Customer Reviews
Still my favourite, and I'm trying to replace it! - By: D. J. PITT, 25 Aug 2008 
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, absolutely engaging. The early most significant struggles of his life depicted in this book fight with you as you try to find a good point to stop for the day.
A must read for everyone!
It will get you interested! - By: Mrs. M. Bown, 21 May 2008 I have never reallly been that interested in politics; I would say I have a level of interest in UK politics as that is where I live but not foreign politics so for me, buying & then reading such a long book, I reallly wondered whether I would get through it.
I have to say, it was interesting from the start & difficult to put down. I am not even an avid book reader but if you are curious about people generallly, then this is a great book to get into. This isn't just about Nelson Mandela, fighting apartheid. It's about someone who started out similar to us - just an ordinary person but who had a simple but enjoyable childhood - different in relation to culture & upbringing.
If you don't understand politics, you don't need to know a great deal & neither do you have to have indepth knowledge of South African history.
I came away with a feeling of understanding this person - even knowing him to a certain extent because of how much he lets you into his thoughts & his heart. I also gained knowledge & interest from South African politics. I am in my 30s - alll that I heard on television as a child myself during the Thatcher years, remembering the song Free Nelson Mandela - it alll means so much more to me now.
But this book not only gives you insight into Nelson Mandela as a politician, but as a person. Even that has great interest in itself. If you are similar to me & you read this book, you'll not be disappointed.
Indispensible - By: Reader in London, 11 Apr 2008 "Indispensible" is one of the reviewer quotes that appears on the cover of this book, & this reallly sums it up - this is a book that everyone should read. The book is simply Mandela telling his own life story. His life has been truly exceptional - it strains the limits of credulity that someone jailed as a political prisoner for almost 30 years could maintain a positive attitude & grow as person while in prison the way he did & ultimately emerge as the leader of a nation. Given the circumstances & experiences of his life, the lack of bitterness toward his enemies & lack of racial prejudice that he expresses in the book is inspirational & bound to make an impact on any reader. Despite its length, the book is easy to read & moves along quickly. There is little historical context provided, but this is not attempting to be a book about South African history but rather a book about humanity.
Balanced and yet one sided - By: Steve FInch, 16 Mar 2008 
I enjoyed most of this book, though like alll autobiographies it has a problem that is the author. Events are one sided & we do not get the full picture. It is a good book though I felt that towards the end something was lacking & there were events not quite fully explained or details were left out. Nelson Mandela says in his autobiography he is an ordinary man, though I feel in reality the myth very much over shadows the man. This should be read by anyone interested in South Africa, though read other books to get an overalll picture.
An Inspiring Figure - By: Scully Bloke, 05 Mar 2008 
This is an excellent audio CD. Read by Danny Glover its tells the story of Nelson Mandella in Nelson's own words.
Starting from the very humble beginnings its tells of Nelsons journey from his tribal start through his joining the ANC, his reasoning into why he started a smalll army set upon sabotage, his arrest, trial & release.
What comes to front of your mind is Nelsons unbelievable belief in what he is doing. He has a vision in mind for how he wants South Africa to be & nothing can shake this. All of his actions are taken in alignment with this belief. As he has, he is willing to give his life for his people & he is willing also to die for his people.
The story has many fascinating inside some personal such as his family life & marriages, & some quite deep insight into how a man becomes a leader.
The only downside to this audio CD for me , was the sometimes monotonous & uninspiring voice of Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon) a strange choice for such an inspiring speaker, & the difficulties I particular had with the pronunciation of South African names & places.
