The Militant (logo) 
   Vol.65/No.37            October 1, 2001 
 
 
'I really appreciate the work of Pathfinder'
 
BY JANE LYONS  
WASHINGTON--Hundreds of participants at the Latin American Studies Association congress stopped by the Pathfinder Press booth featuring a full array of its revolutionary arsenal of books and pamphlets. Displaying attractive blow-ups of covers of several of its new titles, Pathfinder was one of some 100 publishers, distributors, and various university presses from the United States, Mexico, and other Latin American countries that participated in the book exhibit held in tandem with the congress. Ediciones Cubanas, a Cuban publishing house, and Foreign Affairs en Espaņol, a journal of political analysis published here in Spanish, were also among those present.

Many conference-goers were familiar with Pathfinder and expressed their appreciation for the role its books play in getting out the truth about the Cuban Revolution as well as addressing other issues. Others were finding out about Pathfinder for the first time and left their cards, indicating they would be interested in using some titles in their classrooms. Among those who stopped by was a professor from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A political science professor from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, said he orders Pathfinder titles for his courses and left the names of several other professors to call on. "I really appreciate the work Pathfinder does," he told Pathfinder volunteers. He purchased copies of two recent titles, Fertile Ground: Che Guevara and Bolivia, an interview with Rodolfo Saldaņa, and Making History: Interviews with Four Generals of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

More than $760 worth of books and pamphlets were sold over the two and a half days, including nearly $90 worth of books snapped up by a Venezuelan researcher who purchased the Spanish-language editions of Capitalism's World Disorder, The Changing Face of U.S. Politics, Lenin's Final Fight, and a copy of the Marxist magazine Nueva Internacional featuring the article "Defending Cuba, Defending Cuba's Socialist Revolution" by Mary-Alice Waters.

The best-selling title over all was The Working Class and the Transformation of Learning by Jack Barnes, with eight copies sold in English and Spanish, followed by Che Guevara Talks to Young People, with seven copies in both languages. Six copies of Fertile Ground in English and Spanish were also purchased. Other titles in both languages included Cuba and the Coming American Revolution, Capitalism's World Disorder, Making History, Habla Malcolm X, and issue number 9 of New International on "The Rise and Fall of the Nicaraguan Revolution." Several individuals expressed interest in reviewing Pathfinder books in journals they publish.

In addition, 15 copies of the Cuban cultural magazine La Gaceta de Cuba were purchased along with five copies of the Cuban theoretical journal, Cuba Socialista. Volunteers at the booth also distributed about 1,000 copies of a special leaflet that featured the new titles by Pathfinder, and several hundred flyers promoting La Gaceta.

A Miami distributor that specializes in Cuban cultural items ordered 50 Cuba- and art-related books, totaling more than $400, for a store they will be opening up in that city.

One worker from the hotel where the gathering took place did a double take upon seeing the large book cover of Che Guevara habla a la juventud and emptied his pockets to purchase two titles by the Argentine-born Cuban revolutionary. Other hotel workers also spent some time looking over the books at the Pathfinder booth. They, along with a number of students from the area, were glad to learn of the Pathfinder bookstore that will be opening soon in the Columbia Heights section of Washington.  
 
 
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