Che Guevara

by David Sandison

Childhood and early years in Argentina, and motorcycle travels through Latin America. Five years of guerrilla warfare in the mountain jungles of Cuba's Sierra Maestra Havana falls to Castro's rebels, Che Guevara is made Minister in charge of National Production, Finance Minister and head of the National Bank. The Bay of Pigs and the Kennedy/Kruschev missile crisis. Heading diplomatic missions to China, India, the Soviet Union and the United Nations. New revolutionary struggle against the military regime in Bolivia, and death at the hands of government troops. Hero of the revolutionaries around the world and an icon for radical youth to this day.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Politics

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1973

Reviews

[Laura Susan Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book if you have other options for a history of Che Guevara. I work at an international school in China and my English resources are limited. I had just finished the Motorcycle Diaries and realized that I was deficient in my knowledge of South American history and context for Che’s life. I was happy to read this as a companion to the Diaries. This book is highly biased and the first few chapters are merely a summary of the Motorcycle Diaries. For me, the first half of the book was so biased with flourishing language and heroic proclamations about Che that it distracted me from the content. While reading the book, I had to read between the lines for the truth. I feel that readers who are interested in learning more about Che are intelligent enough to form their own opinions about Che—and the players in South American history—during his lifetime. The book was very detailed about the events of Che’s Bolivian operations leading to his death. In this section, Che's faults were shown. The best part of the book was the last chapter that analyzed Che’s influence on popular culture and as an enduring icon.

[Alfie Harland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little factual book.
Che was an interesting character and his background wasn’t what I expected.

[Beorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A moderately well-written though woefully biased account of the life of Che Guevara.
This is effectively an informative though highly impersonal run down of the events in Ernesto's life, from childhood through to his death, which, while high in details, fails to capture the humanity of the man or what he was like beneath the historical facts.

There seems to be an almost ulterior unwillingness to examine the man's fallible side, rather simply painting him as a flawed genius with only historical fact to fill out his life story with rather than getting inside the mind of the man himself.

Okay as an entry level book on one of history's most iconic (or at least iconographic) figures, though should only be used as a stepping stone to far more objective reading.

[Brenda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has many images that capture parts of Che's charisma, and enhance the story. A good basic intro to the life of Ernesto Guevara. I like it because even though it is a fairly short book, it expands beyond the Cuba years, and talks about his early life as well as his later years in Africa. A nice accompaniment to the Motorcycle Diaries.

[Rick Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent summary of the man from student onwards. Accompanied by pictures of the times, it tells Che Guevara's story. His faults as well as his virtues are mentioned, and it is left to the reader to decide what to think of him. A good introduction to anyone wanting to learn about either the man, or the part of history he was from.

[Amna Arman]

Che, is a very interesting person.......I dont know where to start with this guy.

[Guswong · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read a che guevera biography, and i think this is the one. i recommend reading the other one. but damn his life is interesting. everyone should read about his life.

[Niall-ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic, yet inspiring telling of the life of Che Guevara. It's not the most in depth of books on the guerilla, but David Sandison deserves the applause.

[Noor · Rating 2 out of 5]

الاسلوب شبيه بمقدمه لكتاب .

[Chadijah Mastura · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a short, meaningful life.