেখানে পায়ে চলার পথ নেই। লোকালয় দিয়ে যাওয়ার উপায় নেই। কারণ তাতে আছে বলিভিয়ার ইয়াঙ্কি মদদপুষ্ট সেনাবাহিনীর হাতে ধরা পড়ার ভয়। প্রতিমুহূর্তে পরীক্ষা দিতে হচ্ছে সহ্য শক্তির। এই অবস্থায় দলের সদস্যদের মনোবলের ওপর প্রভাব পড়ছিল। এমনই একজন হলো পাচুঙ্গো। তাকে নিয়ে চে লিখেছেন,

" পাচুঙ্গোকে দেখে মনে হচ্ছে সে ঠিক খাপ খাওয়াতে পারছে না এবং তাকে বিষণ্ণ মনে হচ্ছে। তাকে এই অবস্থা কাটিয়ে উঠতেই হবে। "

দলের সদস্য কম হলেও সবার প্রতি তীক্ষ্ণ দৃষ্টি চে'র। সবসময় সতর্ক হয়ে চলতে হচ্ছে। তবু দলে দেখা যাচ্ছিল কম-বেশি ঢিলেমি। এইসব শৃঙ্খলাহীনতার ঘোরতর বিরোধী ছিলেন চে। গেরিলা যুদ্ধ, পড়াশোনা করার আহ্বান জানিয়েছেন বিপ্লবীদের নেওয়া ক্লাসে। বারবার জোর দিয়েছেন শৃঙ্খলা এবং আনুগত্যের ওপর। কারণ তিনি বিশ্বাস করতেন,

" সামনে যখন বিপ্লবের কাজ তখন তুচ্ছ আমাদের জীবন। "

গুয়েভারার বয়ান পড়ে মনে হয় বলিভিয়ায় কমিউনিস্ট দল ছিল একাধিক এবং এখনকার মতো তখনও দলগুলো গৃহবিবাদে জর্জরিত থাকতো। এমনকি বলিভিয়ার পার্টি তাদের বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই আরম্ভ করেছিল। তাই বারবার বলিভিয়ায় চে'র বিরোধী কমিউনিস্ট দলের সাথে মীমাংসা করার চেষ্টার উল্লেখ আছে। তিনি ঘোষণা করছেন,

" যারা বিপ্লব চায় এমন সকলের সঙ্গেই আমরা ঐক্যবদ্ধ হতে চাই। "

একটি করে দিন যাচ্ছিল আর সেই সাথে পাল্লা দিয়ে বাড়ছিল প্রতিবন্ধকতা। সেই বাঁধা বহুবিধ। রাজনৈতিকভাবে বিপ্লবীদের মোকাবেলার জন্য রাষ্ট্রীয় প্রচারযন্ত্রকে পুরোপুরি ব্যবহার করছিল বলিভিয়ার মার্কিনপন্থী সরকার। তাই রেডিও ও সংবাদপত্রে বিপ্লবী দলটি নিয়ে সঠিক তথ্যের বদলে সরকারি প্রোপাগান্ডাই স্থান পেতো। মাঝেমধ্যে নিজের দল সম্পর্কে সঠিক তথ্যও পেতেন চে আর পাওয়া যেতো সরকারি বাহিনীর হতাহতের খবর।

কিউবার পার্টির সাথে চে'র দলের যোগাযোগ প্রথম থেকেই ক্ষীণ মনে হচ্ছিল৷ সময়ের যত যাচ্ছিল ততই ক্ষীণ থেকে ক্ষীণতরে রূপান্তরিত হচ্ছিল কিউবার সাথে যোগাযোগ। এমনও হয়েছে কিউবা থেকে পাঠানো সাংকেতিক চিঠির অর্থ সঠিকভাবে উদ্ধারই করা যায়নি।

যুদ্ধের পয়লাতে গেরিলাদের সাফল্য চোখে পড়ার মতো। মোটামুটি সাহায্য আসছিল কৃষক ও গ্রামবাসীদের পক্ষ থেকে। কিন্তু সেই সাহায্য বাড়েনি, কমছিল। এর সাক্ষ্য পাওয়া যায় মাসিক বিশ্লেষণে চে'র মন্তব্য থেকে,

" গেরিলাদের নিয়ে গল্পগাঁথা ক্রমেই ছড়াচ্ছে, এই গল্পকথায় আমরা হয়েছি অপরাজেয় অতিমানবের দল। "

যখন বিপ্লবীদের "অতিমানব" ভাবা শুরু হয়, তখন তাদের সহায়তায় লোকজন যে আগ্রহী নয় তা বুঝতে চে'র বাকি রইল না। বাড়লো উদ্বেগ।

ধারাবাহিকভাবে ছোট ছোট সংঘর্ষ হচ্ছিল সেনাবাহিনীর সঙ্গে। লোকবলে সেনাবাহিনীর সামর্থ্য বেশি থাকায় তারা নিজেদের ক্ষয়ক্ষতি পুষিয়ে নিতে পারছিল। কিন্তু বিপ্লবীদের পক্ষে তা সম্ভব হয়নি। একজন দু'জন করে দলের সদস্যদের হারাচ্ছিলেন চে।নিহতদের কোনোক্রমে সমাহিত করে আহতদের নিয়েই চলতে হচ্ছিল গেরিলাদের।তারওপর গেরিলারা নিজেরাই নিজেদের খাদ্য হাতসাফাই করছিলেন! এমন পরিস্থিতিতে হাঁপানির কারণে খুববেশি এগুতে পারছিলেন না চে।

চারদিক থেকে ঘিরে ধরছিল সরকারি সেনাবাহিনী।যে কয়জন তখনও বেঁচে ছিলেন কিংবা ধরা পড়েননি তাদেরও মনোবলে চির ধরছিল। তবুও চে চেষ্টা করেছেন এক হয়ে আক্রমণ চালাতে। খাদ্য, নিরাপদ আশ্রয়ের অভাবে অবস্থা সঙ্গীণ হয়ে যাচ্ছিল। চে নিজেও বুঝতে পারছিলেন। ডায়েরির শেষ পাতায় ১০ নভেম্বর, ১৯৬৭ তে লিখেছেন তাদের পথ আটকাবার জন্য ২৫০ জন সেনার এক বাহিনী উপস্থিত হয়েছে।

দলীয় শৃঙ্খলা, আনুগত্য, শ্রমজীবী মানুষদের সাথে নিবিড় যোগাযোগ এবং পড়াশোনার ওপর জোর দিয়েছেন চে। তাঁর বর্ণনা পড়ে মোটামুটি নিশ্চিত তিনি জানতেন মৃত্যু অনিবার্য। তবু একবারের জন্যও পিছু হটবার লক্ষণ তাঁর লেখাই পাইনা, বরং শেষ পর্যন্ত সাম্রাজ্যবাদকে মোকাবেলার অদম্য মনোবলই স্পষ্ট হয়ে ওঠে তাঁর ডায়েরির পাতায়। হয়তো তা হটকারী ছিল, হয়তো ছিল সঠিক সিদ্ধান্ত।

[Mohamadad ali Abtahi]

دیوانه کننده است قدرت روحی این مرد. مبارزه بکند، پیروز شود، رییس بانک مرکزی کوبا بشود، ول کند و برود کشوری غیر از کشور خودش را آزاد کند.
در کوبا وقتی تازه جنازه اش را آورده بودند بر سر قبرش رفتم
در تاریخ۱۴-۲-۸۲ ان را خوانده ام

[Gypsy Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

idk how to rate and review this really - interesting read

[Timm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadn't read any material on Che or had a personal opinion about the man before reading excerpts from his journals. I can only dream to have an ounce of the passion he had in the face of injustice and oppression.

A few bits that stood out while reading..

"This might have been the first time I was faced literally, with the dilemma of choosing between my devotion to medicine and my duty as a revolutionary soldier. There at my feet, was a backpack full of medicine and a box of ammunition. They were too heavy to carry both. I picked up the ammunition, leaving the medicine and started to cross the clearing, heading to the cane field."

The guerrilla group and the peasantry began to merge into one single mass, although no one could say at what point on the long road this happened or at what moment words became reality and we became a part of the peasant masses. I only know that for me, those consultations with the peasants of the Sierra Maestra converted my spontaneous and somewhat lyrical resolve into a different, more severe force."

Our mission is to develop what is good and noble in each person, to convert every person into a revolutionary, from the Davids who did not understand very well, to the Banderases, who died without seeing the dawn. Blind and unrewarded sacrifices also made the revolution. Those of us who today see its achievements have the responsibility to remember those who fell along the way, and to work for a future where there will be fewer stragglers."

"But the guerrilla fighter as the conscious element of the vanguard of the people must display the moral conduct of a true priest of the desired reform. To the stoicism forced by the difficult conditions of warfare should be added an austerity born of rigid self control that prevents a single excess, a single slip, whatever the circumstances. The guerrilla soldier should be an ascetic."

"All free and women of the world must be prepared to avenge the crime of the Congo. Perhaps many of those soldiers, who were turned into sub-humans by imperialist machinery, believe in good faith that they are defending the rights of a superiour race. In this Assembly, however, those peoples whose skins are darkened by a different sun, colored by different pigments, constitute the majority. And they fully and clearly understand that the difference between human beings does not lie in the color of their skin, but in the forms of ownership of the means of production, in the relations of production."

[Damon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The diaries give a facinating picture into the unromantic life of a guerilla freedom fighter, but it also shows some of the diffriculties, in training, supplying and administering a guerilla army in a fight for freedom in the jungles of South America. It was very sad to be reading this diary knowing that Che would never be allowed to finish his work because the CIA led Bolivian army mercenaries assassinated him and hid his body. Out of all of his diaries, I enjoyed the Motorcyle Diaries the best because it showed his gradually changing World view, and how he changed from a promising doctor to a World renowned freedom fighter. I also enjoyed his Cuban Revolution Diaries, for it showed his growing experience and learning curve in making up for mistakes and false starts, to finally freeing Cuba from a corrupt dictatorship. The best writing he did was on how to be a guerilla fighter, and how the US (imperialist) government systematically interfered with South American life and progress by inserting special forces rangers and supplies into different groups to insure their best corporate interests in the region. This included assassinations, beatings,torture, election rigging and propoganda. The speech that Che Guevara gave to the United Nations in 1964 is included in it's entirety, and it is facinating to listen to this man of letters argue that the US is in the wrong for attacking Cuba, blockading supplies and medicine, and for sending troops and money to different factions around the World to protect corporate interests, which by definition makes the United States Not a Protector of Freedom, but an imperialist war monger out to make a profit. It is interesting to find that because of this speech, Che and other Cuban Ambassadors were banned from the United Nations and other organizations, and yet because of the recent release of government documents we all now know that he was in the right with his speeches.

[Sokari Ekine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just seen Che Parts 1&2 so it made sense to re-read the Bolivian Diary. Part 2 of the film documents Che's Bolivian campaign which ended in his death. The film very much sticks to Che's account and that of some of his Cuban comrades who managed to escape during those fateful last days. I felt incredibly depressed after seeing Part 2 as one begins to realise the campaign was doomed from the beginning and probably should have been postponed for at least 6 months. The failure to get the Bolivian communist party to support the campaign and then the failure to adequately gain the support and trust of the mostly indigenous people (campensinos)both contributed to the fateful ending. Nonetheless in retrospect I dont see the campaign as being a failure - Bolivia has a socialist government run by Evo Morales and then there is Venezuela and Argentina. Che has influenced struggles all over the world, his dedication and commitment an example and his words full of wisdom and pertinent today as they were 40 years ago.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the World = Bolivia

The Bolivian Diary of Ernesto "Che" Guevara details the 11 months of the guerilla campaign for the liberation of Bolivia, until the day before his death. Found amongst Che's posessions following his capture and execution by the Bolivian Army, and thus not rewritten for publication, it soberly describes campaign efforts. Preparing trails and provisioning expeditions; recruiting fighters and supporters; skirmishes and ambushes against the army; ilnesses, infections and injuries; starvation and exhaustion; frustration that the spark of revolution sputters and smoulders rather than bursting to life.

Che was a remarkable man, and is now all too often portrayed as the iconic figure on posters and flags. He strived for freedom and equality through his actions, driven by the experiences of the poor and disenfranchised, but this book is not a manifesto. Instead it reveals his very human nature; exhausted and starving, debilitated by his asthma, he holds to his ideals with unwavering conviction.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This diary is full of interest - Che wrote a daily journal from his arrival in Bolivia to start a new revolution, one planned to eventually include the whole of South America. Che shows his humanity is noting birthdays of his family, his single mindedness in the revolution, his ability to maintain the spirits of his troops, his anger when people failed in their duties and his fairness to Army soldiers he captured.
The small band of rebels at times suffered hunger, thirst, illness and petty jealousies as they trekked around the jungles of Bolivia setting up ambushes. Communication with the outside world was limited, the peasants failed to mobilised and gradually the group lost members through capture or being killed. There was a poignant entry when Che turned 39 where is wondered how much longer he could continue as a guerrilla. But at no time did Che consider giving up. His capture and death, occurring on the 11th month anniversary of the rebellion, was just a matter of time.

[Yasmeen Sharaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

يحكي الكتاب عن يوميات حرب العصابات في بوليفيا وكيف نقل جيفارا الثورة بعد انتصارها في كوبا الى بوليفيا ، ينقل لنا جيفارا الصعاب التي واجهته أمام الجيش البوليفي النظامي ودور الامبريالية الامريكية في تحطيم المساعي لنجاح الثورة ، حيث ان جيفارا نقل الثورة بحذافيرها الى بوليفيا وأغفال عامل الخصوصية البوليفية حيث توقع انظمام الفلاحين الذين اصبحوا وشاة للنظام وتخلي الحزب الشيوعي البوليفي عن الثورة مثل بقية الاحزاب الشيوعية التنظرية التي ما أن تقوم الثورة حتى تختبئ في جحورها .

[Bahman Bahman · Rating 3 out of 5]

یه بار تو استخر یکی رو دیدم که عکس چه رو، روی کمرش خالکوبی کرده بود، پوستر چه رو تو خیلی‌ عکسا میبینم که تو اتاقاشون گذاشتند ...آدم فکر می‌کنه چندتای اینا کتاب های‌ اون رو خوندن و نظراتشو میدونن؟

[Nanda Wanninayaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading Ernesto Che Guevara’s Bolivian Diary. It is an exciting book about the guerilla life and how Che enjoys the very hardships he comes across in the mountainous jungles of Bolivia. He admits once he had a bath after 6 months despite continuous presence of streams and rivers. Che and his guerilla cadres eat horsemeat by killing the very horses that helped them to take their stuff, kill birds, fish, cows, and what not! They steal corns from corn farms and take farmers hostages till they take their supplies. Though Che wants to maintain discipline in the team, there are instances of some cadres going against the rule and eat beyond the approved quota in secret. Che gets very angry in such instances. There are silly in fights among the cadres too. Suffering from asthma and running out of medicines, Che finds it extremely difficult to continue but never gives up the struggle.

Though most of the fights are limited to just setting ambushes and killing few soldiers, the team’s bravery in fighting the government army that was assisted by the Americans is unbelievable. But I feel that fighting a conventional government army with around 100 guerillas is a losing battle from the inception. Besides, the movement is not well trained and they are not committed enough to the goal. The revolution takes place before the time is ripe. Che must have been greatly inspired by the revolution against Batista in Cuba which he played a great part but his involvement in the Bolivian revolution is not an intelligent move. After reading his own accounts of the events in Bolivia what I feel is that Che is an adventurist more than a revolutionary in Bolivia and that very sentiment cost him his valuable life too. He should have been involved in a better revolution elsewhere and if there wasn’t one he should have remained in Cuba and helped develop it.

Hope many would be against my remarks in this post and I welcome the counter points. I wrote this just by reading the Bolivian Diary and I have not read in detail about Che or Cuban revolution. I have read only one Sinhala translation about Che before and that didn’t help me much to understand Che better.

[Paulina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do not read the intro by Fidel Castro unless you want to get killed by war-cries against antirevolutionaries and pure propaganda. I did read it. Cost me a headache.
It's hard to say what do I think about this book. It's not really a book. It's a diary. I took it with hope to find some ideas, some ideals and to make a better picture of Che, without the propaganda and his icons. I didn't.
Well, it's just an account of him and his comrads trying to get a revolution going on. At first you get bored of accounts '3 kilometres this day.' the next day - '5 kilometres next day', but after a few pages you get past the boredom and just get into the experience - the jungle, the constant fear, the long kilometres and you find yourself supporting Che.
He didn't write why he was fighting for. He wrote about his actions and how he was fighting for what he believed was right.
Raised my respect for Guevara.
P.S. Do not mix this book with Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms for you might just not be able to get away from it

[Mark Gannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say? As a primary historical source, it's good, but it was the type of book that, when I left it down, I wasn't rushing to pick it up again. I really had to force myself to finish it- mainly because I didn't want to add another book to the Abandoned list. It reads like a bureaucratic inter-departmental memo.

I can admire Che's dedication to his cause, and his willingness to die for it- but I also find him annoying. What made him think his way was better than the people he was fighting? Especially given his attitude- He openly admits that if they don't win over the "peasants", then they must instigate a campaign of terror and reprisals against them. He takes dozens of peasants hostage, at times, steals their cattle and maize/wheat for food and breaks into their homes and then wonders why their are informers among their ranks.

Overall- a great historical source, but left me with a sour taste about Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read but in truth not the best of Che's books both the motorcycle diaries and reminsences of a cuban revolutionary war are the better reads but in fairness Che lived to update edit and enhance the narrative with those books something which he was unable to do with this book as sadly this is the final of his journals and released after his death which occured during this campaign...as ever it is still an interesting read but due to it's incomplete nature it is peppered with unnecessary passages on what Che and his comrades had for lunch etc..in fairness given the relentless campaign there is little doubt lunch was never far from there minds.
There is however much to admire however in these writings mainly in regard to Che's ideology.

[Richard Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really fantastic to see Che's ultimately futile attempt to start a Cuban-style revolution in Bolivia recounted in his own words. Especially interesting for me is his ceaseless optimism in the face of circumstances which we, in hindsight, know to be hopeless.

To really get a complete understanding of the "man behind the myth" (cliche, I know), it is vital to read this final diary: recommended.his very own words from the guerrilla front.

As a sidebar, the glossary in the back which defines the (many) nicknames Che gives his companeros, while also giving their biographies, is indispensable to understand this volume more fully.

[Abe]

Ernesto "Che" Guevara de la Serna's Bolivian diary. It describes the frustration and military difficulties Guevara encountered in Bolivia that led to his capture and execution. I read both Spanish and English versions. Read the Spanish version if you can as somethings are lost in the translation.

[Mosharraf Hossain · Rating 3 out of 5]

চে’র সর্বশেষ ডায়েরি। ১৯৬৭ সালের অক্টোবরে বলিভিয়ান আর্মিদের হাতে ধরা পড়ার সময় তার ব্যাকপ্যাকে ডায়েরিটি পাওয়া যায়। বলিভিয়ায় আসার প্রথম দিন থেকেই প্রতিদিনের কথা এখানে উল্লেখ আছে, উল্লেখ আছে তার ভবিষ্যৎ পরিকল্পনা, ক্ষোভ, চিন্তা-ভাবনার কথাও। বইয়ের মুখবন্ধ লিখেছেন ফিদেল কাস্ত্রো।

#BooksAroundTheWorld - Argentina

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book of Guevara's travels to Bolivia to start a revolution. Insights into the difficulties he had there with the climate and lack of support from the populace. Great insight into his thinking and beliefs.

[Bláithín · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reality of how he thought was pretty scary, very interesting

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every time I read Guevara I dislike him a little more. Arrogant ass.