jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Wir leben in einer Zeit, in der ich extra erwähnen muss, dass meine Bewertung dem Buch gilt, nicht dem Menschen Nelson Mandela.
Wie bereits in meinem Textchen zu "Die Entdeckung des Nordpols" erwähnt, ist es nun sicher, dass Autobiographien eindeutig nichts für mich sind. Zwar habe ich viel über Südafrika und die Apartheid gelernt (über das Meiste konnte ich nur den Kopf schütteln und war teilweise wirklich entsetzt), aber in seinem Buch schreibt Mandela sehr ausführlich.
Zu ausführlich für mich. Viele Namen und natürlich auch politische Ereignisse. Viele Dinge, die einmal erwähnt werden, aber für das Grosse Ganze nicht sonderlich wichtig sind. Um einen Einblick in das Schaffen Mandelas zu erhalten, täte es für mich persönlich auch ein Buch mit nur der Hälfte an Umfang.
Wie bereits in meinem Textchen zu "Die Entdeckung des Nordpols" erwähnt, ist es nun sicher, dass Autobiographien eindeutig nichts für mich sind. Zwar habe ich viel über Südafrika und die Apartheid gelernt (über das Meiste konnte ich nur den Kopf schütteln und war teilweise wirklich entsetzt), aber in seinem Buch schreibt Mandela sehr ausführlich.
Zu ausführlich für mich. Viele Namen und natürlich auch politische Ereignisse. Viele Dinge, die einmal erwähnt werden, aber für das Grosse Ganze nicht sonderlich wichtig sind. Um einen Einblick in das Schaffen Mandelas zu erhalten, täte es für mich persönlich auch ein Buch mit nur der Hälfte an Umfang.
millarpa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
kobra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
rossbm's review against another edition
4.0
(read as audiobook) Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The account of Nelson Mandela’s life was interesting and inspirational, and the narrator did a great job.
The book is very detailed and comprehensive (how did Mandela remember so much?), covering every aspect of Mandela’s life from his childhood, early career and political activities, to his time in prison, release and election as president. However, this also means that the book is quite long and sometimes tedious, in particular the time in prison. The long period in prison was mostly uneventful, although it showed how Mandela maintained his dignity and spirit despite the harsh conditions.
Autobiographies are interesting because they give a peek into someone’s mind, even if it is a biased and incomplete viewpoint. For example, I recently read a review of Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage by Jonny Steinberg. It seems like there were a lot of complexities related to violence and other ramifications of apartheid that were only glossed over in A Long Walk to Freedom.
I didn’t know much about Mandela before reading this book and I come away with an admiration for his courage, resilience, vision and forgiveness. South Africa was and is a complex nation. I’m glad to have learned more.
The book is very detailed and comprehensive (how did Mandela remember so much?), covering every aspect of Mandela’s life from his childhood, early career and political activities, to his time in prison, release and election as president. However, this also means that the book is quite long and sometimes tedious, in particular the time in prison. The long period in prison was mostly uneventful, although it showed how Mandela maintained his dignity and spirit despite the harsh conditions.
Autobiographies are interesting because they give a peek into someone’s mind, even if it is a biased and incomplete viewpoint. For example, I recently read a review of Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage by Jonny Steinberg. It seems like there were a lot of complexities related to violence and other ramifications of apartheid that were only glossed over in A Long Walk to Freedom.
I didn’t know much about Mandela before reading this book and I come away with an admiration for his courage, resilience, vision and forgiveness. South Africa was and is a complex nation. I’m glad to have learned more.
rick2's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible book by an incredible man. I think the thing that struck me the most is how approachable and humble the writing is. As you follow along, I found myself easily putting myself into Madiba’s shoes. Across the years, and on the other side of the world, Mandela’s life seemed like the most natural things in the world. Of course you would spend 30 years in prison in order to make a point, of course you would give up your family life and profession in order to travel around to train freedom fighters. The matter-of-factness of Madiba‘s writing undersells the tremendous selflessness that he lived his life with. Time and time again when offered the opportunity to choose his own personal comfort or satisfaction, Mandela chose to instead dedicate his life to the betterment of those unable to speak for themselves.
Mandela is someone you see bandied about as a “hero” and all the accompanying great things that are said about leaders and politicians. I was a bit skeptical going in. It’s easy to be cynical after seeing so many people who are similarly lauded and fall short of the image they try to project. This book far surpassed my expectations simply because it rang so authenticity true. He writes simply and clearly. Painting a portrait of a man who struggled with his decisions, who fell short of his ideals at times, his candor about the sacrifices he made at the expense of his family. He is a man who found himself in situations where he needed to rise to a challenge. It does not appear that Mandela sought out to be a revolutionary, but rather found himself in the midst of revolution and understood the need for leadership. This is hands down the best political memoir I’ve read. If I end up in law school in a couple years, it will be because I hope to emulate just a fraction of Mandela’s example within.
Mandela is someone you see bandied about as a “hero” and all the accompanying great things that are said about leaders and politicians. I was a bit skeptical going in. It’s easy to be cynical after seeing so many people who are similarly lauded and fall short of the image they try to project. This book far surpassed my expectations simply because it rang so authenticity true. He writes simply and clearly. Painting a portrait of a man who struggled with his decisions, who fell short of his ideals at times, his candor about the sacrifices he made at the expense of his family. He is a man who found himself in situations where he needed to rise to a challenge. It does not appear that Mandela sought out to be a revolutionary, but rather found himself in the midst of revolution and understood the need for leadership. This is hands down the best political memoir I’ve read. If I end up in law school in a couple years, it will be because I hope to emulate just a fraction of Mandela’s example within.
azezuma's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
booksbooksbooks_27's review against another edition
5.0
It's taken me four months to read this book, but I am glad I kept returning to it. Nelson Mandela's own account of his life was easy to read because of his natural voice coming through in his writing. The difficulty is in digesting the often painful struggle he endured in the name of freedom - not just for himself, but for all people of color in South Africa. It is evident that he survived by sheer will and an unwavering hope in what he knew was right. Even from his prison cell, he continued to drive a nation longing to be free. I hope I can watch the movie at some point, but the book is eloquent and powerful - as was its author.