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Dec 16, 2009

Daniel rated it:

This book is in my Top 5 of all time.

Oh yeah, I'm a white guy from Tennessee.

Before reading this, I knew very little about Malcolm X. I knew very little about the black-revolution of the 50's and 60's peroid. I was like Chris Rock says in one of his stand-up acts: when it comes to black history, the only answer I knew to anything was "Martin Luther King".

But not only is this book an eye-opening account of the racial divide of that time, it's an ope More...

3 comments like (53 people liked it)

Mar 27, 2008

Isaac rated it:

This book counts for a lot. Cornel West says that one of the deepest fears for black America is that Malcolm X was fundamentally right, that the political system here is incapable of being changed through traditional means in order to serve the black community what they are due. "What are they due?" asks the conservative... A share in the incredible wealth of the country that they have labored to build for hundreds of years, often against their own will, answers the REALIST... self- More...

0 comments like (20 people liked it)

Apr 28, 2008

Jessica added it

This is my second time though this book and it is still one of my favorite stories of all. I read several hundred pages of it while taking Greyhound to Virginia last week. The whole way I was sitting with three black ladies, and we all kept on talking about what all of us thought of Malcolm X and his ideas. Early in the trip lady across from me asked what I was reading--I think she knew and just wanted to see my reaction to her asking. I told her and we got into an amazing conversation about rac More...

2 comments like (13 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2007

Wes rated it:

This is the life story of Malcolm Little, later Malcolm X, later El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. As are most white people in this country, I was led to believe that Malcolm X was just an angry, militant racist who wanted to kill white people in the same way that angry, militant racists in the South want to kill black people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This book, more than any other I've read, opened my eyes to see how the innate racism in our country works and affects the peop More...

1 comment like (12 people liked it)

Jan 26, 2008

Melody rated it:

On Dr. King's Birthday I was knee-deep in the Autobiography of Malcolm X. At a nearby holiday celebration, one speaker stood at the pulpit and noted that "there was Martin and there was Malcolm. Thank God Martin won."

But did he? As I think about the Autobiography, I'm impressed by the book as an incredible testament to one man's intelligence, eloquence, and passion. In its passion, it has lived on; Malcolm's legacy lives on, visible in subtle parts of our culture. We se More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 22, 2011

شروق rated it:

من العظيم جداً ليس فقط أن تتبع مسيرة شخص كملكوم إكس من مولده حتى وفاته
من المهم أن ندرك أنه ثمة مفاهيم معينة لابد أن نمررها لأنفسنا بصورة و اضحة و للآخرين
التحول الجذري في حياة ملكوم إكس ما تم إلا بشعلة ذكاء كانت مستقرة في داخله و نمت بعناية الله
وان كانت بطريقة خاطئة لزمن طويل ما كان إلا اثنا عشر عاماً قضاها يلهث خلف إيمانه بشخص
أدركت خطورة الإيمان أكثر عبر هذا الكتاب

الإيمان المطلق يعمي العقل و القلب عن كل الحقائق التي لربما يرسلها الله كل يوم لك ,
في More...

1 comment like (9 people liked it)

Aug 10, 2007

L. rated it:

I understand why rap culture stresses "hustling" so much. It's as if rappers just never finished the book. It's not as awesome an autobiography as Gandhi's but better than most any other bio you'll find. Usually biographies are just dry chronicles of some rich asshole's favorite color and addiction du jour. This really gets you inside his head. I am thoroughly convinced that he should share an equal place in the canon of great Americans with equal respect and prestige as George Washing More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Apr 25, 2008

Chris rated it:

I'm in such awe of this book and the man behind it that I don't think I can really give it a fair review. I came late to Malcolm X - I didn't pick up his autobiography until I was twenty-five, during my third year teaching in the Bronx. He manages to so clearly articulate the injustice and anger that results from racism in America, and at the same time is unflinchingly honest regard his own life and his own failings. Following the progression of his thought and philosophy changed the way I th More...

0 comments like (7 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Josh rated it:

There are only a handful of books you can read in a lifetime that have a tangible impact on you. My dad reccomended this to me when I was 15, as I searched for something interesting in between the lawyer, doctor, monster New York Times bestsellers I'd read compulsively. Alex Haley helped Malcolm X shape a personal history that spit in the face of the public school education I had recieved up until that point, and more importantly I learned the value of literature. How books have the potential to More...

1 comment like (5 people liked it)

May 08, 2011

Lynn rated it:

This book leaves me, as I am sure it does many who have read it, with the great unanswered question, "What would have Malcolm X become if he had not been killed in 1965?" All through his life, Malcolm X was constantly reinventing himself from a bright and promising student, to a Harlem hustler, to a criminal, to a convict, to a convert, to an avocate of black seperatism, to a true Muslim, to an avocate for uniting the struggle of African-Americans with all other Africans, to a martyr. More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Mar 22, 2011

Joodi rated it:

مالكوم إكس
كان إلى عهد قريب مجرد اسم لأمريكي مسلم اشتهر في مدة معينة ثم مات.
أما الآن فقد أصبح أعظم أمريكي مسلم آمن بقضيته وعمل لأجلها حتى آخر لحظات حياته
رغم بعض الاختلافات العقدية والتجاوزات الأخلاقيه التي أرجعها للجهل وعدم توفر مصادر العلم لديهم آنذاك
إلا أنه كان مسلماً بحق .. مستسلماً لتعاليم دينه التي يعرفها
مكافحاً في سبيل نشر الدعوة
ومناضلاً لتحرير أبناء جنسه من الاستعباد الفكري

أحببت كثيراً دور العائلة في حياته
كيف كانت سبباً بعد الله عز وجل في ه More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 05, 2011

Bushra rated it:

من المقطعين التاليين قررت أن أبدأ مراجعة هذا الكتاب
" إنني لم أكن لأضيع ساعه واحدة على هذا الكتاب الذي بتنبأ له بانتشار كبير في هذه الأيام التي أحتاج فيها إلى كل دقيقة من وقتي ، لو لم أكن مقتنعاً بأنها الوسيلة الناجعة الوحيده لإبلاغ ماأريد إبلاغه : إنني كنت أسفل سافلين في قاع المجتمع الأمريكـي عندنا اهتديت إلى الله وإلى الإسلام فتغير مجرى حياتي "
" وظنـي أنه لايوجد رجل أسود في أمريكا قاسى ماقاسيته أوتردى إلى درجة الإنحطاط الإجتماعي الذي ترديت إليه أو مني بالجهل الذي منيت ب More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Apr 03, 2009

Mark rated it:

This is historic, thoughful, interesting, and quick to read all at once. The details about Harlem culture were great. Malcolm's criminal exploits were informative. Useful details such as 'Leaving a light on in your bathroom is the best way to prevent burglary' will be helpful in the future. The description on how he got his "degree" through the books he read in prison was inspiring. His summarization of Mr. Mohammad's historical account of the non-whites was shocking, and I More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 18, 2009

Maureen rated it:

Once in a great while, you read a book, and it changes your life forever. For me, this was one of those books. From this book I garnered a great appreciation for Islam. I also learned something about the journey from alienation to love. It made me see racism in this country through fresh eyes and I have not forgotten what I discovered.

Growing up in Atlanta and being a child of the civil rights movement, I thought I knew it all. Then in came Malcolm. I had a lot of empathy for h More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 23, 2008

Patrick rated it:

I had a lot to say about this book but I forgot most of it, it's kind of like you have to read it yourself. I do have a couple quotes because they were at the end of the book so they were easy to find:

"'Conservatism' in America's politics means 'Let's keep the niggers in their place.' And 'liberalism' means 'Let's keep the knee-grows in their place--but tell them we'll treat them a little better; let's fool them more, with more promises.' With these choices, I felt that the A More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 10, 2008

Christy rated it:

I have long admired Malcolm X and his commitment to speaking the truth and helping to create a better world. What I admire most about Malcolm X comes through most clearly in his autobiography: he speaks truth and is willing to change his tactics and his beliefs in the face of new information.

The first part of his autobiography is devoted to his childhood and then, primarily, his early years as a hustler on the streets of Harlem until his arrest. These chapters provide a valuable vis More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 24, 2007

Atif rated it:

This is a must read. One of the most engaging and important books I've ever read and I would recommend that everyone read it at least once. Those looking for a glimpse into the world of one of the most fearless figures in American history will find that Malcolm X was even more dynamic of a person than is commonly understood. The story of his life is not only inspiring, but the depths of his character and intellect really shine through in this book. You see the many sides of a figure that is More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 29, 2008

wildflower rated it:

This book is not only the touching story of a young black man growing up in the US, but an insightful look into our history that helped me to understand black American culture today.

Reading it as a member of the "white devil" tribe myself was an interesting perspective and helped me to see myself in the whole scheme of racism. I found pieces of racism in myself hitherto hidden from sight. This was a good spring cleaning of the soul.

Malcolm was so strong, so bra More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Serenity rated it:

I read this book in my last year of high school. It made me realize the contributions that I wanted to make to society and how I wanted to continue to conduct myself with pride and dignity. Although Malcolm X was one who used to preach violence in a way of protecting yourself with the phrase, "By Any Means Necessary," he calmed down after his later years. His spiritual awakening influenced me tremendously. This is one of the reasons why I am very open to learning and understanding diff More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 14, 2008

Adrienne rated it:

Very touching and enlightening. This book discusses Malcolm X's life from its beginnings in Michigan. As the son of a Garveyite and religious leader, Malcolm's family was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan. Due to the murder of his father and mental illness of his mother, he becomes cutoff from his history and the knowledge of his father's work. The book takes us through his life as a troubled young man, his life and acceptance of Elijah Muhammad in prison, and his transformation. The interview r More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 06, 2011

Jack added it

With the assistance of Alex Haley, Malcolm X explains his oft-misunderstood life with the immense intelligence, courage, passion and honesty that was so characteristic of his life. The early sections on his upbringing were especially intriguing. In his childhood, the violent death of the author's father by the hands of racist thugs and the valiant struggle and eventual mental collapse of his remarkable mother both sparked the deep racial bitterness that would last him until his death. His initia More...

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Apr 12, 2008

Adam rated it:

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. Sometimes a book becomes a "classic" for reasons other that have little to do with being enjoyable reading material, and I suspected this might be one of them. I was very, very wrong. This book is both an enjoyable read and good learning experience. I came a with a new respect for Malcom X. In particular I was impressed by that fact that he was able to re-evaluate deeply held beliefs in the face of new information. That's a rare and More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2012

Maxwell added it

Maxwell Kennedy – Reid
English 11 Honors
Mr. Ambrose

The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

I read “The Autobiography Of Malcolm X” which allowed me to mentally enter the life of one of America’s most influential, groundbreaking and outspoken leaders of all time time, Malcolm X. The story of Malcolm X is one that in my opinion has only been half told. Not only was he a major leader in the civil rights movement but also a hustler which led to him being a drug More...

1 comment like

Jan 25, 2012

David rated it:

I started reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X in December 2010, during my Year of Biography, when I was reading only books dealing with history surrounding specific people. I finished reading it in January 2011, during what I'm calling my Year of Overdue Books, or books (or topics) that I should have read already by now. That seems appropriate to me; I bought my copy of Malcolm X's autobiography about nine years ago at a conference and it's been sitting around since then, but more to the poin More...

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Dec 28, 2011

Sarah rated it:

Malcolm X is one of those books every American should read before they die. His life can serve many lessons on so many levels about our country’s racist history, as well as the current state of affairs for African Americans in the United States.

Born Malcolm Little in Nebraska, young Malcolm endured years of foster care, when his widowed mother was sent to a mental hospital. Malcolm went to live with an older sister in Boston, and took various menial jobs, eventually falling into cr More...

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Nov 14, 2011

Lachelle rated it:

Autobiography
Ages
Paperback

Born Malcolm Little, the story tells the journey of a once troubled boy. Malcolm was the seventh child of nine, his father was a Baptist minister and they lived on a farm. Though the family was poor they had what they needed to survive. After Malcolm dad died he began to act out and his mother could no longer handle him and sent him to a home for trouble children. Malcolm moved to different cities growing up and was constantly in trouble. In his earl More...

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Oct 08, 2011

Vicktor rated it:

I was reminded of this book when I was talking to a friend about another bio book that he put on his TBR list.

I read this book to write an autobiography on during Black History Month back in high school. Everyone was writing about Dr. King or Harriet Tubman or Rosa Parks, I've always been a "push the envelope" type of person (obviously since I write gay fiction and I'm a transgender homosexual) but I remember that after I read this book my world was rocked. Nothing that I More...

0 comments like

Sep 21, 2011

Kathy rated it:

Al & I listened to a radio program on NPR about this book and got so interested that we both wanted to read it. Actually it was a re-read for Al; he had read the book years ago as a teenager. Not a good book to read if you are an easily-offended white person. Malcolm never specifically advocates racial violence on theses pages, but he did advocate racial separation for a long time and he didn't rule out violence. For many years, he believed that white people were the "devil." He More...

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Sep 09, 2011

Elen rated it:

Read 1/4 of it, got a bit bored, didn't care for his ideas, so put it down for a bit. He seemed pretty hypocritical, like when he said (paraphrasing here) 'I don't look down my nose at people, like those other people do' - well, you are in fact looking down your nose, at the people who look down their nose.
Re-read the reviews and decided to give it another shot. Got to about 2/3 when again I decided it was just too long and wasn't interesting me enough. I wanted to make it to the end becau More...

0 comments like

Sep 02, 2011

Wolfman added it

This is a powerful and affecting book. I also think it is an important book. Say what you will about the man and his beliefs, he wasn't afraid to stand up and say what was on his mind...loudly. And I also liked how he changed over the course of the book, yet still talked fearlessly about the man he used to be. He didn't shy away from the things that make most people uncomfortable, and for that reason he made a lot of people uncomfortable (not just white folk, either). While I don't agree wi More...

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