Rating: 
Summary: You can only revel in the presence of such humility!!!
Review: A superbly written biography, with enough details that allows the reader to get to know and understand the man without been long drawn. Mr Mandela's wit, honesty and humility warms the heart and promises hope for the relief of the suffering "man".
Rating: 
Summary: THE DETERMINATION OF ONE MAN- A MUST READ!
Review: After reading LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, I came away with a sense of awe for a man who spent 27 years in prison but never gave up the hope for his freedom and the freedom of his country.
Communicating was key to keeping the "freedom fighters" on the outside informed and encouraged. One way this was done was to write in tiny, coded script on toilet paper. The paper was so small and easily hidden that this became a popular way of smuggling out messages. When the authorities discovered a number of these communications, they took the extraordinary measure of rationing toilet paper. After awhile, only eight squares of toilet paper were given to each prisoner each day.To live under such conditions where you can be so isolated from the world (For 27 years), that you contemplate conversing with a cockroach, is a test of the human spirit. To sacrifice the obligations of family so that a nation of people can breath in freedom is nothing short of courageous with a fiercely determined spirit. Here is what Nelson Mandela writes about in his struggle for family and nation: I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father, and a husband. In that way, my commitment to my people, to the millions of South Africans I would never know or meet, was at the expense of the people I knew best and loved most. It was as simple and yet as incomprehensible as the moment a small child asks her father, "Why can you not be with us?" And the father must utter the terrible words: "There are other children like you, a great many of them....." and then one's voice trails off. Nelson Mandela is a man that has a spirit and determination that is above and beyond most people or leaders today. READ THE BOOK!! It will open your eyes and in the end, it'll make you feel good about the human spirit.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: Here is a man who fought his entire life for the freedom of his people, including 27 years in prison. An inspiring story that I didn't know much about until I read this book. A little long and detailed, but I definitely have a greater appreciation for this man and his struggle. If you don't know the story of Nelson Mandela, you should read this book!
Rating:
Summary: South Africa's Mahatma Gandhi
Review: I read this book with consistent pleasure and mounting respect. My gravest concern, now, is that this great man, Mandela, who is very aged, may soon pass away. What wisdom and compassion and commitment will pass away with him! This is a fine book about a great man of our times and I strongly endorse it to all readers.
Rating:
Summary: Rise above hatred
Review: I was impressed by the author's struggle against apartheid, but I was more impressed by his struggle to rise above hatred. His vision for the future of South Africa included freeing the South African people of color from opression and freeing the white South Africans from fear. Paraphrasing Bishop Tutu: Nelson Mandela is perhaps the icon of forgiveness. His generosity of spirit was inspiring and the history was fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the length
Review: I was required to read Long Walk to Freedom for a class in school. I had heard from students who were previously required to read the book that it was too long, and very bad. I did not go into this book with high expectations, which made Long Walk to Freedom a pleasant surprise. Written by Nelson Mandela over the course of several years, beginning with a first draft written in prison (which was lost to authorities), the book covers each stage of Nelson's life. Beginning with his early childhood in an African tribe, through his education and career as one of the first black lawyers of Africa, and eventually his decision to join the famed political party, the African National Congress, where Nelson began his struggle for equal rights for his people. From there Nelson goes on to describe his life fighting for the freedom of the native people of Africa. Harassed and 'banned' by the authorities for his actions, Mr. Mandela's struggle is not an easy one. He would be put on trial three separate times for crimes stemming from his political views, his third trial landing him a life sentence. But with Nelson's natural resiliency in bad situations, and nations all over the world calling for his release, he did not fear spending the rest of his life in prison. His years spent in prison would be long and hard, but he knew upon his release that the long walk to freedom would near an end. The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela is written well, and its length is not of issue, especially when taking into account how expansive the story of his life really is. The pacing of the story is actually very well done, years are written away in a few pages without anything seeming to be missed. In my opinion, even if this book had the worst writing of any novel, it would still be worth reading; its story holds so much importance and teaches so much about so many aspects of life, that it would lose nothing. Long Walk to Freedom leaves one feeling refreshed; if the racist policies of the government of an entire nation can be taken down by a group of common citizens, perhaps there is hope for reform in any nation that is going through a period of strife.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Long Walk Indeed.
Review: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela is in no way an adventurous book, but it is one of the most inspirational and motivating books ever. Since the book's release in February of 1990, Nelson Mandela has been referred to as the most significant moral leader since Gandhi. Long Walk to Freedom describes Mandela's incredible life. Nelson's childhood was a tribal one, as he grew up a foster son to a Thembu chief. Mandela was interested in law, but his growing political life moved him to become more actively engaged in the formation of the ANC Youth League. In 1964 Nelson was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment on the charges of sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy against the South African regime. Mandela for the next 27 years was imprisoned at Robben Island. After getting out of prison, Mandela was years behind the rest of the world, but that didn't stop him from being the savior of his people. Many of the concepts and terms in this book were hard to understand. After going over them a few times though, things started to make sense to me and all of his thoughts and experiences became one big lesson. Mandela had many stories about his imprisonment that could have been left out, but how he was imprisoned doing mindless things and at the same time starting one of the greatest activist groups ever was just amazing. Mandela never did really lose sight of his ultimate goal. It wasn't till I picked up Nelson Mandela's book that I really found out what went on, and what he went though to free his people. Long Walk to Freedom is a really long walk indeed, but I recommend this book to anyone because it is a walk that everyone should take.
Rating:
Summary: "Should be read by every person alive"
Review: The Boston Globe wrote that this book "should be read by every person alive" and I wholeheartedly agree. Mandela is an excellent writer, and his story is an amazing demonstration of perseverance and forgiveness. His reliance on simple values-- truth, the importance of listening, dignity-- reveal how tragically far societies can stray from the basic principles they should be safeguarding.
Read this book, and pass it on (and don't be intimidated by the 600 or so pages). We should all listen to Mandela's lessons.
Rating:
Summary: Enormously impressive
Review: This book is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, one of the true heroes of our times. The book was largely written during his imprisonment on Robben Island and describes his development from an average student to one of the world's most respected leaders. It gives important insights into the decisions he made and had to make both as a human being and as a political leader.
Mr. Mandela's biggest accomplishment is of course his ability to return from a 27-year imprisonment mentally unbroken and without an overwhelming feeling of revenge, a truly superhuman accomplishment in the view of all the actions the white minority government undertook to make his life miserable. The common denominator in all his actions is a very highly developed sense of justice: from his decision to study law to his rise through the ranks of the ANC. Even the decision to revert from peaceful action to armed guerilla combat becomes understandable. A truly important book, which is, after a rather tough beginning, a very smooth and entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: LOOOOONG Book
Review: This book kept me in prison for a long time. It really bogs down in the middle and then hurries to wrap up. It's a much more "satifying" read in the first 1/3 of the book.
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