Starting in 2009, the author spent two years as a CNN photojournalist living in this Communist island that’s now a hot tourist magnet. Readers get the real scoop from an insider on Cuban life that still bears a Cold War stamp but is evolving. From black markets to restricted speech to terrible poverty ... and now nine years later to a country yearning for greater freedom, enhanced by access to the internet and further impacted when Obama lifted the American travel ban. Named by The Washington Post as one of its “10 Books to Read—and Gift” last December. 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. Pub Date 11 Dec 2018. #ThisIsCuba #NetGalley

A very interesting book. I've travelled to Havana six times now, and I was looking for some color commentary/context that is impossible to get in normal news. This provided that. The writing was a little florid and overwrought at times, but the information was invaluable. Grateful to read it.

This is an excellent memoir by a photojournalist who spent a significant amount of time in Cuba. After reading the book, I now have a better understanding of Cuban culture and history--a topic that's relevant even today with the ever-changing relationship between the United States and Cuba.

David Ariosto lands an assignment that takes him to Cuba for two years. During this time, he experiences what it really means to live in Cuba. Under an omnipresent government, censoring and restricting every transaction, conversation, and person in the country, Ariosto realizes that a lot on the island isn’t what it seems. His encounters with the people of Cuba range from meeting exiles and dissidents to a casual bar conversation with a close relative of Fidel Castro. In a country where scarcity is at its peak and grocery store shelves have been empty for ages, black market networks are a booming business to those whose legal monthly salary reaches $24, Ariosto is a privileged visitor, but always under a watchful eye.

Ariosto not only includes his experience on the island. More importantly and enticing, he adds such a depth of history of Cuba and its relations with the world. The amount of research that was provided in this book is so appreciated. The flow of this piece is perfect, as anecdotes of encounters and experiences on the tropical island are woven with so much information and history. I hold this read very close to my heart, because my father and my family raised me with such a love for Cuba and such heartbreak for what he left behind. However, I in no way wanted to be biased in my literary review of this piece because of my personal attachment. This book is a beautiful piece of nonfiction. If you are interested in books about history, travel, Cuba, politics, world relations, and the like, but don’t want to sit through a thick text of long boring sentences, pick this one up. Like I said, this book doesn’t feel anything like a textbook or reference book. It feels like a book that transports you to tropical island where life should be beachy, but its leaders have brought nothing of the sort and you’re uncovering their secrets.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher St. Martin's Press. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

'This Is Cuba' is an intriguing look into living as an American journalist in modern day Cuba. Life is piece-meal, where you'll have a sink one day and have it gone the next. Your neighbors will spy on you and the heat is unrelenting.

Humorous at times and serious most, Mr. Aristosto has written an excellent tale of his time in the country. An enjoyable read.

Sent to Cuba in 2009 as a CNN correspondent and photgrpher, the author would spend time living in this country. What he found was a country trying to hold on to Communism while at the same time loosening some restrictions. Part memoir, part historical commentary as well as a travelogue, this often reads like a grouping of essays. I found it fascinating, being inside s country few here not from Cuba know little about.

Ariosto would rent and apartment with a sink, come back the next day to find the entire sink gone. On an island where things are scarce, citizens have taken to helping themselves when something is needed. Pirating parts from one thing to get another. It's all a matter of someone knowing someone to get things or to get things fixed.

Trips back to the US to get needed or wanted things that are not available. Spies are everywhere, reporting back to the government, so one watches what one says and where they say it. News channels are tightly controlled, and only a little over a third of the island residents use the costly internet. One hour of internet time costs one third of their salary. Although restrictions were loosened when Obama was President, under Trump the island is once again in a holding pattern.

One commonality between foreign residents and Cubans themselves is baseball. Seems thry have found ways to listen to the games, and they seem particularly taken with the Yankees.

Written in an often humorous tone, this book takes us on a journey through the many ways Cubans have found to survive inside s slowly changing country. It was quite illuminating.

ARC from Netgalley.

This is Cuba is an intriguing and engrossing view of modern day Cuba. David Arisoto has done a fine job!

This Is Cube by David Ariosto offers an in-depth analysis of Cuba from investigative journalistic point of view. Cuba like North Korea has been an object of fascination with it's Soviet Era style administration and life. While North Korea is way more restrictive, Cuba is relatively less restrictive offering anyone with no intentions to interfere in governmental administration a fair chance to visit and experience the "time capsule". While written from personal experience of the author while his stay in Cuba as a journalist for CNN, he goes way beyond the nitty gritty of daily living and delves into the socioeconomic, political and ideological differences that separates it from other nations. Past administrations, the last one being Obama administration has taken first step towards befriending the nation so that both the nations can mutually benefit but the current administration seem to have taken steps back to place both the nation where it was. Who knew Cuba offered medical services to nations suffering from natural disasters or loaned spies to other nations in exchange for money. Who knew that Cuban scientist's are making breakthroughs in biotechnology that US could benefit from. Cuba just 90 miles from the US border is an untapped market for business and cultural exchange and in my opinion steps should be taken to let go of the Cold War era differences. Overall, this book is well-written, is interesting and definitely will add to your fascination for Cuba.

I have a fascination with Cuba, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this ARC. This book's best achievment is it's ability to overcome the mystique that permeates all things Cuba. The author does a great job of presenting not only a fact-based assessment of their economic and political systems but also the perspectives of the people on their lives in an isolated country.. I also enjoyed his discussion of the political climate in Venezuela and its connections to Cuba.

David Ariosto's book is a mix of personal reflections of his time living in [and subsequent visits] Cuba and a background and update of what was and is currently Cuba.
Cuba is often a mix of paradoxes as it strives to stay the island of the "old guard" of Fidel Castro and communism and the "death of commercialism" and the new "guard" of Cubans that are tired of that life [and of sneaking around to have that said life] and want to embrace what the US was [this is pretty much off the table now with the election of 45 to the office and his unwillingness to play nice with ANYONE ] was offering during the Obama years. Mr. Ariosto's writings offer a good mix of reflection and introspection and an interesting civics lesson in just what Cuba is all about; I learned a good many things that I didn't know and was fascinated by most of this book.
I did find that the book bogged down a little [for me] near the end, but it wasn't enough to keep me from reading and learning and wishing that I could visit this fascinating island that is Cuba.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC; I received this in exchange for an honest review.

This Is Cuba, by David Ariosto

A very interesting look at Cuba from the standpoint of a CNN photojournalist who did his homework. Living in Cuba, the writer gives us a look at this island nation from his observations, interviews and historical research.

The author’s descriptions of Cuba and encounters with the locals are entertaining throughout, though the book gets more serious and politically oriented toward the end. We get a good picture of the struggles of living under a communist regime which was dependent on Russia and Venezuela for subsidies for its many resources. As these two helper nations begin to falter on their own, the Cuban people suffer even more shortages of food, medicines and housing.

If you are interested in Cuba or have any desire to travel there, this is a must-read to understand the Cuban people, culture and pitfalls of living under a dictatorship, where, despite promises, things only change at a snail’s pace.

This was an interesting read. It provided details on Cuba that one wouldn’t know or think about ordinarily. My only issues were that the details on his personal life seemed unnecessary (ie mentioning his divorce), the Venezuela coverage was a bit long, and some words were missing (don’t remember where but there were two instances of missing words in a sentence; go back over the book and edit again). Other than those issues I thought this was very enlightening.

David Ariosto does a marvelous job of capturing all the crisis’ and the imperfections of Cuba. I personally believe people are extremely oblivious to what really goes on in Cuba. Tourist’s fly from all over the world to visit a beautiful country but fail to realize that the entire country is struggling in more ways than one. As a Cuban-American, I am well aware of all the hardships my beautiful country faces. The first time I ever visited Cuba I was like any other tourist excited to lounge around in a beach chair sipping real Cuban made mojitos. My family lives in the countryside of Santa Cruz del Norte 45 mins out of Havana. 10 days living in the countryside stripped away from all the luxuries I have in New York City was definitely a reality check for me and I went back to New York City with a whole new outlook on life and Cuba.

Reading this book gave me all the feels and honestly made me cry. I love my country and I am so proud to be Cuban. I read anything and everything that is about Cuba. David did a beautiful job describing all of the wonders of Cuba. I learned a lot reading this book things that I wasn’t aware of before. I felt transported to Cuba and envisioned all the Cuban hotspots and laughed every time David described how Cubans spoke.

I recommend this book to anyone who has little to no knowledge of Cuba and wants to learn more about the country. I of course recommend this book to all my Cuban people as well. This book will definitely be on my re-read list.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as young American journalist arrives in Cuba, he has to cope with an attempted honey trap, a stolen sink (stolen by the workers who came to fix it), lack of air-conditioning in sweltering heat and a near-empty house because of the delay in receiving his furniture. As Cubans told him: 'This is Cuba'. A journalist for CNN, he is much luckier than most of the Cubans, who are used to all this and much, much worse.

Ariosto arrives at an interesting time when the Internet was beginning, the economy is changing, the old regime is dying out, and things are starting to become more open. It still sounds incredibly difficult to live in Cuba, however, in an island where private property was turned over to the State and shortages and surveillance are just a fact of life. He has to quickly get used to the reality being different from his romantic vision of a sun washed island set in another time. As he interviewed some of the residents, he realises that life can be incredibly tough here. For example, there is the extremely poor black man whose brother can't afford treatment for his diabetes, and the young law graduate who can't get ahead and has been working in a restaurant for years.

This is an interesting and lyrically-written book about a journalist thrown into the deep end who has to 'wise up' and a country on the verge of a new revolution. I greatly enjoyed it.

I received this free ebook from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I have long been fascinated by Cuba, the history, the ability of the country to continue to stand against the U.S., and of course, the music.
My perspective is that of a tourist and reader of romanticized books about Cuba.
David Ariosto, a CNN correspondent to Cuba, presents us with a more down-to-earth picture of the Cuba he encountered while on assisgnment.
The soft, gritty underbelly, perhaps, but still a picture of a nation where the people show enormous talent, resilience, and a willingness to provide humanitarian assistence to anyone who needs it.
Recommended for Cuba afficianatos and travellers.

It’s funny, I was making a list of my favorite books of 2018 the other day and felt a little out of sorts as it ended up being a list of 21 books, and I have a thing about odd numbers. It was for a reason though, I was subconsciously leaving one last place for This Is Cuba... I loved this book, for many reasons which I will obviously list below.

First of all I have been fascinated with Cuba since I can remember. I was meant to travel there in 2014, well I had made a plan to on my way home from Jamaica in 2013, but pregnancy and subsequent birth of first child thwarted any further travel plans for a while. Anyway, I loved how David Ariosto literally takes you back to Cuba with him, and leads you through the discovery of a country that most of us know even less than we think we do. I imagined myself right there, in his shoes, walking through the streets, searching for food in the shops, learning the ropes as an American in a country that has long been (rightfully) wary of the US. It kind of brought me back to my visit behind the Iron Curtain in the late 80’s, I could sense that feeling of displacement David Ariosto must have felt. And also that feeling of “well this is not really what I expected”.

Another aspect of the book that I loved was how well the author weaves personal experience and facts (historical and current) together. The narrative flowed seamlessly for me, and I enjoyed how David Ariosto skipped back and forth between personal interactions and experiences and information on Cuba, past, present and future. It was a learning experience, and an interesting one at that. This Is Cuba bridges gaps between the travelogue, the memoir, and the journalistic and historical overview of a country.

I also loved reading about the author’s experiences in Haiti and Venezuela. Maybe “loved” isn’t the right word... I appreciated his viewpoint as a journalist and as a human, and how difficult it must have been for him to report on Haiti after the terrible earthquake in 2010, and also after watching students clash violently with authorities in Venezuela right in front of his eyes. I also appreciated the information that he relays to us in these chapters, information that typically isn’t relayed on your regular news channel.

I’m still slightly obsessed with Cuba, and I still want to go and explore the island. This Is Cuba renewed my appetite for the country, and reminded me why I always wanted to go there in the first place. It’s such a great book and I highly recommend it! 4.5 stars

Personally, I tend to be more of a fiction reader and take longer to finish non-fiction books. However, I found myself flying through This Is Cuba. It gives readers a deeper understanding of the country´s recent history through a unique lens. I especially enjoyed the parts of him living in Cuba and his trip to Venezuela. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in policy or Cuba.

This is Cuba by David Ariosto was received direct from the publisher. Like most Americans, I knew Cuba was close, seems to be a Caribbean Island entrenched in Communism under a dictator and we were mostly banned from going there. Then bhusseinO came along and tried to change everything. This author, who was there for a few years, tells alot about modern day Cuba and for those who want to learn about the island, or possibly visit there someday, this book may enlighten you, one way or the other (make you want to visit more-so, or decide it is not for you). For those who want to learn more about this country, in the modern era, assuming the Russsians dont follow through with their threats to go back into the country, this book should be an easy purchase and an easy read.

4 stars.

This is Cuba by journalist David Ariosto is a narrative of his time on the island as a CNN and Al Jazeera America correspondent. It roughly spans the beginning of the Obama presidency through the present. Through his encounters with the people on the island, Ariosto is able to weave a tale that’s both the Hollywood picture of nostalgic glam and the US-propaganda story of a land deprived of basic rights. Both seem to be true. I found the juxtaposition both interesting and heartbreaking. The perspective of the people lends a personal touch that’s not often given. The political pieces made Cuba’s story much more understandable for me, previously only having the United States perspective. The history of Cuba is truly is a wild tale, with no other place like it.

David Ariosto does an excellent job describing life in modern day Cuba and the difficult transition the country continues to undergo after the death of Fidel Castro and the stepping down of Raul Castro. Ariosto gives a very insightful account into the way Latin American politics work as well as the mechanics of everyday life in Cuba.. He details the aggrieved relationship between the U.S. and Cuba which as existed for the last 60 years. His many interviews with the Cuban people really gives one an understanding of how difficult life is there.