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“Havana knew me by my shoes,” begins Tom Miller’s lively and entertaining account of his sojourn for more than eight months traveling through Cuba, mixing with its literati and black marketers, its cane cutters and cigar rollers. Granted unprecedented access to travel throughout the country, the author presents us with a rare insight into one of the world’s only Communist countries. Its best-known personalities and ordinary citizens talk to him about the U.S. embargo and tell their favorite Fidel jokes as they stand in line for bread at the Socialism or Death Bakery. Miller provides a running commentary on Cuba’s food shortages, exotic sensuality, and baseball addiction as he follows the scents of Graham Greene, José Marti, Ernest Hemingway, and the Mambo Kings. The result of this informed and adventurous journey is a vibrant, rhythmic portrait of a land and people too long shielded from American eyes.
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A personal view of Cuba
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The style of presentation that Tom Miller uses in "Trading with the Enemy" captures a personal perspective of Cuba. For those who critique this as a travel reader should see this as "his" travel reader. For me, his book was required reading for a graduate class on Cuban culture, business and economic policy. Usually required reading doesn't engage my full attention; this book did. I appreciated the fact that the subject matters within "Trading with the Enemy" were handled with objectivity, humor, and humanity. The strength this format provides allows him to be descriptive without pontification. Following the reading of "Trading with the Enemy" (and other texts), my class included a 10-day trip to Havana (it happened to be the week in which the recent Iraqi War started) and its environs to study our selected research topics. Tom Miller was gracious enough to be an unofficial guide and advisor for this excursion. His insights (both written and interpersonal)proved to be essential for understanding the milieu within which we were trying to operate. This book gives a reader an individual's perspective of "cubanidad" - with its glory, shortcomings, simplicities, nuanced complexities all included. For those who enjoy readings that "speak to you" rather than "speak at you, this book will be an informative and enjoyable read.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2005-06-06
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Essentially a travelogue & diary
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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: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2002-04-13
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Good if dated introduction
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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:
(4
out of 5) @ 2002-03-28
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Dated, but still outstanding
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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:
(5
out of 5) @ 2001-05-09
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Objective, humorous, and insightful
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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.
Rating: 
(3
out of 5) @ 2001-02-21
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