The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

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The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

by Sidney Poitier

3.46 · rating details · 3,413 ratings · 624 reviews

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguable 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. Here, Sidney Poitier explores these elements of character and personal values to take h...more

Paperback, 243 pages

Published January 26th 2007 by HarperOne (first published January 1st 2000)

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Jul 13, 2008

Carla rated it

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 f...more

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Jul 24, 2007

thegritsdotcom rated it

Shelves: biographies

When I chose to read THE MEASURE OF A MAN: A SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Sidney Poitier when it was first published in 2000, it had nothing to do with the fact that he is an American icon who is recognized and respected by many throughout the world. If truth were told, I’ve only seen 4 of his 40+ films, which clearly establishes the fact that I am no Sidney Poitier movie buff. I simply chose to add this book to my reading list that year because I was drawn to its title. For me, the title meant th...more

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Dec 13, 2007

SunnyD rated it

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 lil...more

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Jan 04, 2009

Pris robichaud rated it

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 ...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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Jun 21, 2011

Sally906 rated it

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

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 "spirit...moreSidney 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 ...more

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May 29, 2009

fyc rated it

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 someth...more

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Feb 03, 2009

Betty rated it

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 autob...moreThis 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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Mar 19, 2011

Hattie rated it

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 ha...moreSidney 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

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 uni...more

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Apr 01, 2009

Marsha rated it

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...moreActor 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 Kabe rated it

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...more

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Dec 05, 2008

Sugarpop rated it

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 ...more

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Oct 04, 2011

Mme. Monique rated it

Shelves: biography

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

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 Hollywo...more

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Jul 14, 2010

Sera rated it

· 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 pr...more

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Dec 09, 2010

Rosemary rated it

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....more

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Aug 13, 2011

Bengz rated it

· 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...more

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Jan 27, 2009

Nancy rated it

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 a...more

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Sep 02, 2011

Deb rated it

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 ...more

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Mar 14, 2009

Eric Kebker rated it

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.

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Mar 09, 2009

Elizabeth rated it

I've never seen a Sidney Poitier film. I was lent this book and it sat on my floor for several months until boredom, lack of Internet, and nothing to read conspired to make me start it. It opened all right with a description of Poitier's childhood in the Bahamas. That part was interesting enough, but unfortunately it went downhill from there. The book lacked structure, themes, or messages. I really wasn't sure why it was written, especially when the introduction mentioned Poitier had already wri...more

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Sep 09, 2010

Jean rated it

I am thoroughly enjoying listening to this audio version of The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier. I think it is a fascinating story of his life, his vision, his ideals, and more. I am listening to and from work on my 45 minute commute each day, and when, one day, my husband was in the car with me, I kept it in and later that evening overheard him talking about it with one of his friends. He was impressed by what he had heard and was compelled to share it. I do recommend this, and think tha...more

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Mar 10, 2011

Garrett Dunnington rated it

Shelves: 2011, spiritual, new-age, influential, family-s-library, biography, autobiography, civil-rights, african-american

This was an extremely good read. What an opportunity it was to read this book. I resonate with Poitier, because I have always had it in me to accomplish things in life with a detached perspective, while also in a practical manner. His background as a Bahamian immigrant set him apart from the general African American population, yet... he was able to break ground as being the first African American to win an oscar. Was very inspired by his integrity and wisdom. This book isn't just written about ...more

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Jan 14, 2010

Caroline Brewer rated it

I learned that truth is more powerful than fiction, and, again, that what we see on the silver screen and "get to know" about actors through television is just a tiny reflection of the authentic person. I found Poitier's autobiography gripping from the outset, moving and spiritual from the first word, and pleasant for most of the pages. I have even more respect and admiration for him, knowing the struggles he faced and overcame as a young man --especially his illiteracy. But toward the...more

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Jan 29, 2009

OneWorldLibrary Project rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: bahamas, young-adult, adult, autobiography, african-american

�Annie Perkins: For me, this simply written book captures how powerfully a child is affected by family life. Poitier, although extremely poor, was surrounded by a strong community, a connection to the natural world and deep faith. These strong cultural influences empowered him to move beyond the racism of his times and create a remarkable life. ----- Library Description: Autobiography; Sydney Poitier calls this his spiritual autobiography in which he traces his childhood on a remote Ba...more

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Jan 26, 2012

Melby rated it

Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: 2012-reads, 21st-century, biography, civil-rights, literature, non-fiction, literally-on-my-shelf, philosophy, social-commentary

This was a really great book about a wonderful & fascinating man. Poitier fills us in about growing up on Cat Island- where he had no perception of black vs white or racism or elitism, about life in Nassau where he encountered all those things, about life as a poor black kid in New York struggling to survive, and about the various chances and events that led to his being one of the most prominent black actors to grace the screen & stage. As the book is "a spiritual autobiography," it i...more

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Jan 02, 2010

Flelly rated it

This book is like a chocolate chip cookie. THe chocolate chips are the nuggets of wisdom and interest. The cookie part is macho bull**it. Unfortunately, there are not quite enough chips in it. Lots of ego.
I have embarked upon a cinematographic investigation of Sidney Poitier's work as a result of reading the book, though. And he is a really great film presence. I am happy for the introduction.
The last line of the book summed it up for me. I don't know how I will feel at that age, b...more

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Feb 23, 2010

Janice rated it

I have always loved Sidney Poitier as an actor, and so wanted to learn mroe about him. What a hard tim ehe had establishing himself in his career. To come from the island, by hinmself, make it big in a "pre-entlightened age" and continue to press for acceptance for his race--was a tough life. Considering where he came from, and to become the first black actor to win an Academy Award was amazing. A warning to friends who want to read--he is a black man, with little formal education,...more

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About Sidney Poitier

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

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“A person doesn't have to change who he is to become better.” — 19 people liked it

“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.” — 16 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91563.The_Measure_of_a_Man?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171231247m/91563.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91563.The_Measure_of_a_Man?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poitier[/url]

The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

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