Fresh insight about one of history’s most enigmatic of relationships between nation states, from one of America’s best known voices of political and social activism.

The book is informed throughout by the author’s own unique history, not only as an observer of Cuba’s complex and intricate history but also as a US revolutionary student leader whose efforts to mobilize political change in the US mirrored the radical transformation simultaneously going on in Cuba. There are chapters devoted to the writings of Che Guevara, Regis Debray, and C. Wright Mills; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the Weather Underground; the assassination of JFK; the strong historical links between Cuba and Africa; the Carter era; the Clinton era; Cuban 5; and Elian Gonzalez.

Hayden documents the remarkable influence Cuba has had across Latin America. Perhaps most importantly, he rightly presents the great opportunity that is available now to both countries to finally find common ground to the advantage of Cubans and Americans alike.