My Life - Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro arguably has been the greatest leader in the last century. He held power for almost fifty years, dealt with ten United States presidents and has been forced to deal with hostility and resentment from almost every country in the world at one point or another. Surely he must have a lot to say and, until now, he has kept silent for the most part.

Working with writer Ignacio Ramonet, Castro has finally told his story in the spoken autobiography, My Life. He talks about everything from his childhood in Biràn to his guerilla war with Che Guevara to how his country managed to stay strong in during the fall of the Soviet Union in the early ‘90s; and he does it all with eloquence and a kind of compassion that you wouldn’t expect from someone labeled as a “brutal dictator.” Especially when he gives a quote like “I’m only talking about just and fair ideas, those that can bring peace to the world, those that can bring a solution to the grave dangers of war, those that can put an end to violence.” (Chapter 19: “Cuba and Neoliberal Globalization”; pg. 401)

Throughout the books, Castro has a tendency to go off topic and delve into something else and he repeats a few ideas more than once. There is also little mention of his family, besides his brother Raul. Ultimately, this doesn’t help to paint a completely human picture of this great leader.

However, that is all made up for when you read his touching opinions on fellow revolutionary Che Guevara and his radical ideas on warfare etiquette. And then there is the humorous idea of his that by not shaving his beard, he saves up to ten working days each year.

Despite the shortcomings of this spoken autobiography, this would be and ideal reading suggestion for anyone interested in Fidel Castro, Cuba, modern history or for anyone simply looking for a good read.