Blood of Brothers: Life and War in Nicaragua, With New Afterword (Series on Latin American Studies)

This is the chilling tale of the cycle of suffering and struggle that took place in Nicaragua over a span of a century - and the survival of its people throughout it all. Told passionately by a man who lived through some of the revolution and much of the contra war while on assignment for the New York Times, this book will grab your attention and hold it closely until the end. Kinzer is an amazing writer, and he brings the culture and the people of Nicaragua to life unlike any other author that I've read on the subject of this beautiful country, a country with so much potential and seemingly so much bad luck. I love Nicaragua and have visited many times. The beauty of the landscape, the relaxed and laid back lifestyle, and the kindness of the people is amazing. As a very patriotic American, though, I've always struggled to understand the politics, the state of their economy, and their beliefs, as it is so different from any I've ever known. This book, finally, pulls it all into perspective - I ordered it at the end of my last trip and I'm so glad that I did. It takes the bits and pieces of information I've collected along the way and binds them together with details the author gained through research, interviews, and personal experience. It is the most comprehensive telling of the Nicaraguan history that I've found, a history which is so permeated by politics that to attempt to learn about it without the story of their politicians and their wars is simply to miss the entire point of it. My husband, who is Nicaraguan, and I have discussed the chapters as I've read them, finding answers to so many questions that we both had, big and small alike, (such as the advent of the plastic bags! as well as the reasons behind the war) and discovering new questions that we'll pursue independently. This book is an absolute gem to anyone who wants to learn more about Nicaragua. I could only wish for something as good to cover the last 20 years, as this book ends its coverage in the mid-90's. The version I purchased does come with a nice afterward that briefly sums up the 10 years after that point. I commend Kinzer for a generally neutral tone as he shares his love of Nicaragua, and his understanding of it, with us.

This book blew me away. I'm going on a mission trip to Nicaragua soon, so wanted to learn some of their history. This book is an incredible first-hand account of what it was like to live in Nicaragua during the tumultuous political upheavals of the 1980's. Although the book contains very detailed information about how events unfolded, the book is never boring. The author makes you feel as if you know the characters personally, largely because the author does get to know them personally. It's a very interesting account of why the communist government failed, of the exceedingly harmful effects that U.S. foreign policy had on Nicaragua, and of how, egged on by foreign powers, Nicaraguans tore their country apart fighting each other for power, leading them to now carry the unfortunate distinction of 2nd poorest country in the western hemisphere after Haiti. This is not a book written by someone from afar, but from someone who lived among the people, spoke their language, and cared deeply about them. I feel that, having read this book, my trip will be much more meaningful. Highly recommended.

My wife and I were in Nicaragua in May 2010 visiting our daughter serving in the Peace Corp. I started reading "Blood of Brothers" while we were there and became totally immersed in Stephen Kinzer's writing. Our travels from the Costa Rican border up through the northern reaches of Nicaragua brought to life the names and places referenced in the book. We found the country of Nicaragua beautiful and the people wonderful but it was when we stopped to talk with people over 40 years of age we were able to relive through their eyes some of the horror and despair experienced during the 1980s that Kinzer captures through his first person experiences. 32 years after the taking of power from the Somoza regime by the rebel Sandinistas and their leader Daniel Ortega ... the democratically elected Daniel Ortega will be seeking a second five year term through election at the end of 2011. During 2010 Ortega rewrote the constitution supported by his cronies in the supreme court allowing him to run indefinitely (similar to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela) setting up what will be a very confrontational election cycle in 2011. I think anyone serving in the US government who has a stake in developing or implementing foreign policy with Nicaragua should read this very informative history to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past 100 years and in particular the mistakes of the 1980s. I do expect 2011 in Nicaragua to be politically unstable and I do expect the US to assert itself as we have the last 100 years when Nicaraguan leadership change is in play ... maybe this time we can approach it from the perspective of what is best for the Nicaraguan people.

Written in first person and you feel you are there in his shoes. Very well balanced as far as being objective. I've been to Nicaragua 3 times, studied it somewhat in college and one of the 3 times was a study abroad. I already knew much about things there but learned much more and as mentioned before, felt li,e I was experiencing things with the author. I have heard both sides from the people that I've met there. It's really a beautiful country and the people are very humble and down to earth. Someday, hopefully soon, it will reach its potential. Europeans are travelling there as well as some ex pats and college students. Too bad our policy has done such harm over the years...it does jump around a bit but well worth reading if you have any interest in Nicaraguan history from a neutral point of view.

Being a refugee who left the country as a child I never got an unbiased look at what really happened until I read this amazing book. It starts off before the takeover of the country by the communist Sandinistas to after the stunning election over a decade later. Stephen Kizer describes thrilling journeys where bombs go off at news conferences and clandestine stumblings into a contra camp. This book has humor (Rice for Peace?!), sadness (the 30,000 faceless people who died in the middle), to the mystical (a fair and poignant treatment of the Miskito Indians). Also the books details the visit of the Pope to Nicaragua which would headline news for various reasons as well as singer Kris Kristofferson (!) lending support to the Sandinista regime whose leaders soon afterwards head off to friendly nations of Libya and the Soviet Union. This book could almost be descibed as the definitive encylopedia of information but it's so much more: If my family hadn't lived through it it would almost read as a spy novel. There is also plenty of photos showing the major players of the conflict as well as personal photos of the author.

I plan to visit Nicaragua in the near future; therefore, I purchased Stephen Kinzer's "Blood of Brothers: Life and War in Nicaragua." Important to research a country's history before embarking on a trip. I was eager to learn the nature of Nicaragua's economy; what led the Sandinista's to topple the Somoza dictatorship; and the positive and negative aspects of American involvement in Nicaragua. Kinzer's book is well-written and provides answers to my questions.

I lived again the 80's in Nicaragua through Kinzer`s writing. Some sort of catharsis I`d say. It was intense, sad and funny, to read and "see from above" what we nicaraguans lived in that last cold-war decade. I consider Kinzer`s account of the story to be objective and very proffessional. Yes, you get to feel that he was not just a witness but somebody that lived the story not only as as a reporter but as a human being. For instance, mentioning his use of a rocking chair at his house might seem a simple detail to many, but indeed embraces something with more significance, as balancing in such chair is kind of a ritual for nicaraguans, to enjoy and to meditate at the end of the day. I can't deny I wish he had written more of his experiences, which I bet he had many, but that would have given at least another volume already considering this one is not a small book. Finally, his afterwords, although sad, remained loyal to reality: the Nicaraguan Revolution had a meaning and changed things in historical terms, but looking at today's reality, no doubt that Nicaragua deserved a better outcome.

Simply the best book written about Nicaragua in the past century. Kinzer is a fantastic author and Nicaragua (and those of us reading his reporting the in Boston Globe and NY Times) was lucky to have him residing in the country throughout much of the '80s when the US-backed Contras fought to turn back the Sandinista Revolution. If you're looking to learn about Nicaragua and how it got to where it is today you will do no better than "Blood of Brothers." An amazing read about a very complex country.

A very interesting read. Helped me better understand Nicaragua.

This was quite heavy holiday reading (whilst I was in Nicaragua), but nonetheless absolutely enjoyable. Great insight into the country's rich culture and history, which made me enjoy my visit to the country even more.

Useful read for my trip to Nicaragua this summer.

400 pages blaming the Sandinistas while soft on the atrocities committed by the Reagan Administration, CIA and the Contras.