Che Guevara Talks to Young People

by Ernesto Che Guevara, Mary-Alice Waters

A Pathfinder upgraded edition. In eight talks from 1959 to 1964, the Argentine-born revolutionary challenges youth of Cuba and the world to study, to work, to become disciplined. To join the front lines of struggles, small and large. To politicize their organizations and themselves. To become a different kind of human being as they strive together with working people of all lands to transform the world. And, along this course, to revel in the spontaneity and joy of being young. Introduction by Mary-Alice Waters, 12-page photo section and other photos, glossary, index. Now with enlarged type. Also available Greek; Spanish

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy

188 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Ernesto "Che" Guevara, commonly known as El Che or simply Che, was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution, since his death Guevara's stylized visage has become an ubiquitous countercultural symbol and global icon within popular culture.

His belief in the necessity of world revolution to advance the interests of the poor prompted his involvement in Guatemala's social reforms under President Jacobo Arbenz, whose eventual CIA-assisted overthrow solidified Guevara's radical ideology. Later, while living in Mexico City, he met Raúl and Fidel Castro, joined their movement, and travelled to Cuba with the intention of overthrowing the U.S.-backed Batista regime. Guevara soon rose to prominence among the insurgents, was promoted to second-in-command, and played a pivotal role in the successful two year guerrilla campaign that topled the Cuban government.

After serving in a number of key roles in the new government, Guevara left Cuba in 1965 to foment revolution abroad, first unsuccessfully in Congo-Kinshasa and later in Bolivia, where he was captured by CIA-assisted Bolivian forces and executed.

Guevara remains both a revered and reviled historical figure, polarized in the collective imagination in a multitude of biographies, memoirs, essays, documentaries, songs, and films. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, while an Alberto Korda photograph of him entitled "Guerrillero Heroico," was declared "the most famous photograph in the world" by the Maryland Institute of Art.

Reviews

[Vic u · Rating 5 out of 5]

essential for all young people. An ex-Salvadoran guerrilla recommended me this book, and it was just as incredible as I expected.

[ayşe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I view Che, furthermore, as a moral giant who grows day by day, whose image, whose strength, whose influence has multiplied throughout the world.
How could he fit below a tombstone?
How could he fit in this plaza?
How could he fit solely in our beloved but small island?
Only the world he dreamed of, which he lived and fought for, is big enough for him."

"Today he is not in La Higuera. Instead, he is everywhere; he is to be found wherever there is a just cause to defend. Those with a stake in eliminating him and making him disappear were incapable of understanding that he had already left an indelible mark on history; that his shining, prophetic vision would become a symbol for all the poor of this world, in their millions. Young people, children, the elderly, men and women who knew him, honest persons throughout the world, regardless of their social origin, admire him. Che is waging and winning more battles than ever."

[Kovalsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vale la pena di lottare solo per le cose senza le quali non vale la pena di vivere

[Vincenzo D’Ausilio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Libro contenente alcuni discorsi veramente belli. Anche se devo dire che la scelta delle introduzioni e anche l’ordine e/o la scelta dei discorsi non mi abbia entusiasmato più di tanto, inoltre penso che chi non sappia niente di Che Guevara non possa leggere questo libro, quindi a parer mio la rivoluzione non può essere spiegata ai ragazzi ( o almeno a quelli che non sappiano di Che Guevara minimamente essendo nati in un’epoca diversa ) come si vorrebbe intendere dalla copertina. La parte negativa comunque è il podcast che ho trovato molto noioso e fatto abbastanza male per come vengono raccontatati gli aneddoti quasi “di sfuggita“. Libro non consigliato consiglierei piuttosto la biografia di Che Guevara di Paco Ignacio Taibo II che si può trovare anche allo stesso prezzo se non più basso, per chi voglia veramente conoscere Che Guevara e la rivoluzione cubana.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very great documentation to be read. To relive the moments in the revolutionary Cuba!

[Comrade Kvlt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6th Guevara read. Perhaps not essential Guevara reading, but at this point I'm a sucker. Every word he spoke and wrote I cling on to. The man never stops inspiring with his revolutionary optimism, his passion, his love, his wisdom. Perhaps this sounds cultish, or perhaps you're someone who is blind to the fact that among this earth has walked some people who are undeniable paragons of the greatest human virtues.

My favorite thing about this book is that it includes the audience interactions and responses. I think books like this that are transcripts of speeches should always note these interactions, especially for speakers like him and Castro where the dynamic and play between them and the audience was so important. the laughter, shouting, applause. its so infectious. every speech of theirs makes it abundantly clear how overwhelmingly beloved they are and how close Castro, Che, etc. are with the masses. there's so much comraderie and love and passion in the room, i love it.

Also, the first speech in 1960 at the first Latin American Youth Congress, the crowd is insane. 1 million people. For comparison, the Island of Cuba at the time had just above 7 million people. Additionally, i think this is for the speech to international volunteers for the work brigades, its wild how multicultural the delegations were. People from every single corner of the earth were coming to see the new Cuban project. You had people who literally were jailed in their home country for attending like the ones who came from the US. You had every superpower/power and its rival attending. US/ussr, france/algeria, vietnam. The internationalist vision of Cuba permeated worker consciousness across the planet.

[Ivety · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the introduction telling me that this is not a good starting point to learn about Che, I found it to be quite the opposite - a succinct way to familiarise myself with the Cuban revolution as well as Guevara's life and philosophy. By giving you access to Guevara's actual words, you feel that you are right in the midst of the revolution and that he is talking to you directly, that you are part of the onlooking crowd. And the truth is that his speeches and ideas are very compelling. I seriously considered moving to Cuba.

The endnotes and glossary are also excellent. If you are supremely bothered by books that contain unexplained historical references (like me), fear not. It's all in there, so you don't need to put the book down and google anything.

[Ñukñu · Rating 4 out of 5]

El capítulo más personal para mí fue “Para ser un medico revolucionario primero hay que hacer revolución”. Pienso que el capítulo más importante para organizadores es “La juventud debe marchar en la vanguardia”. En el mitad del libro hay fotos. El libro incluye Notas de glosario y Más lectura. Este libro puede se el punto de empieza para estudios de cuba, Che, y el movimiento revolucionario en Latinoamérica. Antes de cada discurso había text que daba un breve contexto sobre el tema, historia, y eventos relevantes en aquel tiempo.

[Fiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I view Che, furthermore, as a moral giant who grows day by day, whose image, whose strength, whose influence has multiplied throughout the world.
How could he fit below a tombstone?
How could he fit in this plaza?
How could he fit solely in our beloved but small island?
Only the world he dreamed of, which he lived and fought for, is big enough for him.”

[zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We ourselves, a revolutionary government, part of the people, have learned by always asking the people and without ever isolating ourselves from them. Because he who governs, yet isolates himself in an ivory tower and tries to lead the people with formulas, is lost and is on the road to despotism. The people and the government should always be one."

[Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring at times, rote at others

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

F U C K T H E U S

[Giustina Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly inspiring words by Che Guevara.

[Ste Ven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the life and stories of a great man. Ernesto Che Guevara. This man persuaded and with his leadership built a whole country together to do the impossible. The purpose for this book is actually not to talk about himself and his accomplishments but the valuable lessons that he believes young children should learn. His most important message was "Recognizing the enormous role of culture and moral values in history of civilization, and extracting from it the necessary practical consequences". He sets examples to rise to the level of revolutionary activity and scientific thought necessary to confront and resolve the contradictions of communism that threatens humanity. Through this time,the whole republic of Cuba was under rule from the communist dictator Batista. Che had persuaded the whole country to rebel against Batista's unfair ruling. To think about it, the rebellion's chances of what they had done was slim. All the had were their fists, knifes and with the but, every single soldier had guns. What made this rebellion army so strong was their passion and belief of winning this battle thanks to the motivation from Che Guevara. What Che said was very right. To first recognize the things they might lose and their might be some people killed, but in the end all of this will be for the better. To rise the level of revolutionary activity necessary to confront the bigger forces that what their doing is wrong.

I picked this book up because before reading this book, i knew absolutely nothing about this guy. I wanted to know more because i have seen many posters and people's t-shirts with his face on them. I guessed he had to be really famous or did some revolutionary things to gain all these people's respect and recognition. And now, knowing more, what he had done has possibly changed the world. What would the world be like if Batista was still ruling and other countries had adapted his ruling ideas? And even after 45 years after his death, he is still remembered.

i didn't read the whole. There was too much information and some political terms that i didn't understand. It was a challenge to understand the concept of some of the ideas. But i got the main details about his life and his accomplishments so it was worth reading.

Free flowing minds that have some knowledge for political terms should read this book. It is not hard to get inspired and persuaded from all of Che's beliefs. They are good life lessons and also filled with detail from the events and rebellions he was involved in.

[Marc Lichtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of Che's speeches and writings to young people in Cuba and the world. You can consider this as a companion volume to Malcolm X Talks to Young People: Speeches in the United States, Britain, and Africa. These two revolutionaries were the biggest influence on the youth radicalization, starting in the 1960s. It contains a preface by Armando Hart Dávalos, Cuba's first minister of education and then of culture and author of Aldabonazo: Inside the Cuban Revolutionary Underground, 1952-58: A Participant's Account. With an introduction by Mary-Alice Waters, president of Pathfinder Press.

[gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

how could i give my man Che less than 5 stars