Cuba: From Columbus to Castro and Beyond, Fifth Edition Rev.

Others who are pro-leftist/socialist/communist might venture into the realm of suggesting that Professor Suchlicki "descends into a series of personal opinions and observances peppered with historical facts." A simple web search on the author's name will show many more credentials than simply being "an adviser to officials in the Bush administration."

A brilliant account narrated by one of the few historians not marred by leftist bias.


Narrative collapses after 1959   April 12, 2004
Jaton Rash (Vancouver, WA United States)
8 out of 13 found this review helpful

This was a pretty good book, up until the period that came after 1959. The historical narrative up to that point is brisk and easy to read, as well as informative, condensing many centuries and events into a limited amount of pages. This is to be expected from any history, and in this case it suffices.

After the period of Castro's takeover of the island, the narrative descends into a series of personal opinions and observances peppered with historical facts. It seems the author patched together this part of the book from a few articles and lectures he has given. The coverage of the Bay of Pigs is practically non-existent, as is focus on Che Guevara and the impact he had on the fledgling Communist state. Toward the end of the book, the author descends even further into a minor rhetorical battle with the tenets of Cuban Communism.

I finished the book in spite of that, and there's a good section in the back on books for further reference.

My guess is that the Cuban threat still lingers in the author's mind, and for various political reasons he felt he had to water down the post-1959 section of the book. Keep in mind that the book was written around the mid-80's and the Cold War was still in full bloom. In fact, the Nicaraguan contra war against the Sandinistas was also a shadow war against Castro, who had greatly aided the Sandinistas as they took power, and this was happening simultaneously as the release of this book.

It seems that Mr. Suchlicki is currently an adviser to officials in the Bush administration. These officials are drawing up plans for a "democratic transition" in Cuba even as we speak. Anyone searching for differing viewpoints on Cuba is definitely advised to shop around and check the credentials of the author before beginning a book.


Another Distraught Cubano   September 8, 2003
0 out of 20 found this review helpful

This book does nothing more than give an academic look at an already easily solvable problem.
Get over it the wealthy former-Cubans deserted the island and rather than sit back in their stylish Miami homes and quip and complain about what should be done they should look to their future in America or else renounce their American citizenship and go back to the Cuba.


Tedious   June 4, 2000
24 out of 28 found this review helpful

The author purports to update the previous (third) edition of his book. However, there are numerous places (see pp. 81, 176, 186, 193, and 197) in the book that suggest that there was no update other than Chapters 15-17 which are actually in a different type from the rest of the book. For example, the book stills discusses the Soviet Union in the present tense. With respect to the content of the book, the author spends all of 10 pages, 12 pages if one includes the map of Cuba, discussing the indigenous people of Cuba. The discussion of Castro's rule is tedious. The analysis of the future of Cuba after Castro is obvious and superficial. Save your money.