The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey

The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey

  • Downloads:8458
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-08-11 10:19:14
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Ernesto Che Guevara
  • ISBN:1644210681
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A New York Times Bestseller
With a new introduction by The Motorcyle Diaries filmmaker Walter Salles, and featuring 24 pages of photos taken by Che。


A journey, a number of journeys。 Ernesto Guevara in search of adventure, Ernesto Guevara in search of America, Ernesto Guevara in search of Che。 On this journey, solitude found solidarity。 'I' turned into 'we'。 --Eduardo Galeano

As his journey progresses, Guevara's voice seems to deepen, to darken, colored by what he witnesses in his travels。 He is still poetic, but now he comments on what he sees, though still poetically, with a new awareness of the social and political ramifications of what's going on around him。 --January Magazine

Our film is about a young man, Che, falling in love with a continent and finding his place in it。 --Walter Salles, director of the film version of The Motorcycle Diaries

All this wandering around Our America with a Capital A has changed me more than I thought。 --Ernesto Che Guevara, from The Motorcycle Diaries
The Motorcycle Diaries is Che Guevara's diary of his journey to discover the continent of Latin America while still a medical student, setting out in 1952 on a vintage Norton motorcycle together with his friend Alberto Granado, a biochemist。 It captures, arguably as much as any book ever written, the exuberance and joy of one person's youthful belief in the possibilities of humankind tending towards justice, peace and happiness。 After the release in 2004 of the exhilarating film of the same title, directed by Walter Salles, the book became a New York Times and international bestseller。
This edition includes a new introduction by Walter Salles and an array of new material that was assembled for the 2004 edition coinciding with the release of the film, including 24 pages of previously unpublished photos taken by Che, notes and comments by his wife, Aleida Guevara March, and an extensive introduction by the distinguished Cuban author, Cintio Vitier。

Download

Reviews

Javier Alegria

Nada excepcional

Ari

“Ah sei comunista? Spiegami il materialismo dialettico” “No, però se vuoi posso raccontarti della volta in cui il Che cagò tutta notte da una finestra e la sua merda finì su delle pesche lasciate a essiccare un paio di metri lì sotto”

Dasha

From drunken disagreements, murder, and drugs to merriment, camaraderie and compassion - this collection of Guevara's own writings from his adventure, with his best friend, through Latin America is an exciting and enjoyable read。 Between the entertaining stories from various locations, there is a surplus of commentary on working conditions, residual effects of colonialism, America's neo-imperialism, exploitation, wealth and medical inequity。 Despite the generosity of the many strangers encounter From drunken disagreements, murder, and drugs to merriment, camaraderie and compassion - this collection of Guevara's own writings from his adventure, with his best friend, through Latin America is an exciting and enjoyable read。 Between the entertaining stories from various locations, there is a surplus of commentary on working conditions, residual effects of colonialism, America's neo-imperialism, exploitation, wealth and medical inequity。 Despite the generosity of the many strangers encountered throughout the book, it is clear that past and current exploitation (whether by Conquistadors or foreign-owned mining companies) has influenced resources and material wealth available to local populations。 Indeed, the reader of this book can take from it the many experiences that shaped Guevara's view of the world and the necessity for change。 I enjoyed the introduction by his daughter, chronological overview, and map of the travels。 As someone very unfamiliar with Latin America the map helped to visualize the route taken。 。。。more

Nikolas V。

A magnificent work。 The Motorcycle Diaries is, at once, both a meditation on such massive ideas as colonialism, fate, absurdity and history, as well as a humorous, sentimental tale of the turbulent journey through South America Che and his friend Alberto, both undertook。

Mani Gobind

Che might have been a great orator, and a legendary revolutionary, but believe me when I say this, he was absolutely doghshit as a writer。I started this book with very high expectations, and boy have I been underwhelmed。 I expected this to be a brisk, intriguing read, offering insights into his vision, his ideology, or explaining the catalyst which made him give up a possible career as a doctor in order to become a revolutionary。Unfortunately, zilch, zero, nada!Every single chapter follows the f Che might have been a great orator, and a legendary revolutionary, but believe me when I say this, he was absolutely doghshit as a writer。I started this book with very high expectations, and boy have I been underwhelmed。 I expected this to be a brisk, intriguing read, offering insights into his vision, his ideology, or explaining the catalyst which made him give up a possible career as a doctor in order to become a revolutionary。Unfortunately, zilch, zero, nada!Every single chapter follows the following theme: We woke up -> left for the next city around midday -> moped broke down -> found some helpful people who let us stay the night at their place -> Gave us food to eat, and we drank our own Mate -> we fixed the moped -> repeat from step 1。Until the damn thing broke down for good, and then the schedule becomesWe woke up -> local police found us a truck that would take us to the next city around midday -> truck reached destination around nightfall -> found some helpful people who let us stay the night at their place -> Gave us food to eat, and we drank our own Mate -> repeat from step 1。The only ever so slightly moving paragraph in the entire 152 page book ordeal is By the light of the single candle illuminating us, drinking mate and eating a piece of bread and cheese, the man’s shrunken figure carried a mysterious, tragic air。 In his simple, expressive language he recounted his three months in prison, and told us about his starving wife who stood by him with exemplary loyalty, his children left in the care of a kindly neighbor, his fruitless pilgrimage in search of work and his compañeros, mysteriously disappeared and said to be somewhere at the bottom of the sea。The couple, numb with cold, huddling against each other in the desert night, were a living representation of the proletariat in any part of the world。 They had not one single miserable blanket to cover themselves with, 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 We separated from the couple who were heading for the sulphur mines in the mountains where the climate is so bad and the living conditions so hard that you don’t need a work permit and nobody asks you what your politics are。 The only thing that matters is the enthusiasm with which the workers set to ruining their health in search of a few meager crumbs that barely provide their subsistence。 Honestly, I remember putting the book aside for a while, and thinking。。。。 of the cold desert, of the single candle, of the bread, and of the couple managing without a blanket for so long, of the poverty, of the exploitation, of the sulphur mines, and of the work conditions and hazards。This comes in about 70 pages, so roughly halfway through the book。 I thought, hmm, maybe this is the turning point, and we will get to see more such heart-wrenching examples。 Mabe this book will turn around after all, BUT NO, not to be。 Che and his friend are off to the next village, sleeping in peoples homes, hitchhiking rides from the local police (or getting them to do it on their behalf), and drinking at bars。Ironically, this is the only time that the two of them slept on the streets, instead of some doctor/bureaucrat's house。 Maybe they should have realized that they should do this more often, but no, sleeping on the streets is a little too much to ask for our elite doctors from Argentina。Believe me when I say this, I have nothing against Che, and I respect and honour his vision, his ideology, and the contributions and sacrifices that he has made over the course of his life。 My grouse, if you can call it that, is with the people who put this book as one of the greats, and the "must reads"。 Like why? Maybe its a far better movie than it is a book, but I dont think a movie can ever be as good as a book anyway。Sorry to say, but this book shows literally zero insight into Che's life or ideology, either present or future。 It is a went here, stayed there, saw that, kind of a journal, something we currently have handed down to the developers of mobile phone cameras and google photos (which dont hesitate in coming up with a memory or two everyday)。 Ironical, isnt it, how we, on our deathbed will have less memories of our lives than Google photos would。I can go on and on and on, but the conclusion is that this book doesnt deserve such a haloed reputation that it has。 。。。more

Cheyanne Fleming

Guevara has a very interesting way of writing。 Sometimes, I forgot that the text were journal entries, because the imagery was very descriptive and straight out of a book a person might read in present times。 However, that may possibly just be props to the translator。 Despite being a controversial figure, this book focuses less on Guevara's ideology and more on his travels throughout Latin America。 Included towards the midsection of the book, depending on which version you have, are a collection Guevara has a very interesting way of writing。 Sometimes, I forgot that the text were journal entries, because the imagery was very descriptive and straight out of a book a person might read in present times。 However, that may possibly just be props to the translator。 Despite being a controversial figure, this book focuses less on Guevara's ideology and more on his travels throughout Latin America。 Included towards the midsection of the book, depending on which version you have, are a collection of photos Guevara had taken while on the journey。 I found that part to be the most intriguing section of the book, while below the photos contained captions that explained the historical significance。 。。。more

Sahana

Like many, I overestimated him。 I dream of a revolution where women are comrades, and more than just owners of breasts。 Or "jugs" as Che allegedly called them。 Like many, I overestimated him。 I dream of a revolution where women are comrades, and more than just owners of breasts。 Or "jugs" as Che allegedly called them。 。。。more

Nicole Sampaio

Really enjoyed reading the diary entries and was very impressed with the vocabulary used。 It was a quick read, as every entry was captivating and touched on multiple aspects of their long journey

Donald

“ This is not a story of heroic feats, or merely the narrative of a cynic。 It is a glimpse of two lives running parallel for a time, with similar hopes and convergent dreams。Nine months。 On the motorbike La Poderosa II - The Mighty One, with Alberto Granado。 Until it breaks down, and then “…just two hitchhikers with backpacks, and with all the grime of the road stuck to our overalls, shadows of our former aristocratic selves。” Subsisting mostly on bread, cheese, and mate。 Two hungry doctors, on “ This is not a story of heroic feats, or merely the narrative of a cynic。 It is a glimpse of two lives running parallel for a time, with similar hopes and convergent dreams。Nine months。 On the motorbike La Poderosa II - The Mighty One, with Alberto Granado。 Until it breaks down, and then “…just two hitchhikers with backpacks, and with all the grime of the road stuck to our overalls, shadows of our former aristocratic selves。” Subsisting mostly on bread, cheese, and mate。 Two hungry doctors, on the road!Learning more about leprosy。 Ernesto’s asthma。 That river dolphin story! Those poor peaches under the window! Begging for money, food and lodging。 It's a good travel story, and I learned a great deal, flipping back to the map many a time to orient myself as to their whereabouts。 The pictures in the middle are pretty dang good too! The book made me want to follow their journey, and see what they saw。 I'm sure plenty has changed, but the plight of the people, especially the indigenous people, is almost assuredly the same。 Easy to see why a revolutionary was born!"The future belongs to the people, and gradually, or in one strike, they will take power。 here and in every country。 The terrible thing is the people need to be educated, and this they cannot do before taking power, only after。" 。。。more

simona

Molto carino e scorrevole, sicuramente Latinoamericana illustra un punto fondamentale per lo sviluppo della mentalità del Che: c'è uno sviluppo di un certo panamericanismo e i primi richiami degli ideali comunisti che poi ne caratterizzeranno la vita。 Ho comunque trovato la lettura non piacevole al 100%: in certi punti Guevara sembrava non aver nemmeno messo apposto gli appunti e di averli semplicemente trascritti, e la narrazione che passava dal dettaglio estremo alle generalità più assolute no Molto carino e scorrevole, sicuramente Latinoamericana illustra un punto fondamentale per lo sviluppo della mentalità del Che: c'è uno sviluppo di un certo panamericanismo e i primi richiami degli ideali comunisti che poi ne caratterizzeranno la vita。 Ho comunque trovato la lettura non piacevole al 100%: in certi punti Guevara sembrava non aver nemmeno messo apposto gli appunti e di averli semplicemente trascritti, e la narrazione che passava dal dettaglio estremo alle generalità più assolute non aiutava。 Un libro sicuramente da leggere, seppur le abbondanti carenze tecniche, per capire meglio come si è sviluppato il pensiero di uno dei personaggi cardine del ventesimo secolo。 。。。more

Max Sagitov

Nice story about youth, spirit, and Latin America

Jordan H

3。75/5diarios de motocicleta feels like the brief and early tip of a man whose persona and legacy is a vast iceberg but despite how fractional it was eerily on time: i've spent the summer investigating and pondering "solutions" to health disparities that can truly only ever be bridged through radical systematic reform, so this public health student to radical community activist pipeline that Che embodies is logical and almost too resonant for me。 i'm looking forward to doing more reading, and tr 3。75/5diarios de motocicleta feels like the brief and early tip of a man whose persona and legacy is a vast iceberg but despite how fractional it was eerily on time: i've spent the summer investigating and pondering "solutions" to health disparities that can truly only ever be bridged through radical systematic reform, so this public health student to radical community activist pipeline that Che embodies is logical and almost too resonant for me。 i'm looking forward to doing more reading, and traveling the entire latin american continent doesn't sound too bad as a post-grad plan either u know 。。。more

Gabrielle

I have a very distant memory of reading this in college, though picking it up now, I confess I couldn’t remember a thing from that first read。 Like most tiny wannabe revolutionary students, I had an ardent love for what Che Guevara represented, though I was pitifully ignorant of the details of his life。 I’ve been dusting off some old college-era books lately, and I thought that this one deserved a more serious study。What one gets from reading this little travelogue is a taste of Guevera’s natura I have a very distant memory of reading this in college, though picking it up now, I confess I couldn’t remember a thing from that first read。 Like most tiny wannabe revolutionary students, I had an ardent love for what Che Guevara represented, though I was pitifully ignorant of the details of his life。 I’ve been dusting off some old college-era books lately, and I thought that this one deserved a more serious study。What one gets from reading this little travelogue is a taste of Guevera’s natural talent for beautiful writing, and an incredible insight into the profoundly transformative power of traveling。 The young man who first plans this motorcycle trip across South America with his friend Alberto Granado is a restless medical student who will suddenly be exposed to things his comfortable upbringing had shielded him from: poverty, exploitation, discrimination and human suffering on a scale he had never imagined before。 This trip will plant the seed of revolution in his heart, and years later, when Guevara prepared this collection for publication, he felt the need to remind readers that his story was no one of heroism but a simple honest account of what he saw and his reactions to it。 This makes it a very personal account of how one’s social consciousness develops, and where the will to change the world comes from。I imagine people who read this now are already pre-disposed to agree with the young Che, but there is something nevertheless beautiful and moving in these pages, in following the footsteps (and numerous bike breakdowns) of this young man who would be transformed by this trip。 He describes the continent he is exploring in such vivid details, and with such love。 While I wish it was longer, the final few pages are so powerful that I did not close the book disapointed。A wonderful glimpse into the mind of a man who would leave a mark of great significance on history and culture。 。。。more

Alison

Spoiler alert: the motorcycle referenced in the title only lasts about a third of the way through Che and Alberto's journey before biting the dust, forcing the pair to continue on foot, raft, plane, and many begged rides to Caracas, where the book abruptly ends。 Things started off interesting, but then got repetitive towards the end and I found it increasingly hard to retain interest。 I was also expecting descriptions of their journey to Miami as referenced at the start of the book, but was disa Spoiler alert: the motorcycle referenced in the title only lasts about a third of the way through Che and Alberto's journey before biting the dust, forcing the pair to continue on foot, raft, plane, and many begged rides to Caracas, where the book abruptly ends。 Things started off interesting, but then got repetitive towards the end and I found it increasingly hard to retain interest。 I was also expecting descriptions of their journey to Miami as referenced at the start of the book, but was disappointed to find no record of their return trip。 。。。more

Kelly

True to its title, this reads like a diary。 Definitely an interesting and important read, but the English teacher in me wanted more。

Fiction O Phile

Not in the right mood to continue reading it at this moment。 Will finish reading it by the end of this year surely。

Ebony

3。5 ⭐️ his writing is always beautiful and humorous。

Sara Kubisty

“the future belongs to the people, and gradually, or in one strike, they will take power, here and in every country”

Petauroak

Diarios de motocicleta。 Notas de viaje por América Latina (Ernesto Guevara)。Toda América Latina ante los pies del viajero, como una única unidad Panamericana en la que algún día el pueblo tomará lo que le pertenece y se desprenderá de sus apáticas y asfixiantes cadenas。 Y mientras tanto kilómetros a la espalda que permiten descubrir las realidades que se presentan。

Patthomson

funky

Vaishnavi Kaveeshwar

Disclaimer : I am neither leftist nor rightist I am just a liberal centrist trying to learn more about stuff。I read this book as I wanted to educate myself more about Che 。 He is widely followed and quoted mainly by people who I believe neither have read his work nor understand his principles。 I thought I'd learn more about spiritual evolution that took place inside of him during this journey which led him to become the leader that he has been, this does appear in the book sometime during end bu Disclaimer : I am neither leftist nor rightist I am just a liberal centrist trying to learn more about stuff。I read this book as I wanted to educate myself more about Che 。 He is widely followed and quoted mainly by people who I believe neither have read his work nor understand his principles。 I thought I'd learn more about spiritual evolution that took place inside of him during this journey which led him to become the leader that he has been, this does appear in the book sometime during end but it doesn't do justice to his legacy。 I'm gonna take one for the team and say it's mostly a guy in his 20s narrating trivial things about his journey such as what they ate and where they slept。 。。。more

Saeed Hafiz

I have read the malayalam translation of this book by pp sathyan of progress books, very poor translation

Klaudyna Maciąg

Całkiem niezła literatura drogi, choć zdecydowanie za krótka。 Abstrahując od oceny postaci samego Ernesto Che Guevary, jest to książka, która intryguje, ciekawi i skłania do refleksji。"Dzienniki motocyklowe" są zapisem podróży młodego Che i jego przyjaciela Alberto po Ameryce Południowej lat pięćdziesiątych。 Kim był, zanim stał się rewolucjonistą? Co widziały jego oczy, że musiał pójść taką drogą? W tej książce znajdziemy odpowiedzi na tego rodzaju pytania, co tylko spotęguje wrażenie, z jak bar Całkiem niezła literatura drogi, choć zdecydowanie za krótka。 Abstrahując od oceny postaci samego Ernesto Che Guevary, jest to książka, która intryguje, ciekawi i skłania do refleksji。"Dzienniki motocyklowe" są zapisem podróży młodego Che i jego przyjaciela Alberto po Ameryce Południowej lat pięćdziesiątych。 Kim był, zanim stał się rewolucjonistą? Co widziały jego oczy, że musiał pójść taką drogą? W tej książce znajdziemy odpowiedzi na tego rodzaju pytania, co tylko spotęguje wrażenie, z jak bardzo niejednoznaczną postacią mamy do czynienia。Polecam przeczytanie, jeśli ciekawią Was ludzie, historia i świat。 Ja spędziłam przy niej dobry czas。 。。。more

Abby Sharkis

I loved this book。 Hearing first hand what Che's journey was like and what things he saw that radicalized him was super eye opening。 Che's prose is easy to understand, personal, and at times, funny。 The book doesn't feel dated at all which was something I worried about。 Will definitely be reading more Che after this。 Would 100% recommend this as a good introductory read。 I loved this book。 Hearing first hand what Che's journey was like and what things he saw that radicalized him was super eye opening。 Che's prose is easy to understand, personal, and at times, funny。 The book doesn't feel dated at all which was something I worried about。 Will definitely be reading more Che after this。 Would 100% recommend this as a good introductory read。 。。。more

Dustin Gutekunst

"I knew that when the great guiding spirit cleaves humanity into two antagonistic halves, I would be with the people。 I know this, I see it printed in the night sky that I, eclectic dissembler of doctrine and psychoanalyst of dogma, howling like one possessed, will assault the barricades or the trenches, will take my bloodstained weapon and, consumed with fury, slaughter any enemy who falls into my hands。 And I see, as if a great exhaustion smothers this fresh exaltation, I see myself, immolated "I knew that when the great guiding spirit cleaves humanity into two antagonistic halves, I would be with the people。 I know this, I see it printed in the night sky that I, eclectic dissembler of doctrine and psychoanalyst of dogma, howling like one possessed, will assault the barricades or the trenches, will take my bloodstained weapon and, consumed with fury, slaughter any enemy who falls into my hands。 And I see, as if a great exhaustion smothers this fresh exaltation, I see myself, immolated in the genuine revolution, the great equalizer of individual will, proclaiming the ultimate mea culpa。 I feel my nostrils dilate savoring the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood, the enemy's death; I steel my body, ready to do battle, and prepare myself to be a sacred space within which the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat can resound with new energy and new hope。" 。。。more

Artem Sokolov

I must say that this book really surprised me。 Ernesto was actually a good writer, with a graphical and poetic language。 This can already be seen in the first chapter when he describes how the person that went on this journey is not the same one that came home or when he leaves his girlfriend (there are many more examples)。The book is about two friends traveling throughout South America, on La Poderosa and later on hitchhiking looking for roof, food and work。 This one is hard to rate, the first I must say that this book really surprised me。 Ernesto was actually a good writer, with a graphical and poetic language。 This can already be seen in the first chapter when he describes how the person that went on this journey is not the same one that came home or when he leaves his girlfriend (there are many more examples)。The book is about two friends traveling throughout South America, on La Poderosa and later on hitchhiking looking for roof, food and work。 This one is hard to rate, the first half of the book is 5/5 it's poetic, beautiful and exciting。The second half is more descriptive and a little bit repetitive。 An example of this is the chapters about Cuzco and the land of incas which are more or less a pure history lesson about the land and nothing about how our main companions perceive it, which according to me feels out of context for this book。 。。。more

AS

- This book takes place in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, and is one of the books representing South America on my list “Seven Continents of Books 2021-First of all, very poor translation。 Next, I have to say I found this book pretty tedious overall。 Took me a while to get through it, even though it’s not a long one, because I kept almost giving up on it。 Some passages were really pretty interesting, but to get to those, you have to wade through page after page of, “And then we crashed for the nigh - This book takes place in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, and is one of the books representing South America on my list “Seven Continents of Books 2021-First of all, very poor translation。 Next, I have to say I found this book pretty tedious overall。 Took me a while to get through it, even though it’s not a long one, because I kept almost giving up on it。 Some passages were really pretty interesting, but to get to those, you have to wade through page after page of, “And then we crashed for the night at this person’s place and begged for food, and then in the morning, begged for a ride。。。” I stayed with it until the end because I did feel like I learned things (especially from the biographical notes included in this edition) but I wouldn’t recommend it whole-heartedly。 I’d recommend skimming it, which is probably what I should have done。 The movie, on the other hand, is beautifully done and very thought-provoking。 。。。more

Suzanne Ashworth

unusually I had seen the film first! Interesting insight into the young Che and South America in the early 50s

Matty B

El Che piensa en muchas palabras para llegar a conclusiones simples。 Es un escritor con pensamientos y descripciónes a veces bellas, es hecho。 Tristemente, toma navegar demasiadas palabras, oraciones eternas, para llegar a su punto o al fin del cuento。 Pero, cuando llega terminar su narrativa nos deja con un pensamiento, una pasión, lleno de emoción y totalmente sin contexto。 Lo cual es raro porque si he aprendido algo del Che es que le encanta relatar con precisión lo que le ha pasado。 Lo que v El Che piensa en muchas palabras para llegar a conclusiones simples。 Es un escritor con pensamientos y descripciónes a veces bellas, es hecho。 Tristemente, toma navegar demasiadas palabras, oraciones eternas, para llegar a su punto o al fin del cuento。 Pero, cuando llega terminar su narrativa nos deja con un pensamiento, una pasión, lleno de emoción y totalmente sin contexto。 Lo cual es raro porque si he aprendido algo del Che es que le encanta relatar con precisión lo que le ha pasado。 Lo que verdaderamente necesitaba nuestro Che es un editor。 。。。more

Ádám Cserős

An exciting view over the South American landscape and people。