Rating: 
Summary: A fair first glance
Review: Some of the other reviewers for this book have forgotten that no book exists independently of its author's experience. Unless one has preconceived notions about how life in Cuba "should be" rather than how it is, the mere fact that Ms. Moses lived in Cuba as a U.S. government employee is neither to her credit nor her discredit. Much more significant is the fact that Ms. Moses provides a perspective few Americans are able to have. It is ridiculously cynical (and even sensational) to suggest that Ms. Moses is simply spouting a "party line" - certainly she hoped for more cogent, astute readers. It is much more reasonable to assume that her book is a reflection of her honest experience, rather than an homage to her "bias." It is worth noting that this book is a useful first glance, yet hardly sufficient pre-trip reading for anyone planning a trip to Cuba. As a university Spanish professor who leads student trips to Cuba on a fairly regular basis, I do recommend it to student participants as pre-trip reading, but balanced with some other types of analysis, such as Jane Franklin's "Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History," which is decidedly more "pro-Cuban" (sold freely in Cuba, incidentally). Only by taking a balanced approach to Cuban issues can anyone hope to unravel the intricacies of Cuban society and U.S.-Cuban relations. Does any one book give a complete and accurate picture? Of course not. Does Moses' book capture the honest experience of an American living in Havana at an interesting time in history? Most definitely.
Rating: 
Summary: A Practical Approach to Understanding Cuba's Current Status
Review: When I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This book is the most practical that I have read on understanding Cuba today. I am a graduate student planning to travel to Cuba this summer for research and every question and concern that came to my mind was answered in this book. It is very easy to read and I feel like I am well prepared for travel to Cuba. It is a must read for anyone planning to travel to Cuba. I will recommend it to anyone interested in the country. Great Book!
Rating: 
Summary: Moses Lost in the Wilderness of US Imperialism
Review: While I was warmed by the author's appreciation and love for the Cuban people, I was disappointed in her naive judgement of the successes of the revolution. Throughout the book, Moses compared Cuban life to economic standards of life in the United States. A more reasoned and less chauvanistic approach would be to compare the standard of life in Cuba to standards in other Carribean countries or Latin America. She also discounts the impact of the embargo - suggesting it is merely an excuse for the poor conditions experienced by the population. While it isn't the sole reason for the lack of food and other material goods, it is a more than major factor. I also found her naive in wondering why the Cuban government would question the innocence of the Special Interest Section and their distribution of books and print materials. Is she too young to remember and understand the censorship of communist literature by the United States during the cold war era? Of course the Cuban government is paranoid - although paranoia is based on imagined fears and the US government's actions against Castro and the socialist system have been and continue to be very real. I found the book to be just one more myopic view of "the world according to Uncle Sam."
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