The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 01, 2010 Sera rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, biography-memoir, library

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

Poitier also provides some int ...more

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Feb 24, 2022 Julie Griffin rated it really liked it

Sidney Poitier is the image of dignity and elegance in his onscreen roles and off. I revisited this book, as well as some of his films, in light of his recent passing, and realize what a big empty space he has left in the entertainment world.
As one of the most articulate and well-spoken (if that's not too redundant) actors of this era, Poitier surprises the reader with his humble beginnings. He was born and spent his early childhood on a tomato farm with no running water, electricity, or indoor Sidney Poitier is the image of dignity and elegance in his onscreen roles and off. I revisited this book, as well as some of his films, in light of his recent passing, and realize what a big empty space he has left in the entertainment world.
As one of the most articulate and well-spoken (if that's not too redundant) actors of this era, Poitier surprises the reader with his humble beginnings. He was born and spent his early childhood on a tomato farm with no running water, electricity, or indoor plumbing, and wore clothes made from his mother out of grain sacks. After the tomato farm failed the family moved to Nassau, where the teenage Sidney had more exposure to the modern world and also to the materialism and temptations, and racism, that he would push back against for the rest of his life. Some dangerous choices led him to a few days in jail for stealing corn, and his parents sent him to live with an older brother in Miami. He recounted being followed home by a police car, frightened to death, after he got off a bus in the wrong neighborhood. He bought a bus ticket as far away as he could afford, and ended up in New York City, where he washed dishes and learned to read before happening upon a theater advertising for actors of color. With no acting experience and barely able to read the script, he was shown the door, but came back again after more preparation and won the lead in a play that was ridiculed by the critics but earned him kudos for a performance that Poitier recounts as so bad it was funny. He took acting jobs and ran a barbecue rib joint with a friend, married, and had two children. After some touring plays including Raisin in the Sun, he won roles in Hollywood that made him a household name.
More than just an autobiography, Poitier attempts to lay out his feelings about humanity, being a decent person, spirituality, luck, and accountability. He writes as if he is speaking and that wonderful voice rings through the words.
It is refreshing to read about someone who cares about taking accountability for his failures as well as his successes, who searches for commonality in his life with all of us, and gives credit selflessly to others who have helped him on his rise. A great antidote to the drama and selfishness we see in so much of society these days. ...more

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