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Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know® 3rd Edition, Kindle Edition
by Julia E. Sweig (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars (122)
Part of: What Everyone Needs To Know? (158 books)
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Ever since Fidel Castro assumed power in Cuba in 1959, Americans have obsessed about the nation ninety miles south of the Florida Keys. America's fixation on the tropical socialist republic has only grown over the years, fueled in part by successive waves of Cuban immigration and Castro's larger-than-life persona. Cubans are now a major ethnic group in Florida, and the exile community is so powerful that every American president has curried favor with it. But what do most Americans really know about Cuba itself?
In this third edition of the widely hailed Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Julia Sweig updates her concise and remarkably accessible portrait of the small island nation. This edition contains a new foreword that discusses developments since Obama and Raul Castro announced the normalization of US-Cuba relations and restored formal diplomatic ties. A new final chapter discusses how normalization came to pass and covers Pope Francis' visit to Cuba, where he met with Fidel and Raul Castro. Expansive in coverage and authoritative in scope, the book looks back over Cuba's history since the Spanish American War before shifting to recent times. Focusing equally on Cuba's role in world affairs and its own social and political transformations, Sweig divides the book chronologically into the pre-Fidel era, the period between the 1959 revolution and the fall of the Soviet Union, the post-Cold War era, and -- finally -- the post-Fidel era.
Informative, pithy, and lucidly written, it is the best compact reference on Cuba's internal politics, its often fraught relationship with the United States, and its shifting relationship with the global community.
What Everyone Needs to Know® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.
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Review
"Excellent and... evenhanded.... [It] packs a phenomenal amount of complex history into clear and simple prose." --Los Angeles Times (review of the first edition) "Sweig's useful ready reference is highly recommended." --Library Journal (review of the first edition) "Splendid...Sweig displays a talent for succinctness and clarity, as well as a subtle, deep knowledge of Cuban affairs." --Foreign Affairs (review of the first edition) "For several years, Julia Sweig, America's premier expert on Cuba, has been my guide for all matters related to this beautiful, cursed, and consequential island nation. This book - economical, information-packed, and exceedingly well-written - is Sweig's indispensable contribution to our knowledge of Cuba at a particularly tumultuous time in its history." --Jeffrey Goldberg, National Correspondent, The Atlantic
From the Publisher
Julia E. Sweig is Senior Research Fellow at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. She is the award-winning author of several other books, including Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the Urban Underground, for which she won the American Historical Association Herbert Feis Award for best book of the year by an independent scholar. She has been traveling to and writing about Cuba since 1984. She lives with her family outside of Washington, DC.
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From other countries
- DeniseSReviewed in Canada on 13 January 2017
Informative and helpful
A great read before you head to Cuba, and well worth the price. - Amazon CustomerReviewed in the Netherlands on 28 December 2016
Details and facts you need to know about Cuba
Good research, very up to date and complete. If you want to know details about history facts and background, this is a really good one. Sweig did clearly in depth research. Sometimes a bit too much info for my taste. Missed some anecdotes, fun stories. The books focus is on USA - Cuba relations. - D.D.Reviewed in the United States on 25 July 2018
EXCELLENT!!
EXCELLENT!!!! Read this recently to get ready for a trip to Havana, and felt SO much more aware of where I was visiting. It's a TON of history, but felt like I just sat through the equivalent of a college Cuban History course. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the country. - John HaldiReviewed in the United States on 18 July 2017
An excellent, objective book by one who knows her subject
An excellent, objective book by one who knows her subject. Most informative and worthwhile. Highly recommended for for those who want a reasonable in-depth discussion about Cuba and it relationship (or lack thereof) with the United States. It is a pity that the book concludes while Obama was still president, hence does not comment on the failure by Trump to forge ahead and instead attempt to march backward in time. - aztecthrushReviewed in the United States on 7 August 2017
Good background and insight
A solid body of info useful to anyone visiting Cuba who wants to understand more than where the best mojitos are slung. Along with history, etc., it's also helpful in that it offers the insights of one who has been there, knows the people, and understands the gray areas of living under the Cuban system--some good, some not so much, but more complex than just an unthinking target for pro-dem. ideologies. - Ms. M. HoneymanReviewed in the United States on 9 March 2017
Interesting and absorbing
But this book suffers from the lack of a good editor. The structure, basically a timeline of questions and answers, is useful for a website but unsatisfying in literature. - John TaylorReviewed in the United States on 4 April 2017
Read book first- then go visit Cuba
It's a fantastic book on Cuba. The best and most comprehensive I have read so far on the history of the island. Would recommend it to anyone before visiting Cuba. Julia Sweig is considered as one of the best! - RumbaReviewed in the United States on 27 April 2017
Nice overview of a very complex history.
Very useful book if one wants to understand more about the US-Cuba relationship. I found that the info within helps give context. My wife read it and, during a recent trip to Cuba, many of my relatives were very pleasantly surprised by how much she knew about Cuba's history. She told them that it was mostly from what she learned reading this book. - Michael MorganReviewed in the United States on 22 April 2018
A Balanced view of Cuba
A thoroughly balanced history of Cuba and great explanations regarding the status of U.S./Cuba relations. I read this book before traveling to Cuba. It was very helpful. The trip was outstanding! - James H MannReviewed in the United States on 17 February 2025
Just lousy
I bought this book because I was about to travel to Cuba. Sorry I did. Poorly written, a slog to read, lacking in historical perspective, really a clip job tracing from event to event. The structural device - a series of questions to answer one by one-was like a junior high school textbook. If you’re going to Cuba , find some other introductory book.
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Christian
3.0 out of 5 stars Biased but decent
Reviewed in the United States on 14 April 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A well written but obviously biased take on Cuba. The author was friendly with Fidel, and writes from a "fan's" perspective. I wonder if she has seen the real Cuba? (which I have done, in person) She seems to gloss over the problems real Cubans face, and the book sounds a lot like Cuban government propaganda.
Nevertheless, it's a good read. It's not hard to filter through her perspective, and it's a somewhat enjoyable read. If you've never been to Cuba, and know very little about it, it's not a bad starter book, as long as you keep her bias in mind, and challenge yourself to read/hear other viewpoints.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved the history
Reviewed in the United States on 19 September 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Absolutely everything you need to know. Loved the history, but as you get closer to the present day there seemed to be repetition. I am going to Cuba on a mission trip. The trip will be much more enjoyable having read this book.
4 people found this helpful
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EC
3.0 out of 5 stars A difficult read
Reviewed in the United States on 3 April 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book came highly recommended as I am heading to Cuba in a couple of weeks. But I absolutely cannot get into it. I have tried a hundred times, and I finally just gave up. The format she employed is a question and answer format, both provided by her. There is no flow to the story. She comes with great credentials, though, so I feel bad about giving up on this.
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great to Read Before and Reference During Your Trip
Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is an excellent work. Covers the history of the country in an informative, yet entertaining way. Covers culture. Includes recent developments as well. Good resource before and during your trip. Recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0190620374/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_4
One person found this helpful
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Natalie wulff
1.0 out of 5 stars Get it on Kindle
Reviewed in the United States on 25 February 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The book readings are perfect for my class but the brand new copy is falling apart as I read it. I have to tape the pages so I don’t lose them. Not an expensive book but I would love if the pages stay put.
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E. Szrom
5.0 out of 5 stars What I didn't know
Reviewed in the United States on 14 February 2019
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book is a comprehensive review of the political history of Cuba. The question and answer forwat makes it easy to skip around to the more relevant sections.
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J Ismail
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, and very informative
Reviewed in the United States on 8 May 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
A detailed historical account of the economic, geopolitical, and social challenges of Cubans on the island, and abroad. A great read for any one interested in learning, but take your time as there is a lot of information.
One person found this helpful
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Jessica Evans
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on 3 February 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
It is more about the history of the revolution, rather than a what to know before you go guide.
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Timothy Wood
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on 3 February 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Informative, but written in a difficult-to-read style. Long sentences with many complicating clauses.
One person found this helpful
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Goodwdav
3.0 out of 5 stars Cuba
Reviewed in the United States on 11 March 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
More history than general discussion about Cuba
One person found this helpful
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