The Che Handbook

This book is a photo album of the very photogenic Che Guevara. It has some information beside the photos, and also a few interviews with people close to Che, but the main point of this book is to present the photos. This book has many photos, of Che in his youth, family life, and during his travels. It also has images of Che as an icon with examples of International art work showing how recognisable his face is even today. The entire book is 430 pages long with photos on every page, but is small in size. If you are looking for a detailed informative book into Che's life, then this is not the book for you. However, if you want a quick simple read of his life as told in photos, then you could spend hours pouring over this and will not be disappointed.

I LOVED THIS BOOK LOTS OF PICTURES AND LOTS OF INFORMATION. ALSO THE SIZE OF THE BOOK WAS GOOD AS IT CAN FIT INTO SMALL BAGS IF YOUR ON THE MOVE.

First allow me to address the obvious fabrications of the below review, "John," without reading the book, immediately bashes Che and the Cuban Revolution by recycling propaganda spread by the rich elites who kept the island under mafia/racist domination. If Che was so against the arts, why was he a devoted fan of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda? And why is the Havana Film School one of the best in the world? Also the book "John" cites, "Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant" is a radical right-wing piece of hate speech in which the author even glorifies Augusto Pinochet! Pinochet, the cruel dictator who butchered thousands during his reign in Chile (which was of course backed by the CIA). That said, "The Che Handbook" is a wonderful little pictoral history of the legendary revolutionary. For those looking for a more detailed, authoritative study, I recommend "Guevara, Also Known As Che" by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, but here we get great quotes, ideas and reflections set to a rich backdrop of photos from Ernesto Guevara's early years as a doctor in Argentina to his joining Fidel Castro's band of Cuban rebels bent on liberating their island from the corrupt Batista dictatorship. The written information is very valuable with insights into Che's philosophy and vision and there are also key interviews with people who knew and fought alongside Guevara. Overall it is Che Guevara compacted into a quick, easy read with some excellent photographs documenting his life and times.

Little information for people that think the world of Che. However there are a couple interesting interviews with people that knew him and fought with him. Plus there are lots of pics that are published for the first time! I give it 4 stars because I would of loved more interviews and information. However the pics were appreciated :)

An important document of a successful revolution. No matter what aura of glamour may be projected onto Che, he stands as an inspiration for all oppressed people anywhere in the world.