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Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly

This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles. -- Southern Pines Pilot

Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read. <br> -- Choice

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times <p/>

Author Information

Richard Schweid was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and now lives in Barcelona, Spain, where he is senior editor of the magazine Barcelona Metropolitan. His popular books include Catfish and the Delta: Confederate Fish Farming in the Mississippi Delta, Hot Peppers: The Story of Cajuns and Capsicum, and The Cockroach Papers: A Compendium of History and Lore.

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