Post: #1

I've been playing the game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker lately, and it has piqued my interest in the Cold War in Latin America. The game is set in 1970's Costa Rica, with Big Boss getting in between CIA and Soviet operatives trying to sway the Costa Rican government.

I'm interested in reading more about this somewhat neglected theater of the Cold War (since Europe gets the lions share of attention). Does anyone have any good recommendations for this time period?

Post: #2

Its not a book but if you are ever in Miami you can go to a very obscure museum called the Bay of Pigs Museum. Staffed daily by actual participants in the invasion. They are getting old so don't wait long. TONS of materials inside and jaw dropping artifacts and photos from the actual invasion. Truly the peak of the Cold War. They do have a website with a lot of materials also. Very much connected to Central America not only Cuba.

Post: #3

Killing Hope by Willaim Blum is an account of dozens of U.S. militry interventions post WWII. Each chapter relates to a specific episode of intervention, with many chapters on Latin America.

Blum is a leftist and the book is written from that perspective, but it is informative and interesting nonetheless.

Post: #4

"Blood of Brothers. Life and War in Nicaragua". Kinzer is a recent college grad who goes down to Nicaragua to become a journalist.

"Bitter Fruit" by Stephen Kinzer (about Cold War activities in Guatemala in the 50's)

Post: #5

I, Rigoberta Menchu - Rigoberta Menchu
The Real Fidel Castro - L. Coltman
Diplomacy - H. Kissinger (best overall Cold War history book out there, if nothing else, read this)
The Cold War - J. Gaddis (very biased)
The Pinochet File - P. Kornbluh
Carlos Fonseca and the Nicaraguan Revolution - M. Zimmerman
The Killing Zone - S. Gabe
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man - J. Perkins
The autobiography of Richard Nixon - R. Nixon (his early accounts of the region in the 40's and 50's as a senator and them Vice President really tell a lot)

I'd also suggest watching the movie "Voces Inocentes"

Post: #6

Thank you for the recommendations. I picked up Diplomacy by Kissinger and Killing Hope by Blum to read during my upcoming vacation. I'll let you know what my thoughts are.

Post: #7

(08-09-2015 01:20 AM)NilNisiOptimum Wrote:  Thank you for the recommendations. I picked up Diplomacy by Kissinger and Killing Hope by Blum to read during my upcoming vacation. I'll let you know what my thoughts are.

Hope you enjoy Blum's book.

Since each chapter is a different intervention, the book can be useful as more of a reference book. It is interesting to read it all, but there is nothing lost from skipping certain chapters and only focusing on the countries/years that you find interesting.