The Sixties: Passion, Politics, and Style Book

This is basically a high-level textbook for a survey course on Cuban history and international relations from the late 19th century to 2016. It is extremely focused on Cuba's interactions with the US and will give you little insight into the daily life, concerns or political beliefs of Cubans themselves. It also only presents the scantest view of the Revolution and how Cuba has been governed for the past 60 years. In this sense, it is almost certainly NOT exactly what you need, or want, to know about Cuba.

On the other hand, I felt I did gain a better understanding of Cuba/US relations, including of the political activity of the Miami exile community. Cuba's relationship with other countries in Latin America was also well handled.

While it is capably written, and not overly challenging, the writing is pedestrian, rather than engaging. Although I was extremely interested in the subject matter, I could not escape the (usually blissfully forgotten) feeling of cramming utilitarian material for a final exam.

On the positive side, the book is fairly evenhanded. Ms. Zweig avoids polemic, although her empathy for the Cuban David v. the US Goliath shines through. But she doesn't gloss over the suppression of dissent in Cuba, although as noted, internal affairs is not her primary project.

Finally, this edition had the misfortune to be completed in the summer of 2016. It ends on a rather triumphal and optimistic note with the close of the Obama presidency and the historic Raul/Obama opening initiatives. Sadly, as we know, history didn't end there and while it remains to be seen how drastic the setbacks of the Trump era will be, the final chapter seems to have been written in another era.

Useful for students or people needing knowledge of the field but only as prep for a Cuba visit for a political junkie. (Although this book did give me the material to discuss both the Guantanamo treaty and title III of Helms Burton at a Havana dinner party, to the delight of my Cuban hosts who were passionate about both and used to drawing a blank with most Americans. So thanks Ms. Zweig for making me look smart).