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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Incredibly impactful, engaging, and so important to read. This autobiography shows the costs of being a leader and having the willingness to speak out and face the consequences of ending apartheid within South Africa. This book seems necessary in conversations surrounding the realities of political struggle and how community and a willingness to break unjust laws is crucial to fighting against oppressive forces.
It’s very long and not the best well-written but it’s an amazing story. Freedom and equality comes easily for some while it proves to be a lifelong struggle for others
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Colonisation
Moderate: Police brutality, Classism
Minor: Child death, Death of parent
I really enjoyed this book. I don't read a lot of autobiographies, but I picked this one up because Nelson Mandela has been such a huge figure for a big part of my life. I learned a lot, not just about this personal hero of mine, but about the freedom struggle in South Africa, and the systematic oppression of the majority of the citizens. The book ends with the first, inclusive elections in South Africa after the dismantling of apartheid. This seemed to be a very honest book in that he not only talked about the positive actions he and the ANC took, but the mistakes they made, the costs they and their loved ones had to pay, and gave credit to those, even of the opposition, who ultimately took steps to right the wrongs in the country.
The audio was well done. I assume the text of Mr. Mandela's swearing-in as president was included in the print versions, but it was really cool to hear the recording of the actual event, which was included in the audio version. There was also an interview with the author that worked with him to put it together.
The audio was well done. I assume the text of Mr. Mandela's swearing-in as president was included in the print versions, but it was really cool to hear the recording of the actual event, which was included in the audio version. There was also an interview with the author that worked with him to put it together.
I find it difficult to rate autobiographies, as it feels a bit like you're determining a life's worth, so I'll try to stick with what I felt did and didn't work in the writing.
Most people are familiar with Mandela and how he went from political prisoner to president of South Africa, but here is the story in his own words.
I felt that while overall the narrative followed an A-to-B path, there were places where it seemed to drag. The beginning was dry as it dealt with histories of different tribes and Mandela's own inauspicious early childhood. There were times he described meeting people for the first time, and went into in-depth descriptions of where they attended school and what degrees they had. I can only assume he did this to show that the other men involved in the struggle against apartheid were educated men, not "commoners," but it felt forced and inauthentic.
Imagine writing your own autobiography and including a passage like this: "It was the 17th of April, 2006 at a party in the house of Jim Jennings whose parents were out of town on a diplomatic trip. Jim, a political science major introduced me to Ernie Bale, who held a B.A. in Russian history and was into artisan goat cheese. Ernie, in turn, introduced me to Calvin Winters and George Galvez. Calvin was a neurosurgeon who also held a masters in journalism and spoke 12 languages, and George was a college professor who taught art history and collected the toenail clippings of 15th century Indian princesses."
It just doesn't flow.
What did work, and was thoroughly chilling considering the current political climate in the USA, was the description of how the government of middle-aged white men sought to retain positions of power by enforcing segregation of and sowing discord among non-white families. Mandela's sense of injustice and his fight for freedom and equality for people of all skin hues was inspiring. Frankly, I don't know if I would have the same rigid sense of ideals if keeping them kept me away from wife and family for a quarter century.
For all that it contained, also notable was the lack of inclusion of some of Winnie's involvement in less-than-savory activities. I was looking forward to reading about this, but Mandela glossed it over without detailed description, and attributed it to her basically "falling in with a bad crowd." It is possible to love someone while acknowledging their faults, but here they seem to be ignored in favor of, "She was my wife and stood by me while I was imprisoned, so how can I not support her in turn?"
Overall, it was a good read, and I'm not sorry I read it, but it could have benefited by better editing and having fewer information dumps.
4 out of 5 stars
Most people are familiar with Mandela and how he went from political prisoner to president of South Africa, but here is the story in his own words.
I felt that while overall the narrative followed an A-to-B path, there were places where it seemed to drag. The beginning was dry as it dealt with histories of different tribes and Mandela's own inauspicious early childhood. There were times he described meeting people for the first time, and went into in-depth descriptions of where they attended school and what degrees they had. I can only assume he did this to show that the other men involved in the struggle against apartheid were educated men, not "commoners," but it felt forced and inauthentic.
Imagine writing your own autobiography and including a passage like this: "It was the 17th of April, 2006 at a party in the house of Jim Jennings whose parents were out of town on a diplomatic trip. Jim, a political science major introduced me to Ernie Bale, who held a B.A. in Russian history and was into artisan goat cheese. Ernie, in turn, introduced me to Calvin Winters and George Galvez. Calvin was a neurosurgeon who also held a masters in journalism and spoke 12 languages, and George was a college professor who taught art history and collected the toenail clippings of 15th century Indian princesses."
It just doesn't flow.
What did work, and was thoroughly chilling considering the current political climate in the USA, was the description of how the government of middle-aged white men sought to retain positions of power by enforcing segregation of and sowing discord among non-white families. Mandela's sense of injustice and his fight for freedom and equality for people of all skin hues was inspiring. Frankly, I don't know if I would have the same rigid sense of ideals if keeping them kept me away from wife and family for a quarter century.
For all that it contained, also notable was the lack of inclusion of some of Winnie's involvement in less-than-savory activities. I was looking forward to reading about this, but Mandela glossed it over without detailed description, and attributed it to her basically "falling in with a bad crowd." It is possible to love someone while acknowledging their faults, but here they seem to be ignored in favor of, "She was my wife and stood by me while I was imprisoned, so how can I not support her in turn?"
Overall, it was a good read, and I'm not sorry I read it, but it could have benefited by better editing and having fewer information dumps.
4 out of 5 stars
This was a good, inspiring, and interesting read.
I was initially attracted to the book by Michael Kovrig mentioning it was one of the books that helped get him through his detainment.
Would recommend!
4.4/5
I was initially attracted to the book by Michael Kovrig mentioning it was one of the books that helped get him through his detainment.
Would recommend!
4.4/5
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I listened to the audiobook.
Historical Significance: 5 stars
Entertainment: 2.5 stars
Last couple of chapters: 5 stars
This is a long and thorough book. I’m the historical significance is undeniable. And his story shows us how great of a man he was and what he fought for.
However, a large portion of this book is just stating facts and what happened. And that is not particularly interesting to me...even listening to the audiobook...it still took me a long time to get through it.
Historical Significance: 5 stars
Entertainment: 2.5 stars
Last couple of chapters: 5 stars
This is a long and thorough book. I’m the historical significance is undeniable. And his story shows us how great of a man he was and what he fought for.
However, a large portion of this book is just stating facts and what happened. And that is not particularly interesting to me...even listening to the audiobook...it still took me a long time to get through it.
This was a long fucking walk to freedom. I hated this book and, in all honesty, it made me quite dislike Mr Mandela.