Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life

On the one hand, there was a little too much here. On the other, three are few biographies available for such an iconic figure. I came away with a better and fuller understanding of the man who’s image is synonymous with rebellion.

If you are looking for an excellent book on Che Guevara, this one is it. It has it all, from his parents and his birth to his death in 1967 and his eventual return to Cuba 30 years later. This book is very descriptive and extremely in-depth, so expect more than a simple narrative. It is a big book, it will take a little while to read, but it is time well spent. I believe this book was as 'neutral' as it could possibly be, considering the highly contentious intellectual atmosphere that surrounds academic discussion of Cuba and the Revolution. It does not gloss over the fact that Che executed people, both during and after the guerilla war. Similarly, the book does not avoid the obvious humanistic and loving episodes in the life of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. For his neutrality and artful handling of such a complex historical figure, who lived his life against a backdrop of events still highly controversial today, I commend Mr. Anderson. Before reading this book, Che was an icon to me: a heroic revolutionary with dreams of intercontinental liberation and universal justice. After reading this book, Che the icon disappeared. He became, to quote his reputed last words, simply "a man."

Ernesto "Che" Guevara was a revolutionary. He was born in Argentina but never called the country home after his college years, studying medicine. Through his travels during his college years, he became aware of the povery and inequality in South America. This inspired him to fight for the equality he felt Marxism would bring. Che is known for his effect on the communist revolution in Cuba. He also fought in falied revolutions in Congo and Bolivia. It is safe to say that he is a man who impacted the world even if you do not agree with his political views. He is the man who invented guerrilla warfare.John Lee Anderson's book is the definitive book on Che Guevara. At times, it is almost too detailed with its nearly 800 page length. In reality, a book being too detailed is a compliment. The pictures he chose to include in the text are outstanding. Many of the pictures have been in CIA possession for years, and unseen to the public.While not directly a goal of the book, I enjoyed the insight this book gives into the relationship between Che and Fidel Castro. Anderson lets the reader draw conclusions rather than telling the reader what to think. While Castro believed in communism, Guevara was held policies more closely to the writing of Karl Marx. Che was willing to criticize policy if he felt it was not "Marxist enough". Unlike Castro, Che was willing to criticize the Soviet Union leaders for not living in the true equality that communism is intended to be.Despite Cuba's rivalry with the United States, I found it odd that more was not mentioned about the Cuba Missle Crisis. Guevara detested the United States, so it seems he would have had more to say in the matter. If he did have more to say, little is mentioned in the book. Because of its length, readers need some spare time to take in this whole book. The thoroughness of the product makes reading this book a rewarding experience.

The first major biography of "El Che" comes three decades after his death. It is well worth the 30 year wait. At times it can be a grueling read (750+ pages, what do you expect?), but it is evident that Anderson worked long and hard on this book. Very well-researched, and, as another reviewer stated, makes you question the authenticity of some of the documents. Honestly, how can anyone be so well-connected? It has no pro- or anti-Che tilt, which is good. A great biographer lets the facts speak for themselves, and that is what Anderson does. All in all, this is a well-researched, well-written, well-footnoted biography of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. I gave it an extra star because it is the only decent biography of Che to date.

This meticulously researched and dashingly written book does justice to a fascinating subject. Nothing is harder to be objective and discerning about than a martyred myth who is a hero to some and a menace to others. Although Che was undoubtedly an idealogue to the bitter end he was also complex and so much more than the handsome face on the t-shirt, the beautiful slaughtered angel to Fidel's proletarian compadre who had the burden of having to live out the dream in the dim face of reality. Instead he came to his dogmatic outrage( whatever one can hold against Che he was a believer) by observation rather than indoctrination. People who snicker at his gusto for class warfare forget how dour the situation for the dispossessed was only 50 years ago in Latin America. Just like Marx encountered in England in the 19th century Che fuelled his passion on circumstances of such flagrant abuse we can no longer imagine and thus are easily moved to dismiss him as just another gun wielding nutcase with a martyr complex. I strongly disagree with some of the tactics employed in his battles but it is extreme figures such as Che who kick open the stonewalling smugness of the few who live on professional exploitation and absorb whole continents in their mania for micro-management. I'm deeply uncomfortable with hero worship of any kind and see Che as a flawed and driven man who let his drive for betterment through revolt be transformed into a death crazy nihilism but unlike so many daredevils with a messiah complex I have never really doubted the sincerity of his disgust with injustice.Mr Anderson doesn't continue the mythmaking nor does he really debunk it, he it gives us an intimate glimpse into an extraordinary life, tar, feathers, purity, madness and all.