Rating: 
Summary: Martin Luther King's words are brought back to life.
Review: "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr." was a very inspirational piece of work. Clayborn Carson did an exceptional job at making MLK's words come back to life. At no time did I ever feel that someone other than MLK was speaking. The book takes you on the structured voyage of Dr. King's trials and tribulations as the strong leader that he was. I gave this book a 5 star rating and hope that anyone who gets a chance can enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Very happy
Review: All i have to say is trust this person, they were very nice and sent my book right away. im happy with them.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but more journal than biography
Review: Any book of the writings and reflections of one of the greatest writers and orators of our time can't go too wrong. Reading King's words in the context of what he was living at the time has to leave you inspired and awed. But, this is not biography, and I'm disappointed that Carson, the book's editor and the director of the King Papers Project, promotes it as one. Biography digs deep and is reflective, illuminating who and what influenced and shaped the character of the subject that ultimately made him or her worthy of biographical record. A journal, on the other hand, only provides insights from the moment, without the advantage of seeing things from the distance of time and in the context of ensuing events. This is a worthwhile read, but far from being a true biography.
Rating:
Summary: If Nothing Else
Review: As I sit here listening to Beethoven, it strikes me that MLK, like Beethoven, will be a man for all ages to come. Both have given the world a gift that we must cherish and always remember. Let me first say, that I too am glad that Dr. King did not sneeze. That would have been a loss of an unimaginable magnitude. The other reviewers of this book are on target. This is an extraordinary piece of literature that should be a must read for all students. I was midway through my seventh year when Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis. And although I remember the event it did not resonate fully with me until last year when I took a master's level Civil Rights course. Throughout my own formative years of primary, secondary, and post-secondary liberal arts education, none of my history or social studies courses concentrated on this era of American History. This is a sad commentary and an oversight that needs to change. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great man in American History and must be given the credit deserving of his greatness - the book, as articulated by the other reviewers, provides a comprehensive look into that greatness. It is my opinion that God was truly with this man as he undertook his overwhelming mission to obtain freedom and equality for a people so maligned by the majority. This book was so well-written that I even read the Editor's Acknowledgements. It is so well-written that one can easily become lost in time and simply continue to read chapter after chapter. I could go on, but will stop. I wish to thank Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her undying devotion to her husband and his work; to console her for her unfathomable loss thirty-five years ago, and for not only reviewing this book for accuracy before publication, but also to permit its publication so that Americans from all backgrounds may appreciate and learn.
Rating:
Summary: Immortal Beloved
Review: As I sit here listening to Beethoven, it strikes me that MLK, like Beethoven, will be a man for all ages to come. Both have given the world a gift that we must cherish and always remember. Let me first say, that I too am glad that Dr. King did not sneeze. That would have been a loss of an unimaginable magnitude. The other reviewers of this book are on target. This is an extraordinary piece of literature that should be a must read for all students. I was midway through my seventh year when Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis. And although I remember the event it did not resonate fully with me until last year when I took a master's level Civil Rights course. Throughout my own formative years of primary, secondary, and post-secondary liberal arts education, none of my history or social studies courses concentrated on this era of American History. This is a sad commentary and an oversight that needs to change. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great man in American History and must be given the credit deserving of his greatness - the book, as articulated by the other reviewers, provides a comprehensive look into that greatness. It is my opinion that God was truly with this man as he undertook his overwhelming mission to obtain freedom and equality for a people so maligned by the majority. This book was so well-written that I even read the Editor's Acknowledgements. It is so well-written that one can easily become lost in time and simply continue to read chapter after chapter. I could go on, but will stop. I wish to thank Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her undying devotion to her husband and his work; to console her for her unfathomable loss thirty-five years ago, and for not only reviewing this book for accuracy before publication, but also to permit its publication so that Americans from all backgrounds may appreciate and learn.
Rating:
Summary: A voice too long unheard
Review: As with A Knock At Midnight, purchasers of the audio book will fare best. For while the words themselves carry force, the voice of the man himself is stunning in its beauty and impact. There is no doubt this social leader was the 20th century's greatest orator. His message that the true leader is a molder of consensus rather than a follower is particularly important as we survey the political climate at the turn of the millennium.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful insight into Dr. King's philosophy
Review: Clayborne Carson has done a great job of combining MLK's writings and speeches into a single narrative that tells the story of King's life and the amazing impact he had on the U.S. civil rights movement. This is not Mr. Carson writing from the perspective of Dr. King; it's King's words almost verbatim, with relatively minor editorial changes to allow disparate writings to flow together into an autobiography that otherwise simply would not exist. Of course, as any autobiography would, this book only tells the story of the civil rights movement from a single perspective -- but in this case, that perspective gives truly unique insight into the philosophy that drove King every day of his life. And it's impossible not to be moved by King's last sermon, which ends with an inspiring, heart-wrenching foreshadowing of the fate that awaited him the very next day.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly conceived life of a brilliant man
Review: Dr. King has become such an American icon that it's easy to forget what a brilliant, passionate man he was. This "autobiography" will remind you. Clayborne Carson does a masterful job of weaving King's writings and speeches together into what serves as a credible autobiography but more importantly, as a chronicle of King's powerful oratory. I found the book an endless source of inspiration for me as a pacifist and believer in justice and equality for all. Here are the unforgettable words, not only of the "I Have A Dream Speech" and "The Letter From a Birmingham Jail" but other speeches and writings as well and the stories behind them. We are constantly reminded that King was both a determined and eloquent leader, who was the focal point of America's most succesful social movement. This is not only unique as an autobiography because it wasn't really written as such, but because it is such a rich source of wisdom and passion. It's a book to be read and kept handy. I'll be referring to it often and reading it again.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly conceived life of a brilliant man
Review: Dr. King has become such an American icon that it's easy to forget what a brilliant, passionate man he was. This "autobiography" will remind you. Clayborne Carson does a masterful job of weaving King's writings and speeches together into what serves as a credible autobiography but more importantly, as a chronicle of King's powerful oratory. I found the book an endless source of inspiration for me as a pacifist and believer in justice and equality for all. Here are the unforgettable words, not only of the "I Have A Dream Speech" and "The Letter From a Birmingham Jail" but other speeches and writings as well and the stories behind them. We are constantly reminded that King was both a determined and eloquent leader, who was the focal point of America's most succesful social movement. This is not only unique as an autobiography because it wasn't really written as such, but because it is such a rich source of wisdom and passion. It's a book to be read and kept handy. I'll be referring to it often and reading it again.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly conceived life of a brilliant man
Review: Dr. King has become such an American icon that it's easy to forget what a brilliant, passionate man he was. This "autobiography" will remind you. Clayborne Carson does a masterful job of weaving King's writings and speeches together into what serves as a credible autobiography but more importantly, as a chronicle of King's powerful oratory. I found the book an endless source of inspiration for me as a pacifist and believer in justice and equality for all. Here are the unforgettable words, not only of the "I Have A Dream Speech" and "The Letter From a Birmingham Jail" but other speeches and writings as well and the stories behind them. We are constantly reminded that King was both a determined and eloquent leader, who was the focal point of America's most succesful social movement. This is not only unique as an autobiography because it wasn't really written as such, but because it is such a rich source of wisdom and passion. It's a book to be read and kept handy. I'll be referring to it often and reading it again.
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