Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
-Print: (Bib info from Amazon website: Hardcover) COPYRIGHT: December 12, 2013; ISBN-13: 978-1408703113; PUBLISHER: Little Brown Book Group; LENGTH: 784 pgs.
-Digital: (Bib info from Amazon website: Kindle) COPYRIGHT: March 11, 2008; PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition; FILE: 5750 KB; LENGTH: 684 pgs.
*Audio: (Info from Libby) COPYRIGHT: Released 17-July-2011; PUBLISHER: Hachette Audio; DURATION: (approx.) 28 hours; Unabridged (LAPL MP3)
Feature Film or tv: Yes. 2013 “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”

SERIES: No.

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
-Selection: Something I’d read earlier had mentioned this book, reminding me that it was time I learned about Nelson Mandela.
-About: Nelson Mandela's life, from 18 July 1918 – publication of the book in 1995. Political conditions in South Africa; Nelson Mandela's philosophy and his vision of freedom and equality for all people in his country; The political organizations formed in resistance of apartheid and contention between them.
-Liked: I’d worried that this autobiography would be too graphic and brutal, but it does not focus excessively on the physical brutalities that prisoners suffer.
I’m happy to have gleaned a much greater understanding of the struggles of South Africans and the successes eventually won by their resistance to apartheid.
I liked learning that for decades Mandela refused to embrace violence, and then the eventual rationalization that possibly it could be a tool of last resort - but only the least grievous approach of destructive sabotage, rather than setting out to cause anyone bodily harm. My impression was that he himself (as opposed to his organization, the African National Congress (ANC)) only ever reached the training and planning stage before being incarcerated for 27 years. I liked too, that he admired Gandhi's approach of self-starvation; though he did not feel that it would have any effect in his own circumstances.
-Disliked: Nothing comes to mind. While this is a very long book, it kept my interest throughout.
-Overall: I feel better like I am finally a little educated about Africa, and am pleased to have developed deep admiration of Nelson Mandela

AUTHOR:
Nelson Mandela: “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (/mænˈdɛlə/;[1] Xhosa: [xolíɬaɬa mandɛ̂ːla]; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.” (__Wikipedia)
Richard Stengel (collaborator – assisted with editing, revising, writing): “Richard Allen Stengel (born May 2, 1955) is an American editor, author, and former government official.[1] He was Time magazine's 16th managing editor from 2006 to 2013.[2] He was also chief executive of the National Constitution Center from 2004 to 2006, and served as President Obama's Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2014 to 2016.[3][4][5] Stengel has written a number of books, including a collaboration with Nelson Mandela on Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.[6][7]

His 2019 book, Information Wars: How we Lost the Battle Against Disinformation and What to Do About It, recounts his time in the State Department countering Russian disinformation and ISIS propaganda.[8] In December of 2022, Audible released released Stengel's 10-part podcast, Mandela: The Lost Tapes, which uses more than 60 hours of taped interviews Stengel did with Mandela for Long Walk to Freedom.[9]” (__Wikipedia)
President Bill Clinton (forward): “William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1983 to 1992, and as attorney general of Arkansas from 1977 to 1979. A member of the Democratic Party, Clinton became known as a New Democrat, as many of his policies reflected a centrist "Third Way" political philosophy. He is the husband of Hillary Clinton, who was a U.S. senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, secretary of state from 2009 to 2013 and the Democratic nominee for president in the 2016 presidential election.” (__Wikipedia)

NARRATOR(S):
Michael Boatman: “Michael Patrick Boatman (born October 25, 1964) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his roles as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom Spin City, as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama series China Beach, as 101st Airborne soldier Motown in the Vietnam War movie Hamburger Hill, and as sports agent Stanley Babson in the HBO sitcom Arli$$. He also starred in The Good Fight, the Paramount spinoff of The Good Wife.” (__Wikipedia)

GENRE: Nonfiction; Biography; Politics; History; Autobiography

SUBJECTS: Politics; South Africa; Political resistance; Leaders; Foreign Relations; History; Margaret Thatcher; World Politics; Racial oppression; Nobel Piece Prize; African President; Anti-apartheid; Africaans

DEDICATION:
“I dedicate this book to my six children, Madiba and Makaziwe (my first daughter), who are now deceased, and to Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani, and Zindzi, whose support and love I treasure; to my twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who give me great pleasure; and to all my comrades, friends, and fellow South Africans whom I serve and whose courage, determination, and patriotism remain my source of inspiration.”

EXCERPT: (From Chapter 112)
“I used my speech in Norway not only to thank the Nobel committee and sketch out a vision of a future South Africa that was just and equitable, but to pay tribute to my fellow laureate, Mr. F. W. de Klerk.

He had the courage to admit that a terrible wrong had been done to our country and people through the imposition of the system of apartheid. He had the foresight to understand and accept that all the people of South Africa must, through negotiations and as equal participants in the process, together determine what they want to make of their future.

I was often asked how could I accept the award jointly with Mr. de Klerk after I had criticized him so severely. Although I would not take back my criticisms, I could say that he had made a genuine and indispensable contribution to the peace process. I never sought to undermine Mr. de Klerk, for the practical reason that the weaker he was, the weaker the negotiations process. To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes one’s partner.”

RATING:
5 stars

STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
6/08/23 to 6/19/23 ( )

At nearly 800 pages this is LONG! It shows you everything Mandela went through from his childhood in the Thembu tribe to Robbin Island and beyond. It was interesting reading about the apartheid struggle from Mandela’s point of view and learning more than I ever remembered from the news.
( )

Fascinating. If it were physically possible, I'd've read it in one sitting. ( )

Nelson Madela was a lawyer, then involved for most of his life with the ANC (African National Congress), when he fought for the rights of black Africans and against apartheid when that was instituted in the 1950s. He went to prison in 1963 and spend almost three decades there as a political prisoner (alongside other members of the ANC and other similar political groups) before being freed in 1990. This is his autobiography up to when he became president of South Africa in 1994.

In the first half, I found his personal life more interesting than his work/political life. But the second half really picked up for me. I found his time as a prisoner the most interesting part of the book. He (and the other political prisoners) managed to continue to fight as much as they could from within the prison walls. He really was an amazing man, but sadly his family life suffered for everything he did for the people of South Africa. ( )

I listened to the audiobook version of this. Would really recommend that rather than simple reading the book. The biggest takeaway that I got from this was that it's a great insight into the spirit of a man and how he went with his gut / feelings/ desire to see his country freed from apartheid. In the beginning we learn about hos he was selected to marry a woman by the elders from 'The Regient' and in defiance Nelson ran away - this was especially remarkable because from a very young age you learn that he was not one to be pushed around & instead tried to fight to get what he wanted. That was wonderful. Most people like to explain fortune/struggles as people having 'good luck' - but this story shows that he CHOSE to run away, there wasn't "luck" involved! Faith wanted him to get married, but he chose NOT to. Reminded me of something Mathew McConaughey said ... "Knowing where you are NOT is as important as knowing where you are."

I tried to rewind the audiobooks to find out the exact situation or event that resulted in Nelson wanting to continue with his freedom struggle, but it actually was a gradual shift over time - from breaking up meetings to agitations to taking part in protests. Finally, his stay on Robben island was phenomenal. The descriptions of everything that went there & how he had to stay for 19 years and then went to the next prison for another 7-8 yrs was unbelievable!

Would definitely recommend! (though perhaps a bit too much of politics involved especially if you aren't from South Africa and don't understand the history) ( )