The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

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The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 · rating details · 5,272 ratings · 742 reviews

"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the va...more "I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set." --Sidney Poitier

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure--as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.

Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.

Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.

Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limits--his own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.(less)

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Published January 26th 2007 by HarperOne (first published 2000)

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Aug 20, 2012 Nancy Cours rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books

I had the good fortune to listen to Poitier speak a few years ago at a conference. He was a last minute stand-in for someone who probably was considered more "current." How lucky we were to have gotten to hear him speak instead. He moved a room of hundreds to tears, recalling "snapshots" of his life in the Bahamas, Miami and New York.

His talk inspired me to check out this audiobook, which was equally moving. Many of those "snapshots" can be heard in extended form in this book. Poitier's voice i...more

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Jul 13, 2008 Carla rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went into this book with the highest of hopes and an open mind. My mother LOVES Potier and said she really enjoyed it and we tend to agree on most books. But part way through, I felt frustrated and a bit annoyed with him.

A recommendation on the jacket says that reading this book is like having a conversation with a vanerable older relative, and I agree. There are moments when his insights on life and sprirtual aspects are interesting, and I found myself wanting to remember quotes for future us...more

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Dec 13, 2007 SunnyD rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bio-autobio-memoir, book-club_wms, ya-lo-tengo, carib-cuba-dr-haiti-pr

i am cheating and listening to the audiobook, not reading this. but trust me when i tell you, reading it is not the way to go. and this comes from someone who never does audiobooks. but the book is written like it's just what SP was saying in a conversation with a ghostwriter (who would've/should've then turned around and put it into a much easier to read format!). it's hard to follow and doesn't flow.

but the audiobook is great. SP's voice is so soothing and wonderful. such lilt and timbre. i lo...more

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Jan 04, 2009 Pris robichaud rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A man For All Seasons, 31 Jan 2007

5 stars
"One of the most influential actors of our time, Sidney Poitier has stubbornly remained an enigma, a complex tangle of myth and mystery, since he first burst on the American film scene with No Way Out in 1950. He quickly emerged as the first black actor to become a successful leading man in the overwhelmingly racist environment of Hollywood, becoming a recognized international star in a few short years and eventually a number one box-office star and Osc...more
A man For All Seasons, 31 Jan 2007

5 stars
"One of the most influential actors of our time, Sidney Poitier has stubbornly remained an enigma, a complex tangle of myth and mystery, since he first burst on the American film scene with No Way Out in 1950. He quickly emerged as the first black actor to become a successful leading man in the overwhelmingly racist environment of Hollywood, becoming a recognized international star in a few short years and eventually a number one box-office star and Oscar winner. Despite a series of polite interviews, Poitier maintained an air of secrecy and confidentiality concerning his private life and views until the publication of his 1980 memoir, This Life." Robert Fleming

Sidney Poitier was born in 1927 on a small island in the Bahamas. He began to learn about racism at a young man and when he moved to Miami he learned the hard way. He finally made it to the stage and films. In this new Spiritual Book, Sidney Poitier tells us how he made his way. There is some anger but that is to be expected. He tried to find roles that would portray the black man in a positive light and turned down many roles that did not fit. He did star in "Porgy and Bess' much to his chagrin but he had no choice, his future would have been limited if he did not. In the 1960' s his roles came of age "Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner" was a box office smash. From then on in he could have his pick of most roles. He has become an activist and appreciates the Spiritual life he has come to know. He is a man with a love of life, and the knowledge to lead many of us to a brighter place.

"As an actor aware of ''failure walking in my shadow every minute, waiting for the misstep that could derail my whole existence,'' Poitier stresses that ''fear of failure'' can be even more destructive than failure itself. Seven years ago, surgery for prostate cancer revived those feelings -- which had also given him insights into specific roles. Some of his strongest performances grew out of his appetite for risks, and so did his gift for directing comic scenes like the hilarious moments in ''Uptown Saturday Night'' and ''A Piece of the Action.'' He unbolted doors for several generations of black actors. Recalling the loud cheers that rose after ''Segregation forever!'' we can celebrate the achievements of Sidney Poitier." Nora Sayre

Oprah has picked Sidney Poitier's book for her book club. She states "He writes really candidly and passionately about his childhood, his family, relationships and his extraordinary career. It (the book) really is about what makes character, what makes you be who you are. He is the measure of one of the greatest men I think who has ever been on our planet."

Sidney Poitier is a man much adored and loved. He has helped to break the color barrier in films and theatre. His life has been full and this novel provides rich reading. Highly Recommended.
prisrob 1-26-07
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Jan 23, 2013 Napshana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As a spiritual autobiography, Sidney comes out apologizing. I felt that he may have received criticism for not having spoken much against black segregation at a time when Americas were passionately discussing the subject. In the days of Martin Luther King jr and Malcom X, he was the first black men to break racial barriers in Hollywood and so much was expected of him. But Sidney's focus was his career and he became like water; not fighting segregation head on, but flowing in between the tension...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been a fan of Sidney Poitier since seeing him in "To Sir with Love" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" during my coming-of-age years - at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Besides being a fine actor, he struck me as someone who approached the injustices of racism with grace and dignity. When I saw his spiritual autobiography at the used book store this weekend (and it was discounted) I was curious to know more about the man behind the characters he's played.

Poitier was born in the Ba...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Nancy added it Recommends it for: To my friends

Shelves: biography

Sidney Poitier tells about his life with the good and the bad. He tells of his mistakes, and what he learned from them. He only took parts in the movies, that had a positive message. He turned down a part, when he was in need of the money. He felt great guilt when he left his first wife. He made sure he spent time with his daughters, which was extremely important to him. His life was very different in his formitive years, as he grew up on an island. He didn't learn about predjuiice until his fam...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Sally906 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography, non-fiction

This was Oprah’s bookclub read. I did not find it anything to rave about – was an OK read. Poitier takes us from his childhood on Cat Island in the Bahamas, teens in Nassau and Miami and ends up in New York in his late teens. It is a very rambling, unexciting story for the first half of the book. The reason this time is glossed over, I think, is because a lot of this was previously related in “THIS LIFE” also written by Poitier. Now he is older, and he obviously wants to pass the wisdom he has a...more

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Mar 31, 2010 Kate Padilla added it · review of another edition

Sidney Poitier performs magic in The Measure of a Man. Only true nobility can write the personal history and experiences of a 70-something black man from the Bahamas with such power to speak profoundly to a 22-year old white girl from Grand Rapids. The same page will draw the reader to tears both from laughter and from sorrow. At 243 pages, Measure is not difficult, which makes reading from cover to cover relatively easy in one sitting.

What's most powerful about Poitier's "spiritual autobiograp...more Sidney Poitier performs magic in The Measure of a Man. Only true nobility can write the personal history and experiences of a 70-something black man from the Bahamas with such power to speak profoundly to a 22-year old white girl from Grand Rapids. The same page will draw the reader to tears both from laughter and from sorrow. At 243 pages, Measure is not difficult, which makes reading from cover to cover relatively easy in one sitting.

What's most powerful about Poitier's "spiritual autobiography" is that he's not trying to manipulate the reader one way or another. It's entirely possible to be completely changed by the end and yet leave the book disagreeing with him in some areas no less than at the beginning. He doesn't expect his readers to agree with him, he's simply telling his story. And an interesting story it is. As a boy, Poitier lived in an intense poverty, but this poverty was nothing like anyone in America would understand. He says in the first chapter, "In a word, we were poor, but poverty there was very different from the poverty in a modern place characterized by concrete. It's not romanticizing the past to state the poverty on Cat Island didn't preclude gorgeous beaches and a climate like heaven, cocoa plum trees and sea grapes and cassavas growing in the forest, and bananas growing wild" (3).

Through his journey from Cat Island to Florida to New York to Hollywood, Poitier never lost the sense of self given to him by his parents, especially his father. This is possibly one of the most profound themes of the book: the identity instilled by a parent to his son. This dignity guided him through the roles that he chose, or didn't choose, as well as how he saw his success in Hollywood and even the industry of Hollywood itself.
Any reader, once reading this book, will understand the privilege just experienced from Poitier opening the door, even if only slightly, to his life and the influence his father had on him and, consequently, the entire American film industry.
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Aug 30, 2009 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-audio-books, 2009-nonfiction

The Measure of a Man: A spiritual Autobiography, by Sidney Poitier, narrated by the author, produced by Harper Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This was a book full of ruminations about Poitier’s life and the effect various experiences had upon him. To hear it read by Poitier himself is a treat not to be forgotten. It was like having a conversation with him in the living room. Even if readers read it in print or kindle or whatever, the audio version is well worth purchasing and listening to. I...more

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May 29, 2009 fyc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. I chose to read it for two reasons: 1) It was an Oprah book club pick and I've never been disappointed in her picks and 2) I saw two Sidney Poitier films in my youth, Lillies of the Field and To Sir With Love, and fell in love with Sidney Poitier. Reading this book gave me cause to evaluate my life and take measure of who I am and how others perceive me. I love books that do more than entertain. I love books that make the reader think; that give the reader something t...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Mary Lou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

The Measure of a Man written by Sidney Poitier and published in the year he turned 80 is a thoughtful and thought provoking memoir, not a detailed account of the man’s life, but an account that includes many details and thoughts about life and acting:

“Of all my father’s teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well he provided for his children, and it stuck with me as if it were etched in my brain” (100).

“The injustice of the world inspi...more The Measure of a Man written by Sidney Poitier and published in the year he turned 80 is a thoughtful and thought provoking memoir, not a detailed account of the man’s life, but an account that includes many details and thoughts about life and acting:

“Of all my father’s teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well he provided for his children, and it stuck with me as if it were etched in my brain” (100).

“The injustice of the world inspires a rage so intense that to express it fully would require homicidal action; it’s self-destructive, destroy-the-world rage. Simply put, I’ve learned that I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me. I have to try to channel that anger to the positive, and the highest positive is forgiveness” (128).

“Throughout the making of that film (In the Heat of the Night) I sensed that I was on the threshold of discovering what acting really is, which is a way of getting at the core of what life really is” (143).

… I realized that when people sit in a theater and watch me expressing feelings similar to their own, they can tell if I’m really experiencing those emotions or if I’m faking them. …Living consciously involves being genuine; it involves listening and responding to others honestly and openly; it involves being in the moment. This is all equally true of effective acting. Acting isn’t a game of ‘pretend.’ It’s an exercise in being real” (146-7).

“The drama asks an audience to care. … If you are going to ask that audience to care, you’re going to have to take them to the place where the most damage is possible so they can feel that pain” (151).

“We love; we work; we raise our families. Those are the areas of significance in our individual lives. And love and work and family are the legacy we leave behind when our little moment in the sun is gone” (168).

“It appears that we are all killers of one kind or another and that life begins in the darkness of a total ignorance that is peeled away slowly, little by little” (211).

“Curiosity is one thing: wisdom is another. Maybe neither can fully cover the territory. Maybe one is meant to drive us, the other to beckon us. It’s a question or an answer, boldly stated or subtly implied, that gets me out of bed every morning” (212).

Poitier believes “The dark side in each of us operates from behind masks of varying complexity, coming to the fore when we elect to use its services” (220). He thinks, “The reservoir” of evil is inside us, waiting, and that goodness cannot be taught to all. He writes “that Big Answer we all seek—is even more complex than it appears to be” (223) and with his good friend Charley Blackwell, Poitier ponders what to “tell the children,” knowing that life is tough, and hope is constant because it is goal oriented. He concludes that we tell the truth. Life is tough. “We’re all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections” (243).
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Jan 05, 2013 Kiessa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-memoir

In an era of sound bites and an over-abundance of shallow entertainment, Sidney Poitier's insight, reflection, clarity and soulfulness are a welcome discovery, and a change from so much of what comes out of the entertainment industry today.

Whether talking about his family, his career, or generally making comments about our culture, Poitier's observations strike meaningful chords that simply feel TRUE. Though I am not a student of Poitier's films since they were a bit before my time, I am lookin...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Betty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

Shelves: autobiography-biography, history, non-fiction, well-being

This is not the first autobiography by Sidney Poitier, but it is a powerful one. It is a story of wholeness, of working to achieve the best within himself. The story begins on a small piece of isolated land, Cat Island, in the Bahamas, untouched by the outside world without even the most rudimentary of what most would call necessities, so untouched the locals don’t even know there are necessities, and they may be right. The true essential is family and that they do have.

In this autobiography, Si...more This is not the first autobiography by Sidney Poitier, but it is a powerful one. It is a story of wholeness, of working to achieve the best within himself. The story begins on a small piece of isolated land, Cat Island, in the Bahamas, untouched by the outside world without even the most rudimentary of what most would call necessities, so untouched the locals don’t even know there are necessities, and they may be right. The true essential is family and that they do have.

In this autobiography, Sidney Poitier looks within, the good and the bad, what drives a man, how to maintain dignity when all around attempts are made to remove the dignity. His first view that there was another kind of life, even that there was a world, was at the tender age of ten and a half, when he moved to Nassau, capitol of the Bahamas. This was the first time he lived outside the “Natural” world. A boy used to evaluating risk, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, he had never encountered the new types of risk. The thing is, he had prepared himself for life by believing that he was who he was, that not only could he be as good as anyone else but with hard work he could be better.

This is the basis of the book. It covers many years of looking for answers, taking risks to better himself, searching for meaning, the how, the why, the when, the where. Successful as his career became, he still stretched from within to better himself. He wanted to avoid slipping into thinking things were pretty good as they were. He wanted to maintain his dignity, honour his father, be all he could be, and be the best father he could. I’m summarizing rather than delving too far into the book because the summation is constant for Poitier. I learned a great deal personally from this book and found it moved along very well, although I did notice a bit of a stall or slow spot toward the end which did pick up again, so it didn’t last very long. This is not about black and white except where necessary, this is about being human and where humanity belongs in Nature’s world. I believe it is an excellent book and recommend it for the many lessons that can be learned. (less)

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Dec 30, 2012 Monica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates
Sidney Poitier examines events, locations and eras that shaped him as a human and an actor. He wrote an earlier autobiography that detailed his career, but this autobiography is more of an exploration of some of the important events in his life that changed and shaped him. From his earliest days on Cat Island in the Bahamas, to Nassau, to Miami, to New York City, changes in his situation and the need for survival helped him to adapt to new sur...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Hattie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all

Sidney Poitier by way of THE MEASURE OF A MAN took me to the Bahamas, Nassau, Florida, New York. I have traveled far and wide. Along the way I learned what it takes to be a professional actor. It definitely is not just going to acting school and learning a technique. After many acting jobs in theaters and elsewhere Sidney Poitier writes that he did not really become an actor until 1960. At that time he was playing the son in RAISIN IN THE SUN.

Like any humble gentleman Sidney Poitier has not forg...more Sidney Poitier by way of THE MEASURE OF A MAN took me to the Bahamas, Nassau, Florida, New York. I have traveled far and wide. Along the way I learned what it takes to be a professional actor. It definitely is not just going to acting school and learning a technique. After many acting jobs in theaters and elsewhere Sidney Poitier writes that he did not really become an actor until 1960. At that time he was playing the son in RAISIN IN THE SUN.

Like any humble gentleman Sidney Poitier has not forgotten where he came from, his beginnings. He describes his growing up years on the Bahamas islands. Don't talk about poverty until you've read this book. It is amazing how this man made it from there to where he is today. He must have true grit. This is an honest book about what it takes to be called a man. His father taught him what it takes not to be just macho but to have the true character of a man. "The measure of a man is how well he provides for his children." It is wondrous to read about his respect for his parents. So often readers only read about the deeds of bad parents or what is perceived as the horrible misdeeds of parents.

Also, Sidney Poitier is deeply philosophical. Still, his ideas, thoughts, theories are simple to understand. I chumped on this one for a few days. "After eight years of struggle I was able to return to my father's house but in certain ways I was never able to go back home." Isn't that a fascinating thought? I think so. It is impossible to know what he means personally until reading the book.

His autobiography, of course, gives an inside view of the movie world, the movie actors and actresses. I especially enjoyed reading his thoughts about THE DEFIANT ONES. I did not see the movie. By the way, if you haven't seen Mr. Poitier's plays or movies you will still enjoy reading about these star studded shows. Tony Curtis starred with Mr. Poitier in the above mentioned movie. I now want to see the movie. It's about the struggles between a black and white man on a chain gang. The two men are bound together and can't get away from one another. What were they like in the beginning of their journey? What did these two men become? How should the movie have ended? Was the given ending the right one? These answers are given by Sidney Poitier in the book along with many other thoughts about A Patch of Blue, Guess Who's Coming Together and other movies.

I hated for this autobiography to end. I wish he would write Part II. I'm sure he has more to write about what it takes to be a man in a world that is so complex.(less)

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Jan 28, 2010 Michelle Fajkus rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Highly recommended. This is an honest, eloquent memoir. I want to watch more of his movies now, especially To Sir with Love and Lilies of the Field. My favorite quote is from Chapter 9, Stargazing: "I simply believe that there's a very organic, immeasurable consciousness of which we're a part. I believe that this consciousness is a force so powerful that I'm incapable of comprehending its power through the puny instrument of my human mind. And yet I believe that this consciousness is so unimagin...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Actor Sidney Poitier was very famous when I was a child. He stood out as he was one of the few famous talented black actors in the 1950s and 1960s, who had great respect by Hollywood and in general the white community. Sidney was born to a poor black family in Cat Island in the Bahamas. There was no electricity, no plumbing and no indoor toilets. However, since everyone in the neighborhood was black and poor, Sidney knew no difference. He had a strict, quiet, loving mother and father. Sidney fel...more Actor Sidney Poitier was very famous when I was a child. He stood out as he was one of the few famous talented black actors in the 1950s and 1960s, who had great respect by Hollywood and in general the white community. Sidney was born to a poor black family in Cat Island in the Bahamas. There was no electricity, no plumbing and no indoor toilets. However, since everyone in the neighborhood was black and poor, Sidney knew no difference. He had a strict, quiet, loving mother and father. Sidney felt that his very disciplined childhood gave him the foundation for strong survival skills throughout his whole life.

It wasn't until he was a teenage and ended up in Miami, Florida, where he found out that his being black would be an obstacle that he would constantly run up against. He was fascinated by the luxuries of running water and electricity in the United States, but he didn’t care for the discrimination he experienced in Florida. He heard of the Promise Land in Harlem, New York. So he traveled to New York and worked as a dishwasher to support himself. Finding the New York winters harsh, he joined the army so he could have some warmer clothes and a roof over his head. But, the army turned out to be difficult and Sidney attacked an officer, by the toss of a chair, so that he could be discharged.

As a fluke, he ended up trying out for a role in the theater when he saw an ad that said the director was looking for a young black actor. Well, the rest, as you say is history. Sidney, of course, got better at his art, and ended up in movies, where eventually he became quite famous and respected. However, although he was respected, he was not always accepted. On a promo movie tour in Georgia, he walked into a very fine restaurant for dinner. Although the restaurant was happy to have this famous actor patronize their business, they told him that they would have to close him off from the others and drape a big black sheet around his table. He was told it was the law. Sidney decided instead to walk out of the restaurant.

He writes that it wasn't easy for him at times, but that he knows that he had to go through a lot to make the way for the black actors of today. He said that he felt bad for those could not make it in the industry during his time, while he had been very blessed.

He writes a little bit about his first failed marriage and how it affected his relationship with his children. I think this memoir just gives us a taste of this wonderful actor, but it was a very good taste indeed.
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Jun 19, 2011 Prakash rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this book at a book sale for $1. I don't think that I would have read it otherwise. "To Sir with Love" is one of my favorite movies. I don't remember if I've seen "In the Heat of the Night" from beginning to end or not but I know I've seen big chunks of it. I'm going to make it a point to see all of Poitier's movies.

I never thought about the challenges he faced as a black man when he first appeared on the acting scene. I guess that's probably true for a lot of people considering how ma...more

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Dec 05, 2008 Sugarpop rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who likes autobiographies

I had wanted to read this book for quite awhile. I finally had the opportunity and it is a quick read. I was also quite ready to be finished with the book.

There were several sections that I found quite interesting because he lived through these events. I think that anyone who is interested in the Hollywood blacklist would get something from his experience.

I also liked what he thought of the characters that he played or had been offered. Raisin in the Sun is my favorite all time movie. I saw th...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Mme. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-memoirs

Sidney Poitier is my hero. He have proven time after time his revered acting skills, his strong convictions, bravery and grace. Sidney is an amazing man that I admire deeply. In this book, he draws attention upon the perspective and wisdom gained from his memories as a poor boy in the Bahamas, his experiences of racism coming to the US, falling in love and raising a family. He shares breaking the race barrier in theatre and film during the Civil Rights era, achieving stardom and success in Holly...more

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Dec 25, 2009 Marcus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reading, biographies, african-american

While the book tends to meander, I found it to be a fascinating look at America from the early 1930's until present day from Sidney Poitier. Sidney Poitier was born in 1924, 1 year after the massacre of over 100 African Americans in Roseville, FL (a crime which has never resulted in a single prosecution). He spent his first 10 years living on a Caribbean Island with no running water or electricity, immigrating to America at 15 and eventually becoming the first Black leading actor in Hollywood. A...more

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May 08, 2013 Joseph Young rated it 3 of 5 stars

First off, I don't know who Sidney Poitier is. It was only later on that I said, "oh he was that guy in "In the Heat of the Night."

The very first part was boring, and reminded me of Troy Maclure saying, "You might remember me from such films as ......" none of which I had heard of, and may as well might have been invented. It assumes you care about him, and I couldn't, as I had no idea who he was. Further, his way of speaking was not the best for an audio book. The change of volume and sometimes...more First off, I don't know who Sidney Poitier is. It was only later on that I said, "oh he was that guy in "In the Heat of the Night."

The very first part was boring, and reminded me of Troy Maclure saying, "You might remember me from such films as ......" none of which I had heard of, and may as well might have been invented. It assumes you care about him, and I couldn't, as I had no idea who he was. Further, his way of speaking was not the best for an audio book. The change of volume and sometimes halting way of talking does not make for the best listening experience until you get used to it.

Then he got into his stories in childhood, which were quite engrossing. His stories jump back and forth in his life, slowly working their way towards his current position in life. He goes through different phases, many dealing with racial identity and attempting to be a man.

The stories themselves are great when taken totally at face value, with some having really great dark truths that most people just don't talk about. However, somewhere halfway through the book, I started to realize the man's great ego, and how this ego may have pervaded all the stories. How much of the story has been altered by his need to appear a certain way, his need to maintain his outside image in the one he desires? It was a game changer.

Finally, the ending is mediocre. He doesn't end on a great triumph like you would hope for. Instead, it is an average story of a man, with a struggle I'm not sure I entirely relate to nor find grand. Final redemption and victory in the narrative arc is missing, probably similar to how his one man play turned out. The last few chapters probably aren't worth reading.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and think most people would enjoy it. However, his inability to show his own vulnerability makes it weak when it could have been grand. His prostate cancer is glossed over. After reading the book, you get the feeling that you are only seeing part of Sidney Poitier, the parts that he wants you to see, when if he had given just a little more even if it seemed nothing, you would have been satisfied. But perhaps those weaknesses in himself, implicit in the text, are too cutting to admit. (less)

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Jul 14, 2010 Sera rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who are interested in other people

Shelves: audio, biography-memoir, library

What a nice book to listen to on CD with Poitier as the narrator. I really enjoyed listening to and experiencing Poitier's journey through his various stages of life. Poitier provides some excellent insight into the character of humans, such as everyone having a dark side, but whether it is kept at bay depends on the person and how he or she was raised, why the work that we do is important, the effect of art on social change, and many other interesting tidbits on .

Poitier also provides some int...more

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Dec 09, 2010 Rosemary rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recently

I listened to the audio book, for which Sidney Poitier won a Grammy award.

Some of the story telling was beautiful, especially in the first third of the book. It was personal, colorful, real, and very different from my experiences. That's where SP excelled.

I didn't like most of the book very much. When SP shares an anecdote, he is at his best. When he makes generalizations (about society, racism, who he is as a person, etc.), he gets long-winded.

His voice is amazing. I love hearing him speak. But...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Bengz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inspiring. There's so much to learn from Poitier's life as a child, as a person, as a parent. He's not afraid to show his frailties and admit his mistakes. His take on the baby boomers and the "pleasure principle" got me agreeing with him because I think it's also so true in my country. When I was growing up and even up to now that I'm already a grown up, I often hear parents say they don't want their children to go through the same pain, the same hardships that they experienced, and so they end...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: listening-to

The best part of listening to this is that Sidney Poitier reads it himself and at no time does it feel as if he is reading. It made me wonder if the book has the same interjections like, "Do you get my meaning?" He chronicles his life from the Caribbean to now and how lucky and blessed he has been. He shares the events and people who shaped his life most dramatically, often sharing things of a very personal nature. It was fun to hear his take on the movies he made and why he chose to act in them...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Bonnie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

This book begins: "Many years ago I wrote a book about my life, which was, necessarily, in large part a book about my life in Hollywood. More recently I decided that I wanted to write about life. Just life itself." And that is where I think I went wrong. I may have enjoyed a traditional autobiography more. I don't think any less of Sidney Poitier after reading this book, but it was a lot of philosophy. It rambled a lot and I don't honestly think I absorbed much of it. I'm not very philosophical,...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sidney Poitier's memoir, or rather a musing on his life and on life in general. What does it all mean, what drives us, what is the measure of a man? It is an interesting journey with Poitier from his Cat Island beginnings to New York, the stage and stardom. He is fiercely proud of his family, his parents and daughters and for him, the measure of a man is his ability to provide for his wife and children. Poitier tells us of the period before, during and after the civil rights movement in the US a...more

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Mar 14, 2009 Eric Kebker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up this as an audiobook from the library to listen to in the car. I'm so glad I did! I think the experience is much different hearing Sidney Poitier read his own words. I'm about halfway through and I'm finding it just fascinating to hear him reminisce about his childhood in the Bahamas, coming to the US south during the Jim Crow days, and what it took to become the first black leading man in cinema history. This is one you don't have to be a psychologist to enjoy.

Follow-up:
This was a g...more

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Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.

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“I don't mean to be like some old guy from the olden days who says, "I walked thirty miles to school every morning, so you kids should too." That's a statement born of envy and resentment. What I'm saying is something quite different. What I'm saying is that by having very little, I had it good. Children need a sense of pulling their own weight, of contributing to the family in some way, and some sense of the family's interdependence. They take pride in knowing that they're contributing. They learn responsibility and discipline through meaningful work. The values developed within a family that operates on those principles then extend to the society at large. By not being quite so indulged and "protected" from reality by overflowing abundance, children see the bonds that connect them to others.” — 33 people liked it

“A person doesn't have to change who he is to become better.” — 30 people liked it

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