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Summary: Before there were Buppies, there was Poitier
Review: I knew of Sidney Poitier, but always saw him as a clean cut Buppie. In listening to the audiotape, it was like he was sitting in my home discussing his life story with me. The first 10 years of his life shaped a level of pride and self respect that is seldom seen among African-Americans of any age. His back bone lead to a string of movies where he was able to show the rest of America that black men are three dimensional beings that just happen to be black. Without his portrayal of men of dignity, the the black movement in the 50's, 60's and early 70's, would of been delayed by many, many years. Those of us that remember when TV and Movies were less colorful, will appreciate this work on a deeply emotional level. This is one of the most emotional and educational tapes that I have the pleasure to experience. A must read, or better yet, listen.
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Summary: A Valuable Discourse
Review: I, being a good little white boy, knew little about Sidney, but felt respect for him as an actor due, in part, to my discovery of "The Defiant Ones" as a child. (The movie is a powerful work about racism, and I loved it.) This spiritual autobiography is not a judgmental, squeaky-clean depiction of walking with God, nor is it an in-depth detour into the tribal religions that were available to Sidney as a child in the Bahamas...This book is a open-hearted view of the circumstances and, more importantly, the values that guided Sidney Poitier to the pinnacle of acting. He candidly discusses his failures as husband and father; he speaks lovingly of the example his parents gave him, and; he shows the power of holding to your integrity no matter what the cost. By holding to this integrity, Sidney lost some opportunities and also gained respect from the white community, while facing ridicule as a "sell-out" from his own community. What stands out in his story, though, is his desire to bring these communities together with respect, refusing to be dragged down by the bigotries and angers of either side. He speaks powerfully of the value of focusing anger in a positive way. Mr. Poitier writes in an eloquent, yet communicative style. At times, it borders on unfocused rambling, but even then it has good things to say. I recommend this book as a discourse on never giving up on your goals and reaching beyond yourself to be who you were truly created to be. Thanks, Sidney, for your time.
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Summary: He won me over...
Review: Let's see, I started out asking, am I a Sidney Poiter fan or not? I'm not sure. Some of his work has always left me a little on edge, unfomfortable...is this the strong, independent image of a black man that I've wanted to see on the screen and at the podiums at all of those awards banquets where I've watched Sidney all these years? Was his smile and demeanor just a little too reminiscent of the old day's actors' smiles...the ones they had to put on or face obscurity? "We build da chappel...I build da chappel". Well, I had to respect his many great and worthy accomplishments, his ability to survive the slings and arrows all blacks suffer who put themselves on the line..and that dignity of his. What is the source of this dignity and courage? Why and how does he generate such respect from every single person of every single race, power stratum, whom his life has ever touched? I thought I'd discover this phenomenon for myself, so I read this autobiography. I was surprised, right away, that this really is more than an autobiography, it is an inside look at a spiritual quest, a confirmation of one man's life. Why are we here? Is impending oblivion important to our faith? Must we make a personal "sense" out of a senseless universe? Is God benevolent, or does he revel in the clash of competing opposites? Does talent, like spirit, defy extermination even through death? Are we the sum total of our ancestors? And what is the role of quality in our lives, and is there any other purpose for us? Sidney answers none of these questions for you and tells you defiantly, in your face, that he is not going to and can not. He calls life like he sees it with no condescension whatsoever. He tells you and makes you know he is as flawed as you are. His painful rememberences about his daughters and the small amount of time he was allowed with them and yet how he was there for every second the law allowed will touch you and remind you about responsibility. A great and inspiring read. Yes, I'm a fan of Sidney's, because I know myself better now and he is me.
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Summary: Poitier's life, recounted with charm
Review: Sidney Poitier's autobiographical memoir is written with considerable charm and grace. There are a few mild epithets besprent throughout his prose, as if to remind us that Mr Poitier is not the Archbishop of Westminster. But he can tell a story, paint a scene with painterly skill, and fascinate his readers by speaking to them plainly, conversationally, frequently asking "you know?" or "you follow?" after he describes an event or puts forth a proposition about the human condition. We learn of Poitier's childhood in the Bahamas, the first ten years spent in the almost Edenic climate of Cat Island; we learn about his struggles in late adolescence, coming to the USA, encountering situations where the goodwill of others was not always conspicuous; we learn of his early career as an actor in New York City; we learn of harsh winters endured, of hard work that paid off. Poitier wishes ardently to convey the value of being true to one's convictions in the face of arduous and hostile circumstances; the dominant note of "Measure" is one of thanksgiving (to his parents and friends, especially), not of complaint. Of course, there are moments when a justifiable anger surfaces; over his treatment in an Atlanta restaurant in 1955, to cite one example. There are behind-the-scenes glances at many of his major films, not as in-depth as many readers might prefer, perhaps; but there is memorable advice given to Poitier by the actor/director John Cassavetes, and there is also the story of cast conflict in the theatrical production of "A Raisin in the Sun." We get glimpses of the revered cinematic duo Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn -- and Poitier's comments here are illuminating and sharp. Unless we misread him, it was the ultraprogressive Hepburn who treated him with a certain hauteur, and the politically noncommittal Spencer Tracy who was more the regular guy. Speaking of ultraprogressivism, there are paragraphs in Poitier's book which praise Paul Robeson as being "a stand-up guy on the issue of race," but Poitier would have his reader believe that the overtly pro-Soviet Robeson came under the scrutiny of the US government solely because of his advocacy of civil rights for African-Americans. It should neither surprise nor appal Poitier's readers that Robeson, the recipient of the 1952 Stalin Peace Prize, was regarded with suspicion by the Cold War American government. But here again, we see Poitier's loyalty to his friends. As for the subtitle of the memoir, hinting at an exploration of Mr Poitier's spirituality, it's very subtle: there was the casual Anglo-Catholicism of his childhood in the Bahamas, and the common belief on his island of "unseen forces" governing human affairs, forces not definable by theologians. If Poitier's own spirituality can be defined, it consists of a vigorous belief in the work ethic as exemplified by his tireless parents; a belief in liberality on the personal level (and, alas, leftism on the political level); a laudably fierce assertiveness when it comes to self-defense and defense of one's family; and a dogmatic fluidity that admits: the more we know, the less we know. There are political prescriptions in the seventh chapter which will resonate better with some readers than with others (he seems to favor affirmative action remaining in place until his grandchildren's grandchildren are in their eighties), but even persons whose political views do not coincide with Sidney Poitier's should be able to find in "The Measure of a Man" ample evidence of grace, of good cheer, of bravery, and many other admirable qualities.
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Summary: A picture of a man of truth, passion, and balance
Review: Sidney Poitier's The Measure Of A Man is the autobiography of the only black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in "Lilies of the Field" in 1963. He is also the thirty-sixth recipient of the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award for his outstanding career and humanitarian accomplishments. In The Measure Of A Man, a complete and unabridged eight-hour, 6 cassette audiobook edition narrated by Poitier, we are presented with the elements of his character and personal values that are key to his international renown both professionally and personally. His introspective examination of what the life experiences which informed his performances we are gifted with a picture of a man of truth, passion, balance, and a triumph of the spirit over a multitude of hardships and obstacles. Flawlessly produced and performed, The Measure Of A Man is "must" listening for all Sidney Poitier fans.
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Summary: Mr. Poitier's Life... or YOURS?
Review: This is not the typical "memoir" that many readers in this "tell all" age now expect. Yes, Mr. Poitier holds back and deliberately keeps many details of his personal experience out of the picture here. What he does, is to selectively draw upon those aspects of his life that somehow manage to inform and enlighten on the transcendent meaning of life that we ALL struggle for, that we ALL must be responsible for creating. You cannot read his words without bringing them to bear on your own life in some profound way (that goes for women readers too). It is in this sense, that the autobiography is deemed "spiritual." (Don't expect "saved by Jesus," "visited by angels", or other such accounts here -- the spirituality grows from confronting life's challenges on many fronts). Poitier begins his book by describing an experience so symbolic of our meaning-starved times: surfing through TV channels with a remote: "This vast sophisticted technology and... nothing. It's given me not one smidgen of pleasure. It's informed me of nothing beyond my own ignorance and own frailties (p. 1)" He then goes on to describe how, in order to become the man that he is today, he had to go out and find his personal meaning, find a craft that he could commit to, channel rage into forgiveness, and know what it means to "take his measure." His language is deceptively simple. Seemingly blunt assertions are, upon reflection, just oozing with profundity. Just "listen" to him wind down at book's end: "Human life is a highly imperfect system, filled with subordinate imperfections all the way down. The only thing we know for sure is that in another eight billion years it will all be over. Our sun will have spent itself; and the day it expires, you'll hear the crunch all over the solar system, because then everything will turn to absolute zero... But you can't live focused on that. You can't hang on that... (p.242)." So what does the reader hang on to here? The creation of a life that matters... helped along by one who really did succeed in this quest. Sidney Poitier is putting elements of his life onto the table so that you and I can learn from them, see how one indiviudal life can say a lot about the bigger LIFE. Finally, I must say that the writing style has a real flow to it, and it moves along with a rythm that is punctuated by the "pop! pop! pop!" of one searing insight after another. I teach college sociology, and am going to use this book as required reading. I wish it were required in all high schools. So many students today are searching for meaning, but finding that our culture lets them down with false promises of consumerism and diversion. This book will, I'm sure, help point many of them in the right direction. But, of course, it's a book for everyone. Very inspiring, the kind of book you'll want to turn back to -- especially when the sailing gets rough.
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Summary: Disappointed in Poitiers writing
Review: I love all of Sydney Poitier's movies and adore the man but was somewhat disappointed with the book. Yes, he led an interesting life and I enjoyed reading about the making of the movies but saw no need for him to use foul language. I always thought of Mr. Poitier as very eloquent, not so in this book. He speaks in the book as if he were talking to a friend at the bar. I remember seeing him on t.v. in the 60's during an outside interview where he was sitting at a long table and there were many reporters asking questions at once. They mostly asked questions about the civil rights movements instead of what they were there for and Mr. Poitier finally got angry and said to them something to the effect of "I am not ONLY a black man, I am an intelligent man, I am an educated man, I am a family man, a friend, father etc.....so please stop talking to me as if the only opinions I could possibly hold are on the subject of race relations. If you are not going to ask me questions on the subject we are here to speak about, then I shall leave" It was the most eloquent speech I ever heard and what I expected when I read the book, so in that sense I was disappointed. He seemed to me in the book to be not as self-assured as he comes off in his movies and public appearances such as on Oprah. I also would have liked to hear more about his first marriage and why exactly he couldn't stick with it beside the fact that he fell in love with his second wife. I still adore the man though.
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Summary: A delightful read!
Review: I borrowed this book from the local library not knowing what to expect, and liked it so much that I just bought a copy of my own. As a former caribbean native the wonderful stories about his childhood growing up on Cat island in the Bahamas brought back many fond memories of my own. Mr Poitier's writings are like that of a beloved grandfather telling stories about his life. And such an eventful life he's lead! Rather then letting the times he lived in limit him as an actor and human being, he found ways to go around and rise above the segragation and regulations that were imposed on colored people in those early days of his career. I hope he'll find a way to realize his dream of a one-man-show on broadway! A fun and inspirational read!
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Summary: Total Disappointment
Review: I didn't find any "spiritual" revelations in this book. There are many four letter words that I wouldn't expect to find in a "spiritual" book. He only skirted on his early years and hardships as a child. Poitier has been one of my idols. I have seen every movie mentioned in the book. I liked him much better before I read the autobiography. I bought it because it was Oprah's suggested reading. I would say "save your money" and enjoy him as the actor he is.
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Summary: Bad!
Review: This is an unusual review since my wife is just finishing the book and I barely looked at it ... however I was surprised to hear her constant complaining about this particular book. My wife reads constantly, and either says that the book is good, bad or middling, but basically doesn't comment much until the end. With this book, she has constantly commented that her much admired Sidney Poitier has done himself a disservice by writing this tripe. She has told me that it is full of unnecessary expletives, rage, and describes how Sidney Poitier believes that he is victimized for being black. He also describes himself as an African American, a strange statement for a Bahamian. I guess we could all call ourselves African Americans if we go back far enough. In one instance, she illustrated how a paragraph was repeated and not caught by the editor. I wonder if anybody actually read it before publishing? Anyway, if you are thinking of buying the book - don't but give the money to your favorite charity. It'll do more good.
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