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flaminaut's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
The content is somehow intriguing and you learn a lot about the family life of the Castros, but other than that no ground breaking insights or something you wouldn’t expect. But it is still interesting to hear it from a somewhat reliable source. It is lacking structure and therefore feels repeating. The author is quite proud of his skills and you definitely feel that while reading the book. I cannot count how often I had to read that he has a black belt in several martial arts and is/was one of the best shooters and won competitions…
So if you are interested in fidel and mostly the author, go for it otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.
The content is somehow intriguing and you learn a lot about the family life of the Castros, but other than that no ground breaking insights or something you wouldn’t expect. But it is still interesting to hear it from a somewhat reliable source. It is lacking structure and therefore feels repeating. The author is quite proud of his skills and you definitely feel that while reading the book. I cannot count how often I had to read that he has a black belt in several martial arts and is/was one of the best shooters and won competitions…
So if you are interested in fidel and mostly the author, go for it otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.
aeroplanino's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to understand Fidel Castro better...
Through this book, I have discovered a strong chess player, maneuvering a country on the biggest chess table, without hesitating to sacrifice everything for power.
After growing with an ideal image of Fidel, the author dedicated to him the most important part of his life. However, the entire universe collapsed when secrets came out and when the author wanted to get out. This book is also his revenge.
In the end, my questions are:
- Did Fidel love his people? No, according to the author.
- If yes, did he intend to offer them a better life, out of poverty, with the available resources?
Through this book, I have discovered a strong chess player, maneuvering a country on the biggest chess table, without hesitating to sacrifice everything for power.
After growing with an ideal image of Fidel, the author dedicated to him the most important part of his life. However, the entire universe collapsed when secrets came out and when the author wanted to get out. This book is also his revenge.
In the end, my questions are:
- Did Fidel love his people? No, according to the author.
- If yes, did he intend to offer them a better life, out of poverty, with the available resources?
teafleur's review against another edition
5.0
So fascinating, I really couldn’t put it down. A sobering, important read that shows you the nasty reality behind socialism.
stastna_karolina's review against another edition
4.0
★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
REVIEW ON YOUTUBE
In The Double Life of Fidel Castro, one of Castro's soldiers of 17 years breaks his silence and shares his memoir of years of service, and eventual imprisonment and torture for displeasing the notorious dictator, and his dramatic escape from Cuba.
There is not much information about the private life of Fidel Castro and his personality. His ex-bodyguard Juan Reinaldo Sánchez was responsible for Castro's protection and spent 17 years protecting his life but also made a voice recording of his meetings and wrote down each of his step into secret notebooks.
In his memoir, Sánchez gives us a glimpse into the life and psychological profile of a man who ruled Cuba for nearly six decades. In this book, we learn about dirty political practices, luxury mansions, yachts, his nine children, mistresses, secret foreign bank accounts and a private paradise island.
I respect the bravery to even write such a book and put your life to risk. (Sanchéz died in Miami one year after his book was published on lung cancer.)
GOOD: Given the circumstances, I appreciate the almost-objective style of writing. I mean, I would probably be much more critical if I would have served someone 17 years and as a "reward" I would end up in prison. I respect him for not having it break him and that after he served his stay in prison - and after 10 unsuccessful attempts that he finally left Cuba in 2008 and wrote this informative and interesting book.
VS BAD: As with all political books, one has to approach to them critically and filter all the information.
IS THIS A BOOK FOR YOU? If you are interested in politics, Cuba, dictators or Fidel Castro, I highly recommend reading it.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "...All this demonstrated one of the most striking features of Castrism: the obsessional perseverance of its head. Fidel Castro might have waited forty years to get Venezuela where he wanted it, but he succeeded in the end."
INSTAGRAM
PERSONAL INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
REVIEW ON YOUTUBE
In The Double Life of Fidel Castro, one of Castro's soldiers of 17 years breaks his silence and shares his memoir of years of service, and eventual imprisonment and torture for displeasing the notorious dictator, and his dramatic escape from Cuba.
There is not much information about the private life of Fidel Castro and his personality. His ex-bodyguard Juan Reinaldo Sánchez was responsible for Castro's protection and spent 17 years protecting his life but also made a voice recording of his meetings and wrote down each of his step into secret notebooks.
In his memoir, Sánchez gives us a glimpse into the life and psychological profile of a man who ruled Cuba for nearly six decades. In this book, we learn about dirty political practices, luxury mansions, yachts, his nine children, mistresses, secret foreign bank accounts and a private paradise island.
I respect the bravery to even write such a book and put your life to risk. (Sanchéz died in Miami one year after his book was published on lung cancer.)
GOOD: Given the circumstances, I appreciate the almost-objective style of writing. I mean, I would probably be much more critical if I would have served someone 17 years and as a "reward" I would end up in prison. I respect him for not having it break him and that after he served his stay in prison - and after 10 unsuccessful attempts that he finally left Cuba in 2008 and wrote this informative and interesting book.
VS BAD: As with all political books, one has to approach to them critically and filter all the information.
IS THIS A BOOK FOR YOU? If you are interested in politics, Cuba, dictators or Fidel Castro, I highly recommend reading it.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "...All this demonstrated one of the most striking features of Castrism: the obsessional perseverance of its head. Fidel Castro might have waited forty years to get Venezuela where he wanted it, but he succeeded in the end."
PERSONAL INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
johannah's review against another edition
1.0
I received this book from the First Reads program to read and review quite a while ago. I kept trying to read it - as the subject matter is fascinating. But I could never get past the second chapter. This book is very poorly organized - all over the pace with no focus on a topic. The writer is also very full of himself, and from what I read it was about him, not about Castro. I'd pass on it - there are many better bios out there.
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