Customer Reviews

Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A powerfully moving account of the impact of perhaps one of the most incredibly haumane and politically gifted individuals of all time, Nelson Mandella. (In reading this one cannot help but think of Ghandi.) The story of the transformation of South Africa, as put forth by this gifted author, John Carlin, is mesmerizing. Hard to put down. We are introduced to an array of individuals, on both sides of the predgeudicial conflict. The descriptions of the personalities involved are vivid and individualized in a most comprehensive manner. You develop a true feel for the ingrained vitriol of each. To witness the transcendant changes that these people went through is at once exceptionally emotional, and at the same time heart rendering. Well written. You are there involved in the excitement of the moment. The significance of a single sporting event, the world cup rugby competition in 1995, held in South Africa, and its impact on bringing the two cultures together, is absolutely fascinating. A most enjoyable adventure to read this book. Of course I am definitely looking forward to seeing the movie, but doubt that it could be as good as this book. Hope a lot of people read it.

I agree with the other reviewers here about this book; it is indeed a "must-read". This book is not really a story of rugby, as later portrayed in the Hollywood movie; it is a story of a country struggling with a massive and long-overdue change in the fabric of its society.

John Carlin tells the story of South Africa during the transition period after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison and apartheid ended. Whether you are an expert in this era or a neophyte, Carlin's writing and summary of this time is nothing short of superb. He is able to tell the tale of how South Africa managed an almost incomprehensibly huge change in its society without warfare, which is an incredible feat. Carlin had worked in South Africa and as such had background knowledge of the country as well as access to the many prominent figures that he interviewed for the book, including Mandela himself.

The role of rugby in this book is as the thread that ties together the characters from all walks of life who appear throughout the story. It doesn't much resemble the movie in that sense, which relied more heavily on showing the rugby team, games, etc., as the primary driver of the story. The book is far more powerful.

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, should read this book. It is well-written, fast-paced, emotional, and tells a story that would have been unbelievable if it weren't true. As a side note, the poem "Invictus", for which the movie was titled, brilliantly captures the bravery of Mandela and all of South Africa shown in this book.

"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."

Excerpt from Invictus, by William Ernest Henley

John Carlin's work is a thrilling, spine-tingling effort. Most of the book's protagonists can't recall their meetings with Nelson Mandela in regards to 1995's Rugby World Cup without breaking into tears. Carlin's genius is to make you see why this is the natural reaction. Here's a man who, as one player aptly puts it "spent 27 years in prison and came out with love and friendship. All that washed over me, that huge realization, and the tears just rolled down my face."

Though Mandela is as close as there is to a god walking this earth, it's his one-on-one people skills that take the day. His will is to win them over, one person at a time.

I read the originally released hardcover version of Carlin's book, which was called 'Playing the Enemy.' The working title of Clint Eastwood's movie was, for a short while, 'The Human Factor.' ESPN also produced a film based on the book as part of their excellent '30 for 30' series (ESPN Films 30 for 30: The Sixteenth Man). I rank these efforts as follows:

1. Playing the Enemy - The other two creative works are derived directly from Carlin's reporting and dramatic narrative.

2. The 16th Man - Cliff Bestall's work is a direct retelling of Carlin's story; 15 years on, it's stirring to see the players still so visibly moved about the their place in history and the events of those days.

3. Invictus - This sappy, sloppy adaptation ranks as one of Clint Eastwood's worst movies. And, having the 5' 9" Matt Damon portray the 6' 3", 230 lb Springbok captain Francois Pienaar sticks a blowhole of unbelievability in the middle of the tale.

As I grew up in Britain I well remember the anti-apartheid demonstrations which routinely disrupted games against the Springboks in the 1960s, and how the game of Rugby was made to suffer at the hands of politics. There is thus a perfect and beautiful irony in the fact that President Mandela used that same game to unite the nation of South Africa in the Rugby World Cup 1995. Rugby had the last laugh and triumphed over politics, you might say. Interestingly in May 2010 just before it begins people are again asking whether the soccer World Cup will be able to unite the same nation in much the same way.

Anyway, this is a truly inspirational and of course true story told in a masterful way and in great detail of the power of sport (and one sport in particular) to bring people together and allow them to overcome their racial, religious, political and other differences. And all credit to Nelson Mandela for learning Afrikaans while in prison on Robben island and thus crossing the barrier between the races which lesser men could never have surmounted.

Ian Ruxton, translator of 'ULTIMATE CRUSH: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan'

If you saw the movie Invictus and certainly if you did not this is still a must read book in my opinion.

There was so much more going on at the time than the movie could possibly tell us and to read the book you see the wisdom and skill of Nelson Mandela and others to prevent a blood bath in South Africa at the time of this story. There is much for the world to learn from this man and others to aspire to.

I watched Invictus and then read the book. The books is so much better than the movie, for one thing this is not a rugby book, the actual details on the Rugby World Cup is a small portion of the book, the rest is about the great Nelson Mandela's journey from a political prisoner to his return to society and rise to power. The more I read about Mandela the more amazed I am of his character. Instead of despair he preaches hope, instead of revenge he preaches forgiveness. The end of apartheid is also documented along with a brief history of modern South Africa.

Even if you have no interest in South Africa this book is recommended as you will learn a lot about one of the greatest leaders ever lived in the history of humanity.

I heard about the movie, but I prefered to read the book. Nelson Mandela is an example of how life changes ones views of certain situation. An imprisioned man, fighting for the rights of his people, ends up fighting uniting a country. He wasn't a saint, but here on earth saints don't exist, just those who try to make a difference even with their faults and virtues. Great Read...

This is an inspiring account of Mandela's amazing persona and work in reconciliation in South Africa. It is full of nuanced details of the complex politics of the country and racial and class tensions. I was so inspired and filled with hope from reading this.

I saw the movie first, enjoyed it very much, so I thought I would check out the book. As is often the case, the book delivers even more than what can be captured in a 2 hour movie. In the book the author includes the insights of many more people than the story line developed for the movie. You get to read how key previous Apartheid government officials, ANC officials, notable South Africans, those around Nelson Mandela, etc reacted and what they thought about Nelson Mandela, the Springboks, and the Rugby World Cup in that magical year. It is a truly inspiring portrayal about a single person who could overcome adversity, persecution, and mistreatment and yet had the capacity to forgive those who did this to him and work with them to create a new united and peaceful nation. There are many reasons to read this book that range from inspiration, education, to self-improvement.

Overcoming adversity is my favorite genre and 'Invictus' is about overcoming adversity again and again and again. I love this book!