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Anatomy of a Miracle: The End of Apartheid and the Birth of the New South Africa

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Anatomy of a Miracle is one of those history books you never forget. It does such a good job putting you there. You feel like you are at the meeting between Mandela and DeKlerk. This is history at its best. Anyone interested in Current Events or the History of South Africa and its transformation from Apartheid and White Rule to One Man One Vote and Democracy needs to read this book. I had no idea that Mandela and the South African government had been in negotiation long before Mandela's release. I also had no idea how well Mandela used his ability to speak Afrikaaner and his knowledge of Afrikaaner History to while negotiating to end Apartheid. You see the challenges DeKlerk, Mandela, and all of South Africa had to overcome. And they did. This is a short book, but after reading this you will become an expert on the events that led to the end of Apartheid and the beginning of Democracy in South Africa. This is a great book.

Reads like a cloak and dagger thriller at times. This is a riveting account of the end of apartheid and the birth of democracy in a society that should be, by all rights, engaged in civil war at this time. Instead, Ms. Waldmeir gives us the reasons, historically and diplomatically, as to why this amazing transition took place in relative peace. She tries to give a fair representation of the roles of all the major players in this incredibly complex real life drama. I found the writing to be very insightful as an academic work while at the same time it was told as the dramatic, tension filled drama that the story truly is.

This is surely the most informative book to have been written on the subject of South Africa since the end of the white regime. Ms Waldmeiris a superb writer, with a perceptive and self -deprecating wit.May she write heaps more. Dermot Ros

Anatomy of a Miracle: The End of Apartheid and the Birth of the New South Africa
This book came on time and was delivered directly to my place of residence within two days. So far this book is worth more than just an assignment for class. This book also helps me to see another side of conflict that most people may never see in their life time; unless they live within a collective culture where group needs are put before the individual self.

There is a great deal of interest in the changing politics and different views of SA evident in
movies such as 'Blood Diamonds', 'Invictus' and 'Color of Freedom'. This book is perhaps the best extension of these movies into a combined view of SA. The book does a great job of combining sociology and recent history. The author adds a wonderful writing style to extensive familiarity so as to provide human interest in a complex subject. Instead of the popular use of a 'quote de jour' epigraph Waldmeir inserts a relevant sample of her own journalism to introduce each chapter. It's a very effective device.

While clearly expressing empathy with the justice of the black majority cause under Apartheid, Waldmeir does not whitewash Mandela and the ANC for responsibility of violence or
failures in mitigating SA problems of poverty disease and violence. There is a very even handed treatment including failure of Codesa II negotiations. She points out how good the RSA record is relative to other African states like Zimbabwe and Zambia. Readers will no doubt engage in contrasting RSA and USA politics. Waldmeir credits Botha, DeKlerk and the Afrikaner administration for their courage in giving up power as she investigates the question of why. She creates great interest in the attempts to provide an equitable sharing of power as it covers political struggles among the NP, ANC and Inkatha parties.

Although not exactly a treatise in government, the book makes one think about government structure by coverage of the new RSA government and constitution. Especially interesting are the negotiations that took place between the NP and ANC during the period between the release of Mandela in 1991 and the formation of the new government after the election of 1994. Negotiations included the idea of a 'tricameral' legislature. DeKlerk wanted a 'negative veto', a throwback to Calhoun's idea of 'nullification.' After rejection by Mandela, who termed it "loser takes all" that lead to the very interesting politics of today whereby the white minority is attempting the same thing by other means. Success or failure is still an open question.

The best books are written in the spirit of inquiry without ideological bias and this is a good one. Too bad the book drifts out of date with time. Following Walmeir's journalism would be an excellent way of keeping up with changing conditions in SA sociology and politics. This is more informative than other recent books on SA which tend to focus on a mini biography and character analysis of Mandela.