Cuba: Castro, Revolution, and the End of the Embargo

by Lightning Guides

As America prepares to drop its decades-old embargo with Cuba, the island nation finds itself at a crossroads between its colonial and communist past and an uncertain future. Beautiful and impoverished; magnificent and crumbling; an inspiration to artists and musicians, poets and writers: Cuba remains vibrant and incomparable, borne on the spirit of her indomitable people.

Genres: Travel, History, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2015

Reviews

[Alex0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed this book to understand the context for a history essay, as I have a poor background in the subject. Despite the fact that it provided what it was supposed to, you would think that for something at the production value it seems to have, they would get an editor. Nope. Repeated paragraphs beside each other, words without spaces. Etc.

TLDR:

It’s pretty basic, the information is ok, however there are several written errors that made me question the validity of the author

[Jed Leishman · Rating 4 out of 5]

These lightning guides are great! Such a condensed and interesting way to learn some cool facts: Cuba has more medical professionals in third world countries than the richest 8 countries combined (of course they essentially use medicine as an export commodity), Che Guevara is actually quite a polarising figure, Batista started out very well with then lowest infant mortality rate and one of the highest life expectancies worldwide, tobacco is actually not a high proportion of Cuba's GDP, also the US was painted in two different lights. On the one hand they installed dictators throughout South America to fulfill their capital interests, but on the other they accepted huge amounts of Cuban refugees, but again they did cause many of these refugees by imposing such strict sanctions on Cuba the country was forced into starvation.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary of the big themes that encompass Cuba, its history and culture. Not meant to be a deep dive.

[Ahmed Alkadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of Cuba, in speed of light!
Cuba Linda!