The Guevara reader

"Che Guevera and the Cuban Revolution" is a collection of writings and speeches by Ernesto Che Guevara, a person who hardly needs an introduction.

And then, maybe he does!

The main drawback of this book is that it contains very little information on Che Guevara's life, the history of the Cuban revolution, or US-Cuban relations. Nor does it contain detailed explanations of Guevara's writing and speeches.

Essentially, this book is a reference work, to be used in conjunction with other books on Guevara and the Cuban events. Still, as a reference book, it seems comprehensive enough. It also contains interesting and sometimes humorous photos of Che Guevara in various situations: at a chess tournament, at the United Nations, doing voluntary work in Cuba, playing golf with Fidel Castro in full military garb, etc. There's even a photo of Che smoking a gigantic Havana cigar! The "classic" portrait is not included. Perhaps the publisher's couldn't get hold of the copyright?

The writings include "Socialism and Man in Cuba" and "Planning and Consciousness", in which Che Guevara explains his view of the building of socialism. In contrast to Soviet Communists, Che took the position that moral and ideological incentives should be more important than material incentives, an idea similar to Maoism (but presumably developed independently). He seems to have coupled this with plans for a super-centralized planned economy, more centralized than that proposed in Soviet manuals, which he criticizes.

Other writings include a speech at the United Nations, a message to the Tricontinental about the need to create "two, three, many Vietnams", and a speech at a conference of the US-sponsored Alliance of Progress (!). The book also contains several interesting letters. Finally, the editors have included Fidel Castro's memorial speech.

The book is published by Pathfinder, the publishing arm of the Socialist Workers Party, an ex-Trotskyist party based in the United States.

"Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution" is hardly a book you can read from cover to cover. Che Guevara wasn't the best of writers or orators. Indeed, he often sounds like a stilted intellectual. Yet, as reference material for students of Cuban or Communist history, this book could serve a purpose.