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tamgperkins's review
5.0
What a phenomenal biography! Not only a world renowned singer and actor but also a passionate activist. He has lived 5 lives in one.
saroz162's review
4.0
Great memoir. I knew very little about Belafonte beyond his famous performances and a few civil rights headlines, so I was really pleased that the majority of the book focused on his activism and the relationships he built or burnt in a somewhat single-minded pursuit of equality. (I particularly enjoyed his unconventional, and very human, portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) He doesn't shy away from his own ego, but he's smart enough, in most places, to admit where he made mistakes. It starts to feel a bit glossy and shallow toward the end, post-1970s, when Belafonte seems to have mostly mutated into a celebrity ambassador and producer; he's less willing to be critical of his own stance, and more interested in knowing how long his influence was felt in both the activism and entertainment communities. By that point, though, the rest of his story has been so strong, he's earned it.
libswagmenter's review
4.0
Wow. What an incredible life. It took me a long time to get into this book because the first part is his early life and development as singer/actor Harry Belafonte. This is important, of course, but I came for civil rights activist/humanitarian Harry Belafonte, which dominates the second half of the book. I found it really poignant to read about the development of the civil rights movement as it feels like a resurgence is happening through Black Lives Matter and other groups. Overall, I found this book really inspiring.
readandchill23's review
5.0
I might need to take a week and chew on this. Harry's entire account was history before my eyes and ears.
ljgolden's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
menfrommarrs's review
4.0
I had no idea of the extent of Belafonte's humanitarian efforts. A remarkable man. So glad I chose to read his biography.
shireen72's review
4.0
belafonte was at ground zero of the civil rights movement, as a funder and a mediator, and sometimes as a rabble rouser. he was also in the heart of show business. thus, amazing stories to tell on both fronts. a fairly self-reflective guy too.