Book Description
By the time he was killed in the jungles of Bolivia, where his body was displayed like a deposed Christ, Ernesto "Che" Guevara had become a synonym for revolution everywhere from Cuba to the barricades of Paris. This extraordinary biography peels aside the veil of the Guevara legend to reveal the charismatic, restless man behind it.
Drawing on archival materials from three continents and on interviews with Guevara's family and associates, Castaneda follows Che from his childhood in the Argentine middle class through the years of pilgrimage that turned him into a committed revolutionary. He examines Guevara's complex relationship with Fidel Castro, and analyzes the flaws of character that compelled him to leave Cuba and expend his energies, and ultimately his life, in quixotic adventures in the Congo and Bolivia. A masterpiece of scholarship,
Companero is the definitive portrait of a figure who continues to fascinate and inspire the world over.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
CHE GUEVARA- REVOLUTIONARY FIGHTER .......2006-07-06
This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Cuban July 26th movement, the 47th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the 39th anniversary of the execution of Ernesto `Che' Guevara by the Bolivian Army after the defeat of his guerilla forces and his capture in godforsaken rural Bolivia. Thus, it is fitting to review the biography of the life of a man who stood for my generation, the Generation of '68, and for later generations as an icon of revolutionary intransigence. This writer has read a few earlier biographies of Che, which a reading of the author's footnotes will guide the reader toward, but selected this biography for several reasons. First, it was published in 1997 when, after the demise of the Soviet Union and other Eastern European states, more sources became available and thus a more rounded picture could be found for the enduring legacy of Che. Second, the author has done an excellent job of interviewing Che's associates, political opponents, fellow revolutionaries, fellow ministry workers and flat- out agents of American imperialism to get their take on Che. In fact, the author has presented a range of hypothesizes, facts and just pure guesses by these interviewees for every controversial aspect of Che's life from his troubled childhood to the still immense speculation around the circumstances of his early death under fire and in struggle.
Let us be clear about two things. First, this writer has defended the Cuban revolution since its inception; initially under a liberal democratic premise of the right of nations, especially applicable to small nations pressed up against the imperialist powers, to self-determination; later under the above-mentioned premise and also that it should be defended on socialist grounds, not my idea of socialism- the Bolshevik, 1917 kind- but socialism nevertheless. Secondly, my conception of revolutionary strategy and thus of world politics has always been far removed from Che's strategy, which emphasized military victory by guerilla forces in the countryside, rather than my position of mass action by the urban proletariat leading the rural masses. Those strategic differences will be discussed in another review in this space later concerning the fate of the Cuban Revolution. That said, despite the strategic political differences this militant can honor the memory of Che-exceptional revolutionary fighter.
Who was Che and why has he remained an icon for militant youth to this day. Obviously a brief outline of his biography reveals a very appealing rebel. In fact the chronology of his life is sometime no militant today can duplicate. The circumstances have long past that would make such experiences possible. For openers, a wayward, carefree youth who gets serious about politics in 1950's Bolivia when all kinds of upheavals are occurring; a marginal figure associated with the left in Guatemala at the time of the CIA coup against the Arbenz government; adrift in Mexico where he has a fateful meeting with the Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro and signs on; various adventures and misadventures in the mountains of Cuba where he rises to the leadership of the Rebel Army; the final triumphant march in Havana in 1959; assignment to various high positions in the revolutionary government including Minister of Industries; pro-Soviet then anti-Soviet advocate; advocate of and advisor to Third World revolutionary alliances against imperialism; disillusioned state bureaucrat; failed African liberation fighter in the Congo; and finally, failed Latin American liberation fighter in Bolivia.
Youth needs, desires and deserves its heroes. In this sorry world today, unfortunately, there is an abysmal lack of role models available for those who want to storm heaven. More likely, today's models want to rain hell down on the rest of us. You have to take your heroes where you can get them. With the caveat mentioned about political differences above, Che makes a damn appealing icon for militants today.
And one has many Che's to choice from. If you read this biography you get to choice a classic Latin American revolutionary romantic of the old 19th century European type; a wayward, carefree bohemian; an errant father, a competent bureaucrat; an exceptional military field commander; an exemplar of the `new man' under socialism; a sycophantic and cruel Stalinist hack; a utopian Stalinist visionary; a counterrevolutionary Trotskyist upsetting the unity of the `socialist' bloc ; a closet Trotskyist bend on permanent revolution; an internationalist fighter to the core; and, a hail fellow well met to name a few. As for this writer, I have in the past usually seen him as the Trotsky of the second half of the 20th century. Another larger than life figure, however, seemingly doomed to oblivion by their political visions. There are many similarities in their personal makeup and in their revolutionary intransigence that made this true. Upon reflection, however, this is a more than a little wrong. The real comparison should be with the great French 19th century revolutionary democratic barricade fighter Louis Blanqui. Comparison with that figure is no mean honor. For you conspiracy theorists out there- Che is dead! However, Che's memory as a revolutionary fighter for the oppressed masses of this world lives on. And it should.
A complex man in complex times.......2005-10-20
This biography gives a detailed account of the life of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, from his childhood days in upper-middle class Argentina to his death during a completely hopeless attempt at guerrilla war in Bolivia.
Che was a complex, and certainly a driven man. He would not let impossible odds or his sometimes poor health allow to stop him. Casteneda explains very well how both his character as well as his experiences in Latin America shaped him that way. The Mexican historian succeeds in giving an excellent account of both the historical events that Che was a part of and of Che's psychological states motivating him to act in these events. The question when and how Che was transformed from a talented son of the privileged class in Argentina who liked to travel to a fierce fighter for the liberation of the proletariat is pondered at length. Along the way, the reader learns a lot about Latin American history and politics. Che's relationship with the other Cuban revolutionaries, especially Fidel Castro, as far as it is accessible for an outsider, is elaborated on.
This book is scholarly written but nevertheless very readable. Casteneda clearly has sympathies for the subject of his biography, but he is critical when it is warranted. Particularly, he points out his failures as an economist and as a military strategist: the efforts of exporting the revolution to the Congo and to Bolivia were ill conceived from the beginning, as the popular support in these places was not comparable to pre-revolutionary Cuba. Despite all these deficits, the spirit of solidarity with the world's poor and suppressed, that Che lived, impressed me as a reader and seemed to have impressed Casteneda. He finishes with a look at Che as a cultural icon, his face printed on countless T-shirts, and on the inspiration he provided for many. After reading the last page of this book one is tempted to shout whole-heartedly "Hasta la victoria siempre!"
One of the Top 3 Biographies on Guevara.......2005-05-08
This work by jorge G. Castañeda is one of the very best biographies you can find on Ernesto Guevara by many reasons:
1. The historical chronology is accesible for everybody, but the good interpretation of those events is only at the reach of those who know the intricated aspects of diplomacy and polithics. Castañeda has done a great job understanding the polithical personalities of Guevara, Fidel, Kennedy, Kruschev and all the charachters of this saga. He signals both sides of each personality.
2. This work is obsessively well documented. Castañeda has had access to many fundamental documents for this history. From American agencies, to British and Soviet services. He takes us not only to what history says but to why the builders of history wanted it to be that way. His amount of interviews is outstanding too, the revelations on the interviews match the information on the secret documents.
3. Its difficult to confront a personality like Che Guevara without falling in his charm. Its difficult to be objective on an image that is on the chests of many generations. But Castañeda accomplishes that. He decidedly points the many mistakes that Guevara did directing the Central Bank, or the Industry Ministry. He focuses on the distance that Guevara took between idealism and dogma with economic fundamentals, this was a fatal mistake. Castañeda analyzes thoroughly how many of the guerrilla efforts of Guevara in other countries ended in failures and finally in death (Congo, Argentina, Bolivia, etc). But Castañeda also analyzes the outstanding kind of leadership that made of Guevara an icon. Fighting in the first line of fire, leading himself the voluntary work, accepting his mistakes in public (something unthinkable on Fidel, for example), building his leadership in the equity.
4. Finally, Castañeda builds strong well fundamented theories on several controversial issues like the role of Fidel in the final days of Guevara in Bolivia. The strange lecture of the farewell letter that Guevara wrote to Fidel while Che was still fighting in Congo, a lecture that reduced the polithical possibilites of Guevara in Cuba and pushed him into the craziness: Bolivia. Good or bad will from Fidel? Castañeda discusses this very well.
This is a biography that is fundamented in facts, documents and sharp interpretations. It gets very technical at certain points, like the handling of Cuban economics by Guevara.
In Paco Ignacio Taibo II biography on Che Guevara for example, Taibo focuses in the anecdotic side of the icon, its clearly a bohemian work. Taibo doesnt lie, but there are susbtantial differences in these 2 works (Taibo and Castañeda) that were done at the same time and that even shared some documents. For example, at one very interesting event they deal with the subject in very different ways. In 1961, after Bahia de Cochinos there was a OEA related meeting in Uruguay. Motivated by brazilian diplomats, Guevara meets with Kennedy's rep Richard Goodwin. A secret meeting, non authorized by Fidel or JFK. Castañeda flies to the documents, looks for the interviews, interprets and builds theories. Taibo just turns the page arguing that Goodwin overrated the meeting and that Guevara didnt give much importance to it.
By this way, you can contrast the focuses of both works which can be read as compliments. Taibo's work is very rich in anecdotes from the Sierra Maestra, or the funny things that happened to Guevara while changing the rifle for the desk in the Central Bank. You will love to read this side of Guevara. In the historical side, Taibo is accurate but not deep. His biggest achievement in historical deepness is the development of the Guevara's column since they left Sierra Maestra to the triumph in Santa Clara, this part outpowers Castañeda, but that the only thing.
Castañeda's work left me deeply satisfied, answered many questions and gave me a new panorama on the subject. My 5 stars are fair.
Literature in Jorge Castaneda's "Companero".......2004-12-16
Being the author a researcher and historian it is amazing the kind of writer he is. His dominion of literary sources is very evident in the ways of expression. Analogies, metaphors, references are abundant. I, personally liked a lot the ending of a chapter where he refers to War and Peace (a Russian novel turned later into a movie). Don't be afraid by this, the language I mention doesn't affect the understanding of the story. Regarding the Comandante, the remembrance of characters like Jesus Christ, Don Quixote, Nazarin or in these days Alexander comes to your mind readily. But, Women's or Gender Studies specialists take note: the "companeras" in the story can be shouted off, slapped in the face or disliked just because her features looked "somehow masculine". Rebember we are in the Sixties where the struggle for women's rights and feminist views were so important!
Who was the real Ernesto Guevara de la Serna y Llosa. Che?.......2004-12-11
Seeing the recent movie "The Motorcycle Diaries" brought me to read this biography of Che Guevara. I highly recommend the film, and with reservations recommend Castaneda's biography of Che. At the time, I did little research into which Che biography would be "best" so I can not reference other Che biographies. I found this in many passages a tiring read, especially in the middle section, which covers Che's career as Cuba's lead economic bureaucrat.
The book does not idealize Che although I suspect the author admires at least many of Che's humanitarian beliefs. Castendeda is excellent at pointing out a lot not to like about Che and his activities. It portrays Che as an enigma, as a very intuitive mind with an idealists somewhat naive view of human nature.
Che wanted a better world for the underclass, and yet Che determines to do build this better world not by the practice of medicine, he was a doctor, but by insisting that only by violent revolution can it be achieved.
Castandeda begins with a great review of Che's early life, his asthma (he fought being a constant prisoner to the constraints of the decease), and influence of his mother, and ends with a very interesting interpretation of why he has become a cultural icon. He follows Che on a path to what Castaneda calls his "Christ like" status in death. He places Che in context of the history of the times and within each setting, what Argentina was like when he grew up, Cuba when he fought by Castro's side, the later the "failures" in the Congo and Bolivia.
I was rather surprised to find myself seeing Che as a character in Woody Allen's "Bananas" film as I read of Che's actual efforts to export revolution to the Congo and Bolivia. He seemed to assume a lot and his band of brothers in both the Congo and Bolivia was unbelievably small. For all Che's reading, apparent high IQ, he seems to have had no sense of what each of these country's underclass's and cultures wanted, needed, or would accept. He made the false assumption they would take up arms in unity. This Castaneda points out was not the case, and I kept seeing that the U.S. view of a monolithic communist conspiracy was indeed a myth as Che could not even pull together the China or Soviet factions to support his revolutionary efforts.
I hate to claim a book is over detailed, because I did find many of the extensive footnotes of interest, and helpful. But this is really a scholarly work and as such lacks much in the way of entertaining writing. I'm glad I read the book, and recommend it to those interested in the subject.
Average customer rating:
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Roads to Antietam
John W. Schildt
Manufacturer: White Mane Publishing Company
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Antietam
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ASIN: 1572490446 |
Book Description
A Copublication of Seven Stories Press and Akashic Books
The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq is the first book to hold the president and his team accountable for the government's campaign of disinformation leading up to the war in Iraq. The administration repeatedly attested that Saddam Hussein had developed weapons of mass destruction and was close to using them; downplayed the cost and risk of the proposed invasion and occupation; shamelessly evoked the atrocious abuse of power of Hussein and his family while brooking no commitment to rebuild the country after the terrifying "shock and awe" campaign, or to do anything to improve the lot of the Iraqi people; and, most outrageously, provided substanceless theory linking Saddam Hussein to the attacks of September 11, thereby cynically manipulating the anger and sorrow of the American citizenry. The charade has culminated in the slow bloodletting of U.S. forces still stationed in Iraq, held there because it would not be politically expedient to admit the failure of "democratization."
While Bush II appears intent on conducting an unending global war against "evildoers," little public debate has gone into assessing the aims and strategies of such a broad campaign. In The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq, coauthors Christopher and Robert Scheer and Lakshmi Chaudhry of the influential web magazine AlterNet.org have aggregated the hard questions that the purported leadership of the U.S. must answer.
Christopher Scheer is managing editor of AlterNet.org, the popular news and commentary website. Scheer has written screenplays for Oliver Stone and previously worked for the San Francisco Examiner. Robert Scheer is the author of six books, the host of NPR affiliate KCRW's "Left, Right, and Center," and a contributing editor to both the Los Angeles Times and The Nation. Lakshmi Chaudhry is an editor at Alternet.org.
Customer Reviews:
Informative Read.......2007-05-11
I found the book to be informative. Being able to read it 4 years after it was published adds a strong current of correctness to the book as some of the things that the authors write about have come true - billions of dollars spent, US lives lost, Iraq still a mess etc.
This book is valuable reading and should create some important questions about the Iraq situation. It is a worthy complement to Bob Woodward's trilogy on the Bush Administration.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-09
This is an interesting book. Anyone who is interested in an alternative to the right wing talk radio and tv news should seriously consider checking out the Thom Hartmann radio show opposite Rush Limbaugh weekdays at: thomhartmann dot com / showlisten.shtml
Whether democrat, republican, or indepedent, so many of the facts out there are completely ignored by the mainstream media and talk shows. This show is one strong example of an examination of the facts regardless of your political affiliation. I am not affiliated with the show in any way, just struck by the facts so many seem to ignore.
The BushLegend Continues.......2006-10-25
The Five Biggest Lies was not the first book I've read on George W. Bush and or his misadventure and it probably won't be the last. Obviously, from the title, one can deduct that this is not a book that praises the forty-third president. The book is well written and planned and is generally about what the title describes - the five major fallacies that were given as the rationale for the unprovoked aggression of Iraq. It is basically set forth in an outline style, starting with an introduction, then a chapter on the reasoning and methodology behind the deception. The deceptions themselves follow, with a chapter allocated to each lie, followed by the conclusion.
The chapters outlining the five lies are titled by the lies:
1. Al Qaeda's ties to Iraq.
2. Iraq's Chemical and Biological Weapons
3. Iraq's Nuclear Weapons
4. The War Will Be a `Cakewalk'
5. Iraq as a Democratic Model
6. Conclusion
Al Qaeda's ties to Iraq
The authors methodically expose this deceit pointing to the fact that all of the prewar suppositions regarding an alleged tie between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein had previously been discredited. Yet, as in the pattern of other falsehoods, these lies mysteriously found their way back into the conversations and speeches of administration officials.
Iraq's Chemical and Biological Weapons
Another stretch by the administration that had been debunked previously, even as the administration members continued to talk about Chemical and Biological WMD. They shamelessly continued to use this discounted intelligence as a pretext for invasion. Even though the United States and the UN had Hussein in a box, in control of only a third of his country and was unable to reconstitute chemical and biological programs; the administration pointed to this phantom program as a grave world threat.
Iraq's Nuclear Weapons
This may have been the largest and most damaging of the fabrications. Everything that the administration put forward to justify their mushroom cloud scenario had already been discredited numerous times and in many ways, yet the people in Rumsfeld's personal intelligence gatherers, whose only purpose was to dig up intelligence that would support the administration position, wouldn't let it die. This despite the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no evidence of any kind of WMD in Iraq and weapon inspectors had come up empty. Vice President Cheney in no uncertain terms said they were "Flat wrong." Well, the head of IAEA ended up with a Nobel Peace Prize and we ended up with a quagmire.
The War Will be a `Cakewalk'
Here again the administration's leading Hawk, VP Cheney was head cheerleader for invasion by going on TV and saying the war would be a "cakewalk." Others treated the invasion in a cavalier manner as well. The administration planned on reducing troop levels to 30,000 troops within three months.
The authors point out that this may be the only inadvertent lie, with administration officials truly believing their own hyperbole in this case.
Iraq as a Democratic Model
This is, of course, the back up rationale for the invasion of Iraq, but it was the primary policy on a position of expansion and policing, which authors put forth in the conclusion.
The authors don't disagree with the idea of a model democracy in the Middle East but it is generally conceived that if such an event were to occur it would have to be nurtured, not imposed from the end of a gun.
Conclusion
The authors postulate that the invasion of Iraq was the first salvo in a new grandiose, radical foreign policy of deterrence by aggression. In doing this the administration made numerous assumptions, all of which turned out to be fallacious. Instead the results of the invasion had the opposite effect, bogging us down in Iraq, helpless to confront other developing mischief in the globe, ie. Iran and North Korea.
My Thoughts
This book only deals with the lead up to the war and the very beginnings, having being published in October, 2003, yet the authors seem quite prescient, having correctly predicting the present situation in Iraq.
Like the other similar books I have devoured, it is meant to be informative and factual. It is probably directed at the average Bush supporter who seem to shun being confused with facts and therefore would not be caught within a mile of such `dreck.'
Therefore this book and others like it serve as kindling, inflaming the passions of those of us that believe Dubya is, at best, a study in mediocrity. It reinforces our incredulity that this man was re-elected. I don't know about others, but it makes be mad at the voters that voted, with whatever stupid reason in mind, for Bush. I can truthfully say, not a day goes by that I haven't marveled at the fact that this man is our President.
not a bush basher.......2005-11-30
I am not a Bush fan, neither am I a Bush basher. I was with him
until Iraq happened.This book is different from other Bush-bashing books I've read, because it focuses only on one thing:
Iraq. And it only gives 5 reasons why the author feels Bush lied. The most intriguing thing about the book, is that 4 of the 5 reasons the Bush administration gave for invading Iraq, have come to be considered false or weak reasons, by everyone from weapons inspectors, politicians on both sides, and the general public, to our foreign allies covering most of the globe.
The book is indeed correct - Iraq is a SUPERMESS now !.......2005-06-16
Even Republicans are now worried and even the famous "Mr. Freedom Fries" Congressman is jumping on board to withdraw troops from Iraq as it's now clear that like LBJ made a mess with Vietnam, Bush made a mess with Iraq by he and his cronies brainwashing the public with lies. This book isn't a bad start for opening up the dirty rotten truth about the Iraq war. The only people who hate this book appear to be the neocons !
Book Description
If millions of people in the developing world can use solar power, why can't we in North America? The question immediately arises from this fascinating account of the author's twelve year quest to bring solar power and light to people in the developing world who have no electricity.
Chasing the Sun is a story of dreamers and doers who succeeded in their mission to make the world better by delivering nature's energy to poor people and by building organizations to put the sun at their service in practical, affordable and effective ways. A green-energy development narrative that is fun and eye-opening, the book is also part autobiography. Author Neville Williams' inspiring tale of trail-blazing innovation describes:
- his founding the non-profit Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) in 1990 which promoted solar power for a decade by setting up pilot solar rural electrification programs in eleven developing countries, including Zimbabwe, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and China
- his launching of the commercial Solar Electric Light Company in 1997 which became the "SELCO" group of companies that has overcome daunting challenges to bring solar electricity to 50,000 families in India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Filled with colorful characters, the book also features the enthusiasm of maverick devotees to the renewable energy boom of the '80s and '90s and their interplay with staid DC-based development institutions, as well as their unique perspective on global solutions to "energy poverty." It will be illuminating to all interested in the environment, development, renewable energy, socially responsible business, and our future at the end of the age of oil.
Customer Reviews:
A great advertisement for the author - and not much else........2007-07-23
In purchasing this book I was hoping to glean some useful information about the specifics of getting solar energy to those who have no other options. Instead I got 300 pages of the author name-dropping and telling me how great and successful he is. He makes it sound like he is solely responsible for all solar power in all developing nations. There are limited specifics regarding solar power (the author himself admits he knows little about the actual technology involved), and I finished reading still not knowing how to get involved in this industry (apparently the only way to do so is to be good friends with all the rich and powerful businessmen and politicians like he is). That said there is some useful historical information on the industry, it is a recent book with up to date statistics, and thus it may prove to be a decent reference book in a limited way. The final chapter is good, as it discusses the current state of energy policy in the U.S.
What a fantastic book!.......2006-03-15
This book is fun to read - it outlines the history of photovoltaics, the history of international development of photovoltaics, and the exciting history of the Solar Electric Light Fund. If you're interested in photovoltaics, and/or international development, this is THE resource of all resources - what works, what doesn't...
Great book on Solar business by someone who has figured out how to actually get things done!.......2006-03-09
First off, I am a solar industry wannabe. This book only heightens my interest in getting involved. It's pretty amazing to see what Mr. Williams has accomplished through his tireless drive to help thousands of people and villages get electricity. This is a great book by someone that seems to know how to cut through red tape and just get things done. He takes some jabs at big government run programs, MBA's, and some various large institutions that seem to get too caught up in theory and do not actually get anything done. It sounds like this criticism is well founded. Mr. Williams has been successful in creating numerous solar businesses around the globe. There are some great stories on him being the first white man to ever visit some villages. Hearing the stories from different villagers tell how their lives have changed since purchasing a solar system is truly inspiring. Not a technical book by anymeans (a nice change from most solar books), Chasing the Sun focuses more on how to make solar panels more commonplace and helping people while creating a successful "for profit" business. He is now trying to figure out how to replicate this in the US. That should make a great book too.
Unique and deeply valuable.......2005-11-30
Chasing the Sun is not only highly readable and entertaining; it is unique and deeply valuable. It is not about the machinery of solar energy, nor its hows and whys and whens. There are other books, easier to research, mostly harder to read, about these aspects. It is about the human dimension of solar energy, how people and their institutions collaborate or get in the way.
It is unique because it is the memoir of a skilled journalist who put aside journalism to immerse himself purposefully in his subject; deeply valuable because the immersion lasted more than a decade. Importantly, it exposed the daunting political and institutional landscape that must be navigated to bring modern lighting and communications to the poorest regions of the world.
It reminds of the Journal of Lewis and Clark. Theirs was a voyage of discovery. So was Williams'. Like Lewis and Clark, Williams had a mission, including a starting point and a goal, but no roadmaps or off-ramps. It was either move forward, or turn back; no riches or glory at journey's end, just a treasure beyond price, knowledge of the territory, its risks and its rewards, what works there and what doesn't; hopes and expectations betrayed and beautiful truths revealed.
Our generation, Willams' and mine, expected its ideals to be shared and operative in the big world outside the small American heartland towns we grew up in. It turned out to be more complicated than that; the ideals came with a price. Williams leaves no doubt they were worth it. He learned that the poor that we tend to pity for not sharing our material wealth are mostly not dependent and miserable as we assume but rather resourceful and in some ways more credit-worthy than corporate America. They do need solar energy and they can and will in fact pay what it is worth to them.
Who should read Chasing the Sun? Those in the ever-expanding global solar industry who have fought the good fight alongside Williams will find validation and encouragement. Those whose contributions are measured in meetings attended may be discomforted. But this is mainly a book for the rising generation. It is a reality book that belongs at the top of college course reading lists, because it speaks to the problems we are leaving to the next generation to solve for themselves and their children. It is a book of practical experience and an antidote to the notion that ideas and results are somehow magically connected. It speaks to the need to make things happen ourselves rather than assume our institutions are working on the problem. In his last chapter Williams addresses making things happen in the US. For many this will be the inspiration to make a difference.
Walt Ratterman - Renewable Energy in the Developing World.......2005-11-28
I have spent the past 5 years or so working with remote communities in some of the most far flung places of the world helping them help themselves with their own desire for lighting and electricity that only Renewable Energy, like solar power, can provide them. Mr. Williams' book is an excellent study of the challenges that must be overcome, in order to help people help themselves. While we often dont know whether our obstacles result from intentional disruptions or just complete incompetence, Neville does a tremendous job of laying out what these obstacles are, with ideas of how to get past them. Anyone anticipating working in this field should consider this a "must read" text book.
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Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
Self Portrait Che Guevara
The Bolivian Diary: Authorized Edition (Che Guevara Publishing Project)
Che Guevara on Global Justice
El Che - Investigating a Legend
