Customer Reviews

Mandela: An Illustrated Autobiography

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This book recounts the life of Nelson Mandela beginning in childhood up to the present age. It is written by Mandela himself - it's honest, straightforward style seems to be an honest attempt by Mandela to portray himself objectively, avoiding the tendency to be self-serving.

A fascinating book. It begins with Mandela in his young childhood living in a pre-industrial society of native Africans in the countryside of South Africa where white settlers have dominated industrialized society. It is an engaging society, - perhaps more advanced than our own - as one must reconsider what it means to live in harmony and in cooperation; A true democracy, based on the ideals that all are equal.

Mandela undergoes culture shock when he runs away from his traditional homeland to seek his fortunes in the big city of Johannesberg. Here is encounters white society up close, and is mortified at the inequity that exists between the native blacks, and the immigrant whites that make every attempt to dominate their country and exploit its indigenous peoples.

Mandela encounters a small group of educated, free-thinking educated blacks, and joins the African National Congress. Here he encounters several other oppressed peoples: Indians, Communists, and liberal whites. He slowly makes his life's objective to be a freedom fighter. A fighter for civil rights for all people. A life of struggle, where one must be willing to pay the ultimate price. And he nearly does.

He becomes the inspiration for downtrodden average black citizen, nearly enslaved within their own country. He willingly faces grave danger, is tried several times for his political ideals, denounced as "treason" and is eventually sent to prison "for life."

Mandela's life in prison is austere. But he and his colleagues never yield in their commitment to freedom for all South Africans. His wife, Winnie is an example of true dedication - equally a woman of integrity and worthy of the highest praise. She undergoes severe hardships being married to a "freedom fighter."

Mandela avoids the tendency to give up in the face of severe conditions, showing true mettle as he remains dedicated to the rights for all people to live free in racist South Africa. 27 years later having risked his life and surviving harsh prison conditions, he emerges a national hero.

A must read for anyone - Mandela is history in the making.

I bought this book for my father as a gift, and he has literally NOT put it down since he received it! He loves the amazing narrative, as told by Mandela himself, and the outstanding pictures throughout the book bring the story to even more vivid life. I literally just had a two hour conversation with my Dad about everything he's read in this book about Mandela's life, and it was only one of many talks we've had since he received the book. I am so glad I got this for him. You will not be sorry purchasing one for the history/world events fan in your life. Item arrived in pristine condition in a timely way from this excellent seller.

If you are interested in the history you weren't taught in school, as I wasn't, this book is not too full of details that you get bogged down. It is a very interesting account of Mandela's life. I always wondered exactly what happened that he got released from prison then elected to be President so quickly. Now I understand better the sequence of events. The photographs are excellent and the book itself is a beautiful addition to anyone's library.

I used to own the previous version of Nelson Mandela's autobiography, which was never returned to me by a friend. Now I'm glad I waited to replace it, because the larger format and wonderful pictures add so much to the experience of understanding Mr. Mandela's personal history, the history of South Africa and his incomparable effect on the world. An excellent book that you can open at any page and find something interesting to learn.