A review by kiwij96
Rise: The Brand New Autobiography by Siya Kolisi

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

"I was born on the last day of apartheid" is one hell of a way to grab the attention of any reader, and to end on the high note that was winning the 2019 RWC as South Africa's first black captain, honestly puts Siya Kolisi's life and South Africa's history into perspective. Especially when you read about his life growing up. Though despite these experiences and challenges, Kolisi is very proud of his country and community, and is determined to use his platform for good.

Sometimes the pacing is a little bit off. There are times when the writing felt like it was building to something else and then the topic changed immediately (for example, it went from wedding vows then back into rugby). However, I do appreciate the transparency and honesty that Siya showcases when talking about his life and who he was, is, and will be. That he is a person who has made mistakes, has found his faith, and has the love and support of a great community, and how important all of that is to him. He reflects the importance of all of the people in his life by ensuring that every person he has written about is written about respectfully, whether they are family, friend, teammate, opponent, or otherwise.
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