Autobiography of the life of Malcolm X.
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Title: The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley
Pages: 466
Time spent on the "to read" shelf: I must have purchased this book in 2001 or 2002, so about 7 or 8 years.
Days spent reading it: 10 days.
Why I read it: During college I wrote a report in my Intro to Islam class about Black Muslims. In writing that report I discovered that Malcolm X started off with a deviant form of Islam, but after his trip to Mecca he began to change his views about Islam and also his views on hating all "white devils." I picked up this book because I was interested in Malcolm X's life after writing that report.
Brief review: Wow. This book was not what I expected at all. Reading this autobiography was more compelling than I could have imagined. I was engaged in Malcolm's life from start to finish. Starting with his street hustler days in Harlem, to his conversion to Islam (as preached by Elijah Muhammad) in prison, to his break with Elijah Muhammad, to his pilgrimage to Mecca, and ending with his assassination, this book was informative and entertaining.
A few things I found most interesting about Malcolm's life. First, Malcolm X was full of hatred for what the "white devil" had done to the black man. He saw injustice, called white men out on it, and sought to fix the situation. While I do not agree with his militant tactics, I respect his unflagging devotion to righting centuries of wrongs. Second, I find his change after his trip to Mecca as completely astonishing. He completely transformed his views. He stopped saying all white men were the devil. He started pointing to the system that oppressed, and that many white men perpetuated. It is a fascinating study to look at how drastically he changed in those last few months of his life. One certainly wonders, if he had not been killed, how his new views would have changed his approach to civil rights. Third, I was impressed by the scope of the story. Malcolm's self commentary on his life ends just a few days before he was killed. Alex Haley does a wonderful job of telling the story about the rest of his life. The account of his death is simply compelling to read. I was hooked to the very end.
I think this was one of the most important books that I have read on my list. I certainly do not agree with many of Malcolm X's views (especially the young, belligerent Malcolm). But by reading this book, I can enter his world. I can understand the pain. I can begin to understand why Malcolm was so passionate about his cause. I can begin to see how important the civil rights movement was for black Americans. And I can see how far we still have to go. We still have racism in America. Even if some of it is hidden, it is still in the American system. I think America has come a long way, but this book challenges me to look deep into my own heart and see if there are prejudices that I need to eliminate. It is not always pretty.
Malcolm X lived a life very different from my own. I am glad that I read his autobiography because it helped me to understand his radically different life more than I did before. I would highly recommend reading this book. It is enlightening and challenging and different than what I expected. Well worth the time it took to read.
Favorite quote: I told him, "What you are telling me is that it isn't the American white man who is a racist, but it's the American political, economic, and social atmosphere that automatically nourishes a racists psychology in the white man." He agreed.
Stars: 5 out of 5.
Final Word: Provocative.
Pages: 466
Time spent on the "to read" shelf: I must have purchased this book in 2001 or 2002, so about 7 or 8 years.
Days spent reading it: 10 days.
Why I read it: During college I wrote a report in my Intro to Islam class about Black Muslims. In writing that report I discovered that Malcolm X started off with a deviant form of Islam, but after his trip to Mecca he began to change his views about Islam and also his views on hating all "white devils." I picked up this book because I was interested in Malcolm X's life after writing that report.
Brief review: Wow. This book was not what I expected at all. Reading this autobiography was more compelling than I could have imagined. I was engaged in Malcolm's life from start to finish. Starting with his street hustler days in Harlem, to his conversion to Islam (as preached by Elijah Muhammad) in prison, to his break with Elijah Muhammad, to his pilgrimage to Mecca, and ending with his assassination, this book was informative and entertaining.
A few things I found most interesting about Malcolm's life. First, Malcolm X was full of hatred for what the "white devil" had done to the black man. He saw injustice, called white men out on it, and sought to fix the situation. While I do not agree with his militant tactics, I respect his unflagging devotion to righting centuries of wrongs. Second, I find his change after his trip to Mecca as completely astonishing. He completely transformed his views. He stopped saying all white men were the devil. He started pointing to the system that oppressed, and that many white men perpetuated. It is a fascinating study to look at how drastically he changed in those last few months of his life. One certainly wonders, if he had not been killed, how his new views would have changed his approach to civil rights. Third, I was impressed by the scope of the story. Malcolm's self commentary on his life ends just a few days before he was killed. Alex Haley does a wonderful job of telling the story about the rest of his life. The account of his death is simply compelling to read. I was hooked to the very end.
I think this was one of the most important books that I have read on my list. I certainly do not agree with many of Malcolm X's views (especially the young, belligerent Malcolm). But by reading this book, I can enter his world. I can understand the pain. I can begin to understand why Malcolm was so passionate about his cause. I can begin to see how important the civil rights movement was for black Americans. And I can see how far we still have to go. We still have racism in America. Even if some of it is hidden, it is still in the American system. I think America has come a long way, but this book challenges me to look deep into my own heart and see if there are prejudices that I need to eliminate. It is not always pretty.
Malcolm X lived a life very different from my own. I am glad that I read his autobiography because it helped me to understand his radically different life more than I did before. I would highly recommend reading this book. It is enlightening and challenging and different than what I expected. Well worth the time it took to read.
Favorite quote: I told him, "What you are telling me is that it isn't the American white man who is a racist, but it's the American political, economic, and social atmosphere that automatically nourishes a racists psychology in the white man." He agreed.
Stars: 5 out of 5.
Final Word: Provocative.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is the intense personal story of the life of Malcolm X. It has been argued that Malcolm X was many things, violent, racist, intelligent, dishonest, admirable and he was all these by his own admission. But that which grabs you in this book is the journey this man took, the turns he made, the thoughts he was introduced to and the ideas he eloquently expressed.
This is the story of a man whose father was murdered for speaking for civil rights, whose mother was committed, who grew up in foster homes and became a thug, a criminal a convict in the first part of his life. In prison he became a student, a scholar of Black history, a minister for Black Islam. Upon his release he becomes the international spokesman for the Black Muslim movement only to discover he had been misled, propagandized and used by his own church in order to mislead and manipulate its followers. He undertook to set things right. He repudiated his mistakes and advocated new approaches for the freedom and personal liberation of African Americans. Malcolm X becomes much more in death than he was in life. He did
not live to see this book in print and predicted it because he challenged the powers of darkness.
The writing of Malcolm assisted by Alex Haley in a compelling style will hook you, involve you.
This is the story of a man whose father was murdered for speaking for civil rights, whose mother was committed, who grew up in foster homes and became a thug, a criminal a convict in the first part of his life. In prison he became a student, a scholar of Black history, a minister for Black Islam. Upon his release he becomes the international spokesman for the Black Muslim movement only to discover he had been misled, propagandized and used by his own church in order to mislead and manipulate its followers. He undertook to set things right. He repudiated his mistakes and advocated new approaches for the freedom and personal liberation of African Americans. Malcolm X becomes much more in death than he was in life. He did
not live to see this book in print and predicted it because he challenged the powers of darkness.
The writing of Malcolm assisted by Alex Haley in a compelling style will hook you, involve you.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
This Biography of Malcolm X is one of the best biographies I've ever read. It really helped me get inside the perspective of one of our country's most powerful and controversial civil rights activists. Amazing to watch his transition from troubled youth, to criminal, to prison inmate, to self-educated racist, to his final transformation in which he embraced all races.
An important read!!!!
An important read!!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic!
What more can be said?! This is a classic piece of literature that belongs on every bookshelf. Malcolm's growth as a human being is phenomenal and captivating.
Published 3 days ago by msleemarie
4.0 out of 5 stars
An intense personal story of change
Somewhere in the past 10 years of my life, I realized I knew, really, next to nothing about the U.S. civil rights movement. Read more
Published 21 days ago by SFFic
5.0 out of 5 stars
The autobiography of Malcom X
1 of the greatest stories I have ever read. Truly an inspiration to all people. Everyone should read this, This will be must read for all of my children.
Published 24 days ago by Jayskilla3000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book worth reading
I enjoyed reading this book. I gave me a nice dive into the African American heritage and history in the USA. It is rightly sized and priced.
Published 1 month ago by mohamed amer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing read great quality book
This is one of the most interesting most influential book that had ever been created. if you want a true look into the life of Malcolm X I would recommend that you read this novel. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Shelby
5.0 out of 5 stars
My View on the Autobiography of Malcolm X
I started reading this book not really knowing anything about Malcolm X. I didn't know what to expect. After reading through it, I'm left simply astonished by his life. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tina Dukes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
I was hoping to get the hardback but paper is fine. I lended my original version to a relative who completely destroyed it. I'm happy I have another copy. Great Read!
Published 2 months ago by Dorian Warner
5.0 out of 5 stars
MalcolmX / Alex Haley GREAT read!
Excellent book! Although, I didn't read much into the forward, the rest of the book, including Alex Haley's epilogue were outstanding!
Published 4 months ago by DTG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read this book and you will acquire knowledge you need as a human...
This book was recommended by my co-woker, and from when I picked up the book I was unable to drop it until I was done reading. Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Misses living somewhere, anywhere in the U.S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read!
When I began to read this book I could not put it down. It is always amazing to hear about historical figure's lives, but to hear it in their own voice without the bias of a third... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Shana Jackson
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