My knowledge of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was initially limited to just his face, that famous image with his intense gaze and fiery passion, which is so commonly displayed on t-shirts and posters. That was all I knew. However, after delving into Anderson's extensive biography, I now have a much better understanding of this extremely complicated man.

Che was not only sharp-tongued but also possessed a penetrating intelligence. He was a bibliophile, with a love for philosophy and literature, and was deeply influenced by political theory, especially Marxism. Writing was his hobby, as he kept journals, wrote letters, and filled the margins of his books with his thoughts. Despite suffering from severe asthma, he didn't care much about style, often going long periods without showering or wearing the same pants for weeks.

After obtaining his medical degree, he had a strong desire to satisfy his wanderlust and decided to travel across South America with his companion Alberto Granado, riding his motorcycle until it broke down. During his journey, he witnessed the extreme poverty of the indigenous people. They lived in squalid conditions and usually inhabited the land owned by the wealthy. Che saw capitalism as the cause of this injustice and the United States as the culprit, due to its unchecked greed for profit at the expense of the poor. He regarded Latin America as one state and one people who could rise together and throw off the yoke of economic slavery. The overthrow of the democratically elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz, by the CIA-backed United Fruit Company was the spark that ignited the flame of revolution within Guevara.

After meeting Fidel Castro in Mexico, he was invited to join the 26th Of July Movement, where they planned to take a boat to Cuba and wage guerilla warfare against Fulgencio Batista, the then U.S.-backed military dictator. Here, Anderson provides detailed accounts of the many battles fought in the Sierra Maestra, the mountainous region in southern Cuba. The guerrilleros engaged in a tug-of-war with the military, experiencing both wins and losses. The fact that a ragtag group could overcome the military and take control of the country is truly astonishing. After Cuba, Che wanted to continue the fight and looked for any country that was ready for revolution. He would eventually meet his fate in Bolivia.

My feelings towards Che are a complex mix of admiration and discord. I admire the fact that he took action when he saw injustice, rather than just talking about it. Action speaks louder than words. When I see the injustices in America, such as the diminishing of abortion rights, attempts to ban books in classrooms or limit discussions on race relations, and unchanging gun laws (just to name a few), I envy those who have the courage to stand up and do something. Marching and protesting, writing to congressmen and senators to demand change – these are things that I need to do more of. Che made me reflect on what I am doing, or not doing.

However, my discord and friction with Che stem from his choice of killing. He believed that armed revolution was the logical path to change and scoffed at diplomatic talks or protests. He oversaw the firing squads responsible for the murders of political dissidents after Cuba fell to Castro. Anyone who opposed him was considered an enemy. I prefer diplomacy and reasonable discussion over armed rebellion. But is violence sometimes the only answer? I'm not sure.

I think everyone should read this biography. It was enlightening and has piqued my interest in learning about Communism and Socialism. I've heard about the growing wealth gap every year, corporations firing the "small guys" instead of cutting CEO salaries, or the same companies moving overseas to pay foreign workers lower wages, all in the name of profits. Capitalism seems like unchecked greed. I wonder if a combination of these three economic policies could lead to more equality.

Che died doing what he believed was right – fighting for those without a voice and ensuring that they were given one.

Exhaustive though it may be, the book is truly great.

If you are in search of a comprehensive Che biography or a well-written account of the events closely associated with him, or if you simply have an inclination towards history, then "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" is the perfect choice for you.

Bear in mind that, with its 700 pages, it is quite a significant commitment.

Anderson does an excellent job of laying the foundation by delving into Ernesto's family and adolescence.

Biographers often get bogged down in these details and lose sight of their objective, but Anderson manages to avoid this pitfall.

Although the narrative drags just a little before Che arrives in Cuba, Anderson more than compensates for it with his vivid chronicles of the July 26th movement, Fidel and Raoul, life in the Sierra Maestra, and the years following Castro's victory and the establishment of socialism in Cuba.

For me, Che is an interesting yet ultimately tragic figure.

What I found most appealing about "A Revolutionary Life" is the juxtaposition of Che's unwavering "true believer" stance against the harsh reality of the politics of the day.

This aspect of Cuban history is also presented exceptionally well and is truly captivating.

Honorable mention must be given to a few details that an astute reader will recognize from "The Godfather" and Che's time in Mexico City.

However, what I liked least about the book was the lack of a more in-depth narrative around the Cuban missile crisis.

A really amazing life is the subject of this good book. Overall, I had a great love for it, especially the latter two-thirds. However, I will first present my negatives.

The cons: I believe the author dedicated an excessive amount of time to Che's early life compared to his political life. Additionally, I had a rather significant problem with the author's politics, which was very明显的 anti-communism, evident both here and in his writing about other Latin American leftists. This made certain parts of the book extremely infuriating.

The way he described Fidel was quite bad. He presented Fidel as being purely a force of personality who manipulated those around him, having no personal politics or beliefs, and using communism to seize power. This is in contrast to what Fidel, his friends, and political leaders have said, which is that he was a caring and charismatic person driven by compassion for the oppressed and an avowed Marxist since college. I am currently reading Fidel's book "My Life" to obtain a different perspective on this story, and it is very good.

But my least favorite aspect of this book was how the author selectively added or omitted context to support his anti-communism. For example, he provided insane detail about the USSR helping Fidel (and really, who cares if they are allowed to trade with countries?), while simply mentioning "right wing Eastern European Mercenaries", "Croatian Anti Communists", and "Recent German immigrants to Bolivia", comically avoiding the fact that these are almost all nazis and fascists hired by the US and the US-backed dictators after WW2 to help destroy communism (and they did, great job everyone, we now live in the world created by the Third Reich). I understand this is a book about Cuba, but this context is crucial when calling Fidel a tyrant or presenting this conflict as "capitalist democracy vs communist dictatorship". "Jakarta Method" and "Blackshirts & Reds" are two very good books that offer this missing context.

Otherwise, I feel that he wrote a very fair and even book. Given how controversial Che is, this was probably not an easy task. I also appreciate reading the most critical accounts I can about such matters to ensure that I know what I am supporting. After reading this, I feel quite confident in that regard, especially regarding his detailed (and I think very reasonable) coverage of the La Cabana tribunals and firing squads that gave Che his murderous reputation. Spoiler: they were mostly fine, everyone received trials, and while I don't love the death penalty, these were very bad people. Considering what happened in Guatemala, I would gladly trade 500 war criminals for the hundreds of thousands of peasants and indigenous people who were slaughtered under the right wing regimes we supported after Cuba.

As soon as the revolution occurs, this book becomes exciting and doesn't really let up. To be fair, the Cuban Revolution is thrilling, and everything I have read about it has been exciting. However, I must admit that this book is my favorite account of it so far. The detail he provided about the rebels killing the drunk slave owner is so good and genuinely funny that I even went to read about it in Che's journal.

Also, despite Anderson's best efforts, he really portrayed the rebels as romantic and fun characters that were impossible not to root for. Of course, both had their issues, and Anderson pays close attention to them here. But even with those, I found myself simply wanting to learn and read more about everyone involved in the story of the Cuban Revolution.

I think this is a great book and would absolutely recommend it, but as a companion to other readings about the Cold War, Fidel, and Cuba (all mentioned above, such as "Jakarta Method", "Blackshirts and Reds", and Fidel or Che's own writing about themselves).

I highly recommend this book.

Everyone has heard of the iconic figure Che Guevara (May 14, 1928 – October 9, 1967). This remarkable book reveals the true essence of who he was. It delves into his character, exploring both his weaknesses and strengths, his life-philosophy, and his goals. All of these aspects are comprehensively covered within its pages.

The book is the result of meticulous research and is filled with exclusive information. For instance, it includes previously unavailable details gathered from his second wife. It follows his life in a chronological manner, leading up to his untimely death. In the epilogue, the lives of his siblings, parents, children, and wives are also chronicled, adding another layer of depth to the story.

Not only does this book focus on Che Guevara himself, but it also delves into the ideals of socialism, communism, and the differences between the Russian and Chinese models. It explores guerrilla warfare and how these political ideologies spread throughout Latin America. You will learn about how these ideologies played out not just in his birth country of Argentina and in Cuba, but also in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, and Mexico. The history of all of Latin America from the 1930s through the 1960s is carefully delineated, as Che Guevara had a significant influence on much of it. You will even discover the fight for socialism in the Congo.

I am usually not particularly interested in politics. However, Che Guevara's unwavering devotion to his principles is so contagious that his enthusiasm spreads to the reader, making you understand why he did what he did, even if, in the end, it may seem that he went too far. The author does an excellent job of making the reader understand how Che reasoned. And Che was well aware of his own faults. This book shows how people can change and yet remain the same, and how wonderful ideals can sometimes become muddled.

After reading this book, I feel as if I truly know who Che Guevara was. I also learned a great deal about Latin American history. Through his life, I became deeply interested in this rich and complex history. Although there are many names and historical facts that may fade from my memory, something will surely remain.

I listened to the audiobook version, which was narrated superbly by Armando Durán. He was able to read the facts with an appropriate tone, while also making the reader understand Che's emotions. However, be aware that this is a very long audiobook, lasting 36 hours and 48 minutes! Despite its length, I found every moment of it compelling. To truly understand who Che is, you must hear the details. These facts are far from boring. I did find it difficult to "spell out" the pronunciation of the Spanish names, as I had no book in front of me and they were pronounced fluently. Nevertheless, I was able to remember most of who all these people were. I may not be able to write out their names, but I could recognize them as I listened.

You should know that Che's real name was Ernesto. The term "Che" means "you, there"! He used to say this all the time to others, which is why they started calling him that. He was trained as a doctor, and when he was young, he was not at all interested in politics. He also suffered from terrible asthma. Can you imagine fighting as a guerrilla with asthma in humid climates? These are just some of the interesting tidbits that make this book so engaging.

No, I don't believe in communism. No, I don't believe in guerrilla warfare. But I still admire Che Guevara. He was a fascinating person. If he didn't know something, he would set himself to learn it. I will end this here... I cannot continue to go on and on telling you about him. I highly recommend this book, but make sure you give yourself enough time to read it properly.

I’ll be honest.

I actually know nothing about him. So, I guess (given the length of the book), I’m about to learn everything.

It actually doesn’t feel like it’s dragging, which I guess surprises me because it’s so long.

This is sort of a tragic story after Cuba.

The author has done a great job of keeping the reader engaged throughout the entire book.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is interesting.

I found myself really caring about what happened to the main character and his family.

Overall, I would rate this book 4 stars.

It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely a good read and I would recommend it to others.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

This is an extremely remarkable book, both in terms of its length and content!

I thoroughly relished obtaining a clear and comprehensive portrayal of such a mythologized individual. Even as a Spanish major, I had not heard a great deal about Che, aside from the fact that he aspired to be the new Bolivar and was Castro's trusted right-hand man.

Moreover, in the USA, we tend to view Che and Castro solely through the anti-Communist, Cold War Era perspective. I also gleaned a wealth of knowledge about communism and its application in diverse countries across the globe.

It took me some time to finish reading, and I began to feel fatigued around page 650 or thereabouts. Nevertheless, it is most definitely worth the effort!

I picked up this book partly with the intention of impressing a girl. However, once I started reading, I became completely engrossed in it. Ché is undoubtedly one of my favorite revolutionaries. Anderson's book provides a comprehensive history of him, without any unnecessary fluff that often makes long and niche books a chore to read.

I was truly inspired and felt a range of emotions while reading. Now, I am excited to re-read it, or at least Part 2 on the Revolution, in 2023.

This book has not only deepened my understanding of Ché but has also left a lasting impression on me. It is a remarkable piece of work that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the history of revolution or the life of Ché.

I look forward to re-immersing myself in this captivating story and uncovering new insights and perspectives.

A book that has the power to stir your emotions and sophisticate your understanding of humanity, individuality, and altruism is truly remarkable. Your reaction to Che's life could be a complex mix of admiration, awe, criticism, anger, hatred, or perhaps all of these. But one thing is certain, you will never feel indifference. Jon Lee Anderson has done an amazing job of portraying Che as a real man, not just a legend, a hero, or a villain. He shows us a man with deep and contradicting emotions.

Whether Che was right or wrong, a good soldier, a cruel commander, or a terrible minister of economy, his whole life was a story of self-denial and self-sacrifice. He seemed to be on a quest to restore (maybe his own?) faith in humanity.

As Che said in his farewell letter to his children, \\"... above all be sensitive, in the deepest areas of yourselves, to any injustice committed against whoever it may be, anywhere it may be...\\"

You may put this book down thinking that Che and those like him are not representatives of humanity but rather anomalies. Maybe that's what George Price believed when he ended his life in despair after a lifetime of searching for the meaning of selflessness and altruism. Time and again, you can ask yourself the question: was Che's selfless salute to death a selfish attempt to become an immortal, larger-than-life legend? Or was he overcome by something bigger than himself, something that supplanted all his individualistic desires? This book is probably the closest we can get to an answer.

“I know you’ve come to kill me,” he said. “Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man.” These words echo in our minds, leaving us to ponder the enigma that was Che Guevara.

Quoting the author on the last page of the epilogue... "Around the time Che's body was exhumed, a scrawl of graffiti in Spanish had appeared on the wall of the Vallegrande public telephone office. It said: Che - Alive as they never wanted you to be".

This is his legacy. And the proof is, every time we witness a social movement or demonstration anywhere in the world, his ever famous portrait hangs HIGH. They tried so hard to smear his character but to no avail. He was a man who led by example. He was a man who profoundly believed in UNIVERSAL SOCIAL JUSTICE. He was a man who refused positions of power and materialist gains. He was a man who believed that the individual by himself is worthless but being part of a successful society that had shared values and practiced social justice is PRICELESS. He was a man that faced death in the face when it took a corrupt drunkard soldier to assassinate him, saying to him, "Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man".

LONG LIVE CHE

Given the divisive nature of the man, I always told myself I wouldn't have an opinion on Che Guevara until I had actually read a comprehensive book about him.

Jon Lee Anderson's work truly delivers. The book is exceptionally well-written, with an astonishing level of access to sources and people from Che's life. There are sections that vividly detail how actual conversations unfolded - a feature I greatly appreciate in biographies. Che himself was a prolific writer, often penning powerful words from a young age, and Anderson effectively utilizes those works.

Throughout the book, you witness a young, curious, and adventurous Argentinian boy transform into one of the most famous men in history.

I might have more to say on this later. But what I'm certain of is that this book has ignited a truly intense interest in the Cuban Revolution within me. Before reading this, I knew very little about it, but now I can't wait to delve deeper and read more. Isn't that the best we can hope for from good history? It makes us eager to explore and understand the past, opening up new worlds of knowledge and inspiration.

I highly doubt that there will ever be a more definitive account of Che Guevara's life than this epic tome. Jon Lee Anderson lived in Cuba while researching this book, and it truly shows with the exhaustive amount of detail he presents.

"A Revolutionary Life" is infinitely quotable. I could probably write ten blog pages filled with the musings of Che Guevara, but I won't as it might not make much sense. However, I will post a couple during this review, starting with:

"I have sworn before a picture of the old and mourned comrade Stalin that I won't rest until I see these capitalist octopuses annihilated"

I don't mind admitting that I knew very little about Che Guevara prior to reading this. There's that famous photo, which is plastered across anything merchandisable, usually completely out of context, and his association with Fidel Castro. I was ignorant of the who, what, where, when, etc. Thankfully, this biography answers every question I was ever likely to have about the great man.

The book is split into three parts, with each section focusing on a different stage of Che's life. Part 1 gives a brief glimpse into his childhood and goes up to the beginning of his "working relationship" with Fidel Castro. Part 2 covers the battle for Cuba and the Cuban Revolution, and Part 3 focuses on life after the Cuban victory up to his death in Bolivia.

There is an enormous amount of detail and ground covered in this book. So much so that the word "huge" isn't nearly apt enough. There were times when I was completely enthralled by the story the author was presenting. His research is phenomenal, and his attention to detail is clearly passionate. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all true. Despite how Che is often depicted in pop culture as some kind of machine gun-wielding Bruce Willis type One Man Army, the reality was quite different. The battles he fought were under cover, in the dark and the dirt, fought in close quarters, nasty, brutal, and ugly. The author is superb at putting you right in the midst of a battle, allowing you to easily transition from philosophy and politics to blood-soaked ambushes.

Sometimes, though, the detail can be overwhelming. On a few occasions, the author tries to fit too much into too few sentences. Minor events, dates, places, and names are reeled off in quick succession, becoming too much to process and easy to forget. I understand the author's desire to give a comprehensive account of the story behind the legend, but at least a hundred pages could have been cut. This was the only issue I had.

"For Ernesto, the iconography of modern Argentine nationhood was merely a superficial veneer, "a luxurious facade" under which the country's true "soul" lay; and that soul was rotten and diseased"

If you're looking for a dense and complete history of Che Guevara, then I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Yes, it's 800 long pages and at times can be hard going, but it's still an important book packed with intriguing history.

A comprehensive and meticulous biography of one of the most universally misappropriated figures of the 20th Century has been presented. Although I'm not yet in the Sierra Maestra with Fidel, the prologue to Che's rendezvous with history remains compelling.

Interestingly, he was present when the CIA overthrew Arbenz in Guatemala. This fact makes one wonder why Fidel didn't wait for the US to do the same with the Batistianos, especially since they tried anyway.

By the way, if you ever wondered where he got the nickname, it is an Argentine catchphrase that means roughly, "Hey you!" Apparently, he was quite fond of using it.

This biography delves deep into the life and times of this iconic figure, shedding light on the events and circumstances that shaped him. It offers a detailed account of his early years, his political awakening, and his role in the Cuban Revolution.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and fascinating life of Che Guevara.