What do you think?
Rate this book
This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro's Shadow
USA Today "New and Noteworthy" • One of The Washington Post's "10 Books to Read—and Gift—in December"
"Fascinating." —Forbes
Fidel Castro is dead. Donald Trump was elected president. And to most outsiders, the fate of Cuba has never seemed more uncertain. Yet those who look close enough may recognize that signs of the next revolution are etched in plain view.
This is Cuba is a true story that begins in the summer of 2009 when a young American photo-journalist is offered the chance of a lifetime—a two-year assignment in Havana.
For David Ariosto, the island is an intriguing new world, unmoored from the one he left behind. From neighboring military coups, suspected honey traps, salty spooks, and desperate migrants to dissidents, doctors, and Havana’s empty shelves, Ariosto uncovers the island’s subtle absurdities, its Cold War mystique, and the hopes of a people in the throes of transition. Beyond the classic cars, salsa, and cigars lies a country in which black markets are ubiquitous, free speech is restricted, privacy is curtailed, sanctions wreak havoc, and an almost Kafka-esque goo of Soviet-style bureaucracy still slows the gears of an economy desperate to move forward.
But life in Cuba is indeed changing, as satellite dishes and internet hotspots dot the landscape and more Americans want in. Still, it’s not so simple. The old sentries on both sides of the Florida Straits remain at their posts, fists clenched and guarding against the specter of a Cold War that never quite ended, despite the death of Fidel and the hand-over of the presidency to a man whose last name isn’t Castro.
And now, a crisis is brewing.
In This Is Cuba, Ariosto looks at Cuba from the inside-out over the course of nine years, endeavoring to expose clues for what’s in store for the island as it undergoes its biggest change in more than half a century.
"Fascinating." —Forbes
Fidel Castro is dead. Donald Trump was elected president. And to most outsiders, the fate of Cuba has never seemed more uncertain. Yet those who look close enough may recognize that signs of the next revolution are etched in plain view.
This is Cuba is a true story that begins in the summer of 2009 when a young American photo-journalist is offered the chance of a lifetime—a two-year assignment in Havana.
For David Ariosto, the island is an intriguing new world, unmoored from the one he left behind. From neighboring military coups, suspected honey traps, salty spooks, and desperate migrants to dissidents, doctors, and Havana’s empty shelves, Ariosto uncovers the island’s subtle absurdities, its Cold War mystique, and the hopes of a people in the throes of transition. Beyond the classic cars, salsa, and cigars lies a country in which black markets are ubiquitous, free speech is restricted, privacy is curtailed, sanctions wreak havoc, and an almost Kafka-esque goo of Soviet-style bureaucracy still slows the gears of an economy desperate to move forward.
But life in Cuba is indeed changing, as satellite dishes and internet hotspots dot the landscape and more Americans want in. Still, it’s not so simple. The old sentries on both sides of the Florida Straits remain at their posts, fists clenched and guarding against the specter of a Cold War that never quite ended, despite the death of Fidel and the hand-over of the presidency to a man whose last name isn’t Castro.
And now, a crisis is brewing.
In This Is Cuba, Ariosto looks at Cuba from the inside-out over the course of nine years, endeavoring to expose clues for what’s in store for the island as it undergoes its biggest change in more than half a century.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published December 11, 2018
125 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 21, 2019
Sent to Cuba in 2009 as a CNN correspondent and photgrpher, the author would spend time living in this country. What he found was a country trying to hold on to Communism while at the same time loosening some restrictions. Part memoir, part historical commentary as well as a travelogue, this often reads like a grouping of essays. I found it fascinating, being inside s country few here not from Cuba know little about.
Ariosto would rent and apartment with a sink, come back the next day to find the entire sink gone. On an island where things are scarce, citizens have taken to helping themselves when something is needed. Pirating parts from one thing to get another. It's all a matter of someone knowing someone to get things or to get things fixed.
Trips back to the US to get needed or wanted things that are not available. Spies are everywhere, reporting back to the government, so one watches what one says and where they say it. News channels are tightly controlled, and only a little over a third of the island residents use the costly internet. One hour of internet time costs one third of their salary. Although restrictions were loosened when Obama was President, under Trump the island is once again in a holding pattern.
One commonality between foreign residents and Cubans themselves is baseball. Seems thry have found ways to listen to the games, and they seem particularly taken with the Yankees.
Written in an often humorous tone, this book takes us on a journey through the many ways Cubans have found to survive inside s slowly changing country. It was quite illuminating.
ARC from Netgalley.
Ariosto would rent and apartment with a sink, come back the next day to find the entire sink gone. On an island where things are scarce, citizens have taken to helping themselves when something is needed. Pirating parts from one thing to get another. It's all a matter of someone knowing someone to get things or to get things fixed.
Trips back to the US to get needed or wanted things that are not available. Spies are everywhere, reporting back to the government, so one watches what one says and where they say it. News channels are tightly controlled, and only a little over a third of the island residents use the costly internet. One hour of internet time costs one third of their salary. Although restrictions were loosened when Obama was President, under Trump the island is once again in a holding pattern.
One commonality between foreign residents and Cubans themselves is baseball. Seems thry have found ways to listen to the games, and they seem particularly taken with the Yankees.
Written in an often humorous tone, this book takes us on a journey through the many ways Cubans have found to survive inside s slowly changing country. It was quite illuminating.
ARC from Netgalley.
September 12, 2021
4.5*
I really enjoyed this book. It is a well written and insightful overview of Cuba's history and political situation peeling back layers to reveal what life in this country is truly like. Cuba is not the romanticized notion of cigars and old cars outsiders see, but rather a complicated daily struggle to survive and obtain the most basic needs. By reading this novel, you will come to know the strength and resilience of the Cuban people. My hope for them is that one day soon, those daily struggles will come to an end.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a well written and insightful overview of Cuba's history and political situation peeling back layers to reveal what life in this country is truly like. Cuba is not the romanticized notion of cigars and old cars outsiders see, but rather a complicated daily struggle to survive and obtain the most basic needs. By reading this novel, you will come to know the strength and resilience of the Cuban people. My hope for them is that one day soon, those daily struggles will come to an end.
June 21, 2019
Starting in 2009, the author spent two years as a CNN photojournalist living in this Communist island that’s now a hot tourist magnet. Readers get the real scoop from an insider on Cuban life that still bears a Cold War stamp but is evolving. From black markets to restricted speech to terrible poverty ... and now nine years later to a country yearning for greater freedom, enhanced by access to the internet and further impacted when Obama lifted the American travel ban. Named by The Washington Post as one of its “10 Books to Read—and Gift” last December. 4 of 5 stars
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. Pub Date 11 Dec 2018. #ThisIsCuba #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. Pub Date 11 Dec 2018. #ThisIsCuba #NetGalley
December 14, 2018
David Ariosto does a marvelous job of capturing all the crisis’ and the imperfections of Cuba. I personally believe people are extremely oblivious to what really goes on in Cuba. Tourist’s fly from all over the world to visit a beautiful country but fail to realize that the entire country is struggling in more ways than one. As a Cuban-American, I am well aware of all the hardships my beautiful country faces. The first time I ever visited Cuba I was like any other tourist excited to lounge around in a beach chair sipping real Cuban made mojitos. My family lives in the countryside of Santa Cruz del Norte 45 mins out of Havana. 10 days living in the countryside stripped away from all the luxuries I have in New York City was definitely a reality check for me and I went back to New York City with a whole new outlook on life and Cuba.
Reading this book gave me all the feels and honestly made me cry. I love my country and I am so proud to be Cuban. I read anything and everything that is about Cuba. David did a beautiful job describing all of the wonders of Cuba. I learned a lot reading this book things that I wasn’t aware of before. I felt transported to Cuba and envisioned all the Cuban hotspots and laughed every time David described how Cubans spoke.
I recommend this book to anyone who has little to no knowledge of Cuba and wants to learn more about the country. I of course recommend this book to all my Cuban people as well. This book will definitely be on my re-read list.
Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this book gave me all the feels and honestly made me cry. I love my country and I am so proud to be Cuban. I read anything and everything that is about Cuba. David did a beautiful job describing all of the wonders of Cuba. I learned a lot reading this book things that I wasn’t aware of before. I felt transported to Cuba and envisioned all the Cuban hotspots and laughed every time David described how Cubans spoke.
I recommend this book to anyone who has little to no knowledge of Cuba and wants to learn more about the country. I of course recommend this book to all my Cuban people as well. This book will definitely be on my re-read list.
Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2018
Cuba has always fascinated me due to its singular sociopolitical structure. (Also all those gorgeous classic cars, oh my, although in grim reality they are held barely held together and there's only about 60000 for an 11.5 million people, so it isn't all that glamorous). But yes, Cuba...there's literally no other country like it or close to it. And until recently it was notably secretive and uncharted for a country so geographically close to US. And then Obama tried to change that and tourists poured in. My in laws in fact went for a visit, but they spent one day in a city and the rest on a secluded resort and so for first person accounts I had to resort to books. As always. Then again resort isn’t the right word, armchair travelling is my favorite kind, I enjoy it tremendously, it enlightens and educates without any of the discomfort and expenses traditionally associated with travelling. And this trip with a seasoned journalist David Ariosto as a tour guide was indeed both, enlightening and educational. He arrived in Cuba originally in 2009 and then spent years on and off reporting on the island for CNN and later other networks. So that essentially he is well versed in the social and geographical politics of the nation, but can also speak to the quotidian lives, mores and traditions. Ariosto discusses the regimes of both Castros, the enormous daily privations of the socialist experiment and ponders the future of Cuba, with the new leader, proliferation of internet and, with it, the greater awareness of the world at large and all the economic changes, including a giant commanding neighbor to the north playing yo yo with its affections. The book is a very accessible account, well written, very smart and unbiased as journalism goes. Almost surprisingly unbiased considering the author’s obvious personal connection. I enjoyed reading it, it’s brief enough to get through in one day, which in itself is no small feat for a work of nonfiction, and it expanded greatly my understanding of Cuba, both socially and politically. It would certainly be fascinating to watch the country’s progress in the coming years. Not sure if cautious optimism is due, not with the way things are going in the world at large, but who knows. Either way it’ll be interesting. Much like this book. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
November 26, 2021
"For years, an insidious inform-on-your-neighbor policy spread paranoia across the island. Informants could come from anywhere, and trust was at a premium," Ariosta writes. That sounds, eerily, to me much like Texas' current abortion 'inform-on-your-neighbor policy'. Not a good thing. I liked parts of this book, but it felt a bit light. And when the author goes into great detail about a house he rents and that certain fascinating neighborhood, we only get more photos of the Malecon seawall. The best parts of this book are short anecdotes about the people living in Cuba, but I really wanted to see pictures of their homes. True, I am partial to architectural studies of places I've never been, so this book didn't hit the mark for me. There is also mention of a number of nightclubs, but again, no photographs. Perhaps all photographs had to be okayed by a regime, I don't know. I just felt cheated. But I do want to visit Cuba.
January 24, 2019
Relatively contemporary Cuba is not all he covers here, but you get a good insight to what it was like being a reporter in the country as well as a few other places and for different organizations. Some personal information. My mind kept wondering what he choose to leave out. I have always been fascinated by Cuba and its history, as well as life there. I'd love to visit. I was really interested in what he reported about Venezuela.
July 5, 2020
I received this book for Father’s Day from Joanna and Alexandra. I enjoyed reading about David’s recollections of his experiences in Cuba, and they brought back more then a few memories for me. Truly an island of intrigue and adventure. This book will probably be most appreciated by Americans who have not had the opportunity to visit Cuba, or an understanding of the underlying history between the US and Cuba. If you have had the chance to experience Havana for yourself, and know your history and current events, the book will be more of a stroll down memory lane; more of a Cuban paced evolution then a revolution.
December 29, 2018
I have a fascination with Cuba, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this ARC. This book's best achievement is it's ability to overcome the mystique that permeates all things Cuba. The author does a great job of presenting not only a fact-based assessment of their economic and political systems but also the perspectives of the people on their lives in an isolated country.. I also enjoyed his discussion of the political climate in Venezuela and its connections to Cuba.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
December 12, 2018
It’s funny, I was making a list of my favorite books of 2018 the other day and felt a little out of sorts as it ended up being a list of 21 books, and I have a thing about odd numbers. It was for a reason though, I was subconsciously leaving one last place for This Is Cuba... I loved this book, for many reasons which I will obviously list below.
First of all I have been fascinated with Cuba since I can remember. I was meant to travel there in 2014, well I had made a plan to on my way home from Jamaica in 2013, but pregnancy and subsequent birth of first child thwarted any further travel plans for a while. Anyway, I loved how David Ariosto literally takes you back to Cuba with him, and leads you through the discovery of a country that most of us know even less than we think we do. I imagined myself right there, in his shoes, walking through the streets, searching for food in the shops, learning the ropes as an American in a country that has long been (rightfully) wary of the US. It kind of brought me back to my visit behind the Iron Curtain in the late 80’s, I could sense that feeling of displacement David Ariosto must have felt. And also that feeling of “well this is not really what I expected”.
Another aspect of the book that I loved was how well the author weaves personal experience and facts (historical and current) together. The narrative flowed seamlessly for me, and I enjoyed how David Ariosto skipped back and forth between personal interactions and experiences and information on Cuba, past, present and future. It was a learning experience, and an interesting one at that. This Is Cuba bridges gaps between the travelogue, the memoir, and the journalistic and historical overview of a country.
I also loved reading about the author’s experiences in Haiti and Venezuela. Maybe “loved” isn’t the right word... I appreciated his viewpoint as a journalist and as a human, and how difficult it must have been for him to report on Haiti after the terrible earthquake in 2010, and also after watching students clash violently with authorities in Venezuela right in front of his eyes. I also appreciated the information that he relays to us in these chapters, information that typically isn’t relayed on your regular news channel.
I’m still slightly obsessed with Cuba, and I still want to go and explore the island. This Is Cuba renewed my appetite for the country, and reminded me why I always wanted to go there in the first place. It’s such a great book and I highly recommend it! 4.5 stars
First of all I have been fascinated with Cuba since I can remember. I was meant to travel there in 2014, well I had made a plan to on my way home from Jamaica in 2013, but pregnancy and subsequent birth of first child thwarted any further travel plans for a while. Anyway, I loved how David Ariosto literally takes you back to Cuba with him, and leads you through the discovery of a country that most of us know even less than we think we do. I imagined myself right there, in his shoes, walking through the streets, searching for food in the shops, learning the ropes as an American in a country that has long been (rightfully) wary of the US. It kind of brought me back to my visit behind the Iron Curtain in the late 80’s, I could sense that feeling of displacement David Ariosto must have felt. And also that feeling of “well this is not really what I expected”.
Another aspect of the book that I loved was how well the author weaves personal experience and facts (historical and current) together. The narrative flowed seamlessly for me, and I enjoyed how David Ariosto skipped back and forth between personal interactions and experiences and information on Cuba, past, present and future. It was a learning experience, and an interesting one at that. This Is Cuba bridges gaps between the travelogue, the memoir, and the journalistic and historical overview of a country.
I also loved reading about the author’s experiences in Haiti and Venezuela. Maybe “loved” isn’t the right word... I appreciated his viewpoint as a journalist and as a human, and how difficult it must have been for him to report on Haiti after the terrible earthquake in 2010, and also after watching students clash violently with authorities in Venezuela right in front of his eyes. I also appreciated the information that he relays to us in these chapters, information that typically isn’t relayed on your regular news channel.
I’m still slightly obsessed with Cuba, and I still want to go and explore the island. This Is Cuba renewed my appetite for the country, and reminded me why I always wanted to go there in the first place. It’s such a great book and I highly recommend it! 4.5 stars
March 25, 2019
A strong 3.5 stars. Much of this book was very interesting and I learned a lot about Cuba and just how much money our own government is wasting on weird shit like covert internet for Cubans. I think the average American would be pretty angry to know that we waste this kind of money when our own citizens are in need of so much. I also think the author himself is woefully out of touch with reality. There is no such thing as white privilege, just wealth privilege. He says he comes from the Pine Barrens, so he should be aware of people like the Pineys and people who live in trailer parks or towns like Keansburg or Union Beach who grow up under the stigma of being called white trash, simply because of their address. America is full of white people struggling to make ends meet, struggling to put food on the table. I can't take anyone seriously who thinks people like this are privileged. I also can't take seriously anyone who sees what leftism has done in places like Cuba and Venezuela, yet support those same policies and ideas here. There were a few loose ends never explained which also dropped my rating slightly. I am not sure I have any interest in ever visiting Cuba after reading this book. I am sure the island is beautiful, but the people sound like a detriment.
December 18, 2018
David Ariosto's book is a mix of personal reflections of his time living in [and subsequent visits] Cuba and a background and update of what was and is currently Cuba.
Cuba is often a mix of paradoxes as it strives to stay the island of the "old guard" of Fidel Castro and communism and the "death of commercialism" and the new "guard" of Cubans that are tired of that life [and of sneaking around to have that said life] and want to embrace what the US was [this is pretty much off the table now with the election of 45 to the office and his unwillingness to play nice with ANYONE ] was offering during the Obama years. Mr. Ariosto's writings offer a good mix of reflection and introspection and an interesting civics lesson in just what Cuba is all about; I learned a good many things that I didn't know and was fascinated by most of this book.
I did find that the book bogged down a little [for me] near the end, but it wasn't enough to keep me from reading and learning and wishing that I could visit this fascinating island that is Cuba.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC; I received this in exchange for an honest review.
Cuba is often a mix of paradoxes as it strives to stay the island of the "old guard" of Fidel Castro and communism and the "death of commercialism" and the new "guard" of Cubans that are tired of that life [and of sneaking around to have that said life] and want to embrace what the US was [this is pretty much off the table now with the election of 45 to the office and his unwillingness to play nice with ANYONE ] was offering during the Obama years. Mr. Ariosto's writings offer a good mix of reflection and introspection and an interesting civics lesson in just what Cuba is all about; I learned a good many things that I didn't know and was fascinated by most of this book.
I did find that the book bogged down a little [for me] near the end, but it wasn't enough to keep me from reading and learning and wishing that I could visit this fascinating island that is Cuba.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC; I received this in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2019
This was nice non-fiction read about a place which is usually portrayed either romantically or like literal hell but David tells his experience about living in Cuba for two years starting in 2009 and It was great to read this.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
December 11, 2018
Trip to Cuba, anyone? Live there a while, queue up for toilet paper and canned milk? I'm in!
Ariosto does a good job of both describing his life and travels in Cuba, and providing an appropriate amount of context with Cuban history, world events, etc. This was the best kind of learning.... palatable, entertaining, time well spent. I have a much better idea of the lived experience of an American (a yuma) in Cuba.
With thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Ariosto does a good job of both describing his life and travels in Cuba, and providing an appropriate amount of context with Cuban history, world events, etc. This was the best kind of learning.... palatable, entertaining, time well spent. I have a much better idea of the lived experience of an American (a yuma) in Cuba.
With thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 24, 2018
If you have an interest in how the Cuban government and the everyday lives of the Cuban people have changed (and not changed) in recent years, you will enjoy this book. It is well-written and informative. Cuba is still a country of mystery and allure and of getting by with ingenuity and resolve. A very interesting read for me.
May 24, 2020
My only regret is that I didn’t read this before traveling to Cuba last April. This is a super interesting read filled with both the history of the country as well as the amazing culture. Something I feel we missed out on considerably during our sanitized cruise visit. I can only hope that we’ll be lucky enough to make it back some day.
February 5, 2019
Relationship Status: It's Complicated
A wholesome and intact relationship must have mutual trust between both parties. Without it, what's the point of even engaging in discourse. This pretty much sums up the relationship status between the USA and Cuba. While there in theory, the status update remains complicated.
In This Is Cuba, David Ariosto clearly states an obvious fact. Most Americans, or "yumas", don't know a damn thing about Cuba. For many, our knowledge of Cuba fits within the margin of the section in our middle school history books dedicated to The Bay of Pigs. Or, it is captured in our imaginations as we view social media pictures of friends and family who have traveled there amid the relaxing of travel restrictions during the end of the Obama presidency.
This book affords an inside look as an outsider. Ariosto does a thorough job with the history of the country. But, it is his ability to weave in everyday life for Cubans that gives the book its stamina and grit. Life in Cuba is complicated. While the intent of the Castro regime had always been an egalitarian society, that realization is speckled with imbalance. Rungs are present, and the ladder has no definitive upward goal. Swings in stability replace reliable mobility. Robust education and innovative medical care intermix with food shortages, an underground black market, censorship, and isolation from the outside world. Colorism is rampant and further subjugates Cubans along a spectrum of opportunity.
All in all, this book is about life in Cuba for the everyday person. America and capitalism remain in the shadows peering in as much as possible, both overtly and covertly. Calmly, Cuba remains buttressed in isolation as it survives on the belief that what you allow you can control, to a certain degree.
A wholesome and intact relationship must have mutual trust between both parties. Without it, what's the point of even engaging in discourse. This pretty much sums up the relationship status between the USA and Cuba. While there in theory, the status update remains complicated.
In This Is Cuba, David Ariosto clearly states an obvious fact. Most Americans, or "yumas", don't know a damn thing about Cuba. For many, our knowledge of Cuba fits within the margin of the section in our middle school history books dedicated to The Bay of Pigs. Or, it is captured in our imaginations as we view social media pictures of friends and family who have traveled there amid the relaxing of travel restrictions during the end of the Obama presidency.
This book affords an inside look as an outsider. Ariosto does a thorough job with the history of the country. But, it is his ability to weave in everyday life for Cubans that gives the book its stamina and grit. Life in Cuba is complicated. While the intent of the Castro regime had always been an egalitarian society, that realization is speckled with imbalance. Rungs are present, and the ladder has no definitive upward goal. Swings in stability replace reliable mobility. Robust education and innovative medical care intermix with food shortages, an underground black market, censorship, and isolation from the outside world. Colorism is rampant and further subjugates Cubans along a spectrum of opportunity.
All in all, this book is about life in Cuba for the everyday person. America and capitalism remain in the shadows peering in as much as possible, both overtly and covertly. Calmly, Cuba remains buttressed in isolation as it survives on the belief that what you allow you can control, to a certain degree.
October 23, 2018
In 2005 I was in Cuba and am going back the first week of November 2018. As a result, I was extremely interested in reading Ariosto's account of the changes in Cuba. With the changes in relations from the Obama era and the curtailing of some of these options in the Trump era, it behooves the reader to investigate the changes and culture in today's climate. Written in a very accessible style, the book reads like a travelogue rather than a detailed history of this island. The book begins in 2009 when Ariosto as a young journalist travels to Cuba with little Spanish knowledge and a virgin in the woods regarding Cuba's culture, history and government policy. That quickly changed with his two year assignment and future trips back and forth. Ariosto explores the culture through transportation and reciting individual conversations that make us crave more. He explores beyond the ubiquitous cars and fading facades, to the everyday world of the black markets, the world of big brother surveillance and the reality of post Cold War politics. Though internet is more available it costs about a 1/3 of a month's salary, making overseas contributions all the more important to families. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I was hoping for a little more in depth conversation. Perhaps that will be the next book!
May 5, 2021
This book is a festival of superficiality, black and white thinking, ignorance and anti-Cuban propaganda. Above all, it commits the cardinal sin of being boring. And it's incredibly difficult to be boring when talking about Cuba because every piece of its history is controversial. But this mindless regurgitation of propaganda is mind numbing.
The author arrives to Cuba knowing next to nothing about the island and its society (except that Batista is "president Batista" and Castro is just Castro - this alone tells you everything you need to know). He then goes on to wildly project and read into what people do and ask him without understanding the specific cultural context. He lacks even the basic solidarity with the ordinary Cubans. Unless you're a dissident that he approves of, you might as well be Castro's clone. Ordinary people and their suffering exist as a prop for politics, nothing more. So he misunderstands people's intentions and paints them as basically desperate money-grabbing bunch of homeless creeps. If this is how CNN prepares its journalists for foreign reporting, it sure does explain a lot!
Some of the events in the book seem just downright made up, such as a his date in the beginning. The way the woman got his phone number isn't as much of a mystery as he thinks and had he bothered to learn about how these things work, he perhaps didn't have to invent chunks of that date. At other times, it's funny to read his complete absence of self-reflection, such as when he accuses Cuba of being a surveillance state, while coming from the post Patriot Act United States. You can't help but laugh at stuff like that. Not because he's wrong about Cuba but because people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. In this case, he threw the stone, broke the glass, had his eye cut and still didn't notice anything.
Overall, this is a propaganda piece, banking on the "communist dictatorship frozen in time" trope. It's been done. It's boring. It's colonialist. And it's a damn shame. It's really difficult to find a book about contemporary Cuba that offers more than merely ideological crap. There is a lot to criticize about Cuba and books like this do a huge disservice to that goal. People will read it to confirm their prejudice or to hate it because of it's black and white and inaccurate reporting - in either case no one will engage in meaningful dialogue, because there's nothing in this book that could possibly start it.
Cubans don't become humans by the end of his book, they all parade there for him to prove his point. I can't trust a writer who won't put himself in the shoes of the people he writes about, especially when he's not writing fiction! This book is myopic and boring - even its cover is a stereotype.
The author arrives to Cuba knowing next to nothing about the island and its society (except that Batista is "president Batista" and Castro is just Castro - this alone tells you everything you need to know). He then goes on to wildly project and read into what people do and ask him without understanding the specific cultural context. He lacks even the basic solidarity with the ordinary Cubans. Unless you're a dissident that he approves of, you might as well be Castro's clone. Ordinary people and their suffering exist as a prop for politics, nothing more. So he misunderstands people's intentions and paints them as basically desperate money-grabbing bunch of homeless creeps. If this is how CNN prepares its journalists for foreign reporting, it sure does explain a lot!
Some of the events in the book seem just downright made up, such as a his date in the beginning. The way the woman got his phone number isn't as much of a mystery as he thinks and had he bothered to learn about how these things work, he perhaps didn't have to invent chunks of that date. At other times, it's funny to read his complete absence of self-reflection, such as when he accuses Cuba of being a surveillance state, while coming from the post Patriot Act United States. You can't help but laugh at stuff like that. Not because he's wrong about Cuba but because people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. In this case, he threw the stone, broke the glass, had his eye cut and still didn't notice anything.
Overall, this is a propaganda piece, banking on the "communist dictatorship frozen in time" trope. It's been done. It's boring. It's colonialist. And it's a damn shame. It's really difficult to find a book about contemporary Cuba that offers more than merely ideological crap. There is a lot to criticize about Cuba and books like this do a huge disservice to that goal. People will read it to confirm their prejudice or to hate it because of it's black and white and inaccurate reporting - in either case no one will engage in meaningful dialogue, because there's nothing in this book that could possibly start it.
Cubans don't become humans by the end of his book, they all parade there for him to prove his point. I can't trust a writer who won't put himself in the shoes of the people he writes about, especially when he's not writing fiction! This book is myopic and boring - even its cover is a stereotype.
July 8, 2024
This book is stranger than fiction. It felt like something straight out of 1984. The reporter captures the humanity of it though.
I little disclaimer- I only read half of it. But what I read was really good and very insightful.
Positives: The Ariosto is very thoughtful about his surroundings, and he notices little details and nuances that most people wouldn’t catch. I also appreciated the fact that he didn’t white wash his experiences there.
Here are some facts I learned about Cuba during my time immersed in this book adventure:
- Cubans tend to call people by their last names. "What's up Ariosto!"
- 95% of Cubans use the black market!!
- Baseball! Baseball! Baseball! This is such a cultural token of Cuba and in many ways its what connects the people there (and one of the only things that connect American tourists with Cubans!).
- Cubans economy suffered because the government storehouses didn't deliver the seeds to farmers until after planting season was over :( although the Cubans have plenty of fertile land, communism and big gov makes it hard to get anything done!
- CNN journalist were censored. The people working at Ariosto's CNN office were connected with the government.
- Cuba is a Teir 3 country in sex trafficking among children and adults :( Cubans will have sex with tourists in order to cover living expenses, bring in foreign currency and deal with poverty
Negatives: There were some instances in the book where it seemed like Ariosto wanted to hook up with some Cuban woman there. His descriptions show that he was very conscience of their appearance: "It was when the flan came that she walked in. Form fitting floral; a dress that cinched more then it billowed. Our eyes meet as she walked by. "Disculpeme, senor" I asked a waiter as she sat down. "Do you have a pen?" He produced one and I scribbled down my number." (Ch 7, pg 86).
This made me a wee bit uncomfortable because of the fact posted above about sex trafficking. I don't know how cautious he was about this or what his intentions were...but it made me squirm a little in my seat reading it.
I little disclaimer- I only read half of it. But what I read was really good and very insightful.
Positives: The Ariosto is very thoughtful about his surroundings, and he notices little details and nuances that most people wouldn’t catch. I also appreciated the fact that he didn’t white wash his experiences there.
Here are some facts I learned about Cuba during my time immersed in this book adventure:
- Cubans tend to call people by their last names. "What's up Ariosto!"
- 95% of Cubans use the black market!!
- Baseball! Baseball! Baseball! This is such a cultural token of Cuba and in many ways its what connects the people there (and one of the only things that connect American tourists with Cubans!).
- Cubans economy suffered because the government storehouses didn't deliver the seeds to farmers until after planting season was over :( although the Cubans have plenty of fertile land, communism and big gov makes it hard to get anything done!
- CNN journalist were censored. The people working at Ariosto's CNN office were connected with the government.
- Cuba is a Teir 3 country in sex trafficking among children and adults :( Cubans will have sex with tourists in order to cover living expenses, bring in foreign currency and deal with poverty
Negatives: There were some instances in the book where it seemed like Ariosto wanted to hook up with some Cuban woman there. His descriptions show that he was very conscience of their appearance: "It was when the flan came that she walked in. Form fitting floral; a dress that cinched more then it billowed. Our eyes meet as she walked by. "Disculpeme, senor" I asked a waiter as she sat down. "Do you have a pen?" He produced one and I scribbled down my number." (Ch 7, pg 86).
This made me a wee bit uncomfortable because of the fact posted above about sex trafficking. I don't know how cautious he was about this or what his intentions were...but it made me squirm a little in my seat reading it.
June 27, 2021
For the general reader with an interest in the current state if Cuba, Ariostos's book is a good introduction. For those of us looking for more insight, it fell a bit flat. Like many American and European journalists who come to live or travel in Cuba, he arrives and considers himself above the romantic, nostaglic version doled out over the years. He is there to do a job: report the stories and photos for his employers. He is refreshingly honest about his purpose.
But ultimately, he too falls into the same trap. In his brief one year on the ground, and subsequent visits, he ends up missing the "simplicity and slow pace of life" on the island. As one of his Cuban sources, Vidal, tells it: " Yet despite the successes that his adopted country ( the US) had afforded him, he seemed to long for those shoeless, lunchless days, when bohemian romance, as he called it, still lived like it does own your movies. " I can imagine Ariostos nodding his head in mutual longing.
Despite his visits over the years, he also knows that he is still an outsider. he will always be a "yuma" - as Cubans call people from the United States or Cubans who have left for the US. He is a yuma in Venezuela as he follows the story of the death of Chavez and the rise of Machado. One senses that he is now even a "yuma" in his own country - a person turned outsider by his experiences in Cuba and Venezuela.
In the final chapter Ariosto returns to Havana. "Cuba seemed to again work its magic. Cliche-ridden illusions misspelled, I was returning with a woman whose wide-eyed wonderment forced me to remember Havana's sultry side- and its romance."
The book reads more like a personal memoir than a journalistic review of what is happening in Cuba today. I was hoping for more than that in the book. RTghere are better books on romance.
But ultimately, he too falls into the same trap. In his brief one year on the ground, and subsequent visits, he ends up missing the "simplicity and slow pace of life" on the island. As one of his Cuban sources, Vidal, tells it: " Yet despite the successes that his adopted country ( the US) had afforded him, he seemed to long for those shoeless, lunchless days, when bohemian romance, as he called it, still lived like it does own your movies. " I can imagine Ariostos nodding his head in mutual longing.
Despite his visits over the years, he also knows that he is still an outsider. he will always be a "yuma" - as Cubans call people from the United States or Cubans who have left for the US. He is a yuma in Venezuela as he follows the story of the death of Chavez and the rise of Machado. One senses that he is now even a "yuma" in his own country - a person turned outsider by his experiences in Cuba and Venezuela.
In the final chapter Ariosto returns to Havana. "Cuba seemed to again work its magic. Cliche-ridden illusions misspelled, I was returning with a woman whose wide-eyed wonderment forced me to remember Havana's sultry side- and its romance."
The book reads more like a personal memoir than a journalistic review of what is happening in Cuba today. I was hoping for more than that in the book. RTghere are better books on romance.
January 11, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. Ariosto shares his experience living in Cuba as a reporter for CNN. He shares some additional travel information as a reporter for Al Jazeera.
The book jumps around from one presidential administration to another. The underlying continual statement seems to be "This is Cuba" and "Nothing is quite as it seems". Ariosto shares his everyday experiences as a "Yuma" in Cuba. Shortages abound in Cuba toilet paper and milk are a real challenge sometimes. What are the impossible to acquire is batteries, chocolate, fishing lures, the list goes on and on. If something breaks down, you'll wait for weeks for someone to come out for a doctored fix.
Ariosto shares the insights of those he interviews who although double agents, seem to find their real loyalty to what they believe to be best for Cuba. Those that left Cuba for a better life seem to feel that moving on to the freedom they thought they'd find seemed to be somewhat of a noose around their neck, finding that the real freedom might be the hard times they lived in Cuba where you always just barely had what you needed and felt that you barely survived but also weren't caught up in the pattern of always wanting more, always working harder and never feeling fulfilled.
There is a lot in this book, espionage, political chess, references to the Kennedy Assassination, the Vatican, Venezuela, Russia, the embassy sonic attack and so much more. There is definitely something here that will perk your interest.
I somehow complete this book and feel, Cuba ought to be left alone. But what would that look like for Cuba and the US?
The book jumps around from one presidential administration to another. The underlying continual statement seems to be "This is Cuba" and "Nothing is quite as it seems". Ariosto shares his everyday experiences as a "Yuma" in Cuba. Shortages abound in Cuba toilet paper and milk are a real challenge sometimes. What are the impossible to acquire is batteries, chocolate, fishing lures, the list goes on and on. If something breaks down, you'll wait for weeks for someone to come out for a doctored fix.
Ariosto shares the insights of those he interviews who although double agents, seem to find their real loyalty to what they believe to be best for Cuba. Those that left Cuba for a better life seem to feel that moving on to the freedom they thought they'd find seemed to be somewhat of a noose around their neck, finding that the real freedom might be the hard times they lived in Cuba where you always just barely had what you needed and felt that you barely survived but also weren't caught up in the pattern of always wanting more, always working harder and never feeling fulfilled.
There is a lot in this book, espionage, political chess, references to the Kennedy Assassination, the Vatican, Venezuela, Russia, the embassy sonic attack and so much more. There is definitely something here that will perk your interest.
I somehow complete this book and feel, Cuba ought to be left alone. But what would that look like for Cuba and the US?
October 15, 2018
David Ariosto is a journalist who was embedded in Cuba for several years. This Is Cuba is the result of Ariosto's time there and of his extensive research which includes interviews of Cubans. The interviews offer the reader a chance to meet people from different social classes and reveals an ugly underbelly to the island politics.
Ariosto examines contemporary Cuba, lodged between the Castro era and the Trump presidency. Corruption runs rampant and people resort to buying necessary items on the black market. People's voices are silenced and Ariosto draws a picture of a Cuba in transition, wavering between communism and capitalism.
The writing in the book is engaging and informed. This vision of contemporary Cuba is fascinating yet sad. It really helped me understand the complexities of life in Cuba.
Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy. This review is solely my own
Ariosto examines contemporary Cuba, lodged between the Castro era and the Trump presidency. Corruption runs rampant and people resort to buying necessary items on the black market. People's voices are silenced and Ariosto draws a picture of a Cuba in transition, wavering between communism and capitalism.
The writing in the book is engaging and informed. This vision of contemporary Cuba is fascinating yet sad. It really helped me understand the complexities of life in Cuba.
Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy. This review is solely my own
March 2, 2019
If you, like me, have been fascinated by Cuba since the Bay of Pigs, David Ariosto will bring you up to date. This is an in depth current look at this interesting country. The author arrived there in 2009 as a photojournalist for CNN. He takes us through the early days of rapprochement, with flashbacks to the early days of the revolution, the relationship with the Soviets, and subsequent US embargo. Although Barack Obama’s efforts to forge ties to Cuba inspired optimism and a short-term boom, Trump’s rollbacks are dashing hopes. Housing, food, and medicine shortages create a crisis of confidence among a restive population. This is a candid firsthand American account of an island undergoing a shaky transition from the Castro years to the present. Its not so much about the culture and music that is so intriguing, and more about Cuba’s government’s treatment of its citizens and the impact of the American normalization of its relationship with Cuba which is, In a word, complicated.
March 21, 2019
A very detailed and descriptive view of Cuba today as it is changing and "reforming". Certainly much work needs to happen, but Mr. Ariosto does a wonderful job of chronicling life in Havana and around the Cuba for the past ten years. I love the detail he gives to describing the problems in Cuba, and telling the stories of so many exiles who have fled and are sharing their true feelings for this story. The book also does a good job in shining a light on all of the problems that Cuba faces, and while some aspects are based in part on the United States, Mr. Ariosto finds time to critique both short -sighted policy led by ideologues in the United States and the Cuban government and their unwillingness to change. I would find some time to do some history on the revolution, as that is barley mentioned in this book. However, it is a fast and easy read that will keep you up all night not wanting to put the book down.
November 25, 2018
This is Cuba by journalist David Ariosto is a narrative of his time on the island as a CNN and Al Jazeera America correspondent. It roughly spans the beginning of the Obama presidency through the present. Through his encounters with the people on the island, Ariosto is able to weave a tale that’s both the Hollywood picture of nostalgic glam and the US-propaganda story of a land deprived of basic rights. Both seem to be true. I found the juxtaposition both interesting and heartbreaking. The perspective of the people lends a personal touch that’s not often given. The political pieces made Cuba’s story much more understandable for me, previously only having the United States perspective. The history of Cuba is truly is a wild tale, with no other place like it.
March 20, 2021
“The pace of life in Florida was decidedly faster. And in some ways it was what Antonina had wanted. She had gotten married and become financially independent, no longer reliant on her family, and free to pursue the life and career that she had wanted. Here, markets were in abundance, but life seemed more solitary as many retreated into their phones. Here, it’s username and password, username and password, she said. I miss my Cuba. I miss my life in Cuba, my freedom. What freedom? I asked. Time Antonina said simply. She missed the freedom of time that Cuba had afforded: time to socialize, to relax, and to think without the distraction of iPhone screens and taxi TVs and the anxiety of missing out or having to catch up.”
December 11, 2018
I have long been fascinated by Cuba, the history, the ability of the country to continue to stand against the U.S., and of course, the music.
My perspective is that of a tourist and reader of romanticized books about Cuba.
David Ariosto, a CNN correspondent to Cuba, presents us with a more down-to-earth picture of the Cuba he encountered while on assisgnment.
The soft, gritty underbelly, perhaps, but still a picture of a nation where the people show enormous talent, resilience, and a willingness to provide humanitarian assistence to anyone who needs it.
Recommended for Cuba afficianatos and travellers.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for galley proof of this title.
My perspective is that of a tourist and reader of romanticized books about Cuba.
David Ariosto, a CNN correspondent to Cuba, presents us with a more down-to-earth picture of the Cuba he encountered while on assisgnment.
The soft, gritty underbelly, perhaps, but still a picture of a nation where the people show enormous talent, resilience, and a willingness to provide humanitarian assistence to anyone who needs it.
Recommended for Cuba afficianatos and travellers.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for galley proof of this title.
June 9, 2019
In 2009 David Ariosto was offered a 2-year assignment in Havana, Cuba, working as a photojournalist for CNN. Young and single, he felt he was up for the challenge: power outages at inconvenient times, grocery stores with nothing on the shelves, oppressive heat, not knowing who to trust and - although only 90 miles from mainland USA - a sense of isolation and being cutoff from the rest of the world. After the assignment he continued to make reporting trips to the island.
This book, which is part memoir/commentary/travelogue, examines Cuba over the past 9 years and gives a fascinating glimpse into life on an island which has recently become “off limits” once again to Americans.
This book, which is part memoir/commentary/travelogue, examines Cuba over the past 9 years and gives a fascinating glimpse into life on an island which has recently become “off limits” once again to Americans.
February 6, 2024
Ariosto does a fantastic job in transporting the reader into smoke filled restaurants, hotels lobbies from what seem like a remnant of the Soviet Union, and into the lives of regular Cuban people who are well aware of the absurdity of Cuba’s socioeconomic system.
That author writes in a way that’s witty, humorous, and authentic- yet fully knowledgeable of Latin American affairs.
I would definitely say that the reader should know some basics of Latin America (ie. Hugo Chavez, US Interventions, etc.) to fully appreciate the story being told here by Ariosto.
Great read. It was difficult to put this one down, and wish it were longer so I could enjoy more of it!
That author writes in a way that’s witty, humorous, and authentic- yet fully knowledgeable of Latin American affairs.
I would definitely say that the reader should know some basics of Latin America (ie. Hugo Chavez, US Interventions, etc.) to fully appreciate the story being told here by Ariosto.
Great read. It was difficult to put this one down, and wish it were longer so I could enjoy more of it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews