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Alex Haley & Malcolm X's the Autobiography of Malcolm X (Bloom's Notes)

Alex Haley & Malcolm X's the Autobiography of Malcolm X (Bloom's Notes)

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: A powerful black man expressing himself through the written word.
Is there anything else that needs to be said??

GOD BLESS,

Tamara

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "It was good but it could of been better!"
Review: The Autobiography of Malcolm X was one of the greatest "stories" ever told. But I tend to agree with a previous reviewer, saying that you can save your time by just seeing the movie. I'm more of a movie person anyway, but if you were to experience them both I think you would feel the same. The book wasn't all that bad; it got into depth about his early life as a numbers running thug, to his imprisonment for burglary, to his conversion to the nation of Islam. But the movie had much more to offer mentally and emotionally. The movie gave off a vibe that would make anyone an admirer of Malcolm X. I think Spike Lee directed the movie perfectly and Denzel Washington played Malcolm's part perfect. But I personally wouldn't recommend anyone to spend days and days reading this book if you have the opportunity to see the movie. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Disturbing - rightly so?
Review: The disturbing, thought-provoking autobiography of one of the most influential American black leaders of the 1960s. The book essentially comprises four sections -

1. Alex Haley's long introduction, describing the events leading up to Malcolm X's death;

2. Malcolm X's description of his childhood and youth, which were marred by social deprivation, racial intolerance, the violent death of his father, and his descent into the criminal underworld;

3. Malcolm X's account of how he built his Muslim faith via Elijah Muhammad, and his consequent work with and split from the Nation of Islam;

4. Malcolm X's Hajj to Mecca and the effect that had on his views.

Being white, non-American and non-Muslim, of course this book was difficult for me to appreciate in full. Nonetheless, I found it to be at times a very unsettling read, as no doubt it was meant to be. The descriptions of Malcolm X's childhood and youth give an insight into small-town intolerance and the shady nether-world of the big cities (especially of the hypocritical "respectable" whites who sought black people for sexual favors, yet wouldn't be seen anywhere near a black person in a "normal" social context).

The account of Malcolm X's conversion to Islam and the growth of the Nation of Islam was the most difficult part for me. Notwithstanding Malcolm X's arguments to the contrary, I consider that his view that "all whites are devils" was pure reverse-racism. To state that he was referring to whites as a whole, not as individuals, was disingenuous, and directly contradicted by both his own constant referral to individual whites in those terms, and by the shift in his views after the Hajj. Trotting out a cocktail of genetic/racist/religious intolerance is symptomatic of the worst and most destructive parts of human history in the twentieth century - it should be challenged from whathever source it comes, as it offers no positive future. Added to which, I find the "my-God-is-bigger-and-better-than-your-God" argument utterly demeaning.

To be fair, Malcolm X ends the book on a hopeful note. He did pause to reflect upon his experiences in Saudi Arabia and challenged his own beliefs. His view that we should all work for non-racist societies, unfortunately, still remains a vision rather than a reality. Surely Malcolm X was right in his consistent point that there must be a re-learning and re-contextualisation of world history, and of the need for a greater awareness that the socio-economic power of the West also brings with it great obligations to use that power fairly and contructively.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: inspiring but quite sad
Review: This has got to be the best book I have read ever. I am sure that most may have picked it up OR maybe had to read a chapter or two for school, however it behooves you to fully read this book. I was literally moved to tears toward the end of the book, Malcolm X was a true martyr, that was very misunderstood. He cared so much about African-Americans and oppressed people in general that is cost him his life. Beautifully written, I urge all Americans to read this book and learn about a true America- born hero.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: lifechanaging
Review: That work by Malcolm X and Alex Haley absolutely fascinated me. First it gives you a deeper insight of the life and thinking of Malcolm X, who the most people out of arrogance and unknowledge always connect with racism and violence. Second it also lets you think about our society and ourselves. I think it really changed me and I can only recommend it to everybody. Also I really admire Haley who did a great job with the edition!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of The Greatest Books Ever Written!
Review: This book is a historical, sociological, psychological, theological, political, cultural, and biographical treasure! Alex Haley, together with the assistance of Malcolm X, put ink to paper and brought one of the greatest leaders who ever lived to life in book form. This is extremely important because it allows people --no matter how far removed by time and space-- to get a deep understanding of a complex man facing complex situations in difficult times. "The Autobiography Of Malcolm X" traces Malcolm's life from his early days in the midwest as Malcolm Little, to his street running days on the East Coast as "Detroit Red," to his time in prison and his subsequent growth through Islam into the great leader known as Malcolm X, to his eventual cowardly murder. The book is so well written that it's extremely hard to put down once picked up! The story of Malcolm X is a powerfully gripping one! Throughout Malcolm faces one adverse situation after another: The murder of his father, a strained family life, the break-up of his family, struggling with systemic racism, his descent into criminal life, prison time, fighting against America's apartheid system after joining the Nation of Islam, dealing with jealousy inside the Nation, his eventual split with Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam, government harassment, and finally his murder by dogs. This book is truly a great piece of work, going into the very soul of Malcolm! His story simply couldn't have been told any better. "The Autobiography Of Malcolm X" should be required reading in all American secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I respectfully request that you read this book.
Review: The prospect of writing a review of this book is overwhelming and humbling, despite my having read it seven times. So all I will say, at risk of sounding overly dramatic and vague, is that this book changed my life when I first read it in college. I feel that this effect was a result of neither it's powerful political and social messages nor it's uniformly gripping and engaging stories of Malcolm's historic life and tragic death. I think it was more accurately because Malcolm X's story somehow made me think- it forced me to think, not just about issues of race but well beyond this realm. It made me think more, and it made me think differently, and this effect was more in form than in content. Among the few the books I have read that had this effect, this is the one I would point out first. For this and many other reasons, I greatly admire Malcolm X, as well as anyone who takes the time to read this book with an open mind.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An insight into a hero
Review: I love this book not only because Malcolm X was a fascinating person but because it gives the reader a true insight into the man. Many other autobiographies I have read have seemed a little false at times but this one doesn't. It represents the personality of the man behind the book and allows the reader to glimpse his strengths and weaknesses. I think any person could enjoy and learn from this book regardless of their opinion of Malcolm X and the movements that he represented.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Malcolm told the truth: like him or not
Review: It's an awesome book. It's amazing, the things that Malcolm X said in this book more than 30 years ago are still with us. And to think, someone said them before him and so-on-and-so-on. What is my point, my point is: we are still living in a racist society: AMERICA 2001

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: See the Movie
Review: Looking back, after reading this book, I notice that Malcolm X was a very interesting man with a very interesting life. However, the book itself is definitely not thrilling, it's long, it drags on, and there are many unneeded things. Malcolm X had a controversial, but interesting life, but you could easily learn about it by watching the movie while saving a BUNCH of time.


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