Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

The World's Best Kept Secret of Democracy, 29 Mar 2007
For a first hand account of Venezuela's revolution you can do no better than to read this book. Written from the perspective of the barrio people in Caracas, Charles Hardy is an ex-Roman Catholic priest who shares his experiences of life lived in a house of pressed cardboard with no sanitation from 1985 until 1994 when Hugo Chavez was released from prison to become the hope of the poor.

This is an extremely warm and human record of the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution that is full of anecdotes interspersed with deep reflection on the Venezuelan reality. It has the capacity to illuminate, educate, and motivate in comparing the unjust and unequal society that kept 20% of the population in luxury while the 80% struggled to survive with the empowerment of the people today as they move towards twenty-first century socialism.

Beginning with the Caracazo or social explosion of 1989 triggered by the rise in petrol prices that marked the meltdown of the old regime, and continuing with the rise to power of the charismatic President Chavez, the short-lived coup of 2002 following reform of the national oil company PDVSA, and the oil strike later that year, Hardy paints a picture of a society undergoing monumental change at the hands of the ordinary people.

Coming from Wyoming that is also rich in oil and cattle Hardy cuts through the lies and propaganda issuing from Washington to reveal the real truth about the revolutionary process that is taking place in Venezuela under a popular president who is truly of the people. In the author's own words it is an account of "the world's best-kept secret of democracy".

As a people's history and brief readable introduction to the awakening of Venezuela's dispossessed this is a book that identifies with the real protagonists of social change in a country at the sharp edge of Latin American integration and should be on the bookshelf of all those who claim to have a stake in the future.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

The World's Best Kept Secret of Democracy, 29 Mar 2007
For a first hand account of Venezuela's revolution you can do no better than to read this book. Written from the perspective of the barrio people in Caracas, Charles Hardy is an ex-Roman Catholic priest who shares his experiences of life lived in a house of pressed cardboard with no sanitation from 1985 until 1994 when Hugo Chavez was released from prison to become the hope of the poor.

This is an extremely warm and human record of the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution that is full of anecdotes interspersed with deep reflection on the Venezuelan reality. It has the capacity to illuminate, educate, and motivate in comparing the unjust and unequal society that kept 20% of the population in luxury while the 80% struggled to survive with the empowerment of the people today as they move towards twenty-first century socialism.

Beginning with the Caracazo or social explosion of 1989 triggered by the rise in petrol prices that marked the meltdown of the old regime, and continuing with the rise to power of the charismatic President Chavez, the short-lived coup of 2002 following reform of the national oil company PDVSA, and the oil strike later that year, Hardy paints a picture of a society undergoing monumental change at the hands of the ordinary people.

Coming from Wyoming that is also rich in oil and cattle Hardy cuts through the lies and propaganda issuing from Washington to reveal the real truth about the revolutionary process that is taking place in Venezuela under a popular president who is truly of the people. In the author's own words it is an account of "the world's best-kept secret of democracy".

As a people's history and brief readable introduction to the awakening of Venezuela's dispossessed this is a book that identifies with the real protagonists of social change in a country at the sharp edge of Latin American integration and should be on the bookshelf of all those who claim to have a stake in the future.


Passionate and angry and surgical, 28 Nov 2006
A great book for getting an up to date non-corporately biased view of what is happening in South America. For more detail get some Richard Gott books but this is a great read.

Has interesting bits on the western journalists who inhabit this part of the world, along with interesting interviews and speeches in the appendices.

Tariq is unashamedly angry in this book, whilst staying in control to give a damning view of the Washington Consensus and those who support it.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

The World's Best Kept Secret of Democracy, 29 Mar 2007
For a first hand account of Venezuela's revolution you can do no better than to read this book. Written from the perspective of the barrio people in Caracas, Charles Hardy is an ex-Roman Catholic priest who shares his experiences of life lived in a house of pressed cardboard with no sanitation from 1985 until 1994 when Hugo Chavez was released from prison to become the hope of the poor.

This is an extremely warm and human record of the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution that is full of anecdotes interspersed with deep reflection on the Venezuelan reality. It has the capacity to illuminate, educate, and motivate in comparing the unjust and unequal society that kept 20% of the population in luxury while the 80% struggled to survive with the empowerment of the people today as they move towards twenty-first century socialism.

Beginning with the Caracazo or social explosion of 1989 triggered by the rise in petrol prices that marked the meltdown of the old regime, and continuing with the rise to power of the charismatic President Chavez, the short-lived coup of 2002 following reform of the national oil company PDVSA, and the oil strike later that year, Hardy paints a picture of a society undergoing monumental change at the hands of the ordinary people.

Coming from Wyoming that is also rich in oil and cattle Hardy cuts through the lies and propaganda issuing from Washington to reveal the real truth about the revolutionary process that is taking place in Venezuela under a popular president who is truly of the people. In the author's own words it is an account of "the world's best-kept secret of democracy".

As a people's history and brief readable introduction to the awakening of Venezuela's dispossessed this is a book that identifies with the real protagonists of social change in a country at the sharp edge of Latin American integration and should be on the bookshelf of all those who claim to have a stake in the future.


Passionate and angry and surgical, 28 Nov 2006
A great book for getting an up to date non-corporately biased view of what is happening in South America. For more detail get some Richard Gott books but this is a great read.

Has interesting bits on the western journalists who inhabit this part of the world, along with interesting interviews and speeches in the appendices.

Tariq is unashamedly angry in this book, whilst staying in control to give a damning view of the Washington Consensus and those who support it.

Populistic and boring, 30 Jan 2008
I was disappointed in the fact that this book was ever published. It has no real content, no story line and nothing to it at all. Obviously published to make money on the names of Aleida Guevara and Hugo Chavez.

The interviewer, Aleida, makes it clear in her boring and fumbling introduction that she has not altered much what Chavez has said, but just put in onto paper. That is very clear when you read the book. What is interesting there could be summed up in 5 pages.

All you learn from the book is how populistic Chavez is in his wording, and how a politician can spend many words and examples to say one thing. There seems to be little structure laid down by the authour, and that seems to have given too much room for the President to go on and on about nothing.

The chapters on his childhood and family life offers nothing new. One should think there would be more interesting things to dedicate space for when one talks to Hugo Chavez. Bottom line is that the book is a big yawn.

Unless you are a huge fan of Chavez and the Boliviarian Revolution this book is a waste of time and money.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

The World's Best Kept Secret of Democracy, 29 Mar 2007
For a first hand account of Venezuela's revolution you can do no better than to read this book. Written from the perspective of the barrio people in Caracas, Charles Hardy is an ex-Roman Catholic priest who shares his experiences of life lived in a house of pressed cardboard with no sanitation from 1985 until 1994 when Hugo Chavez was released from prison to become the hope of the poor.

This is an extremely warm and human record of the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution that is full of anecdotes interspersed with deep reflection on the Venezuelan reality. It has the capacity to illuminate, educate, and motivate in comparing the unjust and unequal society that kept 20% of the population in luxury while the 80% struggled to survive with the empowerment of the people today as they move towards twenty-first century socialism.

Beginning with the Caracazo or social explosion of 1989 triggered by the rise in petrol prices that marked the meltdown of the old regime, and continuing with the rise to power of the charismatic President Chavez, the short-lived coup of 2002 following reform of the national oil company PDVSA, and the oil strike later that year, Hardy paints a picture of a society undergoing monumental change at the hands of the ordinary people.

Coming from Wyoming that is also rich in oil and cattle Hardy cuts through the lies and propaganda issuing from Washington to reveal the real truth about the revolutionary process that is taking place in Venezuela under a popular president who is truly of the people. In the author's own words it is an account of "the world's best-kept secret of democracy".

As a people's history and brief readable introduction to the awakening of Venezuela's dispossessed this is a book that identifies with the real protagonists of social change in a country at the sharp edge of Latin American integration and should be on the bookshelf of all those who claim to have a stake in the future.


Passionate and angry and surgical, 28 Nov 2006
A great book for getting an up to date non-corporately biased view of what is happening in South America. For more detail get some Richard Gott books but this is a great read.

Has interesting bits on the western journalists who inhabit this part of the world, along with interesting interviews and speeches in the appendices.

Tariq is unashamedly angry in this book, whilst staying in control to give a damning view of the Washington Consensus and those who support it.

Populistic and boring, 30 Jan 2008
I was disappointed in the fact that this book was ever published. It has no real content, no story line and nothing to it at all. Obviously published to make money on the names of Aleida Guevara and Hugo Chavez.

The interviewer, Aleida, makes it clear in her boring and fumbling introduction that she has not altered much what Chavez has said, but just put in onto paper. That is very clear when you read the book. What is interesting there could be summed up in 5 pages.

All you learn from the book is how populistic Chavez is in his wording, and how a politician can spend many words and examples to say one thing. There seems to be little structure laid down by the authour, and that seems to have given too much room for the President to go on and on about nothing.

The chapters on his childhood and family life offers nothing new. One should think there would be more interesting things to dedicate space for when one talks to Hugo Chavez. Bottom line is that the book is a big yawn.

Unless you are a huge fan of Chavez and the Boliviarian Revolution this book is a waste of time and money.

Biased and superficial, but good bibliography, 30 Dec 2007
This book starts out OK, but gets progressively worse until it reaches its coverage of the 20th century, which is particularly bad. It is mostly focussed on political history, with very little attention to the underlying social history, particularly in the 20th century. One might easily get the impression that Venezuelan politics was some sort of game of individuals, coming out of nowhere, rather than a part of wider Venezuelan society.

Moreover, the coverage of the 20th century in particular is heavily biased toward the supposedly 'democratic' political establishment of 1958, and against anything vaguely left wing. This is exemplified by the final chapter, on Chávez, which is actually so biased as to qualify as the kind of ridiculous tripe that even the opposition doesn't believe anymore. Anyone studying Venezuela will quickly realise that there is a flock of old foreign 'experts' who are horrified that the Bolivarian movement has taken away the old political system in which they invested so much time in becoming specialised. This book clearly exemplifies that position.

The one good point to mention is that this book has a useful bibliography, particularly if you are new to the literature on Venezuelan history. My recommendation: find it in a library and photocopy the bibliography, then use that to find some more useful books on Venezuelan history.

Simply the best single book on Venezuela today, 16 Nov 2008
Gregory Wilpert has managed a rare feat by writing a simultaneously comprehensive while concise book about the compelling contemporary situation in Venezuela.

The most striking aspect of this book is how informative it is with a plethora of sources. As well as this concentration of inormation is a convincing anlaysis which is clearly sympathetic with the process of change in Venezuela while remaining consistently critical.

In this respect it is far superior to the majority of Venezuela books out there which are often rich with personal anecodates of what the atmosphere of a barrio is like but much lighter on what is happening in more concrete terms. That it avoids romanticising the Bolivarian revolution or hero-worshipping Chavez is another strong point.

Nonetheless Wilpert is clearly supportive of the egalitarian and democratic aims of what is supposed to be a developing "Socialism for the 21st Century". At the end of the book Wilpert takes the very bold step of trying to define what such "Socialism" should mean in practice, so as to measure whether Venezuela is progressing towards it or not.

Wilpert makes a worthy attempt at this massive topic in the small space of a 30 page epilogue. Though some of his analysis here, such as for why the USSR collapsed, is a bit ropey, the quality of the rest of this book is so superb this is forgivable.

All in all there is no better book about Venezuela available at this time. Anybody curious about the issues of global interest arising from this country should buy it without delay.



Good, 01 Aug 2008
I rather enjoyed this book. It was an interesting historical account of Chavez and the rise of his movement (and himself) in Venezuela. I enjoyed reading about the coup in April 2003, and although I can appreciate people think the book is biased, I still thought it was insightful and interesting.
My only wish was that it had discussed the actual impact of Chavez's Bolivarian policies in Venezuela and how the lives of poor people have(or haven't) been improved since he came to power.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the history of the country.

Balanced, informative, well researched and well written, 26 Aug 2007
This book is extremely interesting , informative and well written - and covers Venezuelan history to put the present in context.

While sympathetic to Chavez the author does not hold back from criticising him or his government - for instance covering police murders of native Indians who were protesting against the construction of electricity pylons on their land.

The book goes far beyond the caricatures of Chavez presented by the American government and much of the American media. He also puts Chavez's government in context in history - as a reaction to the broken election pledges and the massacre of hundreds in the Caracazo by Chavez' predecessor Carlos Andres Perez who was praised as a 'democrat' by the Clinton administration.

It also covers the real events of the two US-backed coup attempts against Chavez by interviewing participants and marchers on both sides.Gott also interviews Venezuelan political opponents of Chavez both on the right and on the left.



simpatico, 21 Jul 2007
Richard Gott's very readable book gives a good overall picture of the man and his 'revolution' written from a sympathetic view point but not without crititism. Gives a needed background on where Chaves philosophy comes from (Simon Bolivar)and hopefully where Chaves would like it to lead, given a chance by the neo-cons and other opponents both internal and external. If this had happened during the cold war then Chaves and his supporters would all be long dead after some CIA sponsered coup as in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruaguay, or military intervention a la El Salvador, Granada, etc. One very important thing to remember, Chaves is the result and product of totally free democratic elections as are the other, if rather softer, left leaders appearing all over Latin America the last decade.

Very disappointing, 09 Jun 2007
Whatever your opinion about Hugo Chavez, if you want real insights into his personality and politics, this books simply doesn't deliver. Instead, the author uses cliches and unsubstantiated arguments to promote his own (very positive) view of the man. He seems to have lost all critical facilities: hardly questioning what Chavez says, or quoting from other figures. Some of the most interesting questions about Chavez - how sustainable are his social policies, how he might give up power - are never addressed. The chapter on Colombia is particularly poor - anyone who believes that the country's illegal economy is bigger than its legal economy hasn't done their research. All this makes the book unenjoyable to read - and the author's dull travel notes do little to liven it up.

Por ahora, 16 Sep 2005
This is a very good book, which I would strongly recommend, though I do have some reservations about its, at times, uncritical stance. The chapter on the attempted coup in April 2003 is particularly good; tightly written and informative. The reference to Denis MacShane, for instance, was white knuckle stuff. The background material, particularly on Samuel Robinson and La Causa R and its founding father, Alfredo Maneiro, is often moving. He also throws in some good "colour", as journalists say, explaining, for instance, how the phrase "por ahoro" ("for now") became famous after Chavez used it in a brief televised speech in 1992 to tell his fellow conspirators to end their coup attempt. My reservations stem from his perfunctory attitude to critics and other who are not "on message". For instance, I would like to have known why Chavez supporters referred to in the book who switched allegiances did so, perhaps in a glossary at the end. (I would like to have know in some detail, for instance, what Luis Miquelena's politics are.) I would also like to have had an explanation of what he means by "ultra leftist". It seems to me that he takes a slightly cavalier attitude to Chavez's semi-detached view of party politics and how this squares with a commitment to democratic action. I must say at times Chavez reminded me of a left-wing Napoleon III.

Florinder Donner - Fantastic Story-teller!, 21 Mar 2003
Like the witches Dream and Being-in-Dreaming (if you haven't read them order them now!) Donner tells the beautiful story of her experiences with the magical people of the mexican rainforest. In her own child-like (ego-less) way she describes how she lets go of her western ideas and like a sponge absorbs a new, and sometimes scary, way of life, even to a point where her obvious differences are almost invisible to those she shares her time with. In contrast there are also parts of the story where she is so obviously light-heartedly humoured by the locals. Donner has an incredibly fresh innocent way of telling a story which in contrast portrays a strong confidence/trust in herself (how else could she surrender to this unique experience). If you are humble enough to accept that the western way of seeing the world is not the only way then this book (and the other two) are definitely for you. I am eagerly awaiting a 4th book (note to author, is there one coming?)

The World's Best Kept Secret of Democracy, 29 Mar 2007
For a first hand account of Venezuela's revolution you can do no better than to read this book. Written from the perspective of the barrio people in Caracas, Charles Hardy is an ex-Roman Catholic priest who shares his experiences of life lived in a house of pressed cardboard with no sanitation from 1985 until 1994 when Hugo Chavez was released from prison to become the hope of the poor.

This is an extremely warm and human record of the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution that is full of anecdotes interspersed with deep reflection on the Venezuelan reality. It has the capacity to illuminate, educate, and motivate in comparing the unjust and unequal society that kept 20% of the population in luxury while the 80% struggled to survive with the empowerment of the people today as they move towards twenty-first century socialism.

Beginning with the Caracazo or social explosion of 1989 triggered by the rise in petrol prices that marked the meltdown of the old regime, and continuing with the rise to power of the charismatic President Chavez, the short-lived coup of 2002 following reform of the national oil company PDVSA, and the oil strike later that year, Hardy paints a picture of a society undergoing monumental change at the hands of the ordinary people.

Coming from Wyoming that is also rich in oil and cattle Hardy cuts through the lies and propaganda issuing from Washington to reveal the real truth about the revolutionary process that is taking place in Venezuela under a popular president who is truly of the people. In the author's own words it is an account of "the world's best-kept secret of democracy".

As a people's history and brief readable introduction to the awakening of Venezuela's dispossessed this is a book that identifies with the real protagonists of social change in a country at the sharp edge of Latin American integration and should be on the bookshelf of all those who claim to have a stake in the future.


Passionate and angry and surgical, 28 Nov 2006
A great book for getting an up to date non-corporately biased view of what is happening in South America. For more detail get some Richard Gott books but this is a great read.

Has interesting bits on the western journalists who inhabit this part of the world, along with interesting interviews and speeches in the appendices.

Tariq is unashamedly angry in this book, whilst staying in control to give a damning view of the Washington Consensus and those who support it.

Populistic and boring, 30 Jan 2008
I was disappointed in the fact that this book was ever published. It has no real content, no story line and nothing to it at all. Obviously published to make money on the names of Aleida Guevara and Hugo Chavez.

The interviewer, Aleida, makes it clear in her boring and fumbling introduction that she has not altered much what Chavez has said, but just put in onto paper. That is very clear when you read the book. What is interesting there could be summed up in 5 pages.

All you learn from the book is how populistic Chavez is in his wording, and how a politician can spend many words and examples to say one thing. There seems to be little structure laid down by the authour, and that seems to have given too much room for the President to go on and on about nothing.

The chapters on his childhood and family life offers nothing new. One should think there would be more interesting things to dedicate space for when one talks to Hugo Chavez. Bottom line is that the book is a big yawn.

Unless you are a huge fan of Chavez and the Boliviarian Revolution this book is a waste of time and money.

Biased and superficial, but good bibliography, 30 Dec 2007
This book starts out OK, but gets progressively worse until it reaches its coverage of the 20th century, which is particularly bad. It is mostly focussed on political history, with very little attention to the underlying social history, particularly in the 20th century. One might easily get the impression that Venezuelan politics was some sort of game of individuals, coming out of nowhere, rather than a part of wider Venezuelan society.

Moreover, the coverage of the 20th century in particular is heavily biased toward the supposedly 'democratic' political establishment of 1958, and against anything vaguely left wing. This is exemplified by the final chapter, on Chávez, which is actually so biased as to qualify as the kind of ridiculous tripe that even the opposition doesn't believe anymore. Anyone studying Venezuela will quickly realise that there is a flock of old foreign 'experts' who are horrified that the Bolivarian movement has taken away the old political system in which they invested so much time in becoming specialised. This book clearly exemplifies that position.

The one good point to mention is that this book has a useful bibliography, particularly if you are new to the literature on Venezuelan history. My recommendation: find it in a library and photocopy the bibliography, then use that to find some more useful books on Venezuelan history.

Highly confused, contradictory and unclear, 28 Nov 2004
This is a highly informative and much needed book on Venezuelan politics given what little there is available in English. The book is especially good on recent events such as the attempted US backed coup against the democratically elected president Hugo Chávez in April 2002. There are excellent pieces on the role of the media, the intervention of the US, the radical new constitution that Chávez brought in, the make-up of the opposition, the Bolivarian Circles, the trade unions, the Land Laws, and the 49 laws, etc. The history section and the discussion of the rise to power of Chávez (in particular the strengths and weaknesses of his power base) are very good. He also makes fine use of anecdotal material from people he spoke to or came across by chance.

However, he makes contemptuous swipes at Cuba which are unnecessary and highly irritating. While he states very clearly the various forms and highly substantial levels of aid (medical, educational, etc.) that Cuba has given to Venezuela since Chávez came to power in a neutral and factual manner, he presents his own unsubstantiated and prejudiced opinions about the Cuban Revolution in a highly non-neutral manner. This is not good writing by any standards and I can't imagine a neutral reader finding it very credible given the immense amount that Cuba has done for Venezuela and at absolutely no financial cost. He doesn't even get his facts right (which of course casts doubt on other statistics stated in the book). As far as I recall there were 75 US mercenaries sentenced in April 2003, not 28 "peaceful dissidents" as he calls them (p.135)! You'd think he'd have got that right given his political perspective.

Apart from the Cuban angle, the last few pages of the book are highly contradictory and especially poorly written/argued. He interprets the Chavista slogan "Hungry and unemployed I'm sticking with Chávez all the way" (p.158) as hopeless, negative and depressing. This seems facile at best and stupid at worst. More importantly, on p.161 he argues that "after five years in power Chávez has failed to reform or rethink the nature of power itself. Perhaps the best thing that Chávez could do would be to retire from power itself, even if he survives the recall referendum test." Yet, as McCaughan goes on to say, Chávez is only 50 this year and he has "revamped state institutions while attempting to alter deeply rooted social relationships in a divided and frightened society." On p.162 he states that "The Venezuelan people have flexed the muscles of citizenship and will be reluctant go back to sleep" (sic). Elsewhere in the book he praises the participatory nature of democracy that Chávez has introduced. In other words, McCaughan himself argues that Chávez has indeed reformed and rethought the nature of power, the very reason why he thinks Chávez should stand down! McCaughan seems to want the Chavista project to continue but without Chávez (see p.162). That doesn't just seem unlikely, but wrong in principle given what Chávez himself has achieved in such difficult and adverse circumstances. Then to finish - the very last sentence of the book - he says "President Hugo Chávez's political career is far from over." This is highly confused, contradictory and unclear thinking which brings to a very poor and annoying conclusion what, in general, is a good book.

Is Chavez ploughing the sea?, 22 Jan 2004
This book is a first class introduction to the situation in Venezuela. A brief overview of the country's 20th century history is given alongside an excellent background to Venezuelan society and politics. It goes over the peculiarities of Venezuelan society, the role of the armed forces, the influence that oil has had on the economy and the ever-present influence of the US on the political situation.