The end of the Cold War in the 1990s and the spectacular downfall of communism in the Soviet Union sent leftist movements worldwide into a state of confusion. Their theories and practical applications were no longer valid, and they faced the unenviable and challenging task of envisioning the future without the support of a comprehensive and viable ideology. To some extent, this problem was resolved by resurrecting the legacy of a revolutionary hero who had been killed in battle a quarter of a century ago. Che Guevara was the perfect fit. He died young for his ideology, untainted by a long tenure in power, and upheld the principles of equality and freedom from exploitation. This gave him a timeless appeal to the masses. Che's portrait is now omnipresent in leftist circles, but few know the man behind the image. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna (1928 – 1967) was born in Argentina and became the face of communism and revolution across the globe. Through painstaking research over many years and across multiple continents, Jon Lee Anderson tells the story of Che Guevara in this remarkable book. Anderson is an American biographer, author, and staff writer for 'The New Yorker'. He has reported from numerous war zones around the world and currently resides in England.

Che Guevara was born into an aristocratic family in Argentina that later fell on hard times. His birth was marked by a fortuitous coincidence as, in the same hour of Che's birth, a striking dockworker in the town died from gunshot wounds. Anderson provides an in-depth look at the revolutionary's childhood. He was very attached to his mother, Celia, who shared many of his bold features and suffered from chronic asthma. Che was reckless and full of energy. Once, he deftly crossed a yawning chasm by balancing himself on a narrow beam laid across it. However, his teenage years were not characterized by any heroic deeds. He exhibited a paradoxical behavior of making radical-sounding declarations while showing complete apathy towards political activism. Guevara's home was a place where his mother welcomed all kinds of people and was always ready to share meals with them. As a result, Che grew up to be inquisitive, nonconformist, and with a longing for adventure. After graduating from medical school, he explored the South American countryside on a motorcycle with a friend. They visited many countries, and it was Dr. Hugo Pesce, a leprologist in Lima, who influenced a change in Che's attitude towards life and society by drawing him closer to Marxism. For Che, politics was a means of effecting social change, and it was social change, not power itself, that he craved, unlike Castro. While in Mexico, he established contact with Cuban rebels fighting the Batista regime under Fidel Castro. A mutual respect developed between the two men, and soon Che joined the guerilla force that embarked on a fight against the regime. Part 1 of the book neatly covers this period in Che's life.

Post-war Latin America was a fertile ground for revolution, with a lethal combination of large landowners, unpopular and bullying authorities, domination by the clergy, a lack of effective laws, and the economic predominance of foreign corporate monopolies. To make matters worse, all of Latin America, except Brazil, was culturally unified by the Spanish language – the lingua franca. Revolutionaries operated on a continental scale, and the Cuban revolutionary struggle was aided and abetted by people of other nationalities. Anderson makes it clear that Fidel Castro and most of his revolutionary comrades were not communists even long after the revolution was successfully launched by the Cuban people. During military operations, Castro maintained a respectful distance from the Cuban Communist Party, and the open association between Che and his brother Raul with the communists often made his position uncomfortable for all involved. Che believed that war was the ideal situation for achieving a socialist victory, or that socialism was the natural order of mankind and guerilla war was the chrysalis from which it would emerge. The United States was also not overly hostile to Castro's revolutionary struggle. When the Batista regime used tanks and B-26 bombers it had acquired from the US as part of its hemispheric defense program against the revolutionaries, the US opposed it and temporarily froze further military assistance. After the revolution ousted Batista and Castro assumed power, the US recognized the new government in Havana even before the USSR did.

This book描绘了古巴革命后建立的独裁制度所带来的破坏，这种制度的触角伸向各个领域，束缚了人民生活的方方面面。由于与苏联亲近并向其他拉丁美洲国家输出武装游击队，美国对古巴实施了严厉的制裁，降低了人民的生活水平。在卡斯特罗统治的早期，来访的苏联技术人员和顾问对哈瓦那街头可见的华丽小玩意和热情外向的氛围感到眼花缭乱。然而，随着共产主义逐渐收紧其致命的控制，所有这些都消失了，古巴人陷入了与苏联人相同的境地，为了获得基本食品不得不排长队，媒体也受到严格审查。Che建立了一个清洗委员会，以清除国家中的革命叛徒。数百人被捕，经过几分钟的简易审判后，被行刑队处决。菲德尔·卡斯特罗永远排除了选举的可能性，并指定他的兄弟劳尔为他的继任者。他的亲信们高呼“革命是，选举否”。所有报纸要么被国家接管，要么被关闭。Che设想了叛军军队的先锋作用，忽视了城市工人和传统的共产党组织。他对农村游击战争和土地革命的有力倡导在苏联眼中背叛了“异端”的毛泽东主义影响。最终，Che Guevara成为了卡斯特罗的负担，因为卡斯特罗希望在20世纪60年代初出现的中苏共产主义分歧中安抚苏联。

Che在古巴政府的任职并没有表现出任何非凡的才能或天赋。他担任工业部长，但他的独裁政策阻碍了国家的发展。随着时间的推移，他在古巴似乎变得厌倦，渴望在其他地方寻找新的冒险。他对苏联的直言不讳的批评使他的处境对卡斯特罗来说变得困难。尽管作者坚称两人从未公开决裂，但Che决定在古巴生活六年后领导刚果的游击运动，这对卡斯特罗来说是一种解脱。然而，刚果不是古巴，他在那里几乎没有得到农民和当地战士的支持。此外，与巴蒂斯塔时代的古巴不同，刚果没有像卡斯特罗那样有能力的领导人。经过几个月的徒劳战斗，他转移到玻利维亚，计划将其变成阿根廷革命的跳板。然而，Che在刚果面临的问题也跟随他来到了玻利维亚。但这一次，玻利维亚军队比非洲混乱的雇佣军部队更难对付。Che最终被逼入绝境，向他的敌人投降。安德森说，Che在被捕时对着拿枪指着他的军队士兵喊道：“别开枪。我是Che Guevara。我活着对你们更有价值”（第733页）。如果这是真的，这种懦弱给一个曾派遣数百名年轻战士上战场并要求他们绝不活着回来的游击队领导人带来了持久的耻辱。Che自己并不反对杀害被俘的敌人或军事法庭审判的同志。作为一名医生，他可以像他在一次此类事件的日记中所描述的那样，以临床的精确和高超的技巧执行处决：“这种情况对人们和尤蒂米奥来说都很不舒服，所以我用一把0.32口径的手枪在他的右脑打了一枪，子弹从右颞叶穿出。他喘息了一会儿就死了”（第237页）。令人作呕的是，Guevara对人类痛苦的冷漠，因为我们在日记的第二天看到他对一个加入游击队的非常漂亮的女孩的记录是：“她是这个运动的忠实崇拜者，在我看来，她最想做的就是f***”（第238页）。令人震惊的是，这样一个强硬的人竟然温顺地向他的敌人投降并乞求生命！

作者展现了这位伟大革命家生活的各个方面。这本书篇幅巨大，几乎涵盖了关于Che Guevara生活的所有内容。作者是美国人，但这本书写得非常客观。Che生活的各个方面都经过了审视，确实有一些关于他性生活的段落可能会让他的粉丝感到有点不舒服。但安德森对他的英雄非常公正，明确指出他的性饥渴只持续到他结婚（他结过两次婚），此后他一直坚定不移地忠诚。Che Guevara在私生活中非常严格，没有将政府资金用于他或家人的私人目的。有一次，他让他的妻子坐公共汽车带他们生病的女儿去医院，因为他的车只用于公务出行。Che的妻子经常不得不偷偷向他的保镖借钱，因为Che作为部长的工作几乎每天都要占用他二十个小时，但他的工资却很低。Che Guevara是一个彻头彻尾的革命者，他要求他的追随者绝对服从和坚定不移的勇气。他总是把人民、工人称为机器的零部件，是一个庞大的革命农工综合体中的工蚁。他沉迷于暴力，将其作为实现平等政权的手段，并拒绝任何形式的选举。他倡导将仇恨作为斗争的一个要素；对敌人的无情仇恨，并将革命者转变为一个有效、暴力、诱人且冷酷的杀戮机器（第719页）。尽管他的性格中有这么多黑暗面，但安德森让读者对他在生命的最后时刻产生了同情。

这本书配有大量描绘Che生活的照片。“Che”这个称呼是在古巴根据阿根廷的习惯产生的，用“Che”——意思是“嘿，你”——作为一种问候形式。这本书包括一个很大的附录、全面的注释和一个值得称赞的索引。这本书篇幅巨大，有814页，而且字体很小。作者利用了大量的参考资料，包括一本迄今为止未出版的Che第二次旅行的日记，名为“Otra Vez”（再次），由他的遗孀Aleida March编辑并交出，她为了维护已故丈夫的形象，删除了日记中几个色情段落。

这本书强烈推荐。

Over the years, as Che Guevara was commodified, he became the most familiar figure, yet a misunderstood and unknown personality.

He was transformed into a brand, used to sell everything from t-shirts and mugs to canned beer. Amid all this commodification, Che's life and what he stood for got lost.

Who was this extraordinary man who gave up his privilege and everything he cherished, dedicated his life to an idea, and died for it?

This is a great biography that provides a historical context and brings him to life.

Che is one of the most important and charismatic figures in the human struggle against injustice and oppression.

This biography is meticulously detailed and comprehensive. John lee Anderson takes us from the social conditions of his childhood, his family with an independent spirit that influenced him greatly, his medical studies, to his famous motorcycle journeys and his later travels across the Americas that awakened his political and social consciousness as he became a dedicated Marxist.

The Cuban revolution, after which he became the principal architect of its economic direction, and his return to guerrilla warfare after deciding that the Cuban revolution was on the right path, which eventually led to his death in Bolivia.

The death that would give him such an enduring romantic legacy. The final section of this book has many poignant moments.

Che was selfless, strong-willed, honest, a lover of learning who constantly read books, and was totally dedicated to the cause of the struggle against imperialism.

While Fidel and Che shared the same goals and ideals, Fidel was a wily politician who presented a different face to the public from his private self, and Che was honest to a fault who always spoke his mind.

The author brings out both the passionate romantic and the cold rationale side of him.

As a guerrilla, he was a man embroiled in a violent struggle and was no saint. He was a great tactician and a charismatic leader who attracted undying loyalty from many.

He led an ascetic life and expected everyone to live up to his standards. He was a strict disciplinarian. He was also very idealistic and utopian, as shown by the unbridled faith and optimism he showed even when people around him were failing him.

As an administrator, he was the driving force behind Cuba's land reforms and its successful health and literacy programs. As a Marxist, he wanted to diversify and industrialize the Cuban economy. In this, he was critical of the Soviet model and was more of a Maoist.

He was a dedicated internationalist and held that socialism could only be successful with the creation of the "New Man". He believed that a change in consciousness should be simultaneous with the new material foundations.

I think his idea of the "New socialist man" is his most important contribution to Marxist theory. He argued that capitalism produces incomplete alienated individuals, and only a true socialist society enables a man to become a complete individual.

An excellent and inspirational biography of a truly selfless revolutionary. He dedicated his life to what he believed in and ultimately died for it.

Pese a que Jon Lee Anderson se acerca a la figura del Che desde la admiración o incluso la reverencia, no olvida que su mirada es la de un periodista. Gracias a ello, esta magnífica biografía logra dibujar un retrato descarnado del Che.

Debo reconocer que el personaje me resultó bastante odioso. Durante su juventud, era un burgués mimado en busca de aventuras, y luego se convirtió en la encarnación del fanatismo y la intolerancia. Aunque su preparación intelectual no era menor, cometió el error de forzar la interpretación de los hechos.

La transformación de un hombre inteligente y culto en un fanático obcecado es inquietante. Me recuerda la sensación de ver "Breaking Bad". Además, el alto grado de amor propio de Ernesto Guevara, que algunos consideran un rasgo premonitorio de grandeza, para mí es solo pedantería.

Para entender al personaje, Anderson describe magistralmente el contexto histórico. A través de los ojos del Che, el lector se sumerge en la época de la guerra fría y ve algunos de sus rasgos sobresalientes. Ese telón de fondo fue propicio para que la figura del Che se convirtiera en un símbolo.

El trabajo de Anderson con este libro me dejó muy impresionado. Es un tipo de periodismo raro. Su compromiso le dio acceso a fuentes inéditas, y la experiencia de leer esta obra me entusiasma para buscar otros trabajos suyos.

Che, while reading, became my friend.

He was not just an ordinary acquaintance but a true companion.

Every time I opened the book and delved into the story, it was as if Che was right there with me, sharing every moment.

I found myself caring for him deeply, as if he were a real person.

His character traits, his struggles, and his triumphs all touched my heart.

I would worry about him when he faced difficulties and celebrate his successes.

Che became an important part of my life through the power of literature.

He taught me valuable lessons and made me see the world from a different perspective.

Even though he existed only within the pages of a book, his impact on me was profound and lasting.

To this day, I still think of Che as my friend and cherish the time we spent together in the fictional world.

The great historical tragedy regarding Che Guevara's legacy is that a man who was entirely sincere has become a symbol of insincerity. Maybe it wasn't always so, but when I see my generation wearing Che shirts or displaying Che posters, I no longer see the famous Korda photograph. Instead, I envision the words "I am a giant poser" tattooed boldly on their faces. There might be some who are truly sincere in their admiration, but usually, a Che shirt means the wearer listens to Rage Against the Machine in the car on the way to the mall to spend their parents' money at Hot Topic. As others have pointed out, Che himself would be the most revolted by this misappropriation of identity.

The cult of Che persists even after the Cold War. He was brilliant, curious, compassionate, and deeply committed to his beliefs. Among 20th-century communist leaders, he stands out as the most faithful to his principles. It's hard to imagine him compromising like Lenin for economic expediency or like Stalin for personal power. Che was willing to die for his beliefs and arguably actively sought martyrdom.

Moreover, Che's legacy, like that of Kurt Cobain or Jim Morrison, benefited from his relatively short life. He died while still in the glow of revolution. Maybe one reason he seems so steadfast is that he didn't live long enough to compromise his legacy. And, of course, he was a handsome guy, so we remember him as a dashing guerilla. There's no footage of him as an 80-year-old in army fatigues, rambling incoherently.

In many ways, Che was an archetype for the baby boomer generation. Born into a middle-class Argentinian family, he spent his early years seeking meaning. He found it in sympathy for the poor peasants of Latin America, which increased his anti-Americanism. Contrary to U.S. Cold Warrior theory, it was this antipathy that led him to Marxism. To be fair, his feelings weren't unjustified. Wherever there was a corrupt dictator in South or Central America, the U.S. government was usually behind them. Communism was just the excuse for intervention. The real reason for U.S. intervention in South America during the Eisenhower years was to protect the interests of American companies like United Fruit and Coca-Cola. Guevara's sympathies drove him to armed resistance. In Guatemala, he fought against a U.S.-backed coup. The failure of this struggle taught him many lessons and was likely the final push that made him a full-fledged Communist.
After the coup in Guatemala, Che went to Mexico City, the exile capital of the Americas. There, he connected with a group of Cuban exiles and met Fidel Castro. Here, he found the purpose that would consume the rest of his life. The rest is history.
Che's life is a story of a young man's search for fulfillment, satisfaction, and an attempt to "chase that feeling." The success of Castro's revolution is remarkable. A small group of rebels led by Castro landed in Cuba in 1956. Their numbers were quickly reduced, but just two years later, Batista's dictatorship collapsed, and they marched into Havana. I'm not sure how much of this success can be attributed to Castro, Guevara, and others, but a lot of luck was involved.
Che spent the rest of his life trying to duplicate the Cuban revolution in his birthplace. This is where his faults became evident. He had the arrogance and hardheadedness of a steadfast ideologue. Just because something worked once, he believed it could be replicated in different situations by following a set of principles. This led to disasters. His earlier success in Cuba made a repeat nearly impossible. Latin American governments and their U.S. supporters wouldn't tolerate small bands of guerillas. Instead, they would be quickly and brutally smashed.
After seeing several of his sponsored guerilla groups destroyed, Che decided to reenter the field himself. Ironically, these expeditions resembled the U.S. situation in Vietnam. He went to the Congo, convinced he could inspire the rebels. Instead, the rebellion was smashed, and the stage was set for the Mobutu dictatorship.
Che's final venture in Bolivia was a complete fiasco. It was more of a Cuban intervention than a revolution. Castro and Guevara decided Bolivia was the place to launch a continent-wide uprising and strong-armed Bolivian elements to provide reluctant native backing. The struggle was mostly Cuban-led and fought, with some Bolivian support. Not surprisingly, it was a disaster from the start, and Che didn't follow his own rule book. It culminated in his surrender and execution.
As I mentioned, Che had the strengths and weaknesses of an intellectual dedicated to an idea. He was a moral man without hypocrisy, charismatic, funny, and brilliant. But he served his idea to a fault. He railed against U.S. influence in Latin America, but his beliefs put Cuba in a more subservient position to the U.S.S.R. Even before his death, he left his children fatherless to serve the revolution. He was also uncompromising to a fault. He was willing to accept nuclear armageddon if it served his cause. In the romantic accounts of his life and death, it's not mentioned that he died trying to spark World War III. His hope was that his uprising in Bolivia would lead to a continent-wide uprising and a second Vietnam in the Americas, inspiring China and the Soviet Union to unite against the U.S. He foresaw a more socialistic humanity emerging from a nuclear conflict. He was willing to sacrifice millions for his ideological beliefs. This lessens the sense of tragedy surrounding his execution for me.
Whatever the case, the life and death of Ernesto "Che" Guevara is an epic tale, and Jon Lee Anderson does an excellent job of telling it. The investigative journalism he did is evident in the work. He spent years on this project and lived in Cuba. He read almost everything written about or by Che and interviewed scores of his contemporaries in Cuba and Argentina, including childhood friends, Cuban officials, and fellow guerillas. The result is a balanced biography, rare for such a polarizing subject. My review may not show this, but that's due to my conclusions from the book, not any bias in Anderson. He doesn't seek to beatify or demonize Che; he just wants to report. In doing so, he actually broke news. His research led to the discovery of Guevara's long-lost remains in Bolivia in 1997. Anderson chips away at the mythology to provide an evenhanded and reliable account of the life of one of the 20th century's most iconic figures.

I recently delved into a captivating fiction that incorporated elements of magic. Surprisingly, it was easier to believe in the magical aspects of this story than in the extraordinary life of Che Guevara.

The book is rather lengthy, and it starts off at a slow pace as it chronicles Che's upbringing in Argentina and his motorcycle adventures across South America. However, from the moment he encounters Fidel, the story takes a rapid turn, and it becomes astonishing to think that a person's life can transform so swiftly.

The Cuban revolution and all the events that follow, right up until the very end when Che Guevara's fortune deserts him, are truly thrilling.

Throughout the book, I gleaned a wealth of fascinating information about the USA, Argentina, Cuba, Fidel, their revolution, the Sino-Soviet split, and, of course, Ernesto himself.

The author of this remarkable work is also an intriguing individual - a war correspondent and investigative journalist. During his research for the book, he managed to discover Che's grave in Bolivia, the location of which had remained a mystery for three decades.

The voice acting in the book is outstanding. The narrator pronounces all the South American names and titles with an authentic South American accent, which I attempted to imitate but failed miserably.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Having grown up in a very leftist household in Uruguay, El Che was an integral part of my upbringing. There were books with his face on my father's bookshelves, and pictures of him adorned our house. My mother would often mention him when discussing politics.

He was a historical figure I was well aware of, a mythological being who truly existed. However, beyond the very basic facts, I knew very little about his actions.

Yes, I was familiar with his guerrilla warfare tactics and knew he was a passionate advocate of the Revolution, but that was the extent of my knowledge.

Clearly, I came to know more as I grew up, but still, he remained more of a传奇 than an actual human being.

After reaching my 30s, I became radicalized (for lack of a better term). I began reading political theory, history, and philosophy, and started to realize that although I had always leaned left, I hadn't truly understood what that meant. I didn't understand why my mother was so critical of the government or why my father was a Tupamaro.

I can't claim to have all the answers now, but I do have a better understanding.

Getting to the point, with my political awakening came a desire to know more about those figures who had influenced my childhood, and Guevara was one of them.

He is a very complex individual to discuss. While I can't say I fully agree with all his actions, his conviction and commitment to the cause are inspiring. And even though I may not always agree, I do understand, and perhaps I would have been more inclined to support him if I had lived in those tumultuous times, marred by dictatorships and US military actions in every South American country.

Jon Lee Anderson manages to tell a very interesting story of a man who had a great deal of introspection, held very firm and unyielding ideas, and lived by them, something that is not often seen in historical figures.

This book is generally quite easy to read, especially the first two parts. The third and longest part can be more tedious, which is understandable as it corresponds to the time when he wasn't engaged in what he truly wanted to do, which was to fight imperialism.

But if the topic interests you (and I assume it does, otherwise why would you be reading this?), then the author's ability to paint a vivid picture of the political situation, as well as a more personal one, helps to mitigate the duller sections.

This book doesn't shy away from the harsh realities. The author writes about all the unpleasant aspects too. He doesn't present a mythical figure but an actual human being, one who makes mistakes, hurts others, and yet is also the man who inspired millions.

It's an interesting book that has helped me understand a figure who has always been a part of my life and has made me think about my Marxism in a different light, ultimately strengthening and improving my ideals.

I would rate this book at 4.5 stars.

Anderson truly does an amazing job of depicting Che as a multi-faceted individual. He shows him as a man, a friend, and a revolutionary. For a history enthusiast like me, the level of detail in the story is highly valued. This detailed account brings back the humanity in a somewhat mythical figure. By the end, I had developed an emotional connection to Ernesto, as if I had known him in real life. This made the last two chapters rather difficult to read.

However, I deducted 0.5 stars because at several points in the text, Anderson's writing seems to ramble. It makes it a bit more challenging, although not impossible, to keep track of the countless names, places, and plot lines in Che's story. Nevertheless, I still want to applaud the author for this exhaustive, intense, and enlightening work. It provides a deep and comprehensive look into the life and times of Che Guevara.

‘What a man can be, he must be.’ Those profound words were spoken by American psychologist Abraham Maslow, a contemporary of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna-Lynch, simply known as ‘Che’. Little did Maslow anticipate that a man would emerge from the southernmost part of his own continent and achieve global fame, striving to be the highest caliber of revolutionary. In this pursuit, Che would become one of the most dangerous foes of Maslow’s homeland.

Che is also relevant to Maslow for another reason. By transforming himself from a radical reformist in one region to a global revolutionary, Che inverted Maslow’s famous pyramid of human needs. For Che, his socialist cause, self-actualization through revolution, was the most fundamental need, while food, sleep, the love of friends and family, and even personal safety became luxuries. Power and position held no significance in his plans. His commitment was so intense that he renounced all conceivable comforts like an ascetic, missed the opportunity to be with his dying mother, and gave up the pleasures of being a doting father and a loving husband. All because he wanted to uplift the downtrodden and destitute, regardless of their geographical location.

There are individuals who adopt a cause and dedicate their lives to it. Then there are those who are born with a destiny for the cause. Ernesto Che Guevara belongs to the latter category. His passionate dedication to his socialist cause, his unwavering determination to achieve it despite opposition from even close quarters, are all valuable lessons for future generations of young minds. This biography by Jon Lee Anderson provides a comprehensive guide to understanding Che and his ways.

Writing the biography of a famous figure, especially someone as charismatic as Che Guevara, is a challenging task. If one is overly awed by the subject, the book risks becoming a hagiography. If too distant, it may end up as a dry tome, simply listing events in chronological order. It requires a rare mind to treat the subject with respect while presenting a faithful perspective. Jon Lee Anderson manages to accomplish this feat. Che is portrayed as he truly was, playful as a youngster, sowing his wild oats, flirting, having casual flings, and being both playful and funny. His evolution as a rebel, his growth in social consciousness, which was greatly influenced by his motorcycle journeys across the continent, first alone and then with his friend Alberto Granado, are all presented in great detail. Che’s gradual involvement in the volatile political situation of Central America, his introduction to Fidel, their collaboration in the guerilla war to liberate Cuba, Che’s rise to the role of Minister of Industries, his life during the relatively calm days in Cuba (before the storm), his eventual return to the field to spread revolution worldwide, the debacle in Congo, and the tragic-but-glorious end in the nondescript Bolivian village of La Higuera are all laid out so meticulously that one might wonder if Jon Lee Anderson was actually present during Che’s time, documenting history as it unfolded. Tremendous efforts and research have gone into this book.

Che was a man far ahead of his time, just like every other great human being who preceded him. Like those great minds, whether political or otherwise, he had ideas that were too advanced for his contemporaries to comprehend. He was revered by many, feared by even more, loved by a large number of people, hated by an equal number, praised by multitudes, but completely understood by very few. Like the many heroes before him, he understood his strengths, recognized his weaknesses, pushed his companions to emulate his strengths, strived to overcome his weaknesses, and led by setting a shining example. In short, he practiced what he preached.

It may seem ironic, but it is not blasphemous to compare Che with Jesus Christ. Both men were born ahead of their times, among people too narrow-minded to consider purposes greater than themselves. They both hoped that those around them would see the value of their arguments, wanted to make humans realize their potential and become better, but in the end, they were left to bear the cross for the sins of people who were too petty-minded and incapable of appreciating their worth. While one man sought to achieve mass deliverance through love and peace, the other chose to use bullets. In the end, betrayal by their own people led them both to their graves. One emerged from his grave three days later and went on to become a god. The other took three decades and has attained an almost equal mystical status among hordes of youngsters, even among those who don’t even know his full name.

Whether Che’s methods were right or wrong is a matter of debate. However, his place in the annals of human history, as a figure that future generations can look up to, is undisputed. This unbiased and authentic work by Jon Lee Anderson is the ultimate guide to that heroic guerilla’s life and times, as good as any autobiography that Che himself could have written. It is a must-read and a must-own.

Wow, the end of an ERA. It's truly remarkable. At first, the first 400 pages seemed to breeze by with relative ease. However, once I reached the point after the Cuban revolution, the next 400 pages became a rather weary road. But, I persevered and I DID it!

During this arduous journey, I learned an incredible amount about the Cuban revolution and Marxist communism. The details and the significance of these historical events and ideological concepts have now become an integral part of my knowledge base.

It's been a challenging yet rewarding experience. I feel a sense of accomplishment for having completed this extensive reading and for having gained such valuable insights. The end of this era marks not only the conclusion of a reading task but also a new beginning in my understanding of history and politics.

This is a truly great read!

It not only has depth but also shows that it was intricately researched. The writing is well-balanced, presenting both the good and the bad aspects.

The author has done an excellent job of providing a comprehensive view.

I highly recommend this book, especially in paperback.

It's a must-have for anyone who loves to read in-depth and well-written works.

The paperback version is convenient to carry around and read at any time.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to explore a wonderful piece of literature.

Well written and comprehensive, this book offers a detailed exploration of Che.

However, at times, the author delves into details that seem somewhat insignificant, causing the narrative to lose its focus.

Nonetheless, it remains a good read as it provides a wealth of information about Che that I was previously unaware of.

Moreover, it is fascinating to read about someone with such a staunch anti-American attitude.

Viewing the evils of imperialism through the eyes of others not only offers historical perspective but also sheds light on current events.

This book serves as a reminder that the past is still relevant today and that we can learn valuable lessons from it.

Overall, despite its minor flaws, it is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in history, politics, or the life of Che.