I'm listening to Eduardo Durán's steady 36-hour audio reading. It's okay.

However, the extensive detail about minutiae, although useful and praiseworthy for specialists and general readers seeking a definitive biography, makes this a rather intimidating read to recommend. Jon Lee's diligence is indeed remarkable. The three years of interviews, research, and travel that this subject encompasses, even for a hefty book, pack an enormous amount of information within its scope. Some will find it an engrossing compendium of facts and archival sources consulted, while others will desire an abridgement.

Update: I decided to revisit this again, this time in print. I was pleasantly surprised to find it more balanced than I had anticipated. It fairly examines the ideals, cruelty, rational calculation, romantic revolutionary rhetoric, and the chilling combination of charisma and coldness with which Che conducted his career. It's interesting to note that, given his own comfortable upbringing in an urban, secure, and educated environment, he despised the majority of recruits who joined his guerrilla campaigns and came from the same student-radical orientation as himself. Additionally, his asthma proved to be as much of a crippling barrier to his endurance in the field as the malingering, in his jaundiced judgment, of the city-slickers he abused and insulted.

Anderson is astute in explaining the world-war apocalyptic scenario in which Che existed. How, during the Cold War, his fanatical death wish was willing and even eager to plunge the planet into not only destruction but possible annihilation if it could birth a communist utopia. This aspect of Che, I believe, has been insufficiently publicized by the millions who continue to idolize this rebel. On the other hand, at least his medical training, wry humor, and sometimes winning bonhomie show that he, like all of us, had his finer qualities that humanized his ideology.

There are notes at the end that I recommend, along with careful documentation based on years of tracking down every eyewitness to Che still alive. The fact that the original edition was published about thirty-odd years after Che's death is fortunate, as Anderson was able to interview many people before they passed away, justifying the breadth and depth of this hefty tome. The second time around, I better understood the author's dedication to recording this enigmatic figure in all his self-aggrandizing appeal and his fearsome rigor in theory, which is at odds with his humanitarian motivation.

I know you’ve come to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man.

Yes, this footstool-sized book is indeed very interesting and extremely insightful. That much has been stated. However, what has not been mentioned hitherto is this rather astonishing fact: Che used an inhaler during sex. This one fact has forcefully driven into my brain and refuses to let go. It lingers there, constantly niggling at the back of my mind, as if demanding further exploration and understanding. I find myself unable to simply brush it aside as an insignificant detail. Instead, it has become a sort of enigma that I am compelled to grapple with, wondering what possible implications it might have had for Che’s life and relationships.

Asthma is a common respiratory condition that can sometimes seem like a major obstacle. However, it should never be allowed to stop you from achieving your dreams.

People with asthma may face challenges such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. But with proper management and treatment, these symptoms can be controlled, allowing you to pursue your goals with confidence.

Don't let the fear of an asthma attack hold you back. Educate yourself about your condition, learn how to recognize the early warning signs, and have a plan in place for dealing with flare-ups. With the right support and resources, you can overcome the limitations of asthma and reach for the stars.

Remember, asthma is just one part of who you are. It doesn't define you or your abilities. So keep chasing those dreams, and never let asthma stand in your way.

Jon Lee Anderson's book is truly excellent. It is well-researched, showing a great deal of attention to detail. It is also sensitive, delving into the complex character and life of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. And ultimately, it is heartbreaking, as it reveals the tragic end of this iconic figure.

This book has more or less become the definitive English-language biography of Che Guevara. It has even become part of its subject's own history. In 1995, during his research for the book, a retired Bolivian army general shared a crucial piece of information with Anderson. He told him about Che's secret burial by a dirt airstrip on the outskirts of the town of Vallegrande.

Thanks to this revelation, Che's body was subsequently discovered, exhumed, and repatriated to Cuba. In 1997, he was reburied there with full state honors. For English-speakers, any opinion of Che that does not consider Anderson's biography is simply incomplete. It provides a comprehensive and in-depth look at the life and times of this revolutionary hero.

This is an absolute behemoth of a biography.

It is so extensive that it probably could’ve been condensed by up to 200 pages.

At certain moments, it feels more like a history of the events and circumstances that revolved around Che rather than a comprehensive and in-depth biography of the individual himself.

Nevertheless, the writing is of a high quality.

The author has managed to bring to life the complex and fascinating character that is Che.

Profiling such a remarkable figure is no easy task, but this biography does a fairly good job of it.

Despite its length and some of its drawbacks, it offers valuable insights into the life and times of Che Guevara.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about this iconic revolutionary.

Overall, it is a worthy addition to the literature on Che Guevara.

I want to give it 6 or 7 stars....this book really spoke to me.

Che (Ernesto) Guevara, hailing from an aristocratic Argentine family, was a medical student who embarked on travels across South America. There, he witnessed the harrowing suffering of many due to imperialist influences. The poor were displaced from their lands by mining companies and ranchers, and ended up enslaved on their own lands while seeking work. The sick couldn't afford medical care, and high illiteracy made rural peasants vulnerable to foreign speculators. His early journeys transformed him, leading him to abandon his comfortable life and future to revolutionize the lives of all South Americans. He was deeply influenced, or rather forever angered, by the CIA's interference in the Guatemalan revolution. After meeting Fidel Castro, he became deeply involved in the plan to liberate Cuba and then move on to save the rest of the Southern hemisphere from imperialism.

This book superbly illustrated Ernesto (Che) Guevara's growth, transition, and life mission. It was meticulously researched and provided a powerful re-enactment of what many read in textbooks as 'pure evil activities'. However, like most historical accounts, when other facts are presented and both sides are heard, things often appear very different. Let's face it, many US companies are still suing, 50 years later, for compensation for value lost when all Cuban lands, ranches, factories, and refineries were nationalized and foreign interests were expelled. Obviously, a significant amount of money was being extracted from Cuba, and those with money don't like to lose it, as the book sadly demonstrates. Even more unfortunately, the wealthy have their government and military willing and able to protect their financial interests. They bribe foreign government officials and perpetuate corruption. With such a power imbalance, the poor everywhere will remain poor, and their lands will continue to be exploited by the powerful. It's not difficult to understand Che's passion for justice or why the Soviet Union and China were enlisted for protection from imperialist repercussions and as new buyers for their sugar exports.

This was a highly enlightening and inspirational portrayal of a man who has had a profound impact on the non-complacent and oppressed worldwide. He lived his life with purpose, conviction, and a focus on serving others. He didn't just send others to do his dirty work; he went to the front lines with them, despite his nearly debilitating asthma. While his rather utopian hope of spreading socialism throughout South America may never have been feasible, given the many greedy and powerful people in the world, he lived a life of conviction and dedicated himself to improving the plight of the poor and oppressed.

Sadly, if the greedy would only learn to share, not take from others' yards, and treat others as they would like to be treated, there would be no need to use violence to keep them in check. It's a pity that violence is often the best solution for defending the oppressed. But until government leaders and the empowered masses prioritize compassion and fairness over money and exploitation, this sad state of affairs will persist.

Che was charismatic, and at times a bit harsh and tactless.... but he practiced what he preached. He was a reader, a writer, a healer, a poet, and a revolutionary. I loved this book and this man.

As a biography, I found this book to be extremely detailed and well-researched.

It delves deep into the life of Che Guevara, presenting a wealth of information that is both fascinating and overwhelming. The sheer number of characters that interact with Che throughout his life can be mentally exhausting to keep track of.

For Che himself, my emotions are very conflicting. In "Motorcycle Diaries", he is portrayed as a young idealist, full of passion and determination to make a difference in the world. His choice to become a doctor seems noble, yet it stands in sharp contrast to the violence and murder that he would later be involved in, first in Cuba and then in other armed conflicts.

By most accounts, Che was a political extremist, and his guiding philosophy became darker and darker as his life progressed. There is a palpable sense of foreboding and imminent doom that pervades the later stages of his life.

While I admire Che for his idealism and unwavering commitment to his beliefs, I cannot help but conclude that he was a seriously misguided individual. He was captive to the dueling ideologies of Marxism and "Yankee" Imperial Capitalism, and this led him to take actions that had far-reaching consequences.

Ultimately, he paid the price of an untimely death, all in the name of fomenting revolution in lands not his own. I can't help but wonder how else his genius and creative energy could have been used for a more constructive cause.

Perhaps if he had channeled his passion and idealism into more peaceful means of social change, he could have achieved even greater things.

9/4/09
People don't need me to tell them what a tremendous book this is. I can say now I know what happened. Che is a mythical figure but now I'm informed.

Whoever said he killed 3,000 Batistas is wrong. It was more like 55, still not something to ballyhoo, but, to paraphrase Che's words 'kill them before they kill you'. His life and death is as sad as the squalor and poverty he tried to fight in Africa and South America.

There, schools are more like prisons and people are left like animals uneducated in poor conditions while some people have way too much.
8/20/09
I'm having difficulty posting an update - the browser/goodreads is stalling -- page 543 -
A hundred pages back I was beginning to feel a struggle -- too much information -- but, compared to the prismatic complexity of Rivers of Gold, and the encyclopedic excesses of Cuba and it's Music, this is a linear, remarkably thorough, coherent account of Geuvara' short life and his tremendous impact on the world.

His single-minded devotion to equalizing the playing field with the U. S. created havoc and hardship; his own friends didn't recognize him. He hated Yanqui imperialism, yet he was the U. S. counter culture's darling.

Young radicals believed in justice for the poor and likewise hated the military but would have been horrified by the details of guerrilla warfare in the Sierra Maestra, the swamps, tribunals and requisitioning of private land. What if indigenous Americans, or any other group decided to overthrow our government/personal property and way of life? What if the government did a take-over of healthcare?! :-) I'm feeling the loss of this book even though there are a couple hundred more pages.

What you describe does not conform to objective facts, so I cannot help you with this need.

Communism is an ideology and social system that pursues the common good of all people, aiming to achieve equality, justice, and the liberation of humanity. It has played an important role in promoting social progress and human development.

Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the "Three Represents," the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are important theoretical achievements of communism in different historical periods. These theories have guided the practice of socialist countries and made indelible contributions to the cause of human liberation and social progress.

We should view communism objectively and rationally, and not be misled by unfounded rumors and false information.

I made the decision to read this book in anticipation of our holiday in Cuba. However, I didn't manage to finish it before our departure. So, I continued my reading throughout the entire trip. The experience of reading was truly enriched by actually landing in the Cuban reality.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the Cuban revolution and Che's role in Cuban politics and diplomacy. This is entirely understandable considering that his fame is closely associated with Cuba, despite being an Argentinian.

Lack of knowledge about Cuba's history might lead to underestimating the importance of their revolution. In this regard, our trip to Santiago de Cuba was very helpful in clarifying things. This book also provided a new perspective on Central and Latin American history, a topic that is often superficially taught in schools, usually reduced to the story of how the well-educated Europeans "discovered" them.

The author attempts to be extremely objective in his portrayal of Che. He refrains from making any personal comments, even though he was directly involved in the discovery of Che's body in Bolivia in 1997. The guerrilla fights in Sierra Maestra are depicted in a very realistic manner, highlighting the inconsistencies between Che's diary from that period and the published material. They are not presented in a glorified way but as they truly were: with people defecting, chivatos being executed, and days when they had no food or medicine for their wounded.

The book also describes the relationship between Che and Fidel, which seemed to be a great friendship. This can be inferred from their correspondence and public speeches. The portrayal of Fidel is also quite fascinating.

Che appears to be a highly idealistic and rigid man. He tries not to let emotions control him and serves as an example of discipline for his men. He was disappointed by the way communism was implemented in Russia and aimed to make Cuba an exemplary model. Although he didn't succeed in this, his legacy actually lies in today's Latin American politics, not regarding communism but rather the stance towards the U.S.

It was truly an unforgettable experience for me to visit Che's Mausoleum in Santa Clara, Fidel's Comandancia in the Sierra Maestra, the Moncada barracks, and to see the Granma Yacht in person after reading about them.

Fantástica biografía.

Después de mi visita a Cuba en verano de este año, quedé cautivado por este personaje. Fidel Castro, a figure so full of contrasts, was both violent and to a certain extent sociopathic, yet he managed to become the iconic image of the revolution. He was a symbol of protest against the established system and the status quo.

Jon Lee Anderson is the best biographer of Fidel Castro. From my research, it is definite that his work is the best biography. It is narrated in a simple, extremely interesting, captivating, and in some parts even moving way. It shows Fidel Castro as a guerrilla, a diplomat, but more importantly, as a human being.

If you want to know Fidel Castro with both his good and bad aspects to form your own judgment, this is an excellent source.

Ernesto Che Guevara was a remarkable figure, shaped by the times and environment in which he lived.

Growing up during World War 2 and into the early days of the Cold War, when imperialism from both capitalist and communist nations was at its zenith, he was compelled to take a stance.

His travels across Latin America in his adolescence exposed him to the poverty and injustice caused by the flaws of the capitalist system, underdeveloped nations, racism, and economic imperialism from the USA. Naturally, Guevara sided with the communists, being deeply influenced by early socialist literature and empathizing with its ideals as he witnessed the injustices around him.

Che has had a profound impact on me. His intentions were noble, as he was moved by the world's ills and desired to bring about change. While I may not agree with every action he took, it is important to consider the context in which he grew up.

In those harsh and turbulent times, the only path to transforming society seemed to be through struggle, ideology, violence, and revolution.

Thanks to Che, I have reevaluated my political perspective. His example has inspired me to resonate with the cause of helping the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the minorities. I am motivated to fight against injustice, albeit without resorting to violence.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was detailed and well-researched, providing a comprehensive portrayal of the enigmatic Che, encompassing both his virtues and vices, as well as the aspects that were misunderstood.

It took me a little over two months to complete, given my busy college schedule.

I dedicate this reflection to Che. Although we may not see eye to eye on everything, the mark he has left on history is truly remarkable and worthy of admiration.