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S'està carregant… Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (1994 original; edició 1995)de Nelson Mandela (Autor)
Informació de l'obraLong Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela de Nelson Mandela (1994)
  
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 TraSea | Apr 29, 2024 |   (  ) rosienotrose | Jul 11, 2023 |  ) Kiramke | Jun 27, 2023 |  ) Wassilissa | Apr 2, 2023 | In the first half, I found his personal life more interesting than his work/political life. But the second half really picked up for me. I found his time as a prisoner the most interesting part of the book. He (and the other political prisoners) managed to continue to fight as much as they could from within the prison walls. He really was an amazing man, but sadly his family life suffered for everything he did for the people of South Africa. (  ) LibraryCin | Sep 17, 2022 |
 A Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela, is an autobiography that describes the South African anti-apartheid struggle from his point of view. In the book, Mandela talks about his childhood, time in prison, and his political and social life. Throughout this journey, you see the development of an international hero, and one of the largest moral and political leaders. He uses various quotes to pursue his meanings in a secretive way; while creating a larger impact. The book starts off with Mandela's childhood days and sketches out his family connections and his prospects if he had not become the father of the nation. Mandela's first step towards freedom was when he ran away to escape an arranged marriage. After his escape, his education life follows and his first trial to becoming an international hero. On pg. 24 of chapter 2, he says, “On the first day of school, my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name and said that from thenceforth that was the name we would answer to in school. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. The education I received was a British education, in which British ideas, British culture, British institutions, were automatically assumed to be superior. There was no such thing as African culture. Africans of my generation—and even today—generally have both an English and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it had something to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, but that would be only a guess.” Ever since his first day of school, he was already seen as “different”. They were taught all about British culture, and British institutions. Whites didn’t bother and try to pronounce his name. They also believed that Africans should have English names because their native names were uncivilized. This makes me wonder and feel amazed at how much society has changed in a positive manner. People now are much more united and significantly less ignorant. Later on in the story, Mandela talks in depth about his life in prison; it is both horrifying and edifying and it is during these chapters that the reader develops a strong empathy with the man. For example, on pg. 276 of chapter 61, he says, “ Prison is designed to break one's spirit and destroy one's resolve. To do this, the authorities attempt to exploit every weakness, demolish every initiative, negate all signs of individuality--all with the idea of stamping out that spark that makes each of us human and each of us who we are.” While prison is designed to break one’s spirit and destroy one’s resolve; Nelson didn’t let it get to him in his 27 years in prison. While I’ve never experienced something similar to this myself but I can imagine how authorities can try and demolish you mentally. This truly shows his colors; his spirit of compassion, forgiveness, inclusiveness, and ability to live by his principles that made him. In addition, the final parts of the book deal with his life after prison, politics and the dismantling of apartheid. It also deals with the elections, violence and how Mandela ultimately becomes President. For example, on pg. 127 of chapter 20, he says, “ Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”Education is what allows us to learn and grow. It is also what allows us to escape poverty. For instance, my parents came from Mexico to the U.S so I could get the chance to go to a university and live a better life than they did. Without education, no one would have the chance to better themselves, their families, or their future. In conclusion, A Long Walk to Freedom was truly a magnificent journey and a must read. Mandela’s journey and his hardships all convey the message of, “fight for what you believe is right” and Mandela did just that. Nelson Mandela is truly worthy of his title of an “international hero”. The wisdom, fortitude, strength, and humanity of Nelson Mandela radiated from every page. I felt very enriched after closing the last page of the book, but I also felt an immense sense of anger after the final page; I wanted more! The autobiography creates another layer of perspective; after reading it you can not look at things the same anymore and it creates an experience as if you were the one going through this journey. It was truly a long, long walk to freedom. PremisDistincionsLlistes notables
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 Google Books — S'està carregant…GèneresClassificació Decimal de Dewey (DDC)968.064092History and Geography Africa South Africa and southern Africa 1961- 1989- Biographies, Diaries And JournalsLCC (Clas. Bibl. Congrés EUA)ValoracióMitjana: (4.27)
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Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom
5
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
-Print: (Bib info from Amazon website: Hardcover) COPYRIGHT: December 12, 2013; ISBN-13: 978-1408703113; PUBLISHER: Little Brown Book Group; LENGTH: 784 pgs.
-Digital: (Bib info from Amazon website: Kindle) COPYRIGHT: March 11, 2008; PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition; FILE: 5750 KB; LENGTH: 684 pgs.
*Audio: (Info from Libby) COPYRIGHT: Released 17-July-2011; PUBLISHER: Hachette Audio; DURATION: (approx.) 28 hours; Unabridged (LAPL MP3)
Feature Film or tv: Yes. 2013 “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
SERIES: No.
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
-Selection: Something I’d read earlier had mentioned this book, reminding me that it was time I learned about Nelson Mandela.
-About: Nelson Mandela's life, from 18 July 1918 – publication of the book in 1995. Political conditions in South Africa; Nelson Mandela's philosophy and his vision of freedom and equality for all people in his country; The political organizations formed in resistance of apartheid and contention between them.
-Liked: I’d worried that this autobiography would be too graphic and brutal, but it does not focus excessively on the physical brutalities that prisoners suffer.
I’m happy to have gleaned a much greater understanding of the struggles of South Africans and the successes eventually won by their resistance to apartheid.
I liked learning that for decades Mandela refused to embrace violence, and then the eventual rationalization that possibly it could be a tool of last resort - but only the least grievous approach of destructive sabotage, rather than setting out to cause anyone bodily harm. My impression was that he himself (as opposed to his organization, the African National Congress (ANC)) only ever reached the training and planning stage before being incarcerated for 27 years. I liked too, that he admired Gandhi's approach of self-starvation; though he did not feel that it would have any effect in his own circumstances.
-Disliked: Nothing comes to mind. While this is a very long book, it kept my interest throughout.
-Overall: I feel better like I am finally a little educated about Africa, and am pleased to have developed deep admiration of Nelson Mandela
AUTHOR:
Nelson Mandela: “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (/mænˈdɛlə/;[1] Xhosa: [xolíɬaɬa mandɛ̂ːla]; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.” (__Wikipedia)
Richard Stengel (collaborator – assisted with editing, revising, writing): “Richard Allen Stengel (born May 2, 1955) is an American editor, author, and former government official.[1] He was Time magazine's 16th managing editor from 2006 to 2013.[2] He was also chief executive of the National Constitution Center from 2004 to 2006, and served as President Obama's Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2014 to 2016.[3][4][5] Stengel has written a number of books, including a collaboration with Nelson Mandela on Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.[6][7]
His 2019 book, Information Wars: How we Lost the Battle Against Disinformation and What to Do About It, recounts his time in the State Department countering Russian disinformation and ISIS propaganda.[8] In December of 2022, Audible released released Stengel's 10-part podcast, Mandela: The Lost Tapes, which uses more than 60 hours of taped interviews Stengel did with Mandela for Long Walk to Freedom.[9]” (__Wikipedia)
President Bill Clinton (forward): “William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992, and as attorney general of Arkansas from 1977 to 1979. A member of the Democratic Party, Clinton became known as a New Democrat, as many of his policies reflected a centrist "Third Way" political philosophy. He is the husband of Hillary Clinton, who was a U.S. senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, secretary of state from 2009 to 2013 and the Democratic nominee for president in the 2016 presidential election.” (__Wikipedia)
NARRATOR(S):
Michael Boatman: “Michael Patrick Boatman (born October 25, 1964) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his roles as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom Spin City, as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama series China Beach, as 101st Airborne soldier Motown in the Vietnam War movie Hamburger Hill, and as sports agent Stanley Babson in the HBO sitcom Arli$$. He also starred in The Good Fight, the Paramount spinoff of The Good Wife.” (__Wikipedia)
GENRE: Nonfiction; Biography; Politics; History; Autobiography
SUBJECTS: Politics; South Africa; Political resistance; Leaders; Foreign Relations; History; Margaret Thatcher; World Politics; Racial oppression; Nobel Piece Prize; African President; Anti-apartheid; Africaans
DEDICATION:
“I dedicate this book to my six children, Madiba and Makaziwe (my first daughter), who are now deceased, and to Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani, and Zindzi, whose support and love I treasure; to my twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who give me great pleasure; and to all my comrades, friends, and fellow South Africans whom I serve and whose courage, determination, and patriotism remain my source of inspiration.”
EXCERPT: (From Chapter 112)
“I used my speech in Norway not only to thank the Nobel committee and sketch out a vision of a future South Africa that was just and equitable, but to pay tribute to my fellow laureate, Mr. F. W. de Klerk.
He had the courage to admit that a terrible wrong had been done to our country and people through the imposition of the system of apartheid. He had the foresight to understand and accept that all the people of South Africa must, through negotiations and as equal participants in the process, together determine what they want to make of their future.
I was often asked how could I accept the award jointly with Mr. de Klerk after I had criticized him so severely. Although I would not take back my criticisms, I could say that he had made a genuine and indispensable contribution to the peace process. I never sought to undermine Mr. de Klerk, for the practical reason that the weaker he was, the weaker the negotiations process. To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one’s partner.”
RATING:
5 stars
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
6/08/23 to 6/19/23 (