A lively survey of Cuba's past and present, and a “must-have” companion to any Cuba travel guide
“Cuba has the same effect on American administrations<br> that the full moon has on werewolves.” –– Wayne Smith, former head of US Interests Section in
Havana
For more than 50 years, the US government and mass media have misrepresented, hidden or ignored the truth about Cuba. In "Cuba for the Misinformed," Mick Winter brings together a fascinating array of facts and anecdotes about Cuba's history, its government, its people, and the actions that the United States has taken against the well-being of those people.
Citizens of other countries do know many of these facts. That is why every year at the United Nations almost every country on the planet (the 2012 vote was 188-3) demands that the United States end its embargo of Cuba.
As you read this book, you will recognize that for more than fifty years something very interesting has been happening just ninety miles offshore from the United States. You may not agree with everything— or even anything— that has happened since the Cuban revolution, but you will likely admit that this small island country of eleven million people has had a global effect that reaches far beyond its size.
This book presents information that is little-known (particularly to most Americans) about Cuba and its relationship with the United States. It offers this information clearly, succinctly and in a style that's enjoyable to read, and backs it up with helpful footnotes and links to resources. Whether you're a student, educator or journalist; planning a trip to Cuba (this book is an essential companion to your Cuba tour book); anticipating future business dealings; or simply want to know more, you'll find "Cuba for the Misinformed" a treasure of interesting—and often fascinating—information, facts and anecdotes about Cuba and its people.
“Hard as it may be to accept, our policy toward Cuba has failed<br> and it is now time to change our focus from trying<br> to destroy Cuba's government to helping its people.
—Former US president Richard Nixon (1994)
Why did Che Guevara thank US President John Kennedy for the Bay of Pigs invasion?
What was the real deal on ending the Cuban Missile Crisis and why was Fidel Castro furious?
What did Cubans do to the man who killed Che Guevara?
Which country supports the US embargo of Cuba but lets its own citizens holiday and invest there?
Who thanked Cuba for helping bring about the end of apartheid in South Africa?
How did Cuba dramatically increase its literacy rate in just one year?
Why did Fidel Castro fire his own son?
What is Varadero and why don't Americans know about it?
Americans and all citizens of the world can learn much from what the Cuban people have accomplished. But we can learn only if we are aware of the facts.
This book has them.
9. HEALTH CARE
Free for everyone!
Including eye care, dental care
and prescriptions. House calls
are routine and convenient
because there is usually a doctor
living in the neighborhood.
5.91 physicians per thousand
people (In the US it's 2.3 per
thousand)
A life expectancy that's higher
than the United States! (79.1
versus 78.5)
10. LITERACY
A literacy rate that's even
higher than the United
States!
99.8% versus 98.2%
And Cubans achieved this
by teaching each other.
11. HURRICANES
Cuba helps people before
hurricanes happen.
(Remember New Orleans and
Hurricane Katrina?)
Before hurricanes hit, people
are transported to shelters –
NOT to huge arenas—where
food, water and medical
supplies await. Even pets are
welcome, with veterinarians
waiting for them.
(Immediately after Hurricane
Katrina, Cuba offered 1600
fully-equipped medical
personnel to help people in
New Orleans. The Bush
administration turned them
down.)
12. CIGARS
It's illegal for an American
(or any resident of the US)
to smoke a Cuban cigar in
Mexico.
That's the kind of absurd
laws created by the US
government against Cuba
(and Americans).
Want another crazy law?
Cubans are allowed by the
Cuban government to visit
the US. Americans are not
allowed by their
government to visit Cuba.
13. FREE MEDICAL SCHOOL
Cuba's medical schools even give
free medical training to young
people from other countries. All
they have to do is promise to
practice in poor and underserved
areas when they return home.
And, yes, there are even
Americans studying there.
14. You can read all this and much
more—268 pages, to be exact,
in...
15. Now in paperback and e-book
A lively survey of Cuba's past
and present, and a “must-have”
companion to any Cuba travel
guide
“Cuba has the same effect on American
administrations that the full moon has on
werewolves.”
–– Wayne Smith, former head of US Interests
Section in Havana
For more than 50 years, the US government
and mass media have misrepresented, hidden
or ignored the truth about Cuba. In Cuba for
the Misinformed, Mick Winter brings
together a fascinating array of facts and
anecdotes about Cuba's history, its
government, its people, and the actions that
the United States has taken against the well-
being of those people.
16. Discover the answers
to these questions
and more...
Why did Che Guevara thank US President
John Kennedy for the Bay of Pigs invasion?
What was the real deal on ending the Cuban
Missile Crisis and why was Fidel Castro furious?
What did Cubans do to the man who killed
Che Guevara?
Which country supports the US embargo of Cuba
but lets its own citizens holiday and invest there?
17. ALBERTO KORDA
Alberto Korda received no
payment for his iconic
photograph of Che Guevara,
which is often considered
the best-known and most
reproduced photograph in
the world.
18. FIDEL CASTRO
Fidel Castro led his country
while ten US presidents
came and left, starting
with Dwight Eisenhower
and ending when Castro
retired during the
administration of George
W. Bush.
19. GUANTANAMO
Where 729 prisoners of
the “War on Terrorism”
have been held. Some
have been as young as
thirteen years of age;
most have been
determined to be guilty of
no crimes, yet are still
being held.
20. More questions that
are answered in the
book...
Who thanked Cuba for helping bring about the end
of apartheid in South Africa?
How did Cuba dramatically increase its literacy rate
in just one year?
Why did Fidel Castro fire his own son?
What is Varadero and why don't Americans
know about it?
21. MUSIC
Cuban music is more
than just the Buena
Vista Social Club.
Cuba has had a huge
influence on music, not
just in Latin America
but around the world,
including the United
States.
22. EMBARGO
When the US government
says the “international
community” supports its
economic embargo of Cuba,
it means “Israel.”
Every year for 21 years an
overwhelming majority of
countries at the United
Nations has voted against
the embargo. In 2012, the
vote was 188-3 against the
embargo.
Only the US, Israel and
Palau voted to support it.
23. VARADERO
Canadian and British
tourists fly directly to the
international airport at
Cuba's biggest resort.
One million visitors a year
enjoy the diving, fishing
and 20 kilometers of
white, sandy beaches.
Few Americans even
know Varadero exists.
24. COLORFUL E-BOOKS
The photos inside the
paperback are in black and
white, but in the e-book
versions you'll find many of
the photographs in FULL
COLOR.
25. BUY IT NOW!
Available at Amazon, iTunes
Barnes and Noble, and Vook.
Paperback – 268 pages Or buy directly from our website
E-book in epub, Kindle and www.cubamisinformed.com
pdf formats
All books contain 238
footnotes or endnotes
showing sources of all
facts, and more than 80
Cuba-related websites
ISBN 978-0965000-9-6
