Amazon.com: Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution (9780199301447): Louis A. Pérez: Books
ISBN-13: 978-0199301447
ISBN-10: 0199301441Why is ISBN important?
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Hardcover
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"This is the best overview of the modern history of Cuba. Pérez is the most informed and articulate scholar of Cuba in the world, as far as I am concerned."--Dale Graden, University of Idaho
"Pérez has a deep knowledge of the subject matter and moves easily from one historical period to the next. The text is very effective because of Perez's easy-to-follow narrative, meticulous knowledge of Cuban affairs, and engaging style."--Jorge Chimea, Wayne State University
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About the Author
Louis A. Pérez, Jr., is J. Carlyle Sitterson Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of Cuba in the American Imagination (2008), On Becoming Cuban (2007), and The War of 1898 (1998).
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Product details
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 5 edition (October 7, 2014)
13 customer reviews
3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5 stars
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Top Reviews
C.P.M.
3.0 out of 5 starsA Decent Starting PointMay 6, 2015
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Cuba is one of those countries that everyone in America knows about, but really doesn't know anything about. This book does a solid job of laying out the history of the largest island in the Caribbean starting with a short chapter on its geography and Pre-Columbian tribes through the colonial period and the Revolution of 1959 and ending at around 2013. This fifth edition was published in 2014, which means it doesn't cover the most recent changes in Cuba's relations with the United States, but it does take a long look at the changes Raul Castro has been putting in place since his brother, Fidel, stepped down from power in 2006. In fact it takes too long a look. One of the problems of this book is that as it gets closer to the present the author tends to stuff more into each chapter, going from a first chapter of 15 pages in length to a last chapter of 50+ pages. Normally, this would't be a problem, but the other stumbling block of this book is that it takes a holistic rather than a narrative approach to the topic. What I mean is that each chapter is subdivided by Roman numerals and each subdivision tackles some aspect of the period the chapter is covering, usually in a chronological manner, but most of the time bouncing around the period. It reminded me a lot of the way George R.R. Martin writes his A Song of Ice and Fire books as this author is trying to capture how a lot of different things are going on at once. That means that you have to keep track of what else is happening and when and where. It can be confusing to follow at times, but I suppose that that is because this book was written for a university-class audience, not for popular consumption. Still, this is a rather good look at both the length and depth of Cuban history and I would recommend it as a good starting point for anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of the island.
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E. Campisi
5.0 out of 5 starsTHE Historian of CubaOctober 13, 2006
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
As an anthropologist, I found this book an invaluable introduction to Cuban history, and I would certainly use it as a text for undergraduates.
Perez starts with Cuba's geography and a quick review of its pre-Columbian peoples, and ends with Cuba in the Post-Cold War World. The book is readable and concise, and gave me insights into U.S. designs on Cuba that began with our second President. Perez goes through Cuba's history in extricating itself from Spain only to be dominated by the U.S., and then gives a very good account of Cuba under its various presidents up until the Revolution. His account of the Revolution and its roots is dispassionate and unbiased, though it won't seem like that to right-wing exiles who would like to see everything about Castro totally demonized.
I disagree with other reviewers that the role of the U.S. is not included. It certainly is. With 329 pages, you can't go into extreme depth on all topics to everyone's tastes, but I for one was surprised by how old U.S. ambitions toward the island are. If you want to get into Cuba-U.S. relations in more depth get Perez' book "Ties of Singular Intimacy."
This third edition is an updated version that includes events in the exile community up to 2004, and includes a nice political chronology at the end, along with a 75 page guide to the literature. Make sure you get this one and not the older edition if you want an updated history. The older edition is blue with a white stripe across the middle. You can get the other one used here on Amazon for cheap if you don't need to go past 1996.
THIS is the book to read on Cuba if you want to get a thorough idea about its history without making the commitment necessary to read Hugh Thomas' book, which is about 1400 pages, or longer collected volumes.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsThe #1 Book on CubaJuly 19, 2017
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The best source for research on Cuba. Fantastic read for its information and superior writing style. 10/10 would recommend to all interested in learning about Cuba from an unbiased perspective.
Jose G. Perez
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is an authoritative work from a respected academicSeptember 23, 2011
Format: Paperback
At least two reviews have been posted recently claiming Professor Perez is wrong about the facts he offers on social and economic conditions in Cuba before the victory of the revolution in 1959. I have placed a comment under the more extensive of the two challenges, but I want to alert others who may not look at the comments to the reviews, that in general, but especially on Cuba and its revolution, a subject on which feelings run very deep, a challenge to factual material presented by a leading academic expert such as Professor Perez (no relation to this writer) cannot be credited unless the source is given, and preferably a reliable or authoritative source that can be independently verified.
In this case, the author of the longer challenge writes with such assertiveness and specific detail that I imagined I was reading first hand testimony from someone who was there, although the reviewer doesn't say that. Even then, on Cuba, such accounts need to be taken with a grain of salt and the person should be encouraged to provide authoritative or reliable and verifiable sources to corroborate at least the overall picture they are presenting if not all the specific details.
But as it turns out, in the case of the comment that challenges Professor Perez so vigorously, it comes from someone whose profile page has another review where he makes it clear he was born in 1973. He is in his 30s, but he'd need to be well past retirement age to know from personal experience the assertions he makes challenging Professor Perez on the facts about Cuba in the late 1950s. Yet the critic provided no sources.
Among many of us Cuban emigres (and our descendants) a myth has developed that I would caricature as, "Nothing was wrong with Cuba before 1959; nothing has been right ever since." But that is more a reflection of the depth of feeling about the Cuban Revolution from those who were negatively impacted than a true portrait of what the island was then and what has happened since. (And feelings run just as deeply on the other side, too.)
As the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts." Professor Perez's record and standing in the academic community makes his book authoritative. I would completely discount those kinds of negative reviews claiming the book is inaccurate until and unless they are backed up with sources.
4 people found this helpful
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Jorge1027
4.0 out of 5 starsGreat book of Cuban History with some minor suggestionsNovember 6, 2011
Format: Paperback
Covering almost 4 centuries of history even of a small country as Cuba is a daunting task. Perez, however, does a wonderful job in making a succinct and clear overview of the general narratives that have shaped the island. Beginning with a brief introduction to the native population of the island before the Spanish discovery of Taino and Ciboney tribes to the present years of the revolution. What I think was important was how the author provided a geographical overview of the island so as the reader can become acquainted with the territory. While for many Cubans this may not be necessary for those with little or even just some knowledge of Cuba this preliminary step is extremely helpful. I enjoyed this book most of all because it gives a narrative to each historical epoch. From the bleak beginnings of Cuba as a country that was depopulated over and over as more Spaniards moved to the Spanish colonial mainland to how and why Havana was able to grow as an important city for Spanish interests. Again because the author cannot cover everything many will criticize that he missed this or that. Personally my biggest surprise was that he didn't mentioned the events that lead to the Spanish-American War. He does extensively note the long history of U.S. intentions to annex Cuba. But the explosion of the Maine and the events leading to the U.S. occupation are not mentioned at all. With respects to keeping a bias opinion and the accuracy of his evidence...well with regards to all the modern developments (i.e. 2000-present) the author is quite accurate and he does give a succinct and clear idea of the main events. With respect to the Pre-1959 I cannot attest for much. The author at least does try, so it seems, to a keep a non-biased view throughout his book. He neither staunchly praises the Revolution nor demonizes. He notes its few achievements and its key problems. The author does note how Cuba is one of the most developed economies in Latin America by 1958 in comparison to most Latin American countries on many levels including # of radios, televions, literacy, infant mortality etc. At the same time, this doesn't mean that there aren't many problems with Cuban society before 1959 there are and A LOT. And the author does keep note of these. Some things I would like to have seen mentioned were key public works of Havana i.e. The Capitolio built under the Machado administration, the Hotel Nacional build in 1930 and most importantly Habana Libre, Riviera. These last were built just a year or 2 prior to the Revolution I would like to see more in depth economic analysis of these years preceding the Revolution. Despite these minor setbacks I think Perez has done an astonishing job and hope to read other books by him
2 people found this helpful
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AMD
4.0 out of 5 starsCuba, from A to ZJuly 1, 2004
Format: Paperback
This is a history book, wonderfully thorough, that unfortunately at times takes on the disguise of a dozen monographs torn apart and chronologically slapped back together into one volume. It is an appropriate jumping-off point for further study of Cuba.
What Perez presents in Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution is a book that few students of Cuban history can write: it is unbiased. My political and emotional perspective on Cuba is strong and personal, yet try as I may, the two times I've read this book, I did not ever find it tarnished by the rhetoric of propagandists.
I recommend this book to teachers and professors searching for a complete and honest history of Cuba for classroom use, and to independent students and learners who really want a strong background knowledge on the long history of Cuba.
10 people found this helpful
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Damon Jasperson
4.0 out of 5 starsA good internal political history of Cuba.April 8, 2000
Format: Paperback
Louis Perez has written a good history of internal political developments in Cuba from Columbus to Castro. What is missing, however, is the role of the U.S.; Perez almost totally ignores it. He has a separate volume dealing with U.S.-Cuban relations, but it still seems that more should have been included in this one. Perhaps Perez views Cuban events as just that: purely Cuban with outside influences mattering little.
6 people found this helpful
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