Che Guevara

A Revolutionary Life

By: Jon Lee Anderson

Narrated by: Armando Durán

Length: 36 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Che Guevara was a dashing rebel whose epic dream was to end poverty and injustice in Latin America and the developing world through armed revolution.

Jon Lee Anderson traces Che's extraordinary life from his comfortable Argentine upbringing to the battlefields of the Cuban revolution, from the halls of power in Castro's government to his failed campaign in the Congo and his assassination in the Bolivian jungle.

Meticulously researched and full of exclusive information, this work illuminates as never before the mythic figure who embodied the high-water mark of revolutionary communism as a force in history.

©1997 Jon Lee Anderson (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A great place to start your retirement

Would you try another book from Jon Lee Anderson and/or Armando Durán?

Yes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Che Guevara?

He was ashmatic and a bit of a player.

What aspect of Armando Durán’s performance would you have changed?

Shorten it. it was a very long story.

What else would you have wanted to know about Jon Lee Anderson’s life?

Some of the adventures of obtaining the information required to put this book together.

Any additional comments?

This was a project and it'll make the movies seem so brief.

Patria o Muerte!

Good for people wanting to know about Che. I didn't get the sense that the author was totally pro Che, he produced the facts and left out any biased opinions. I could have done without so much detail when it came to military strategy, never the less it helps paint a clear picture of everything Che and his army were up against. After finishing this book I can see why Che is such a polarizing figure, however an intriguing one. This book has also opened a can of curiosity for me, I know want to learn more about latin american history and certain individuals in particular introduced (to me anyway) in this writing.

Learned a lot!

Good book but let’s be honest, 37 hours of listening is quite the task. The length of the book is largely due to the super long descriptions and details of war positions, clothing, hair styles, etc….just get to the point! Also, the narrator, although was good, was also often too monotone. He maintains the same tone for 37 hours!

Outside of those cons, the pros is that you’ll learn a ton about Che, Fidel and the revolution.

Fascinating and Balanced

A great listen of a most fascinating life. The author does well in presenting the many greatnesses and the many fault in this monumental figure.

Summary of a man who lived a hundred lives

It was pretty good, very detailed, did a good enough job trying to retell his life and actions unbiasedly. Even though the author is clearly fond of Che. I liked it. The author will even include all sides of the story for certain events that have been covered throughout the decades with "He said, she said" retellings, breaking them down for inaccuracies or giving credit where credit is due. The book was worth the $$$ for the 20 plus hours of history and knowledge. Give it a listen, you'll find a story of a man who was flawed just like any one of us but still stood by his ideals, and when the time came died for them. Kuddos.

Intense and Fascinating

Great book, keeps you engage and makes you wonder how South American will be today if Che would have been able to continue his ties with China.

A true Revolutionary Book

A great book, Jon as crached out every detail out of the pot. A book Worthy of a true revolutionary "CHE"
Best biograpy i have ever read (Heard)

Lets you decide

Having lived through this period of history and finding most of the books written about the time to be either too far right, or too far left, this biography presented a very complete view of Che from beginning to end, without casting him as either hero or villain.

At the same time, it gives brief glimpses into the historical and personal people in his life, without losing focus on the main character.

Having stopped listening to “Historical” or “Biographical” materials, finding them too agenda driven, I am very glad I took the time to listen and enjoy this book. I hope this trend continues.

Game changer

I recommend this book to anyone who struggles to understand success. I am not a communist in the least, but this book changed the way I live. The tenacity of Che to peruse his passions, the enthusiasm he applied to his work, and the strict diligence applied to his every step can be replicated in so many ways. Within three years, he went from an unknown nomad to an international hero. He did this because he discovered his life purpose and pursued with with an unrelenting passion. The success of life requires us to find our purpose and to peruse that with an unrelenting passion.

Too long

Unnecessarily detailed but I must say that I’m glad I made it through. Viva la revolucion !