5 comments about Guevara, Also Known as Che.

1. In the US, Paco Taibo II is better known within the mystery readers' crowd for his accomplished police stories with a touch of irony and a shrewd writing style. For this reason with certain apprehension I started reading this biography. In fact it was the first complete and serious Che's bio I have ever read. Later I grabbed Jon Lee Anderson's one... Of all Che's bios Paco's is the most enchanting one. It may lack the huge documention of Anderson's book, but it compensates it with an amazing style. Paco cannot divorce his own admiration of Che from his subject, but, hey, that is exactly why this book becomes so much enjoyable. I still recall grabbing the book (700 hundred pages!) one morning and going that same night to bed with the book in my hands! I couldn't stop reading it! Che's story is reflected under the light of an amazing storyteller. The episodes of Che's story are exquisitely threaded together in a masterful way. His life becomes flesh and blood in Paco's hands. The icon, the symbol of rebellion and struggle for social justice turns a man, an incredible, passionate and admirable human being throughout the book. The end cannot be better: it is ghostly but hopeful with a lot of energy and sadness and beauty: a song to Latin American history of struggle.



2. I read this more because I am a fan of Taibo than because of Che, but I have read other biographies of Che and this is clearly the best I've seen - one of the best biographies I have read, in fact. He makes you feel as though you knew him yourself.

   This edition, at least, misses getting a five-star rating from me, however, due to the perfectly atrocious editing! There are literally hundreds of typos, misspellings, poorly phrased sentences, etc. It is very distracting.




3. I would recomend this book to anyone,however, I thought Anderson went into much greater detail regarding Che's travels throughout Latin america and especially, his discriptions of the once dominating United Fruit Company. I really enjoyed this authors discriptions of the autrocites commited by Batista and his sectet police, he was a brutal american, puppet dictator. How can any american actually belive that america has allways stook for freadom around the world.



4. This book is a recount or recollection of data based on events related to the life of Ernesto Guevara known as "El Che". In some sense, the book contains a lack of analysis and interpretation of the information, an aspect Jorge Castaneda (another Che's biographer) does better. In my opinion, the best chapters are the last ones where the author, using a more sensitive (and closer) approach towards his subject, narrates the events sorrounding his death at the jungles of Bolivia. I have to confess that I felt very moved.
   
   Guevara is actually the last in a long list of tragic figures of the Latin-American tradition: Atahualpa, Tupac Amaru, Sandino, Jose Marti...If you may find him anachronistic, just think about General Patton crossing the harsh European winter with the Third Army.
   
   This book should be read at a counterpoint with Castaneda's and Anderson's ones and a close observation of the chapters which serve as a kind of epilogue that converts the book in a kind of John Le Carre novel should be noticed. Because maybe the information that is not there becomes more important; the question that remains unanswered is who to blame for the terrible death Che suffered in Bolivia? He, himself as it have been said because he was a romantic? Fidel Castro alone as the easy legend turned into gossip says? or a whole chain of political intrigue related to the last years of the Cold War? So researchers, historians, writers and scholars are invited: the story of Che's life (and death) is not a closed chapter.
   
   A book I strongly recommend as a last advice and new beginning is Jorge Ricardo Masetti's "El furor y el delirio", Barcelona, Tusquets (an English version is available) by the son of Argentine journalist of the same name and a friend of Che.



5. As other reviewers have said, this is the best of the Che biographies. Paco Taibo does the research and tells the story in a way that brings life to a myth as few other biographers in any era have been able to do. This is Ernesto Guevara as he lived and died, and you can understand how he became "El Che" the icon of the "Unredeemed America", and what drove him inexorably towards the bullet that ended his life in the dilapidated schoolhouse at La Higuera. For anyone who has seen "The Motorcycle Diaries", this book is necessary reading. I bought it five years ago and read pretty much the whole thing in a couple days. Since then, I will often grab this book and start reading at some random point, and not put it down for an hour or so. As mentioned by someone before, once you start turning the pages it is difficult to stop. The reason for this is twofold. First, the life portrayed here was an epic journey and second, Taibo is a not only a storyteller par excellence, but has a keen sense of the history of the times and is able to inject his own commentary to illuminate many of the seminal events during the course of Che's life. He is also relating to Che from a Latin American perspective, distinctly different from what North American readers may be used to. For instance, his Mexican roots are in evidence by his comparison of the legendary Mexican comedic actor Cantinflas to Che's own occasional sense of the absurdity of life. It is these touches that also help set this biography apart from the others on Che. We see another side of the legend.
   
   The biography starts with Che's family in Argentina, and their somewhat bohemian background. We learn how the young Ernesto suffered greatly from asthma, an affliction that would shape his stoic character all his life. We also learn that at an early age he followed the Spanish Civil War and the battles of the Second World War, and not only how the motorcycle trip with Alberto Granado helped form his outlook, but how he was forced to flee for his life from Guatemala as the elected government of Arbenz was violently toppled by Uncle Sam. This was the event that caused Che to pick up a rifle and give up on democracy as a means to effect change in Latin America, as well as made him willing to be incinerated in an atomic holocaust rather than surrender to a U.S. invasion of Cuba.
   
   The history of the Cuban Revolution and Che's work for Fidel's government is fascinating reading, but perhaps the most impressive parts of the book were the last few chapters detailing the ill-fated Congo and Bolivian expeditions. The Bolivian campaign reads like a funeral dirge, but even here we see the determination and self-effacing humor of the protaganist shining through til the end. The last chapter is an inspiring summation of a life lived in the most uncompromising manner, and is probably the best eulogy written for that life. One senses the author's personal attachment to the subject, which by this time has firmly become the reader's as well.
   
   The comment by another reviewer about the poor editing was true, as there are many typos and grammatical errors in the English edition I have. I am hoping this was or could be cleaned up in later printings so as not to detract from what is a classic text. Anyone interested in the life of Guevara will find this not only required reading, but a truly superlative biography by any standard.

1 comments about From Corunna to Waterloo: The Letters and Journals of Two Napoleonic Hussars, 1801-1816.

1. Gareth Glover's FROM CORUNNA TO WATERLOO provides the letters and journals of two Napoleonic Hussars from 1801-1816 and is also a top pick for any specialty library emphasizing Napoleonic history and battles. Any studying the era in depth will find these writings from participants who wrote home regularly and described both events and their feelings to be most enlightening and essential for capturing the conflicts and sentiments of the times.

5 comments about Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron.

1. Kilduff gives us, in this great book, not only an account of Richthofen exploits, but a general view of air combat in World War II. Deeply researched and rich with actual facts, this is a must-buy book for any real afficionate of air combat.



2. Mr. Kilduff's book is a thorough review of the facts, but I couldn't help but finding it a bit dry. Technically speaking, the book is very well cross-referenced and foot-noted, making it an easy quick-reference manual. But I felt it lacked personality. There's an over-emphasis on relating a chronological listing of dates, times, places, aircraft types shot down and serial numbers; and the heavy reliance on using German-language terms can bog the narrative down in places. I still find William Burrows' book RICHTHOFEN: A True History Of The Red Baron from 1969 to be an over-all better read. Mr. Kilduff's companion volume THE ILLUSTRATED RED BARON however, is excellent.



3. "Richtofen" purports to "use the newly released archives of the former East Germany" to add some detail to basic outline of Manfred von Richtofen's life. The book does justice to its subject; no doubt about that. The narrative has many first-person accounts, and copious footnotes. But for all that, there's frankly not much REALLY new here at all. Most of what is new is minutae: this victory is not RE8 S/N 05638 but RE8 S/N 61645-type statements.
   The author does include the latest research on the Fokker Dr1 and demythologizes that aircraft at least. (Richtofen wasn't overly enchanted with it, contrary to legend, but the fighter he really wanted the DVII wasn't ready.) I was frankly surprised to see a serious gap in the research that I read while living in Germany. The Luftwaffe Surgeon-General pulled Richtofen's medical records out of the archives and made a possibly crucial psycho-physiological profile of him ca 1917/18.
   This profile concludes that his head injury sustained in 1917, was serious enough to permanently ground him (even at the time; German medicine in WW1 led the world). He also found evidence that the famous nurse who attended him, Kaetie Obersdorf was a compromise between the Surgeon-General's office and Richtofen/High Command. Finally, and most relevant for Kilduff's book, the profile's author proposes that chronic symptoms from the injury may have impaired Richtofen's judgement: leading to his fatal mistakes on 21 April 1918.
   If you have a casual interest in Richtofen or WW1 fighter aviation, this book might be worthwhile. Serious students/enthusiasts of Richtofen will learn nothing substantially new.



4. I've been more of a buff of World War Two aviation, but have recently been undergoing a conversion to World War One aviation, and it was with great interest that I read this book, as it is my first on Richtofen. Up until now, I've pretty much known the "legendery" Richthofen: the steely, ruthless Teutonic pilot who roamed the skies in his red Fokker triplane. In particulr, as a Canadian, the whole controvery over his demise, is something that I learned about at a young age. But now that I've read this book, I believe that I have a better, more rounded understanding of the true Manfred von Richthofen. An excellent book, well worth reading.



5. Prior to reading "Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron" by Peter Kilduff, the extent of my knowledge regarding the Red Baron was that he was Snoopy's arch-nemesis and that the name is used on a brand of frozen pizzas. In actuality, he was a very decent and honorable soldier (for Germany during WWI) who was credited with having shot down more enemy planes than any other flier during the war and a pioneer in military aviation tactics. When he was finally shot down and killed at the age of 25 (a young man in contrast to the grossly innacurate depiction on the pizza box!) he had brought down 80 British and French airplanes, and was revered as a national hero in Germany and feared by his enemies elsewhere.
   
   And while the book does a very good job at documenting those he shot down (names, places, dates and times, plane ID #s), that part of it wasn't terribly interesting. In fact I had a hard time getting into the book until about the mid-point. Although I'm not particularly interested in aviation history, I still found it an interesting story and I enjoyed the insights into the man behind the legend. And I agree with the author that his moodiness and change in attitude toward the end of his life had less to do with the head wound he had previously suffered (as is posited on several websites I've since read) and more to do with the fact that he was suffering from "battle fatigue" or "combat stress." Or, as Richthofen's mother put it, "I believe he has seen death too often."

4 comments about My War against the Nazis: A Jewish Soldier with the Red Army (Alabama Fire Ant).

1. Adam Broner's book is a well-written, very readable one person's story of the most important event of the 20th century, World War II. It is a remarkable, I would even say unique story. At that turbulent time, most people let themselves be pushed where the changing fates of war were throwing them. Not so the young Adam Broner. He repeatedly made his own decisions, sometimes risky but right and courageous. The most important of these was to desert the "working battalions" in Siberia, and to join the army fighting the Nazis. It may sound strange, but Adam Broner's story is also unique because it tells the plain truth. He has not adapted his narrative to the now prevalent ideas. Broner simply tells us how it was. A good book. Richard Fenigsen, M.D., Waltham, Massachusetts.



2. A fine book about the history of these trying times reported by a person that lived the story. It reflects great memory and great research. It should be read by all students now and in the future interested in this period of world history.



3. This man's story has touched this woman's heart. It is a simple, easy to read, straightforward, historical and personal account of the human and his indomitable spirit. This eye-opening account leaves me with a lifetime education. I am humbled by this man's love for his faith, family and country.



4. This book is a valuable resource for students of Eastern European History. Adam Broner's first person narrative skillfully connects the author's personal story with the larger events surrounding his life. The wide scope and long time period provide a neutral perspective and a greater understanding of the events. Broner's personal stories draw the reader into history and bring it to life in a new way. The book would easily fit into a curriculum covering World War II, Communism, Eastern Block History, Anti-Semitism, and particularly Poland. This remarkable biography can be enjoyed by anyone, but it will be especially appreciated by all scholars of history.

1 comments about Mosquito Victory (Bomber Crews).

1. Too short and hardly any part of it deals with the Mosquito. An interesting insight into the way the war was fought from a personal level though, where an experienced bomber pilot could be diverted from operations on the stupid idea of an armchair warrior. Other than that just a tale of a slow life towards the end of WWII in Europe.

No comments about Standing By: The Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War.

No comments about Sacred Honor: Colin Powell : The Inside Account of His Life and Triumphs.

1 comments about FIGHTER PILOT'S SUMMER: Sequal to the Best-Selling Fighter Pilot.

1. As Fighter Pilot, Commander Richeys first book on his experiences as an RAF pilot in France in the pre Dunkirk period, is a classic and one of my all time favourites, I was happy to see that he had finally done a sequel. However it has one huge problem, unfortunately the Commander passed away before he'd finished much more than the first seven chapters and whilst this is written in the same engaging informative style as used in Fighter Pilot. The rest of the book is pretty much a biography written by Norman Franks and though informative, is very dry and it depends rather too much on dates and statistics.
   It is still an extremely good book, but the sudden transition between the two authors and they're contrasting writing styles is a bit jarring. Those who have read and loved Fighter Pilot will want to read this volume as well, but as a stand alone book it has unfortunately been marred by unavoidable circumstance.

No comments about Naptown Memories: One Boy's Life Growing Up In Indianapolis--1930s & 1940s.

5 comments about The Story of Magic, Memoirs of an American Cryptologic Pioneer (Cryptography).

1. Truly a great American hero -- Rowlett provides an abundance of detailed history and information regarding U.S. cryptography during WWII.

   His book demonstrates how he applied his genius in extremely high stakes military situations involving the development and application of code breaking and encryption technology.

   The author is able to keep the reader's interest in dealing with a complex subject.

   An intriguing disclosure of highly secret activities that moves one from the days of the "Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Pin" to the ultimate in the use of electronic machines in the 1940's.




2. This book by a pioneer cryptanalyst gives a fascinating insight into how Army cryptanalysts developed the skills and techniques that lead to the breaking of the high level Japanese Diplomatic code "Purple". It describes how the team lead by Rowlett duplicated the complex Japanese Purple cipher machine from manually broken intercepted messages - a feat that astonished Navy cryptanalysts. It describes how Rowlett developed the concepts for a code machine used by the United States during World War II that was never broken by enemy cryptanalysts. The overall account is exciting. It gives the reader a behind the scene look at the numerous obstacles American cryptanalysts faced both internally and externally - and how they overcame them. It is written by a man who for security reasons remained in the shadows for years but in the world of secret communications stood as a giant. After reading The Story of Magic one should read Hitler's Japanese Confidant by Carl Boyd. The reader can then begin to fully appreciate how reading Japanese diplomatic messages contributed to the United States diplomatic and military successes.



3. This book goes into considerable detail regarding what was done but provides almost no information on how it was accomplished. Rowlett was one of a small group of mathematicians who were introduced to cryptography by the legendary William Friedman. As recounted in the book, the group had remarkable success in breaking both Red and Purple,the Japanese diplomatic codes in use prior to WW II. Rowlett describes how the group was trained under Friedman's direction but supplies no information what so ever regarding the nature of the training. This is the case throughout the book as it relates to how every issue of importance was analyzed. The section of the book which describes the construction of the device to decode Purple is excellent in recreating the intensity of the event. One can almost smell the odor of burning electrial equipment when the contacts on the first version of the device melt and then fuse. Rowlett was obviously acutely aware of the importance of protecting the technical information related to the activities he was engaged in ; however, in doing so he produced a document which although descriptive is not at all informative. It is highly unlikely, because of antiquated security considerations, that the full story of this remarkable accomplishment will ever be presented at a level of granularity it deserves.



4. Frank Rowlett's story is an intense day-by-day account of life as a cryptanalyst in the Signal Intelligence Service during the years leading up to WW II. This story puts together important pieces of the historical puzzle. As a story, it is exciting, and brings history alive.

   This book was published as a well bound, hardback, dust jacketed book by Aegean Park Press, a publishing house well known for re-printing (keeping available and alive) important Cryptanalytical, Cryptological, Cryptograhic publications in softcover 8-1/2" x 11" format. Just the way this particular publishing house, who specializes in crypto works is treating this book "screams" the high regard they have for it.

   If you're looking for crypto course work, the how-to-do-it, Aegean Park Press has it, (though not in this book). If you are looking for the taste and feel, the heart and soul of real cryptanalysts enjoying their work, that IS the form & substance of this book; as well as being an important historical work.




5. I thought the book was very interesting and hard to put down.The detail was amazing until I realized the subject had kept notes of his early career. It left me wishing for more information about his war and post-war career. While the intricisies of the cryptanalytic processes described were hard to follow sometimes,enough information was given to keep the reader's interest. A real tribute to a genius and a national treasure. The book aroused my patriotic emotions.