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Summary: autobio review
Review: The autobiography of malcolm X is an amazing book. This book is most definitely for someone who loves to read autobiographies, or just anyone in particular I think everyone at some point in time should read this book because you can learn a lot. Especially because of the life Malcolm X lived. Although I thought this book was amazing there were parts that seemed to just be a lil unimportant to the point where I started loosing interest of the book, it could be because I have been reading the book for a long time and not reading it consistently that it seemed to make me unmotivated. But when I first picked up this book and started reading it I was completely unraveled, to the point where I didn't want to put the book down. Malcolm X had such an interesting life and the detail in which he recalls his life almost makes you feel like the events which happened in his life happened to you. When he recapped his fathers death I was completely shocked and horrified I was just imagining myself as Malcolm. The things that Malcolm realized in his lifetime is amazing and to go from one spectrum of life to doing a total 360 and managing to go to another spectrum continues to amaze me. That even the badest of the bad can still change and I found that to be interesting. This book continues to amaze me because while reading this book I found insight into my own life and it made me realized the different characteristics I have and I would have never thought that I had something in common with Malcolm X if I didn't read this book, I personally think that there is a little Malcolm in all of us.
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Summary: An important political and spiritual autobiography
Review: "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is, in my opinion, one of the essential American life stories. This is Malcolm's life in his own words, as told to Alex Haley (who also wrote a lengthy epilogue to the book). This book is a powerful narrative with a truly epic sweep.The book opens in Omaha, Nebraska, with Malcolm's family being terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan. Malcolm goes on to describe his entry into the seedy New York underworld, and his career as a burglar and illegal drug dealer. After being convicted and imprisoned, he is converted to the pseudo-Islamic sect led by the charismatic Elijah Muhammad. The rest of the book details Malcolm's ultimate disillusionment with the so-called "Black Muslim" sect and his turn towards a more orthodox form of Islam. This book is many things: a political manifesto, a record of spiritual awakening, an intellectual autobiography, and more. I was particularly fascinated by Malcolm's descriptions of the beliefs of the Black Muslim sect, and of his own education via a well-stocked prison library. Ultimately, Malcolm adopts a worldview that transcends racial prejudice and hatred. At times, Malcolm engages in ranting that seems to distract from the overall lucidity of his narrative. In particular, he often expresses anger towards other African-Americans: "Bishop Chickenwings" (his name for certain black Christian ministers), "so-called intellectuals," "black Ph.D. puppets," and "fancy bourgeois Negroes." But such invective should, I believe, be read in proper historical context. Overall, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is a powerful, and even inspirational, narrative. For those interested in African-American history or American religious history, this is a vital text.
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Summary: An Enlightening Read
Review: Although The Autobiography of Malcolm X is not in its entirety an autobiography, it does serve its greater purpose in exacting the preconceived, or rather ill conceived notions regarding, you guessed it, Malcolm X. He was not the hate monger both blacks and whites believed him to be, but was a self actualizing human being, in search of both truth and understanding. One thing you must understand is that all he knew, prior to his visitation to the East, was institutionalized racism executed by a white ruling class, and a life of pain because of it. "it isn't the American white man who is racist, but it's the American political, economic, and social atmosphere that automatically nourishes racist psychology in the white man" (p. 378).
As Americans we are all afflicted by a history of hatred, and of racism. Where institutionalized racism has succeeded in tearing us apart, whether it is separating the impoverished (black and white), from the middle class (black and white), or black from white, we must succeed in, as we are all responsible, destroying the social constructs, such as race which have left us in a world of trouble. I urge those who care about the future of America, and the world at large to pick up this book, even if only for the nineteenth chapter.
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Summary: Truth
Review: Before I began reading this book, the only things I knew of Malcolm X was his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, but after reading this book, I realized that there was much more to this man than what I have learned in history class. Alex Haley did a tremendous job of of putting together this book and letting the reader inside the mind of one of the most influential people in the 20th Century. By reading throught these pages, you can almost see yourself next to Malcolm as he describes his life, from growing up in Michigan, living in Boston, and New York, and of his transformation in prison, from being a hustler and a burglar, to becoming ELijah Muhammad's most prominent Muslim. From there you go on to see Malcolm's growth as a person when he travels to Mecca and throughout the African and Middle Eastern Continent. This book is a must read for all people because Malcolm message is meant for every person, regardless of race, nation, or creed.
"I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color."
Malcolm X.
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Summary: Autobiography of Malcolm X Review
Review: Before I read this book, I thought it was going to be as good as everyone who'd read it told me it would be. To be honest, after reading, I was somewhat dissapointed. It was an excellent book, no question. But it carried on and there were repetative parts and very boring parts, expescially the epilouge. When I got to the end of the last chapter, I wanted to be finished reading. But I had to slog through the boring epilouge, which was mostly just what the author felt about writing the book. You'd think this would be interesting. But no. It was very boring. I read to the end, but it was tedious reading that I think I could have gone without.
However, despite the boring parts, Malcolm X was an inspiring book. It opened my eyes to his world, and let me understand his side of the story. Even though I didn't grow up in the times when racism was such a huge issue, it is still a fairly big problem in the time I am growing up in, and the book helped me to better understand how the African-American people felt about racism.
At first I didn't agree when Malcolm X was completely and utterly against the white man, and thought they were all devils. But then when he went to Mecca and his entire life turned around and he learned that color does NOT make the person, the actions make the person, that was a real eye-opener for him, and me. I mean, I usually don't catagorize races into sterotypes, but here in America, there is still a huge race problem. We make and see sterotypes everyday, and they arn't true. In most other countries, race goes unnoticed. There is no race problem. No matter color of your skin, everyone is united under one God. Religion basically solves the race issue, but that's not always the best way for things to work, because there are also religious conflicts.
Overall, the novel was extreamly inspiring and very good, it made me think and see in a whole new light, and really opened my eyes to the often unheard side of the race issue. At times it even made me hate myself, even though I know that I am not racist. It made me look at America, as I always have, in a disgusted way, thinking, "Why are we one of the few countries where race has to become an issue?" Why do we create these stereotypes? Basically, I think, "Why do I have to live in a country where there are so many horrible problems that shouldn't matter in the first place?"
I definitely reccomend that you read at least half of this book before you die. At times it gets extreamly boring, but at other times it is riveting and you just want to keep reading, until you come to another boring part. You will not regret reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
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Summary: Great book about a great man
Review: Biographies are fascinating works of literature. A good biography is a window into someone's life, as well as what they stood for and who they represented. Malcolm X's Autobiography is no exception. Flawlessly rendered by Alex Haley, it documents the truly amazing life of one of Black America's foremost freedom fighters. Malcolm's intelligence and convictions are apparent through the whole book, from his retrospective look at his childhood years to the present. What is most fascinating about his life are the changes he went through. He started out at the bottom of society, the starving son of a rape-child and a preacher murdered by whites. He went through a brief period at a reform school, then moved to Boston and fell in love with city life. He lived a life of crime in the Harlem streets until he was caught one day, and thrown into prison. There, he studied like a college student and was converted to Islam by his family. He became the Nation of Islam's most devoted speaker, truly believing that the white race was devilish by nature. It was not until after his pilgrimage to Mecca that he realized the possibility of all races living together without conflict. Malcolm X's brutal honesty, talent, and intelligence were complimented by his complete devotion to his cause and his religion. Malcolm was not afraid to reveal the disturbing truths about the hypocritical white "puppeteers" who control many black people, from the educated to those living in the ghetto. His humility and his true hope for American society remains powerful: "I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America-then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine." He has not died in vain. This book is an essential perspective into the Afro-American struggle for true liberty and justice, which continues through today.
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Summary: This is incredible.
Review: I have only one thing to say about this book: Wow, what an amazing life-story. Anyone who reads this book will be changed in some way. Buy it.
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Summary: AWESOME BOOK!
Review: I needn't go on and on about what a great book this is. It simply is.
From the moment I layed eyes on the introduction, I was immediately sucked in and wanted to know more about this great man and his contributions to the civil rights movement. Malcolm X is an individual they mention in public schools, but fail to expound upon given his so-called violent attitude while serving the Nation of Islam. This is a crime, ladies and gentlemen!
This book also inspired me to pursue other great works of African-American literature. So I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to be set on the path.
Enjoy!
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Summary: Absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!!!!
Review: I read this book years ago & sill reread captions of it from time to time. When I first started, it was difficult to put down, I couldn't wait to hear what happened next! The absolute best book & autobiography I've ever read in my life!!! An enlightening look into the life of the most brilliant, progressive, strong, influential & misunderstood leader the world has ever seen! Did more for the human rights revolution than any other African-American in history! A must read for all cultures, should be mandatory reading in schools. Paints vividly the hopelessness, despair & pain of poverty & living in the ghetto as an African-American in the wealthiest nation on earth & how one can remake themselves just by 1 idea, thought or decision! Also, reveals a glimmer of truth about Elijah Muhammad & his motives. (there are other sources that go into more detail specifically concerning that)Portrays how 1 man's tireless & selfless efforts to liberate & educate a nation & then have some of the very people he's helping abandon, betray & ultimately kill him. Put this true story of the evolution of a revolutonary and the american dream on your To DO list & get it now!
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Summary: The greatest autobiography I have ever read
Review: In this uncompromising and surging autobiography, Malcolm X, one of the most fascinating and charismatic African Americans of the twentieth century, tells the story of his tumultuous life. He recounts how, from his horrific childhood through to his numerous robberies that eventually landed him in jail, he found solace in Islam which led him to become the prominent speaker of one of the most controversial groups of its time - The Black Muslims.
I read this along with Martin Luther King's autobiography (which anybody who wants to get a true understanding of the two conflicting black philosophies of the time should do), and while I was more in agreement with King's method and message, I found Malcolm X a much more interesting and charismatic personality, and his autobiography more enjoyable. What makes him even more interesting is the way his views altered toward the end of his life and leaned more toward King's.
The book is an easy read and the pages seem to fly by. The book finishes just a few months before his assassination, so unlike most autobiographies, Malcolm X's continues right up until the end of his life.
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