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Cuba: From Columbus to Castro and Beyond
In Jaime Suchlicki’s engaging style, From Columbus to Castro and Beyond provides a detailed and sophisticated understanding of the Cuba of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In addition to its concise narrative history, CUBA details the current political climate, economy, and the regime’s future. Suchlicki discusses the domestic and international events that have affected this island nation in recent years. This highly readable history is perfect for students, travelers, and anyone else who seeks to understand more about Cuba and its people.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
278 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 20, 2017
Note, November 20, 2017: In browsing through my History shelf today, I decided that, in comparison with other books I've rated there, this book would more accurately deserve four stars than five (though obviously it's still a very good book!).
Cuba has been in the news a lot recently. Regrettably, this book is too old to directly cover the current transition from Fidel to Raul, or even the 2003 crackdown on dissent (which imposed draconian prison sentences on over 70 human rights and democracy activists, independent journalists, and operators of some of the island's burgeoning network of grassroots independent libraries). But it does provide a valuable overview of the history of Cuba up to 2002, setting the current regime in its context. (Modern Americans too often suffer from total historical amnesia about other countries, making it impossible for them to realistically understand present conditions.) And it lays bare the repressive character and intellectual bankruptcy of the Stalinist Castro regime and its failed socio-economic policies (while not whitewashing the record of the U.S. in Cuba's history, either).
One of the world's foremost scholars in Latin American history, Dr. Suchlicki has written the definitive, well documented (the bibliography takes up 12 1/2 pages) popular history of Cuba. A perfect antidote to the rose-colored propaganda put out by the Castro government and its U.S. "solidarity groups," it deserves a wide readership.
Cuba has been in the news a lot recently. Regrettably, this book is too old to directly cover the current transition from Fidel to Raul, or even the 2003 crackdown on dissent (which imposed draconian prison sentences on over 70 human rights and democracy activists, independent journalists, and operators of some of the island's burgeoning network of grassroots independent libraries). But it does provide a valuable overview of the history of Cuba up to 2002, setting the current regime in its context. (Modern Americans too often suffer from total historical amnesia about other countries, making it impossible for them to realistically understand present conditions.) And it lays bare the repressive character and intellectual bankruptcy of the Stalinist Castro regime and its failed socio-economic policies (while not whitewashing the record of the U.S. in Cuba's history, either).
One of the world's foremost scholars in Latin American history, Dr. Suchlicki has written the definitive, well documented (the bibliography takes up 12 1/2 pages) popular history of Cuba. A perfect antidote to the rose-colored propaganda put out by the Castro government and its U.S. "solidarity groups," it deserves a wide readership.
February 21, 2024
i appreciated that this book was easy to follow and allowed me to come and go back to it without having to remember exact dates or every political figure.
June 28, 2024
I read this while hitchhiking across Cuba when I was younger. Seeing the parallels between what I was reading and seeing with my own eyes was wonderful, but would I enjoy it as much if I wasn’t there? The content was excellent, the author clearly is extremely well-versed in the rich history and social, economic, political, etc. effects of such. But it was extremely dense, I found it difficult to focus for long periods.
Then again, I don’t think this is a book that you’d curl up and relax with, maybe it’s better for academic contexts. So take my words with a grain of salt. I’m also not Cuban, or claim to be, so if this book caters to the personal, lived experiences of you or your family, by all means, pick it up 😉
Then again, I don’t think this is a book that you’d curl up and relax with, maybe it’s better for academic contexts. So take my words with a grain of salt. I’m also not Cuban, or claim to be, so if this book caters to the personal, lived experiences of you or your family, by all means, pick it up 😉
November 30, 2017
I thought this was a well-written book, covering the social, economic and historical aspects of the island. I would like to hear what this author has to say about the island's recent history, I'll have to poke around a bit and see if he has written anything lately.
October 7, 2016
Preparing for a trip to Cuba, so I'm reading up on the country. This book was written some time ago, but it's likely that not much has changed.
The history of Cuba is a sad one: Domination by outside powers (first Spain, then the U.S., then the Soviet Union), corrupt governments violently overthrown by ineffective governments and vice versa. Cuba has few natural resources and never made serious money for its colonial overlords, much less its own people. Its location is strategic--near the United States and as a gateway to the Caribbean and Central America, so it has mostly been a place for more powerful interests to make a point.
MIsruled by the Castro brothers for the last 50-60 years, the Cuban people persevere in shared poverty and denial of rights. It's clear from this book that Castro did not seize total power in order to implement Communism; rather, Communism is a means by which Castro retains his total power. Too bad for Cubans that it's a lousy economic system.
The Castros can't live forever (or can they?), but nothing in Cuba's history or current situation would suggest that the future will be any better.
The history of Cuba is a sad one: Domination by outside powers (first Spain, then the U.S., then the Soviet Union), corrupt governments violently overthrown by ineffective governments and vice versa. Cuba has few natural resources and never made serious money for its colonial overlords, much less its own people. Its location is strategic--near the United States and as a gateway to the Caribbean and Central America, so it has mostly been a place for more powerful interests to make a point.
MIsruled by the Castro brothers for the last 50-60 years, the Cuban people persevere in shared poverty and denial of rights. It's clear from this book that Castro did not seize total power in order to implement Communism; rather, Communism is a means by which Castro retains his total power. Too bad for Cubans that it's a lousy economic system.
The Castros can't live forever (or can they?), but nothing in Cuba's history or current situation would suggest that the future will be any better.
January 9, 2008
Everything you want to know about Cuban history is in there! Read it!
Read
February 4, 2016History of Cuba from indigenous times to late 1970s. Readable history; emphasis on the 1940s on. Read this in preparation for my trip to Cuba.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews