1 comments about Cigar Family: A 100 Year Journey in the Cigar Industry.

1. This is a great read for cigar aficionados! I was disappointed that there wasnt more to read!

No comments about Cigars (Pocket Guide).

3 comments about Capitalism, God, and a Good Cigar: Cuba Enters the Twenty-first Century.

1. "Capitalism, God and a Good Cigar" by Lydia Chavez (editor) is a collection of 14 essays about life in contemporary Cuba. The book provides an intimate look at the experiences of ordinary Cubans as they struggle to define themselves in what appears to be a country that is positioned somewhere between socialism and capitalism. In that light, the book tantalizes the reader with the possibility of Cuba's transformation into a new and unique kind of socialist or capitalist state, depending on one's own perspective.
   
   The authors present some of the many contradictions that abound in contemporary Cuba. For example, while articles such as "Four Women Survive Manzanillo" by Alicia Roca makes it clear that many citizens live impoverished lives, "Life on the Margins" by Julian Foley discusses how Cuban entrepreneurs are profiting from an underground economy that feeds off the officially-sanctioned tourist trade. Yet, the dollars earned by the government through tourism helps to finance popular universal educational and medical programs that benefit all of Cuba's citizens to a degree not found elsewhere in Latin America. One wonders if it will be possible for Cuba to finance its social programs through for-profit tourism without individualism and the lure of profit resulting in a breakup of the social compact.
   
   As in any collection, there is variability in quality. Possibly the weakest article was "Hip Hop Pushes the Limits" by Annelise Wunderlich. In my view, the author's bemoaning of the difficulties that young rap artists experience while trying to cash in on their talents tends to trivialize the debate about capitalism versus socialism. More problematically, she recognizes that Cuban rap music has gained critical and popular international acclaim but misses the point that this success is attributable to the fact that Cuban music is produced by artists living within a socialist country and therefore is viewed, rightly or wrongly, as a more authentic expression of rage against the capitalist machine compared with rap music produced elsewhere.
   
   Fortunately, the "Hip Hop" article is a rare moment in a book that is otherwise abundant with excellent content. The Introduction entitled, "Adrift: An Introduction to Contemporary Cuba" by Lydia Chavez provides excellent context and analysis to prepare the reader for the many articles that follow. Some of my favorites include: "Dancers Who Stretch the Limits" by Ana Campoy presents the triumphs and heartbreaks of ballet as practiced in revolutionary Cuba; "Socialism and the Cigar" by Daniela Mohor discusses the success of Cuba's socialist cigar factories in producing world-renowned products while providing benefits to its workers; "Authors Who Knew or Know the Limits" by Ezequiel Minaya draws on interviews with prominent writers who have struggled with Cuba's sometimes Stalinist repression of free expression; "Cubans Log on Behind Castro's Back" by John Cote describes how Cubans gain access to the Internet in a country with limited technological resources and government controls; and "The Spanish are Back" by Megan Lardner discusses the volatile but increasingly necessary relationship between Spain and Cuba, with an emphasis on the effect Spanish investment is having on reviving the Cuban economy.
   
   I highly recommend this intriguing book for anyone interested in contemplating the question of whether the contemporary Cuban experience represents a glass that is half full or half empty -- and whether that glass might ultimately prove to be socialist or capitalist.



2. I very much enjoyed the simplicity and ease with which the various authors skated through the many cities and shared such encounters of colorful locals. Interspersed is a little history that is easy to grasp and enjoyable. The many articles provide varied perspectives of life in Cuba today.



3. Cubans are under communism a.k.a SLAVERY. Cubans are not allowed to be independent in any way including economically, they are forced to depend on a very useless government despite how mediocre it may be, is a control tactic. After Castro outlawed (stole) all private property and with this destroyed the Cuban GDP and economy he solely depended on the money the U.S.S.R gave him directly which at the end amounted to billions to keep Cuba a Russian satellite nation, when this disappeared in '89 Castro was scared and in mid 90's opened Cuba to tourism to bring in money.
   
   Everything is state owned still, so his grip is the same, he allows Cubans to make and receive SOME level of money since he owns all stores and necessities it will be his money at the end, as soon as Cubans start to operate outside the government, show independence and start creating a needed industry he strikes. Again, it is slavery, once you realize this everything is so clear. Lets recall that in '58 just a year before Castro, Cuba had the largest middle class per-capita not only in the Caribbean but in Latin America. Just a look at todays crumbling Havana more than reveals that this was a first world style metropolis unlike any other in a long radius; also, all those Chevrolets to Cadillacs still around from its capitalistic days more than shows proof of a past strong middle class.
   
   Cubans have been submerged in necessity and poverty and Cuba has been falling to pieces ever since Castro took power. So ask yourself, where did all the Russian billions of $$$ go? They went to his Swiss bank account and in efforts to export his revolution; remember Grenada, Angola, the Salvadorian Civil War,etc. And where did the Colombian guerrilla got trained and supplied in the 60s and 70s? Cuba was the name. Is not about the embargo is about who is in control and truly embargoing the Cuban people. Is not about a cup half-empty or half-full is about go is drinking the water. To be more imformed check therealcuba site.

No comments about Mi Abuela Fumaba Puros/My Grandma Smoked Cigars.

No comments about ONCE A CIGAR MAKER: Men, Women, and Work Culture in American Cigar Factories, 1900-1919 (Working Class in American History).

3 comments about I'm Just Getting Started: Baseball's Best Storyteller on Old School Baseball, Defying the Odds, and Good Cigars.

1. "I'm Just Getting Started: Baseball's Best Storyteller on Old School Baseball, Defying the Odds, and Good Cigars" had the unfortunate luck to be released at approximately the same time as Jose Canseco's much more popular book - - "Juiced : Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big."
   
   With the assistance of Kevin Kernan, Jack McKeon recounts his life in 211 double spaced and large font pages. Of note, Amazon lists the book at 213 pages, but the last two pages detail the manager's record. This is an important fact as it personifies the book in a nutshell. It appears that the author(s) filled in space simply to increase the page count and this detracts from the value of the book.
   
   While the stories are interesting, the editing is horrible and while reading this book, the reader constantly envisions Jack McKeon dictating his words and Kevin typing these words exactly as spoken and then submitting these same words for approval from the publisher without editing.
   
   Most of the book focuses on Mr. McKeon's managerial days and it does a good job of making the reader appreciate how hard he has worked and how far he has come. Jack McKeon uses this book to obtain his revenge on those who let him go (i.e. Cincinnati comes up a lot in the book), but I have no problem with this as he is sailing on top at the present moment. In addition, revenge is best served on a cold platter and he utilizes this mantra well.
   
   Having said this, the book is essentially a hodgepodge of words put together. Sure, it may sound like a conversation, but many ideas are repeated and unnecessary. If you remove the letters from fans, reduce the font, and eliminate the double spacing, you will realize that this book is not quite worth the $16.47 Amazon price.



2. Being a huge Florida Marlins fan, I was very excited that this book was being published. The rags to riches story of Mckeon and the 2003 World Series champs deserves to be recorded for the annals. Jack is known for being very un-PC and a truly salty story teller so I had high hopes for the book.
   That being said, I am forced to admit to being a little disappointed. The book is very short, and I double-checked to make sure I hadn't bought the large print edition accidentally. Despite being a biography, the book foregoes a chronological telling of McKeon's long and distinguished life. I feel this is a mistake as the narrative jumps all over the place. Perhaps the author was trying for a more conversational style, but it is too discombobulated and lacks any cohesion.
   
   I have read a lot of sports biographies, and this is far from the worst. It could have been better. It has some nice details on the 2003 world series run and does capture the quirkiness of its subject. It seems like a book that was contracted out and not started until a week before its publishing deadline.



3. Basically this book is a few interesting baseball anecdotes surrounded by a lot of fluff. Most of the blame should be laid at the feet of Kevin Kernan who is listed as a contributing writer. Jack supplied the anecdotes and personal information but Kernan should have been responsible for putting it all into a readable form. In some cases Jack repeats the same statements over three or four times in different parts of the book with just a slight change in the wording. By the time I got halfway through the book I was praying that Jack would not tell me again how much "fun" baseball was or how he was the "first" to do this or that. My prayers were not answered.
   
   I was especially turned off by McKeon's story about getting his son a passing grade in college by giving the professor free game tickets. The bribe is loosely referred to as having "street smarts". Let's call a spade a spade Jack, it's unethical and illegal. There's nothing "smart" about it.
   
   McKeon wears his religion on his sleeve, which is admirable. The problem I have with this is that he attributes certain positive events in his life, including game wins, to "the power of prayer". Apparently Jack hadn't prayed the night before he lost a playoff game for a wildcard spot as manager of the Reds or before his Padres were annihilated by the Tigers in the '84 World Series.
   
   Several of the stories are entertaining, especially if one is familiar with players from the 60s on up. But these could have been condensed into less than 10 pages. I commend Mr. McKeon on his accomplishments but I had hoped for a book that had much more substance. For that I would recommend the classic "Veeck As In Wreck" by Bill Veeck.
   
   I picked up this book from the local library. Thank goodness I didn't put any hard-earned cash out for it.

No comments about Lighters: Gli Accendini (Bella Cosa Library).

No comments about Beer Advertising: Knives, Letter Openers, Ice Picks, Cigar Cutters, and More (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about Artists In Wood: American Carvers of Cigar-Store Indians, Show Figures, and Circus Wagons.

2 comments about Cigarette Lighters, Collecting Vol. 2.

1. This book appears to be a catalog of cigarette lighters that are widely available. It appears quality was not a consideration in the selection of these lighters (mostly japanese and low quality junk from the 50's-60's). These are, by and large not the items that have turned lighter collecting in to the popular hobby it is today. The saving grace of this book is the fact that it also includes about 70 pages of old catalog reprints showing some of the higher quality lighters available from the 20's-30's. It would have been nice to see some actual photographs of these lighters instead of the black and white and color drawings used in these vintage ads. However, these ads save the book, if not for these ads, the lighters photographed for this book would make it a good guide for what not to avoid in lighter collecting.



2. i 've owned this book together with the vol 2 for some years now ,and at this price it's a must-have for any collector. it is pretty general in it's aproach, but aren't many collections? can the experts write some more of them ?( there's a real demand for 'em ! )