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Rating: 
Summary: An Ugly American Abroad
Review: I didn't know this sort of 18th and 19th century Travel Literature was still being written today. Tom Miller travels awful far to come home with his suitcase full of frat-boy stereotypes and over determined metaphors. Cubans here are sexy, mango eating, Chevy driving caricatures. Having traveled there frequently over the last ten years, I can tell you the only subject illuminated by this book is the inability of Miller's mind to look past his own North American biases. There are excellent books about Cuba written by strangers to that country, see Cardenal's for example. There are also excellent books about Cuba written by Cubans, see for example Franqui. This book however is not worthy of the trees that died for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good if dated introduction
Review: I'm surprised at the dislike some reviewers have expressed towards this book. True, its dated picture of 1992-era Cuba does not ring entirely true compared to the country one sees today: more and more marked by tourism everyday. But Miller's funny, flowing writing style and encounters with everyone from literati to farmers to hustlers are rendered in an intelligent and observant way. His 'digressive' style of writing actually serves the material quite well, and preserves a chatty familiarity that does justice to what this is: a travel diary. It's a lot more astute than most of them.
Rating:
Summary: A self-indulgent, disjointed dog of a book. Awful!
Review: It's hard to work up much enthusiasm, or for that matter, spite about this simple, short book, the recounting of Miller's eight months living in Cuba, spread out over a couple of years. I suppose that's why it took me so long to finish it. It's no page-turner. Miller drives and busses around Cuba, asks himself the same questions again and again in the different regions, dips superficially into recent and distant history, stands in innumerable lines at the Socialism and Death bakery, follows a lousy baseball team for a week on the road, comes close to sexism in a detailed description of the Cuban man's love for the Cuban woman's buttocks, and makes the obligatory visit to Hemingway's years-untouched home. All of it is interesting enough and none of it is captivating. In the end, Miller's snapshot approach winds up making Cuba sound like not much more than one in a number of Caribbean islands. That of course is part of his point, but the more than that of Cuba -- both good and bad -- is what Miller misses. Two hours spent with Buena Vista Social Club is a considerably better investment of time.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bland, but (Barely) Serviceable Look at Cuba
Review: It's hard to work up much enthusiasm, or for that matter, spite about this simple, short book, the recounting of Miller's eight months living in Cuba, spread out over a couple of years. I suppose that's why it took me so long to finish it. It's no page-turner. Miller drives and busses around Cuba, asks himself the same questions again and again in the different regions, dips superficially into recent and distant history, stands in innumerable lines at the Socialism and Death bakery, follows a lousy baseball team for a week on the road, comes close to sexism in a detailed description of the Cuban man's love for the Cuban woman's buttocks, and makes the obligatory visit to Hemingway's years-untouched home. All of it is interesting enough and none of it is captivating. In the end, Miller's snapshot approach winds up making Cuba sound like not much more than one in a number of Caribbean islands. That of course is part of his point, but the more than that of Cuba -- both good and bad -- is what Miller misses. Two hours spent with Buena Vista Social Club is a considerably better investment of time.
Rating:
Summary: Essentially a travelogue & diary
Review: Miller concentrates on the people he meets and keeps away from politics.The result is an entertaining account of his extended visit to Cuba including the time he spent in Havana and travelling throughout the country. I found the book puts a more humanizing face on the country that is always dominated by coverage of Castro and his policies. For me, this book is a good companion to Buena Vista Social Club in providing a non-political view of Cuba and Cubans.
Rating: 
Summary: Dated, but still outstanding
Review: Miller's book is written before the turn to tourism, which has dramatically transformed Cuba and Cubans. Those who read this and then travel there will find a very different country. Nevertheless, the book is useful for understanding a too often misunderstood society, one that remains one of the world's most culturally vibrant, despite hardships, blockades and misguided economic policies.
Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed the book. Gives insight into like in Cuba.
Review: The author gives a great panoramic view to the reader of what life is actually like in Cuba through his travels around Cuba and select stratas of Cuban society such as a Cuban TV cook, a Cuban baseball team, Cuban Jews, government employees, street huslers for American dollars, hitchhikers, drinking companions met along the way,and women in lines at 5:00 am awaiting to buy goods. A well written book that doesn't lecture with no political agenda, but just tells what was found-good and bad--straight from the hip.
Rating:
Summary: A self-indulgent, disjointed dog of a book. Awful!
Review: This book is a complete waste of money and time. The author demonstrates little (if any) literary skill. The book is completely disjointed, with little connection between paragraphs. It contains pointless accounts of virtually every boring encounter the author had. It is painful reading. In my view, the book is not worth the paper it is written on. There is very little that any traveller to Cuba will find useful and it's not worth the effort to find the few things that might be moderately helpful. I'm kicking myself that I spent even a penny on this nonsense. Don't bother!!
Rating:
Summary: A very good intro to Cuba
Review: This is about as good as this type of travelogue-book can be. Miller combines solid leg-work with intellect and compassion, and gives an accurate overview of Cuba today. I recently travelled to Cuba and I read Miller's book twice, once before I went and again after I returned, and it was worthwhile on both occassions. P.S. I also read MIller's "The Panama Hat Trail," which was equally informative and insightful.
Rating:
Summary: Objective, humorous, and insightful
Review: While Miller's book is not as fascinating as the one related to Cuba that I am currently reading (Che Guevara, A Revolutionary Life--I can't put it down!), I am still shocked by the harsh criticism of some of the other reviewers. I thoroughly enjoyed Miller's objective, humorous, and insightful account of his time in Cuba, which only further fuelled my desire to visit this extraordinary country. My only complaint is that it wasn't more up-to-date. The bulk of the book takes place about 10 years ago...though it is still definitely worth the read if you are interested in Cuba.
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