Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Long Walk to Freedom” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Long Walk to Freedom

(Long Walk to Freedom #1-2)

Nelson Mandela

4.31 · Rating details · 71,138 ratings · 3,836 reviews

Nelson Mandela is one of the great moral and political leaders of our time: an international hero whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him the Nobel Peace Prize and the presidency of his country.

Since his triumphant release in 1990 from more than a quarter-century of imprisonment, Mandela has been at the center of the most c ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 656 pages

Published October 1st 1995 by Back Bay Books (first published 1994)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Long Walk to Freedom, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Africa (fiction and nonfiction)

1,612 books — 1,652 voters

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Biography and Memoirs that are BETTER than Fiction

1,878 books — 2,986 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.31 ·

Rating details

· 71,138 ratings · 3,836 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Long Walk to Freedom

Jul 29, 2013 Rowena rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, autobiography, african-lit

“As I finally walked through those gates to enter a car on the other side, I felt- even at the age of seventy-one- that my life was beginning anew. My ten thousand days of imprisonment were over.” - Nelson Mandela, A Long Walk to Freedom

2013, my year of reading biographies, started off with Dr. King’s and ended with reading Nelson Mandela’s. A perfect end to the year.

Apartheid is something that hit very close to home to me, being a member of the same Bantu people that the racist Afrikaner gover “As I finally walked through those gates to enter a car on the other side, I felt- even at the age of seventy-one- that my life was beginning anew. My ten thousand days of imprisonment were over.” - Nelson Mandela, A Long Walk to Freedom

2013, my year of reading biographies, started off with Dr. King’s and ended with reading Nelson Mandela’s. A perfect end to the year.

Apartheid is something that hit very close to home to me, being a member of the same Bantu people that the racist Afrikaner government believed were on the same level as animals. Mandela has always been a hero in my family and I grew up hearing about his life and his struggles to gain freedom for black South Africans. I knew about Apartheid before I knew about the American civil rights movement.

This autobiography is very comprehensive in scope, covering Mandela’s childhood, his adulthood, his transformation into a freedom fighter, and his time spent in jail, and finally his inauguration as South Africa’s first black president.The history of his African National Congress party was intriguing,and even more gripping were the stories of Mandela's days as the "Black Pimpernel" travelling all around Africa and Europe.

This was not an easy read. Mandela made so many sacrifices, as did his wife and children. It really hurt reading about how he, his wife and children were treated, and how it took so long for the world to wake up and send proper help.

“I was made, by the law, a criminal, not because of what I had done, but because of what I stood for, because of what I thought, because of my conscience.”

A couple of things really stood out to me. The first was how colonized our thinking is. Black Africans have been told they are inferior and even now they often display that inferiority complex. The Afrikaners were fed the same lies and believed that blacks were inferior before witnessing for themselves that that wasn't true (Boer party propaganda). The second thing that stood out was how this book restored my faith in mankind at times. It was fascinating to read about the humanity that arose in the unlikeliest people.

Mandela was humble and acknowledged all those involved in the freedom struggle. About his inauguration, he said, “I felt that day, as I have on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who have gone before me. That long and noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.”

After reading this book, my respect for Mandela grew even more. I loved his spirit; he refused to be broken, he refused to become bitter and he somehow kept his wit and his sense of humour. He was honest about what he learned, about his own prejudices and mistakes.

The first time I visited South Africa was in 1995, a year after the democratic elections that officially ended Apartheid. The thought crossed my mind that a few years prior my family and I would not have been able to make that trip in such comfort and safety. Thank you, Madiba for making this happen.

To quote my GR friend Leola, “I feel like the world could never be prepared enough to say goodbye to Nelson Mandela.” ...more

flag 226 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Warwick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: politics, biography, south-africa, autobiography, history

At over 700 pages, Nelson Mandela's autobiography might look like a serious commitment. Actually though, it doesn't feel like a heavy book at all. Like the thinking which informs it, the writing is clear, measured and straightforward, albeit scattered with bits of Harvard English that are presumably down to Mandela's (uncredited) American ghostwriter, Richard Stengel.

I sped through it in under a week, thanks mainly to a couple of long train journeys. I'm left with a much more nuanced view of Man ...more

flag 174 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2017 Matt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook

As I continue the forty days of biography reading, I thought I ought to tackle some of the 'big players' in the world of politics. At a time when the world is still ill-balanced, I wanted to delve into the world of Nelson Mandela, one who sought to recalibrate a significant unbalance on the African continent over a number of decades. Having a great interest in South Africa, the backwardness of apartheid's acceptance by any governing body, and how the world handled the bloodshed under the racist As I continue the forty days of biography reading, I thought I ought to tackle some of the 'big players' in the world of politics. At a time when the world is still ill-balanced, I wanted to delve into the world of Nelson Mandela, one who sought to recalibrate a significant unbalance on the African continent over a number of decades. Having a great interest in South Africa, the backwardness of apartheid's acceptance by any governing body, and how the world handled the bloodshed under the racist regime there, I felt this would be a wonderful starting point. I have read much historical fiction about the country and the struggles, but it is high time we look to facts and figures. There will be those who oppose me reading this autobiography for propaganda reasons (and they have already reared their heads) and I welcome their sentiments, though the sub-set who are supremacists and bully views for the sake of racism belong in the weed-choked fields of knowledge from whence they came. And yes, they have come out to write to me as well!

Born in 1918 with the birth name 'Rolihlahla', Xhosa for "pulling the branch of a tree', Mandela lived his early years in a small village far from the bustling cities of Cape Town or Johannesburg. Living in the traditional way of Africans, the village shared resources and means of survival, which might have fostered his views that found him in hot water decades later. Seeing much potential in their son, Mandela's parents allowed the Church to play a strong role in his upbringing and education, which led him to find a passion for the law. Mandela explains early on in this autobiography that his desire to advocate for others became a foundation of the way he lived his life. Eventually pulled into the larger city, Mandela worked in a law firm in Johannesburg, though failed to pass some of the essential academic examinations to earn an LLB. However, Mandela found a strong desire to help his fellow African with issues that arose and worked within the limits before him to ensure that all South Africans shared the same opportunities. South Africa was in the midst of a transformation, still part of the British Commonwealth but run primarily by the Afrikaner white minority, who ruled in an off-balance manner that sought to use the minority sentiments to shape the laws for all. With the exclusion of the black African (please allow me at this time to offer apologies for anyone who takes offence to the word 'black', for I am simply using the term Mandela presented throughout, which differentiates between the white minority and the unrepresented majority) population, Mandela began to meet with other like-minded men and sought to join the political movement of the African National Congress (ANC), whose long-standing support of black equality fit nicely with the views he espoused. Mandela used this passion to fuel his mantra as he sought to push back against the views of the South African Government. Mandela did find time to marry, choosing Evelyn Nkoto Mase, who bore him his first set of children. Mandela explores the life of an anti-colonist and the role the ANC played in his early life. By this time, the South African government brought in apartheid, an approach to racial divide the country and benefit the whites. Mandela would not stand for this and spoke out whenever he could to counter the racist governmental policies. The strains between Mandela and Evelyn led to a disintegration of that marriage and Mandela was forced to come to terms with it while he wrestled for black equality. Not long single, Mandela met and married Winnie Madikizela, sure they would be together after their first date. Things ramped up and Mandela was soon persona non grata in the country, hiding from the authorities in order to protect himself. Mandela tells of his secret trips to other parts of Africa to meet with other black leaders who were also trying to toss the shackles of oppression from their peoples. And yet, the world stood by and watched as the politics of South Africa became more troublesome. The ANC ramped up its views and Mandela became a strong figurehead, eventually brought to trial for High Treason after espousing views of wanting to overthrow the government. Mandela makes clear that there was no way to follow a peaceful solution against the Government, though he may have wanted to parallel Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. However, targeted violence would not include the regular citizen and assassination was never promoted or condoned. Sentenced to life in prison after the judge chose not to impose the death penalty, Mandela began his twenty-seven years behind bars on Robben Island, an isolated prison facility.

A resident of the Robben Island prison Mandela speaks frankly about his incarceration and the treatment he received. While the meals were poor and the sanitary conditions less than ideal, I expected severe beatings and horrendous treatment at the hands of guards and wardens to pepper the narrative. However, Mandela was seen as an advocate for his fellow prisoners and earned the respect of the white prison hierarchy, to the point that he was given special treatment when presenting concerns to the prison authorities. His imprisonment became a political soapbox and many people from all corners of the world came to see him and listen to his views, though nothing changed. While the outside world continued to speak out against apartheid and issued sanctions, politics within the country sought to strengthen the racially divisive movement under a number of leaders, culminating in P.W. Botha, perhaps its most ruthless Afrikaner leader. However, as Mandela presents in the latter portion of the narrative, Botha readily met with Mandela and heard his complaints. Mandela continued to espouse equality and fought against apartheid, though Botha gave only lip service to these concerns. As the world began to shift toward the end of the 1980s, South Africa's apartheid views seemed to dissipate when Botha stepped down and F.W. de Klerk became prime minister. Under de Klerk, Mandela's sentence came to an end and he was able to leave Robben Island, completing the long and sordid walk to freedom.

Mandela is able to use the last dozen or so chapters to speak of this freedom and the changes that came to pass, though there was surely many hurdles to overcome and much reconciliation that needed to take place. Mandela advocated for free and open elections, even while de Klerk sought an outright veto over any legislation for the Afrikaners. Push came to shove and the racial divide led to more murders, increased resentment, and added pressure on Mandela and the ANC to prove that they could act within political means and not turn to guns. Mandela speaks frankly, though never stops pushing for talk over bullet to solve the issue. By the time the first open national election came to pass in 1994, Mandela was able to rise to the role of President of the South African Republic, the ultimate gift after decades of oppression.

Some who saw that I was reading this jumped immediately onto Mandela's being a communist (as though that were a poisoned moniker) and a terrorist. Both of these sentiments are true in their textbook form, though the flavour in which they were presented makes them seem horrid and worthy of vilification. To those people, who prefer to talk of peaceful whites and raping blacks (I kid you not), I can only offer pity as they allow ignorance to ferment inside their minds. It also shows that they have no interest in engaging in an intellectual conversation on Mandela or the apartheid era in South Africa. Mandela's upbringing was very much one of social equality for all and his interest in Marxist views fuelled a passion to see equality for every man, woman, and child within South Africa, irregardless of the colour of their skin or background. His terrorist leanings were borne out of a need to bring about needed change. I neither condemn or condone these actions, but I do see some rationale, as Mandela spoke of wanting to emulate Gandhi's protest in India. However, while the British were a sensible people with a democratic political system that permitted all to vote, South Africa would never allow blacks to have a political voice, thereby keeping them from ever bringing about change in a parliamentary means. Mandela spoke of two Americans coming to see him in prison, pushing the idea of Martin Luther King's triumphs in America without ever needing to promote violence. Again, Mandela spoke of how the US Constitution entrenched equal rights within the document and King was only trying to promote these sentiments in the racist south. So, while he was a terrorist in the textbook sense, one might wonder if it was for a good cause. Of course, that will not quell the views of those who are cemented into a hatred that could include burning crosses or half-truths, but then again, some people's ignorance comes from indoctrination and a refusal to expand their knowledge.

Mandela's crisp delivery is refreshing, especially as he speaks to frankly about these issues. I was drawn into the chapters and found myself begging for more information, even though I was already drowning in all the narrative had to offer. Mandela does not try to make himself look like a martyr or saint, but does not shy away from the evils he felt were developing around him. His love of self, family, and the larger South African state appears throughout. While this was an autobiography, it is balanced and can be called a realistic account, though I would be remiss if I took it as gospel. Mandela pulls no punches, while remaining above the fray and not getting himself stuck in the racial mud slinging that one might expect from someone who was oppressed for so long. He could have penned a powerful piece, highly critical of the government and scathing in its presentation, but by keeping things balanced and free from poisonous rhetoric, the reader is more likely to find pieces they support. The attentive reader will learn how Mandela devised early drafts of this piece and find themselves impressed with his ability to recollect so much. Far from succinct, but laid out perfectly to see the slow development of Mandela's struggles, the reader will surely appreciate the attention to detail and powerful arguments that pepper this piece from beginning to end.

Kudos seem to be too small an honour to bestow upon you, Mr. Mandela. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece and while others may criticise me for even considering it, I am happy I took the time to learn about these struggles within South Africa.

I would encourage anyone who knows of a good book that tells the opposite side of the argument to send me a recommendation. All I ask is that it is well-sourced and a grounded piece that does not spiral into hate speech. I am eager to see apartheid and the white struggle within South Africa, should it exist.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/ ...more

flag 112 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2019 Swaroop Kanti rated it really liked it

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. ~ Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom has been such an amazing journey. Thank you, Madiba!

Nelson Mandela is indeed one of the greatest moral leaders and heroes of our time! The way and walk to Freedom is long, but Mandela did not give up.. ...more

flag 95 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2019 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, culture, south-africa, africa-cultural, non-fiction, 20th-century, historical

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Long Walk to Freedom #1-2), Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography written by South African President Nelson Mandela, and first published in 1994 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison.

Under the apartheid government, Mandela was regarded as a terrorist and jailed on the infamous Robben Island. He later achieved international recognition for his leadership a Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela (Long Walk to Freedom #1-2), Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography written by South African President Nelson Mandela, and first published in 1994 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison.

Under the apartheid government, Mandela was regarded as a terrorist and jailed on the infamous Robben Island. He later achieved international recognition for his leadership as president in rebuilding the country's once segregated society.

The last chapters of the book describe his political ascension, and his belief that the struggle still continued against apartheid in South Africa.

عنوانها: راه دشوار آزادی: خاطرات نلسون ماندلا؛ راه طولانی به سوی آزادی: زندگینامه نلسون ماندلا؛ نویسنده: نلسون ماندلا؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: سال 1995 میلادی

عنوان: راه دشوار آزادی: خاطرات نلسون ماندلا؛ نویسنده: نلسون ماندلا؛ مترجم: مهوش غلامی؛ تهران، اطلاعات، 1374، در 804؛ و 23ص؛ مصور، عکس، شابک 9644233263؛ چاپ دوم 1379؛ چاپ سوم 1383؛ چاپ چهارم 1387؛ شابک 9789644233265؛ چاپ پنجم 1390؛ چاپ ششم 1392؛ چاپ هفتم 1395؛ چاپ هشتم 1397؛ موضوع یادمانها و زیستنامه ی نویسندگان افریقایی، افریقای جنوبی - سده 20م

عنوان: راه طولانی به سوی آزادی: زندگینامه نلسون ماندلا؛ نویسنده: نلسون ماندلا؛ تلخیص کوکوکاچالیا و مارک سوتنر؛ مترجم سیما رفیعی؛ تهران، عطایی، 1392؛ در 168ص؛ مصور؛ شابک 9789643137250؛ عنوان دیگر زندگینامه نلسون ماندلا؛

نگارنده ی کتاب «نلسون ماندلا» در روز هجدهم ماه جولای سال 1918میلادی در «ترنسکی، آفریقای جنوبی» به این دنیا آمدند؛ ایشان در سال 1944میلادی به «کنگره ی ملی آفریقا» پیوستند، و پس از سال 1948میلادی، پیش از دستگیری در ماه اگوست سال 1962میلادی، در برابر سیاستهای «آپارتاید» حزب ملی حاکم پایداری کردند؛ در ماه نوامبر سال 1962میلادی، ایشان به پنج سال زندان محکوم شدند، و در سال 1963میلادی در زندان «جزیره رابن» به نوشتن آغاز کردند، تا اینکه به «پرتوریا» بازگشت داده شدند، و سپس در آنجا، دوباره در دادگاه «ریونیا» محاکمه، و از سال 1964میلادی تا سال 1982میلادی دوباره در زندان «جزیره رابن» زندانی شدند، و سپس ایشان را به زندان «پالسمور» بردند، که در آنجا به تدریج به عنوان نماد قدرتمندی از مقاومت، در برابر جنبش ضد آپارتاید، به شهرت رسید؛ «ماندلا» در طول 27سال زندان، که بیشتر آن را در یک سلول در «جزیره روبن» سپری کردند، مشهورترین چهره ی مبارز علیه آپارتاید، در «آفریقای جنوبی» شندد؛ «نلسون ماندلا» یکی از راهبران بزرگوار سیاسی و مردمی دوران ما بودند؛ ایشان قهرمانی جهانی بودند، که زندگی خود را وقف مبارزه با تبعیض نژادی، در آفریقای جنوبی کرده، و به پاس آن از خود گذشتگی، جایزه ی صلح نوبل به ایشان اهدا شد، و به ریاست جمهوری کشورش رسید؛ «ماندلا» با اینکه بیست و هفت سال از بهترین سالهای عمر خویش را در پشت میله های زندان گذراندند، اما لحظه ای از پایداری و مبارزه در راه آرمان خویش دست نکشیدند، تا اینکه در سال 1990میلادی، در سن هفتاد و دوسالگی، دوباره آزادی خود را به دست آوردند، و در مرکز صحنه سیاسی جهانی قرار گرفتند؛ «ماندلا» به عنوان رئیس «کنگره ملی آفریقا» و «نهضت ضد آپارتاید آفریقای جنوبی» ملت خویش را به سوی آرمان «حکومت اکثریت»، و «دولت چند نژادی» هدایت کرده، و نیروی حیاتی در مبارزه در راه «حقوق بشر»، و «برابری نژادی» بوده است؛

این کتاب شرحی تکان دهنده و هیجان انگیز از زندگی ایشانست؛ «ماندلا» برای نخستین بار، از داستان زندگی خویش، از «حماسه ی مبارزه ها و شکستها»، از «امیدهای دوباره»، و از «پیروزی» سخن میگویند؛ «نلسون ماندلا»، برای میلیونها انسان در سراسر جهان، نمادی از «پیروزی امید و غرور»، بر «نومیدی و تنفر»، «پیروزی عشق و از خودگذشتگی و خویشتنداری»، بر «خصلتهای اهریمنی و انتقام جویی» مینگارند، و با خوانشگران خویش، سخن میگویند

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 07/04/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی ...more

flag 96 likes · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Donna Davis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, black-rights, memoirs-biographies-autobio, primary-sources, reviewed, pol-sc, blogged

If you are not a prolific reader, the size and weight of this volume may look daunting. After reading the first two or three chapters, you will be tempted to give up. DON'T!!! It's just about to get really good.

This autobiography chronicles Mandela's life, first as the son of a tribal chief, then as an educated Black man under Apartheid--a dangerous thing to be--and then the journey, both outward and inward, from attorney to the leader of a revolution. You will read about his time on Riecher's I ...more

flag 63 likes · Like · see review

Sep 21, 2019 Jean rated it it was amazing

Shelves: africa, memoir, civil-rights, autobiography, history, audio-book, politics

I had skipped over this book by Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) many times thinking I had read it. The other day I checked my records and was surprised to discovered I had recorded it to read but had not read it. I now have corrected that mistake.

The book is well written. It covers Nelson Mandela’s life from childhood to becoming the president of South Africa. The author also describes the history of South Africa and the various local tribes so I have a better understanding of the situation. The writ ...more

flag 58 likes · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2007 Missy rated it it was ok

First of all let me say that Nelson Mandela is an amazing man who has been through more trials than I could ever imagine, and he faced them with such class and strength. I am glad I know more about his history and his life as a "freedom fighter," and this book gave me greater appreciation for black South Africans. However, it was a long, long, long, long walk to freedom. I guess I like books that are written in story form, which shows some lack of intelligence on my part, unfortunately. It took ...more

flag 41 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2018 Saadia B. || CritiConscience rated it it was amazing

A hero who fought till he succeeded.

Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn ...more

flag 35 likes · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Cheryl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: africa

Where does one start with this? The story of freedom fighter, head of state, and world leader, Nelson Mandela--a book that spans his childhood, years spent in prison, and subsequent election as president. I grew up constantly reminded that a man, this man, was seated somewhere in South Africa in a prison cell, fighting for freedom for an entire nation and group of people.

The former president started this manuscript while in prison (sometime around 1974) and concocted a plan to have the original ...more

flag 34 likes · Like · see review

Oct 22, 2020 leynes rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: black-writers, african-writers

I finally finished Nelson Mandela's iconic autobiography Long Walk To Freedom. It is an essential text for anyone who is interested in the topics of racism and the anti-apartheid struggle, or simply in South Africa, and one of the most influential African leaders in recent history.

Unfortunately, I only read the German translation of Mandela's work, which made it a bit of a pain in the ass to read. [Seriously, if you're from Germany but understand English, I beg you to pick up the original becau ...more

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2017 Alex rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, africa

Long Walk to Freedom is the first book I've read by the leader of a country containing instructions on how to overthrow a country.

Mandela is serious about this. He mentions that when his African National Congress decided to commit to violence, they read "works by and about Che Guevara, Mao Tse-tung, Fidel Castro" to figure out how to do it. The phrase "A freedom fighter must..." recurs. He means this to be read by freedom fighters. This book is many things, but maybe the most important thing is Long Walk to Freedom is the first book I've read by the leader of a country containing instructions on how to overthrow a country.

Mandela is serious about this. He mentions that when his African National Congress decided to commit to violence, they read "works by and about Che Guevara, Mao Tse-tung, Fidel Castro" to figure out how to do it. The phrase "A freedom fighter must..." recurs. He means this to be read by freedom fighters. This book is many things, but maybe the most important thing is a manual for revolution.

It's also a defense of Mandela's legacy, and that part is interesting too. Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, which seemed odd to everyone since he has not advocated peace. "I called for nonviolent protest for as long as it was effective," he says. When it was ineffective, "I was candid and explained why I believed we had no choice but to turn to violence." He lays out the "four types of violent activities," which should be undertaken in order: "sabotage, guerrilla warfare, terrorism, and open revolution." The ANC never moved beyond sabotage, but he says clearly: "we were prepared to move on to the next stage: guerrilla warfare and terrorism." So maybe I shouldn't say defense. It's a clarification.

This sets us up for the most dramatic scene in the book, and one of the most dramatic in history: the Rivonia Trial in 1964, in which Mandela and several others were sentenced to life in prison for sabotage. This was a victory: death was on the table. Mandela chose not to defend himself; instead he delivered a statement about which his lawyers said, "If Mandela reads this in court they will take him out in back of the courthouse and string him up." Here's part of his statement:

I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love of violence, I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation after many years of tyranny, exploitation, and oppression of my people by whites.

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

You can actually hear part of this speech here - skip to 2:10 if you're in a hurry. It's an incredible thing to listen to.

I grew up while Mandela was in prison, and apartheid in South Africa was the first injustice I was aware of. My first experience with activism, in Amherst MA with the mighty activist Frances Crow, was running around town putting up posters with Mandela's face on them. Mandela screwed up my hair: in high school my mom wouldn't let me grow it long until I claimed that I wasn't cutting it until Mandela was freed, which she felt she couldn't argue with. They freed him like six months later and I was like aw, man. It seemed like a foolproof plan! I got to see him speak shortly afterwards in Boston on his freedom tour, but I didn't have a chance to tell him about my hair.

This is all to say that reading this book was a powerful experience for me. Mandela is one of history's true heroes of freedom. To be able to read his words is special and of immense value. I got actual chills at times, reading about how (for example) he refused to be freed if it meant compromising his movement. He was in jail for nearly 30 years. This isn't one of those books that makes you realize that the writer is just a person like you and me. Mandela was not like you and me. He was a titan. ...more

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2013 Caroline rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Caroline by: Donna

Shelves: 5-star-books, to-read-selms-orders, auto-and-biog

What to say about one of the world’s most highly esteemed books? I am wholly inadequate to give a review of the book as such, but here, as usual, are a few notes to remind myself of the reading...

(view spoiler) What to say about one of the world’s most highly esteemed books? I am wholly inadequate to give a review of the book as such, but here, as usual, are a few notes to remind myself of the reading...

(view spoiler)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book is a must read for anyone remotely interested in South Africa. At 750 pages it is a bit of a door stopper – but it is infinitely readable. Mandela writes wonderfully well, and his story is utterly gripping. It was a bittersweet read for me at this time, as he draws to the end of his life. He has been a monument on our landscape for so long, and such a great hero in the eyes of so many. Me included.

...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Amanda Brinkmann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics-reads

I tried reading this book SO many times right after it was published - but found myself so upset and saddened, that I realised I was simply not emotionally ready to deal with the contents. So - it sat on my shelf for nearly 10 years, before I felt ready and healed enough to pick the book up again.

It was, for me, a riveting read. I sobbed my way through a great many of the sections, I learned so much about the history of my country and the genesis of the African National Congress and its original ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Jun 21, 2015 Joey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiographies

I learned Nelson Mandela’s life from my high school history because of the word, apartheid. (Thanks to Mahatma Gandhi; he introduced him to us on his cause of Caste System in India.) However, I just scratched the surface of him t as my teacher did not tell much details about him as if he was not attached much importance to the subject. ( If I were my teacher, I would have told much more about him.) In fact, I mistook him for a Black-American. Uh-oh! I was still an ignoramus at that time despite I learned Nelson Mandela’s life from my high school history because of the word, apartheid. (Thanks to Mahatma Gandhi; he introduced him to us on his cause of Caste System in India.) However, I just scratched the surface of him t as my teacher did not tell much details about him as if he was not attached much importance to the subject. ( If I were my teacher, I would have told much more about him.) In fact, I mistook him for a Black-American. Uh-oh! I was still an ignoramus at that time despite the fact that I was enthused about studying history. Few years later, he drew my attention when he was in the news ; he was reported to have passed away. The world was so grieved by his death that he was almost the headlines of all the newspapers and news programs. Only that time did I realize that he was such a big name in the world. As usual, I desired to know him more by reading his life. However, I did not afford to buy his book then. Eventually, my generous-to-fault student gifted me this book. Of course, I grinned from ear to ear with joy. Full of enthusiasm, I started to read it. However, it took me time to finish it and ended up on my study table for a few months. The book is light because of Mandela’s prose but steeped in geographical places and anthropological and political terminologies only South African can almost relate to. Nevertheless, I liked it on account of Mandela’s ideologies, experiences, and speeches he delivered before his people.

I enjoyed reading Mandela’s autobiography because of his light English prose as the indication that he had studied well- typical of a smart student studying in English speaking countries. For your information, South Africa has many official languages, and English is one of them. Thus, not the majority of its population uses the language every day. Another impressive thing about writing his autobiography is his capability to incorporate his various feelings, be they in positive or negative, into his compelling narrations. Sometimes, other autobiographers write with highfalutin, highbrow, and high-flown stories or with unfathomably philosophical insights beyond my understanding (, but still I try to bend my mind to them until I bash my head against the wall ending up into a library of books or surfing the internet. Ones of best examples so far are Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Selected Writings and Poems.) Therefore, reading Mandela’s autobiography can be likened to a teen-ager’s diary. Everyone can take a fancy for his diary unless you are that a political animal. On the contrary, his usage of some political, geographical, and anthropological terms which I am not very much familiar with undermine the said like-a-teen-ager’s-diary element. You might get tired of them , saturated with the words you need to absorb in and turn over in your mind. In fact, it has 859 pages, the thickest book I have read this year. Thus, you have no choice but to turn to Google or to a library of history books if you are a Luddite in order to understand them by heart. That’s why I did not lay a finger on it for a few months. In the end, Mandela’s autobiography, in my hypothetical suggestion, could still be a critically acclaimed book for its two kinds ,A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM: NELSON MANDELA'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY: AN ABRIDGED VERSION- expunged some technical words and A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM: NELSON MANDELA'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY: UNABRIDGED VERSION, same with this original version.

Reading his speeches is also page-turning. There’s something about his speeches – they were like causing mass hysteria among South Africans at that time. I tend to read his narrations as fast as I could in order to imaginatively listen to them . As a matter of fact, I tended to search his speeches on Youtube wondering how he delivered them. I would say that Nelson Mandela, along with Malcolm X , has most moving speeches I have read so far.

Mandela’s autobiography reminded me of Malcolm X, another Black -American revolutionary who had somewhat the same cause—racial equality. Malcolm X , based on his best-selling authorized biography, also believed that Black-Americans should be equal to White Americans . He demonstrated against the culture of discrimination against his fellow Blacks. The only differences between their causes were: specifically, Mandela fought against the Apartheid whereas Malcolm X against general forms of discrimination. Still, both of their causes categorically fall to racial equality. Besides, there is one surprising thing that made me jump to my conclusion: Nelson Mandela’s last resort was using violence when he came to the point that diplomatic negotiation did not work at all. In fact, he had been influenced by the idea of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi on civil disobedience. After all , he succumbed to Malcolm X’ slogan , “ BY ANY NECESSARY MEANS.”, which I surmised he had disliked ;rather, admired Martin Luther King’s , “ I HAVE A DREAM.”I guess I can also conclude as well as you agree that , sometimes , in any circumstances even in history, Malcom X’s slogan worked and is feasible as long as this is the last resort as was Mandela’s. On the contrary, in the end, Mandela had proved that “virtue of patience” in the name of peaceful, friendly, and sincere ,as he put it, negotiation can work.
Likewise, Mandela was weaned on communism or Marxism - the political idea that also influenced Malcolm X and Richard Wright, famous for his books, The Native Son and Black Boy. Did this idea also occur to some revolutionaries in a place with insurgent atmosphere because of social injustice? So does to some at the present situation?

Before I finished it, Aristotle had taught me his The Republic, a philosophy book that also deals with the real meaning of JUSTICE. ( I haven’t written my review of it yet.) It has the dialogues among the Philosophers debating over the scopes of justice. As a student of his , discombobulated, mulling over his students’ philosophical explanation, upon reading Mandela’s autobiography, it dawned upon me that justice means equality. In other words, I applied understanding The Republic by Aristotle to Mandela’s book. For instance, for Plato and Socrates, justice is fulfilling one's appropriate role, and consequently giving to the city what is owed.* In a simple way, I want to illustrate the virtue Nelson Mandela believed in my life. I want that life in some aspects is “FAIR”. That’s why, without malice, without this air of pride and pompousness, I want to respect people regardless of their skin color , sex , and race ; I respect in action people with deeply-seated religious beliefs despite I have this Richard Dawkins’s –desire to change the world; I empathize “the destitute” despite that giving alms is not my principle except for “the needy”, but bringing them to their senses that capitalism is an evil, that living in this world is consummate “survival of the fittest”.

Mandela applied his rude awakening to equality to understanding the people he got along with . With this belief, he became a freedom fighter, stalwart, determined, humble with undefeated fighting spirit. That was Nelson Mandela, and in the end, despite the travails he had gone through, he made it to his final walk to FREEDOM.

Obviously, my long review of this book indicates my feeling of fulfillment. I am glad that I finished it after a short while. I do not regret having laid it aside on my study table. Just I let the time permit.

Thanks to my student ( Sr. Angela ) for picking it among the books in a book store, without the idea that I had longed to read it ; she had granted my wish. If I were a pantheist, I would exclaim ,”What a divine intervention!” ^_^
...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2007 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: look-ma-its-educational

It was an interesting read. Sorry, that's a bit of an understatement and the dry tone in my head doesn't really translate. Mandela is a good, clear writer, but not creative or inventive. One can see the methodical planning that made him such an effective political leader and innovator, but as the author of a 625 page book, his style is a little stiff. The first half of the book is about his upbringing and path into politics. The problem I was having was that there was no way to tell from his for It was an interesting read. Sorry, that's a bit of an understatement and the dry tone in my head doesn't really translate. Mandela is a good, clear writer, but not creative or inventive. One can see the methodical planning that made him such an effective political leader and innovator, but as the author of a 625 page book, his style is a little stiff. The first half of the book is about his upbringing and path into politics. The problem I was having was that there was no way to tell from his formative years how or why he stood apart. Indeed, I would say that as a literary figure, he does not become a leader until after he has been imprisoned for several years, past when he was considered a leader by members of his organization and constituency. Almost as if he needed to be a leader in the eyes of others before he considered himself to be one or truly acted as one. Maybe it is the reality that one cannot lead until after there are people who will follow that lead. I am interested in how he became such a leader in the eyes of the people. What is it about someone that turns them from an ordinary person to a freedom fighter or revolutionary to a true leader, born up by the masses.

I was also comparing the regime of South Africa to those in South America. The ANC and other groups in South Africa had certain advantages which made their form of protest -- the slow-downs, the rallies -- successful and possible, and ironically, the advantages stemmed from the control exercised by the colonial rulers and the legacy of British Imperialism. Mandela could, at times, invoke certain rules of law, and demand that the protesters were treated fairly under the laws. Whatever the laws at the time were (except the very last years where it seems the government learned that if they wanted to get serious about suppressing the people, they could not be hampered by the rule of law), the government would obey them. In contrast, in the South American dictatorships, headed not by imperial forces, there was no rule of law. People simply disappeared. The revolutionaries could not appeal to the court system for justice because the government did not have laws that even nominally protected dissenting voices. One thing Mandela said over and over again was the oppressing party dictated the terms of the struggle. Those who were challenging the government's policies had to respond in the manner in which they were treated. In India, the government allowed protest and dissent, which in turn meant that Ghandi could demonstrate by walking though the country and preaching nonviolence as a means of rejecting colonial rule. In contrast, in South America, a protester could not more begin to speak against the government before being shot, imprisoned or tortured, with no chance of appealing to a higher power for protection. Maybe that is why there were more rebels in countries trying to overturn the dictatorships than there were revolutionaries in the Western understanding of the term.

At the end of the book, when the power was really going to shift and Mandela, in his 80s, was elected president, I actually became more agitated. At what price was his freedom? And what would the people who fought so hard, who died, paying the ultimate price, think? Those who died, would they think their sacrifices worth while, especially because in the end it was through peaceful negotiation and compromise. With the transition away from apartheid being so moderate and their sacrifice being so extreme. Maybe it was the disconnect that struck me so forcefully, that Mandela himself never talks about being tortured or injured in the struggle. Throughout he remains the great statesmen who is untouched by the violence. Those who were tortured, hanged, beaten, or shot, by contrast seem like a corollary, unrelated to the final pressures that forced the government's position to the negotiation table. ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2013 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bio-auto-bio, favorites, 20th-century

If we do nothing else for those who suffer for a cause, we must at least bear witness and say, I have seen, and understood.

Many people the world over have waxed prolific and poetic on this book, and all that is left to say is, it is a must-read for anyone who cares about anything at all in this world. This struggle cannot be dismissed as a partisan "engagement". It is not just about apartheid; it is not about fighting a harsh regime; it is not about man's inhumanity to man -- and all that "stuf ...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2007 Tonya rated it it was amazing

What do I really have to say? :-) I read this before the first time I went to South Africa and fell in love with the country...hence two return trips! I had some amazing experiences during the pr days and one was a private tour of Robben Island with Ahmed Kathrada while in SA. He was imprisoned with and a close friend of Mandela's (one of eight sentenced to life imprisonment during the Rivonia Trial). Anyway, obviously it was amazing since he knew EVERYTHING about the time and place (he was ther ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2020 Dan rated it it was amazing

Long Walk to Freedom

I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter, I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Jul 29, 2013 Henry Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: permanent-collection

It is not very often that I set to read non-fiction. This book, however, was originally recommended to me by a Rwanda refugee and so I made an exception. What a good decision that was.
Although I was familiar with Mandela's life and South Africa's struggle against the apartheid regime, this book provided me with much more profound understanding of the struggle and the historical events leading to the eventual overthrow of the racist regime. This book, however, is much more than an account of a da It is not very often that I set to read non-fiction. This book, however, was originally recommended to me by a Rwanda refugee and so I made an exception. What a good decision that was.
Although I was familiar with Mandela's life and South Africa's struggle against the apartheid regime, this book provided me with much more profound understanding of the struggle and the historical events leading to the eventual overthrow of the racist regime. This book, however, is much more than an account of a dark time period in the history of humanity. Above all, this book is an amazing portrayal of a life of a man, an exceptional man who is much too human. We are taken through time, from Mandela's childhood to his presidency, blessed with a unique view of a man marked to die in a secluded prison. His struggle to become a "first-class" citizen and the brutal force with which the then government crushes the hopes of the young men and women is only but a part of the story. Most importantly, we are allowed a unique window into Mandela's psyche and his philosophy, for this book, to me, is mostly about human spirit, its strengths and its weaknesses. Mandela's contemplations regarding the social order, humanity, law, schools and his personal approaches are fascinating and profound. He delves into the depths of human behavior in a fluid, understandable way; his words flow on the pages from one event onto the next, while maintaining a uniform message. Although he did engage in securing financing for a possible armed conflict, his hopes and faith reside in a non-violent solution. Mandela's life is, after all, one giant wound on the face of mankind. Neglected and abandoned by the superpowers of the world, the people of South Africa never lost hope and Mandela is a fascinating and shining example of a man, stripped of everything, who, no matter what life threw in his way, maintained his dignity and his sight not only on the problems, but also on the solutions. An amazing read I am happy to recommend. This book should be read by everyone. ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2010 Kimberly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 50-book-challenge, books-i-own, south-africa

I bought this book in January and didn't get around to reading it until March. I was at a Goodwill 50% off sale the day I got this and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it.
As someone who has strong roots in South Africa but has never been there I am always eager to learn more about the country my father and his family were born in particularly because my father and his family left South Africa in the 40's to escape the apartheid even though they were "coloured" and not "black" it still im ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2008 Laura rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: travelers, organizers, aspiring world changers

Recommended to Laura by: a guy on my flight home from j'burg

I learned (as if I didn't already know) that I am one slack m*^&rf&*ker, and this is the perfect book to read if you need some motivation to get off your ass and/or get over yourself.

There are also a lot of fascinating things about his story that i didn't know -he grew up literally barefoot in the bush, bailed on being a tribal councilor and ran away from home, and a lot of interesting ins and outs of how african consciousness developed in SA the 60s and 70s, plus tips on how to keep yourself m ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Jul 16, 2020 R.K. Gold rated it it was amazing

I want to start this review off by saying the universe is a funny thing. Given the time we live in and the circumstances we are all facing this book fell on to my lap at the perfect time. One detail I want to highlight off the back was how happy I was as a Jewish American to see that Mandela worked closely with Jewish allies from his first job in Johannesburg in 1946 when he was hired by a Jewish attorney Lazar Sidelsky to his close friend and advisor Rabbi Cyril Harris during his presidency. I I want to start this review off by saying the universe is a funny thing. Given the time we live in and the circumstances we are all facing this book fell on to my lap at the perfect time. One detail I want to highlight off the back was how happy I was as a Jewish American to see that Mandela worked closely with Jewish allies from his first job in Johannesburg in 1946 when he was hired by a Jewish attorney Lazar Sidelsky to his close friend and advisor Rabbi Cyril Harris during his presidency. I guess it just felt good after seeing all the recent social media posts against jews to see them so frequently in this book.

So my initial thoughts on this man’s life were wow and they just never wavered from there. Before going into this book my knowledge of Mandela was Great Man, Fought Apartheid, President of South Africa. So right of the bat, reading about his childhood, reading he was Xhosa, reading that he was the son of a chief and destined for greatness from the very start was new to me.

It was clear from the beginning he was meant to disrupt. He showed us what life in South Africa was like for someone of his stature, how even with apartheid in place there were ways for men like himself to move up a certain amount in order to always keep the country divided. The system oppressed the right amount to turn neighbors on one another so a person could elevate their own status and see their countrymen as competitors.

When he’s young, after he’s adopted by another tribe and becomes best friends with the successor, we get a glimpse of the pathways available for men in his position as well as a vivid description of the living conditions. It’s clear that men in his situation aren’t just expected to go to the mines, but they’ve been brainwashed into thinking it’s the most noble thing a man can do through propaganda and that it’s real work. So again we see the system keeping everyone in the place the system has decided they belong. I’m going to transition away from a full synopsis now because to retell this story would take multiple days.

What I learned next is that disruption is an admirable trait. What made him so unique was he had no fear of being a disruptive force and always had a plan. I think that’s one takeaway I got from this book. He wasn’t always peaceful disobedience or pro-violence. His opinions were fluid given the circumstances he faced at any given time. He was prepared for any situation though, and it’s strange to say that a man who was locked in prison for 30 years made sure he always had options and always disrupted the system. Whether it be something as small as staying fit with morning workout routines or starting a garden and using the fresh food to get in the warden’s good graces, he was a master at understanding the motivation of others and tackling them one by one. I think that’s why he made such a great lawyer. Speaking of which, going back to my point on always having options, this wasn’t a man who went the traditional route to study law. He was studying it right up to his life sentence and even while he was in prison when the guards were saying he had no hope of ever getting out.

He never faced a wall he couldn’t find a way to climb. When he was on the run he hid in plain sight as a chauffeur and still running ANC meetings when he was out of the country learning the skills his resistance would need there was never any question that he would return with the knowledge he gained, it always came back to the liberation of those oppressed by apartheid.

He accomplished so much but he also admitted to having a single regret. I think he summed it up well when he said he couldn’t be the father of a nation and the father of a family. He regretted not being able to have a traditional husband and wife life and that moment of vulnerability only furthered his humanity. Maybe that’s the best way of describing Mandela, he was one of the most complete humans you could ever learn about. His goal never wavered, his integrity never waned, he was never too much of an idealist to change strategies but was far too much of one to ever change the end goal. ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 03, 2014 Kavita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: history, autobiography-memoir, africa, south-africa

It was indeed a long, long walk to freedom. Apartheid, established in 1948 in South Africa, was abolished in 1990. Nelson Mandela is one of the most well-known icons of the fight against this discriminatory system. This book explores his life, historical and political events during his lifetime, his thoughts and feelings as well as his contribution to the fight against apartheid and racism.

The book starts off with Mandela's childhood days, and sketches out his family connections and his prospec It was indeed a long, long walk to freedom. Apartheid, established in 1948 in South Africa, was abolished in 1990. Nelson Mandela is one of the most well-known icons of the fight against this discriminatory system. This book explores his life, historical and political events during his lifetime, his thoughts and feelings as well as his contribution to the fight against apartheid and racism.

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. This part drags a little, especially since I had no sympathy with the undemocratic procedures of ruling in the African tribes that keep out women and are authoritarian to a large extent. Mandela's first step towards freedom was when he ran away to escape an arranged (read,forced) marriage. From this point on, the story picks up as it explores his coming to terms with the knowledge of how his colour has the ability to influence his choices. The most interesting part of the book is the middle part where he describes his time in prison in detail. It is both horrifying and edifying and it is during these chapters that the reader develops a strong empathy with the man. The last part of the book deals with his life after prison, politics and the dismantling of apartheid. It also deals with the elections, violence and how Mandela ultimately becomes President.

Mandela is a thoughtful and educated man and has analysed everything in detail before he set it down on paper. Hence, he was able to tell us exactly what stand he took on an issue, why he took that stand and he also goes through the entire procedure of arriving at a decision. This serves to give a greater understanding of the man himself. I really enjoyed the small tidbits of his personal life and his relationships with other members of the ANC. There are flashes of humour in the book, and the emotions come through as well. While reading this book, one needs to remember that this is Mandela's story, and hence, his viewpoints and his thoughts about life and politics are what have been explained in detail. For example, there are instances where he makes excuses for a terrorist attack by claiming it was the inevitable result of oppression. He also overlooks Winnie Mandela's crimes. I disagree, but these are the events seen from his perspective.

One of the most interesting features of this book is that it showcases apartheid and its results in detail. He shows how apartheid affects every section of society. Even in prison, there is a distinction in the way different prisoners are treated on the basis of their colour. There was one incident that really stood out. When Mandela travels by plane on an underground mission, he was startled and fearful on seeing that the pilot was a black man. If this is how an activist fighting for freedom of black people reacts instinctively to black people in power, we have a long way to go to achieve true equality. Another interesting thing is that for most of the struggle against apartheid, Mandela was out of bounds, unable to communicate with his comrades and had no freedom of movement or any real political power. At one point, he mentions that the public had not seen his face for thirty years. Yet, he inspired a nation and took steps to bring about a peaceful beginning to a democratic State.

The book also makes a political statement, especially in the final chapters. Mandela stands up for ANC consistently and completely, so he is definitely boosting the party image. It helps to have a basic working knowledge of South African history and politics while reading this book. Mandela mentions all the major events and goes through their effects but I found I yearned for more knowledge to understand the situation better. I was consistently looking up everything for a more detailed analysis. For example, I had no idea why exactly opposed the 'group rights' clause so vehemently. This often happened because I guess the author wrote for a South African audience. The final chapters were too rushed but I guess it would take another lengthy book to make sense of the South African politics from 1990-1994.

I think this is a great book by a great man. It is not just what he aimed for in his life, but his spirit of compassion, inclusiveness, forgiveness and ability to live by his principles that made him great.

...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2014 Megan Baxter rated it really liked it

I've known far too little about Nelson Mandela. I knew who he was, of course, and some of the bare outlines of his life. But I think I'd fallen into knowing little more than what Cornel West, after Mandela's death, called the "Santa-Clausification" of the South African leader. By that, he meant the process of turning Mandela from who he was into a harmless, strangely apolitical grandfatherly figure that could be used as a symbol by left and right alike.

Note: The rest of this review has been wit ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Dec 24, 2018 Med Redha rated it really liked it

Shelves: politics, philosophie

While walking on "A long way to freedom", Nelson Mandela is definitely in history. "History is the meeting of a will and an event. Said Charles de Gaulle and this definition perfectly summarizes the path of the Nobel Peace Prize.

So many books, articles, exciting reports have been published about Nelson Mandela that I will not summarize his career but I will just give my feelings to listen to the audio version of his autobiography.
Feodor Atkine, with perfect diction, makes the text more intimate. ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2014 Christine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: memoirs-letters-and-diaries, history-south-africa

Recently, I was teaching a class where the students read an essay about the reconciliation meetings that were done in South Africa.
And my students did not know, or claimed not know, who Mandela was.
Sad, but true.
As time goes on, we forgot. We are a nation that has been, and in many ways still is, affected by 9-11, but the average college freshman who is currently 18 was 5 then. There are people whose understanding of apartheid, if they have one, is one of distance and this happened last gener ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Jun 02, 2014 Mikey B. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: africa, autobiography, 20th-century-history, human-rights

Page 623 (my edition)

In South Africa, a man of color who attempted to live as a human being was punished and islolated.

An exquisitely written book with many brilliant observations on life passages. It is not just about Nelson Mandela’s struggle to obtain freedom for his people in South Africa – it is a view of the dignity of a human being.

Nelson Mandela has a unique ability to gaze out at events outside of himself – some said that of Abraham Lincoln. Nelson Mandela is man of intense humanity and ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 R.D. Raven rated it it was amazing

7 Stars

At the end of this book I'm left with a number of emotions: humility, awe, wonder.

I've thought long and hard about how to review this book and already the word count is much higher than I'd wanted it to be. It is one of those books that, as a member of humanity itself, you are simply obliged to read.

It should be required reading for everyone, everywhere.

I will read it again many times in my life. Of this I am sure. I feel honored to have "shared" in his life vicariously by means of t ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2017 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read2017, favorites, non-fiction, top-300-books

My Lord, what a book!

This book depicts the harsh realities of living in the Apartheid South Africa! Imagine living in a country where you are denied basic human rights, been told you are less because of your skin colour. The scary thing is that South Africa was not the only country with this sort of system.

Nonetheless, Nelson Mandela's book is truly beautiful, honest, raw, emotional and makes you see that you should never stop fighting against what is wrong. He is a true testament to courage, ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Non Fiction Book ...: RR: Long Walk to Freedom (Aug 10 - Sep 30, 2020)	49	77	Sep 07, 2020 01:08AM
Around the Year i...: Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela	10	67	Mar 17, 2019 06:32AM
Summer Reading	1	5	Sep 11, 2018 05:33PM
Baaday Viongozi (...: NELSON MANDELA	1	1	Jul 10, 2018 09:03AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Biography

1,435 users

Nonfiction

1,350 users

History

793 users

Cultural > Africa

513 users

Biography > Autobiography

407 users

Autobiography > Memoir

381 users

Politics

356 users

Southern Africa > South Africa

204 users

Biography Memoir

189 users

Race

102 users

See top shelves…

About Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

1,551 followers

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99.

Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes com ...more

Other books in the series

Long Walk to Freedom (2 books)

Books by Nelson Mandela

Long Walk To Freedom (Volume 1: 1918-1962)

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales

Long Walk to Freedom (Volume 2: 1962 - 1994)

More…

News & Interviews

75 Debut Novels to Discover in 2021

Readers have a lot to look forward to this year! Just feast your eyes upon all of these debut books to check out and emerging authors to...

Trivia About Long Walk to Freedom

4 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Long Walk to Freedom

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.” — 1701 likes

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” — 1647 likes

More quotes…