A review by lafatm3
Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela

5.0

Nelson Mandela is one of the most remarkable men of the 20th century and because of this his life and his legend are often intertwined. During his life his supporters and opponents both shaped his narrative to help further their agendas and because of this there were often conflicting ideas as to who exactly he was. There was a time where he became more myth than man and because of this, Mandela felt compelled to pen his own autobiography in 1995 shortly after becoming president of South Africa. As a result of this, we have an opportunity to learn about Mandela in his own words: From growing up in a rural village to his time in school to his life as a lawyer to his introduction to the ANC to this time in prison to his eventual ascendancy to the presidency. By learning about Mandela's actions through his own words, the reader is able to see his development from a shy, timid boy to an outgoing confident man who became the father of his nation. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of Mandela or in the development of a world leader.