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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Absolutely amazing and humbling and worth the read :)
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
There’s not a lot to say about this book. It’s required reading as a starting point if you want to learn about the struggle for democracy in apartheid South Africa. It is written so matter-of-factly that at times the reader has to step back and really think about the real world consequences these freedom fighters faced in their struggle for self-rule. It’s a long book, but fascinating to read.
Fascinating. If it were physically possible, I'd've read it in one sitting.
This book is long and full of lots of details and names that could be good for research rather than storytelling but hearing of his unwavering commitment to making sure that all people could live a life of freedom was pretty inspiring. I really enjoyed the epilogue and the way it wrapped up, very quickly, the remaining years of his life.
this is a very powerful book of a struggle in our own times. Whilst i was growing up in a safe environment Mandela and his compatriots were undertaking the fight of their lives.
A classic autobiography, and rightly so.
For a book that has been around for so long and written by a man that has had such an impact in South Africa and around the world, it is quite difficult to have anything new to say about this book! Nelson Mandela writes with loving detail about the very beginnings of his life, from his birth in the village of Mvezo to his childhood in Qunu, his education and subsequent start of a career in Johannesburg, to him gradually getting involved politically and joining the ANC, then his rising influence and imprisonment along with other prominent ANC members as political prisoners, and finally, his release and election win to be the leader of his country.
I think I was slightly intimidated by the prospect and size of this book because of the stature of the man who had written it, when in fact I was being silly. This book is so wonderfully accessible. Of course, with the life he's led, there are a lot of names and dates to keep track of - I don't read enough biographies and these details can be a bit much at times - but Mandela writes with such a great deal of warmth and spirit and even humour that I can't imagine not enjoying and getting the most out of this book. That's the surprising part, for me anyway, where I found him being so approachable in the way he talked about his life and his immense struggle in all those years of fighting for the rights of his people. It's like an ongoing conversation as you continue to read and I was struck by his ability to keep his hand out for that handshake and not strike in anger instead. The humour can appear out of nowhere and it genuinely made me laugh despite the harrowing conditions. To be able to find little pieces of joy everywhere he went, no matter how difficult, spoke so much of his character.
I'm touched by so much of what he's done, but also saddened with how much of his [family] time he gave up to serve his people - yes, he was a driven leader but I'd feel the wistfulness the most whenever he described his family during his time in prison. It is so much to ask of any one person to do, no matter how dire the need, and the underlying conflict between family and country wasn't always touched upon but never forgotten. Those long hard years he spent locked away are ones he never got back. Physically and emotionally, he dedicated himself to the cause and proved his conviction with his brilliant words and actions.
Above all, his words are inspiring. As someone who was barely old enough to remember much of anything about Mandela's release, his speeches are still powerful and relevant today. Unless remarkable changes and progress are made, these same words as the years pass are still needed to strive for equality. As mandatory an autobiography as you will ever read. 5/5.
For a book that has been around for so long and written by a man that has had such an impact in South Africa and around the world, it is quite difficult to have anything new to say about this book! Nelson Mandela writes with loving detail about the very beginnings of his life, from his birth in the village of Mvezo to his childhood in Qunu, his education and subsequent start of a career in Johannesburg, to him gradually getting involved politically and joining the ANC, then his rising influence and imprisonment along with other prominent ANC members as political prisoners, and finally, his release and election win to be the leader of his country.
I think I was slightly intimidated by the prospect and size of this book because of the stature of the man who had written it, when in fact I was being silly. This book is so wonderfully accessible. Of course, with the life he's led, there are a lot of names and dates to keep track of - I don't read enough biographies and these details can be a bit much at times - but Mandela writes with such a great deal of warmth and spirit and even humour that I can't imagine not enjoying and getting the most out of this book. That's the surprising part, for me anyway, where I found him being so approachable in the way he talked about his life and his immense struggle in all those years of fighting for the rights of his people. It's like an ongoing conversation as you continue to read and I was struck by his ability to keep his hand out for that handshake and not strike in anger instead. The humour can appear out of nowhere and it genuinely made me laugh despite the harrowing conditions. To be able to find little pieces of joy everywhere he went, no matter how difficult, spoke so much of his character.
I'm touched by so much of what he's done, but also saddened with how much of his [family] time he gave up to serve his people - yes, he was a driven leader but I'd feel the wistfulness the most whenever he described his family during his time in prison. It is so much to ask of any one person to do, no matter how dire the need, and the underlying conflict between family and country wasn't always touched upon but never forgotten. Those long hard years he spent locked away are ones he never got back. Physically and emotionally, he dedicated himself to the cause and proved his conviction with his brilliant words and actions.
Above all, his words are inspiring. As someone who was barely old enough to remember much of anything about Mandela's release, his speeches are still powerful and relevant today. Unless remarkable changes and progress are made, these same words as the years pass are still needed to strive for equality. As mandatory an autobiography as you will ever read. 5/5.