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A review by pridiansky
Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter by Sidney Poitier
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I almost dnf'd this book, but ultimately decided to finish it. I am giving the book a three for a couple of sections that resonated with me. Other than that, I wasn't blown away. Because these are letters written for his great granddaughter, the writing is quite personal, almost like you're intruding on a conversation you're not meant to hear. For me, it was uncomfortable. He addresses her frequently by name, and while some people might enjoy that level of intimacy, it wasn't something I cared for. When this book was written, she was maybe three? It made me wonder what she thinks of this book now and whether she would want all the attention garnered from this book. It's a sweet testament, but if it were me, I don't know that I'd have wanted that.
It's clear that Sidney Poitier was an interesting, complex man who was quite progressive in his views, considering his age. This is probably due to his unique life experiences which include an isolated childhood on an island, brushes with death, experiences with racism, poverty, etc. He comes across as introspective, empathetic, and honest. I resonated with his strong sense of right and wrong and admired his willpower in overcoming personal weaknesses. He never comes across as a braggart, and I feel he downplayed his own bravery and determination in this book.
The book has some semblance of structure, but it's not perfect, due to the letter-like nature. The writing can become a bit rambly at times, but I'll cut it some slack considering the intention of this book. I think almost everyone has heard a rambling story from an elder in their family. Whether you find that endearing or not is up to you.
There are a couple of chapters on faith and god and his thoughts on the matter, but I skipped those, as I'm not religious and find it all to be tedious drivel. Luckily it's not found through the rest of the book. The most interesting chapters were about how he made it as an actor and his many close calls with death throughout the years. I feel compelled to watch a few of his movies.
It's clear that Sidney Poitier was an interesting, complex man who was quite progressive in his views, considering his age. This is probably due to his unique life experiences which include an isolated childhood on an island, brushes with death, experiences with racism, poverty, etc. He comes across as introspective, empathetic, and honest. I resonated with his strong sense of right and wrong and admired his willpower in overcoming personal weaknesses. He never comes across as a braggart, and I feel he downplayed his own bravery and determination in this book.
The book has some semblance of structure, but it's not perfect, due to the letter-like nature. The writing can become a bit rambly at times, but I'll cut it some slack considering the intention of this book. I think almost everyone has heard a rambling story from an elder in their family. Whether you find that endearing or not is up to you.
There are a couple of chapters on faith and god and his thoughts on the matter, but I skipped those, as I'm not religious and find it all to be tedious drivel. Luckily it's not found through the rest of the book. The most interesting chapters were about how he made it as an actor and his many close calls with death throughout the years. I feel compelled to watch a few of his movies.