This wasn't a bad book; it was just me. Too tired while I was reading it, I suspect.

Yes, it rambles along as some reviewers have said but holy moly there is a lot going on and it is all fascinating. There were audible gasps and some tears throughout as well as belly laughs and a fun yet very transparent 4th wall being lowered as we meandered through the insanity of the banana world and it’s part in global politics, neighboring country/corporate wars, and revolutionary standoffs. I enjoyed this book immensely and personally liked the author’s style of only lightly touching on topics that have been widely covered elsewhere and moving on to the lesser known stories intertwining themselves through the era of the banana kind and UF. Will recommend to others.

I loved this first few chapters of this book; I went around telling everyone and anyone who would listen as many facts about bananas as they could stand. As a resident of Boston, I enjoyed the references to local places and history (even if it is embarassing how intolerant Bostonians have been). Near the end of the book, though, I was struggling to read more than five pages without falling asleep. I love Rich Cohen's writing style - I read some of this book aloud to my students as an example of engaging non-fiction - but I just wasn't as into the whole Guatemala thing as he was. I understand why it was imporant - clearly! - but I loved the facts about bananas and banana cowboys and the earlier events in Honduras more.

I debated between 2 and 3 stars. I really enjoyed parts of the book, but at times it was so boring and I almost didn't finish it. I also did the audiobook and the guys voice was low and soothing... Almost made me fall asleep. Although his voice impersonations were great.

This Horatio Alger type biography becomes interesting when it comes to the adjacent stories that surround the life of its protagonist. The background on the CIA involvement in the Guatemala coup of '54, the assistance post WWII Israeli transport to Palestine, and other associated characters seem like they would make for much more interesting reading than what's yet another pulling-his-way-up-with-his-bootstraps American "success story". Of course in telling this success story there's not much in the way of going into much detail on the involvement in essentially enslaving hundreds of thousands of slave laborers in Central America so that he could sit atop the bulk load of the profits. The writing and research are good - but I don't feel very enriched about knowing about this minor robber baron, nor does he come across as an appealing character in any way.