Back on the Road: A Journey Through Latin America by Ernesto Che Guevara

Back on the Road: A Journey Through Latin America Reviews

• 
  Karen

  This book wasn't as engaging as Guevara's first journey across Latin America, but this second trip is a glimpse into his interest in politics. There were times in this where I felt that a lot was missing, that I was walking into the middle of a conversation.
  
  Latin American Diaries takes place between 1953 and 1956. Guevara is present during a military take over in Guatemala, meets Fidel Castro in Mexico City in 1955, and spends a lot of time reading up on Marx and Engel.
  
  By the end of the book, it is really difficult to tell exactly how he decided to join Castro, but it is clear that he has.
  
• 
  Miraculix

  Sehr interessantes Tagebuch zu seiner zweiten Südamerikareise. Während das Tagebuch der ersten noch fast gänzlich unpolitisch war, zeigt sich hier sein grösser werdendes Klassenbewusstsein, was dann (im nächsten Tagebuch) in der massgeblichen Beteiligung an der kubanischen Revolution mündet.
• 
  Eve Williams

  he had sooo many asthma attacks bruhhhh
• 
  Emily

  Inhaltlich war das Buch größtenteils sehr alltäglich, sehr deskriptiv, las sich tatsächlich wie ein “normales” Reisetagebuch - und zog sich dadurch leider etwas. Die Einträge, bei denen es jedoch um eine politische Einschätzung und Prognose der aktuellen Geschehnisse ging und durch die tatsächlich auch eine ideologische Bewertung zu erkennen war, waren jedoch hoch interessant. Wenn mal also daran interessiert ist, sollte man sich vielleicht eher einem seiner anderen Büchern zuwenden.
• 
  Saj

  I actually enjoyed this more than Motorcycle Diaries. In this book we see young Ernesto making the decision that he really wants to dedicate his life to the revolution, even if it means death.
  
  He isn't just looking for adventure anymore, he's looking for meaning and purpose: the chance to make a difference in his beloved South America. I think there's a lot here that anyone can identify with, regardless of how you feel about communism.
  
  I wish the book had included a short history of Latin America or at least definitions of the people and political organisations mentioned. I have a very vague understanding of Latin American history and had to do an embarrassing amount of googling while reading (starting with United Fruit Company...).
• 
  Mayank Chaturvedi

  Back on the Road is a personal text of Ernesto Che Guevara’s long journey through the American continent in his simmering surge to ‘explore America’. The descriptions rich with the spirit of youth gives the reader a clear image of a young Argentine doctor’s gradual development in to a full revolutionary icon.
  The text contains numerous letters to his mother soaked with love and affection describing to her even the tiny details of their journey. from the way Che Guevara writes it the reader is able to evaluate the perception of his surroundings. His personal views, beliefs and policies become very candid through the lines that we are able to add full color to the image of the great Argentine revolutionary icon which we each have nurtured within. The book also comprises of many rare and candid photographs of Che with many acquaintances.
• 
  Daniel Headifen

  Quite hard to follow the structure in parts with it not having an ordinary diary format. And it seems to skip some of the big life moments (marriage, daughters birth) or give them only small mention. But then it seems that's not what he wrote it for...so tha challenged you to think of it in a different way. There are parts that are really attention grabbing though - the appendix on the Incas.
• 
  Jason P

  Really cool little book which documents Che's travels through Latin America. This book is especially interesting as you see him maturing into the Marxist he would later be known through experience the coup against Arbenz in Guatemala and eventually meeting Fidel Castro and deciding to join him for the Cuban Revolution.
• 
  Gina Wilson

  I read this in English and I believe quite a bit of the sentiment is lost in translation. Also, there are no indicators separating the journal entries (dates, spaces...) so they all run together which was kind of annoying.
• 
  Christopher Hatridge

  I was not as enthralled with this book as Motorcycle Diaries, but parts of this one come across as more raw. As in Motorcycle Diaries, the letters home to his mother stand out as some of the best parts of the book, as well as the small collection of writings in the appendices.
• 
  Fynn Gabriel

  Das Tagebuch gibt deutlich weniger Einblick in Guevaras politische Auffassung und deren Entwicklung, als ich erwartet hatte, dafür sind die Briefe im Anhang da hilfreicher. Es liest sich als was es ist: ein Reisetagebuch. Die Anmerkungen des Herausgebers sind sehr hilfreich.
• 
  Medical Gunch

  There are some interesting bits in here, such as Che’s first hand experience of the overthrow of Arbenz in Guatemala, but some is relatively mundane (not to say that it’s by any means not worth reading.) I’d recommend if you’re a big fan of Guevara.
• 
  Lennon

  Lennon's Book Collection Review: Not the hardcore Che you'll expect but his travels before he became a revolutionary. The young Che immersing himself to the Latin American culture. These travels will eventually strengthen his revolutionary insights.
  #backontheroad
• 
  Ligiu Uiorean

  Very difficult to comprehend without solid knowledge of the historical background. Yet reveals a fascinating human.
  
  Che... the most complete human being of our age - Sartre
• 
  Crowley

  I may be in the minority, but personally this book was superior in my opinion to the motorcycle diaries. An interesting insight into 20th century Latin America and the development of Che’s political beliefs.
  
• 
  Andrea Esquivel

  Este es interesante ya que cuenta su segundo viaje de una manera en que se perciben los cambios tan importantes en su vida, entre ellos su llegada a México con Hilda Gadea, y su reunión con los cubanos. En Pasajes de la guerra revolucionaria detalla precisamente su encuentro con Fidel, mientras que en este, las cartas integradas a la edición resultan relevantes en contraste con su pensamiento y lo que le comunica a su madre respecto de los amigos cubanos.
  Muy corto pero vale la pena, tiene párrafos cargados de significado posterior, como si se reconociera ya personaje histórico; como en todo lo que escribió antes, esta decidido.
  En un documental, un campesino cubano miembro de su guerrilla dice que Ernesto fue el único verdaderamente revolucionario entre los lideres del movimiento guerrillero. Interesante pensarlo.
• 
  James Barker

  This was quite an infuriating collection- it does not have the clarity of 'The Motorcycle Diaries,' principally because this was not edited by Guevara the way his earlier diaries were (although I notice his wife edited out sexually explicit passages). Entries are lumped together without differentiation, dates are not used to give sense of the time involved- and, all in all, it is principally of interest because of who Che was to become. None the less, if you are fascinated by Guevara and his ideology it is something you should read, as it helps to throw light on the changes to his character and what seems the march of fate leading him to become a revolutionary.
  
  My personal favourite moments were in the appendices- three articles written by Che, two for publication in magazines (as in the Motorcycle Diaries, he is travelling without much money, so is always trying to find work doing this, doing that) and one as tract. The first article is all about the Amazon, the majesty of the Americas, and is a prettily written bit of travel writing with a deeper meaning regarding (Latin) American identity- I really enjoyed this, as well as the second piece, all about Machu-Picchu. The copies of letters written home (principally to his mother) are laid out chronologically in the book and these help to break up the somewhat turgid, date-less notes Che had compiled.
  
  My biggest criticism is mis-labelling. My copy of the book has, for its cover, Che looking over at Fidel Castro as the latter lights a Cuban cigar. But Castro features very briefly in the book and their first meeting is dismissed in one or two lines. Don't expect any elucidation as to how they became close in this source. For that, check out Jon Lee Anderson's superb biography,
  Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
  
  
• 
  Baratang

  The book is a chronological narrative on Che's travels through Latin America, and written in simple English.I believe readers remained glued to the book because of the "Deity" Che became through this exploration. If it was an ordinary man's story, it wouldn't make much impact.
  
  I bought the book in Cuba while on a work related visit, and was amazed about his post humus presence in the that country. He is integral to their proud revolutionary struggles.
  
  It was interesting how he classified his acquaintances on intelligence, political ideology and knowledge, and pathological misfortunes. I couldn't wait to get to the part where he met Fidel Castro for the first time, especially wondering about how he would score him on this criteria of his. His account of Fidel as intelligent and audacious partly explained why he was drawn to him and his course.
  
  I have always been intrigued by men like Che, who would go through bankraspy, joblessness,arrests, political asylum seeking, and fighting for courses which were never theirs. Is it a matter of calling? The man came from a middle class family and had just graduated as a medical doctor when the undertook the expedition. His interest in nature, archeology, history, art and science intrigued me. I never knew until I read the book that he even has an article in a scientific journal...quite motivating indeed.
  
  My take home message was: When it comes to politicians, like and befriend them; never fall in love with and marry them. You are bound to cry.
  
  
• 
  Gemini

  I was not digging this book at all. I thought I would but I actually didn't which was pretty surprising to me. I mean it's Che, I am supposed to be into it, right? Well I think I am now more confused as to what exactly he did & how it all came about. I mean he was a doctor who helped people in a variety of ways in different countries but he was also buds w/ Fidel & exiled from his homeland.
  I don't understand how this book was done either. There were stories/letters from him but then the timeline seems a bit off. Also trying to figure out who he would be talking about was hard to follow since there were so many people he came across. Along w/ there being the letters he wrote to his mother in the book (that they put in smaller print), these diaries, I guess, are just not my cup of tea.
• 
  Scott

  I really wanted Motorcycle Diaries but the local library branch only carried its "sequel". As a narrative, it reads more or less like a series of notes that Guevara left so he could remember who he met and where and when he did it. As such, it's a very skeletal read. It would be completely unreadable if it weren't for letters that were woven into the narrative that contain more of his thoughts and observations. Since I wanted to read this narrative (or the first travel narrative) primarily for the observations, it was frustrating and disappointing to have to force myself through the dry details of the actual travel.
• 
  Marc

  Not as interesting as the "motorcycle diaries". Che is clearly more radical at this point and has chosen his path to be a communist.
  The book is a little dissappointing, since we do not learn much new about Che. Like stated above, he is more dedicated to comunism and is prepared to take a stand, but we get little hint when and where this development accelerated. I'm further pretty poitive that this is not complete, since the biography written by Anderson quotes parts of this diary, that are not even included.
  It should still prove worthwhile for people interested in the subject.
• 
  Mary

  Although this book touts itself as the sequel to The Motorcycle Diaries, it's pretty different from its precursor. Instead of mischief exemplified in Che's first trip around South America, his second trip, more into Central America, is very politically oriented. While giving a great insight to Che's experiences that aid his political evolution - it can be a dry read (compared to The Motorcycle Diaries). Probably best recommended for readers specifically interested in Che's personal journey, instead of those looking for a general travel diary.
• 
  Robert Stout

  Che Guevara's second trip from Argentina through South America to Mexico lacks the dynamism of The Motorcycle Diaries. It seems not to have been written for publication and though it provides a clear picture of the young author/doctor and his interests it often is mundane in its reportage. The translati0n is inadequate and makes Guevara seem like a rather ingenuous American tourist rather than a politically motivated Argentinian. Nevertheless it gives insights into the personality of the man who would become one of the 20th century's most noteworthy revolutionaries.
• 
  Tim Weakley

  I'm reminded of the Monty Python skit "The Poet McTeagle" in which the poet writes constantly about how strapped he is for cash. "What's twenty quid to the bloody Midland Bank?" A fair amount of Guevara's journals concern his constant striving to pay for his room and board, and his many failed attempts at employment. It was interesting enough, but mostly a stage setting for the Cuban revolution to come.