You don't get this level of detail on wikipedia!
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Surely the world's most successful Socialist and Humanist. What would we give for 100 hours of interviews with leaders from the past - Henry VIII, Bolivar, Mao, etc. ?
This is a terrific insight into the life of someone I greatly admire for his principles and his actions. One of the greatest chapters is an early one where Castro talks about his revolutionary influences - characters such as Jose Marti, who I wasn't previously aware of.
Ramonet did an impressive job of pressing the issues with Castro, especially over the death penalty. My only gripe is that some subjects were obviously off-limits, such as Castro's estranged daughter.
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Fidel - the truth will out
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I have been utterly and surprisingly entranced by this book. I bought it to read on the plane to Havana and during a fantastic fortnight on this amazing island, Fidel's voice seemed to keep me company all the way. Even now, the power of his ethical vision for his people and his achievements stays with me and I feel sorry I was not more aware of what he has done sooner.
It is monstrous the way he has been denigrated by the USA and others and he is shown here to be probably the world's most brilliant political figure of the last 50 years. His main crime in the eys of the USA is his undying commitment to the revolutionary process, his unswerving belief in the possibility of an alternative to the presnt mad globalisation process and of course they have never forgiven him for outlasting 10 US presidents!
His is an extraordinary story of a survivor of over 600 CIA inspired assassination attempts, enormous personal bravery and fascinating views about history, culture, politics, the environment and, of course, Che.
His most amazing anecdote in the book was of how, at the height of the New Orleans flood tragedy, he actually offerd Bush 500 doctors to help out. For free! And of course Bush couldnt possibly accept. I think that counts as serious charisma in my book!
I cant recommend this book highly enough to people who want to believe that high principles and morality can actually triumph if your convictions are strong enough and if, as Che said, your revoluction is based on love of the people. '80 more years', as they say, tongue in cheek, on the posters in Havana!!!!
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Inspiring account by a great and human man
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This inspiring book is the result of conversations held in 2003-05. It is an autobiography à deux, `an oral summing-up of Fidel Castro's life by Fidel himself'.
Chapters cover his childhood and youth, his meeting Che Guevara, the 1959 Cuban revolution, the failed US attack at the Bay of Pigs, the 47-year US blockade, the incessant media attacks on Cuba, the US state's terrorist attacks on Cuba which have killed 3,500 people, the October 1962 crisis, Che's death, the collapse of the Soviet Union, globalisation, Cuba's relations with Spain, France and Latin America, and Cuba today.
Fidel is rightly proud of Cuba's magnificent achievements in education and health. Cuba's primary school children are first in the world in languages and maths. Cuba is first in the world in teachers per person and has the smallest class sizes. Cuba is educating thousands of people from Africa, Asia and Latin America, without charging a cent. Cuba provides government-sponsored scholarships to nearly 30,000 students from 121 countries currently enrolled in Cuba's universities, some 23,000 of whom are being trained as doctors.
Cuba is first in the world in doctors per person and is the largest educator of doctors in the world, ten times more than the USA. Cuba sends thousands of doctors to Africa, with its 30 million AIDS patients, while the whole EU cannot send even a hundred doctors there, instead stealing Africa's doctors and nurses. 37,000 Cuban health workers, including 18,000 doctors, are providing services in 79 countries. Since 2004, Cuba's Operation Miracle has restored sight to 1,000,000 patients from 32 countries.
Fidel has much to contribute to the debate on globalisation. He points out that the total debt owed by the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America is $2.5 trillion, and that they get $53 billion a year aid, while paying interest of $350 billion a year. He notes that 500 monopolies control 80% of the world's economy, profiting from poverty-level wages.
Fidel points out that capitalism undermines all reforms and that one can't build socialism by capitalist methods. He attaches great importance to ethics, ideas, knowledge, values, and culture. As José Marti, another of Cuba's heroes, said, "Being cultured is the only way to be free."
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