Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile

[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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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