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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
Don't be fazed by the length of this memoir; everyone should read this book once. Well written and provides great insight into the creation of modern day South Africa.
Excellent read on the struggle to Freedom. Eye opening to learn about the realities of apartheid and what it took to set South Africa free
To evoke Nelson Mandela is to produce Africa in a general way so much his fight for freedom, dignity, and everything South Africa's racists have inflicted on him to break him, extinguish and stifle that Man's dream. Nelson Mandela is an icon of Africa but the most representative of this continent!
The Man has steel morale because he will imprison for twenty-seven years in the sinister prison of Robben Island, and we remember this great moment in history, 1990, when he went out with a big smile and relaxed. He greeted his compatriots, who had come to greet and cheer him. These images are transmitted by all television channels around the world and live. It was very moving!
In his novel, Nelson Mandela evokes all the stages of his life. His beginnings in politics, his fight against white racism, and the terrible system of apartheid.
He got out of prison without any grudge or resentment against whites.
He was elected president of the country for just one term. We can only admire this Great Man kneaded with great moral and human qualities.
A character who had marked the history of his country and history in general!
The Man has steel morale because he will imprison for twenty-seven years in the sinister prison of Robben Island, and we remember this great moment in history, 1990, when he went out with a big smile and relaxed. He greeted his compatriots, who had come to greet and cheer him. These images are transmitted by all television channels around the world and live. It was very moving!
In his novel, Nelson Mandela evokes all the stages of his life. His beginnings in politics, his fight against white racism, and the terrible system of apartheid.
He got out of prison without any grudge or resentment against whites.
He was elected president of the country for just one term. We can only admire this Great Man kneaded with great moral and human qualities.
A character who had marked the history of his country and history in general!
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
A truly inspiring and insightful view into the life and mind of this great man.
I has it all: the mundane aspects of his private life and the growth and development of his political views. A must read.
I read it in audiobook format, which gave me some added value:
1- Listening to the foreword narrated by former UN Secretary Koffi Annan.
2- Great african music between chapters
3-Narration that helps with the pronunciation of languages such as xhosa, zulu and afrikaans that I would certainly couldn’t achieve reading on my own, and
4- Excerpts from Mandela’s speech as he was released from prision.
Now I am going to look for this book in paper form, so I can add it to my library and hopefuly re-read it in the future.
I has it all: the mundane aspects of his private life and the growth and development of his political views. A must read.
I read it in audiobook format, which gave me some added value:
1- Listening to the foreword narrated by former UN Secretary Koffi Annan.
2- Great african music between chapters
3-Narration that helps with the pronunciation of languages such as xhosa, zulu and afrikaans that I would certainly couldn’t achieve reading on my own, and
4- Excerpts from Mandela’s speech as he was released from prision.
Now I am going to look for this book in paper form, so I can add it to my library and hopefuly re-read it in the future.
This was more thrilling than a lot of novels i've read
Just started, but I think the audiobook definitely trumps print or ebook - spoken Xhosa language and nice music.
DNF….and I feel like a terrible person admitting, that after almost 2 years of listening to this 28 hour audiobook, I’m throwing in the towel.
There is no doubt that Nelson Mandela is one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century, but he’s also incredibly verbose with a predilection for accounting every minute detail of his life. I have listened to 20 hours of this audiobook and don’t feel like I’m any closer to understanding him or his journey. And to be fair, I don’t think I’m the target audience for his book…I’m guessing he wrote it for his fellow people in South Africa. With so many details of different people, seemingly insignificant interactions with them, and so many acronyms there was no way to keep count, I could not follow this story to get any notable details of his life. It read like he published his daily journal with no editing. I am glad I gave it a try, and perhaps a shorter biography would suit me better
There is no doubt that Nelson Mandela is one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century, but he’s also incredibly verbose with a predilection for accounting every minute detail of his life. I have listened to 20 hours of this audiobook and don’t feel like I’m any closer to understanding him or his journey. And to be fair, I don’t think I’m the target audience for his book…I’m guessing he wrote it for his fellow people in South Africa. With so many details of different people, seemingly insignificant interactions with them, and so many acronyms there was no way to keep count, I could not follow this story to get any notable details of his life. It read like he published his daily journal with no editing. I am glad I gave it a try, and perhaps a shorter biography would suit me better
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Classism
It took me three weeks to finish this book, but it was most definitely worth it. The reason why it took me so long was first of all it’s complex language, which makes me understand why some readers may quit it early on. Reading this book does need some patience and dedication, and I was willing to give it that. The second reason is that I needed time to contemplate on everything I read. It was that deep.
I truly wish this book was obligatory for all to read, not just to know on Mandela’s life, the history of South Africa and what the apartheid indicated, but because the difficulties he faced are many we unfortunately still have in our day and age when it comes to racism, injustice, inequality, restriction of freedom, and inhumanity. And yet, despite the great struggles, Mandela never strode away from his ideals no matter the cost. Even inside the prison cell.
I truly wish this book was obligatory for all to read, not just to know on Mandela’s life, the history of South Africa and what the apartheid indicated, but because the difficulties he faced are many we unfortunately still have in our day and age when it comes to racism, injustice, inequality, restriction of freedom, and inhumanity. And yet, despite the great struggles, Mandela never strode away from his ideals no matter the cost. Even inside the prison cell.