THE BACKGROUND OF THE REVOLUTIONARY CHE GUEVARA IS TRACED FROM HIS FAMILY IN ARGENTINA, THROUGH HIS MEDICAL TRAINING, GROWING AWARENESS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE, AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THREE FAILED REVOLUTIONS, TO HIS ACTIVE RESISTANCE AND PLANNING OF REVOLUTION. HIS LATER EXPERIENCES IN THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH HIS POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL FORMATION. HIS THEORIES ON GUERRILLA WARFARE ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL; THE DISCUSSION COVERS THE ROLE OF THE RURAL GUERRILLA, STRATEGIES FOR WINNING ON FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE GROUND, PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF GUERRILLA LIFE, THE ROLE OF WOMEN, TRAINING OF RECRUITS, PROPAGANDA, AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT AND FUTURE SITUATION IN CUBA. CHANGES IN THE CUBAN REVOLUTION AS SEEN BY GUEVARA ARE NOTED IN HIS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SCENE OF THE STRUGGLE, LEADERSHIP, ALLIES, ENEMIES, THE VANGUARD CLASS, PRIORITIES, TRADE AND DIPLOMACY, AND IDEOLOGY. THE BIOGRAPHY CONTINUES WITH CHE'S ACTIVITIES AS MINISTER OF INDUSTRY IN CUBA AND HIS FAILURES IN THE CUBAN ECONOMY; THIS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO HIS DECISION TO RETURN TO ACTIVE COMBAT LEADING THE REVOLUTION IN OTHER LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES. THE BIOGRAPHY OF HIS MATURE YEARS CLOSES WITH HIS ACTIVITIES IN BOLIVIA, HIS DEATH, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF HIS LIFE STORY INTO A LEGEND. THE ACCOUNT OFFERS NOT ONLY FACTS BUT ALSO BRIEF ANALYSIS AND MOTIVATION. SUGGESTED READINGS ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)