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.
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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) ( )

For a long time I didn’t know what I was going to say about this one, and even now, I can only delve into my own little garden, you know.

I forget exactly how this book came on my reading list—I can go years between downloading a sample and making a purchase, and obviously many or most of the books will never get that far. But I remember reading a new ager once, a spiritual psychologist, who on one of his vacations—instead of going to some golf club and stigmatizing the “rich people” at the golf club where he’s not the big salami, like many white people…. Although I won’t drop this decent individual’s name, and up the white race; he was just some decent individual—went to Robben Island in South Africa where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and worked at breaking rocks for all those years, (even though Mandela was a trained lawyer, you know, but he was also a Black, and that fact dominated his life), and the decent guy from…. Detroit, I knew it was the Midwest somewhere—he spent a day of his life breaking rocks a bit like Mandela did, and even without cursing guards, (even the Indian prisoners were treated better than Blacks at this prison, and actually all of Nelson’s white comrades got sent away to other places), it was seriously draining and psychically damaging; the Detroit counselor said he could feel the bad vibes still there after all those years.

Matthew (I have to mention someone’s name, even if it’s in my own way), said that he’s a radical Christian, a creation-y Christian, and not a new ager because new agers typically go so long on psychology and so short on sociology, politics. He did say that there’s an “old” (typical) new age and a “new” (atypical) new age, but I think those terms might not be helpful. There’s a weak new age/spiritual psychology, and a strong one. It’s not strong, or appropriate, to ignore the people on this planet who suffer the most. Even if they’re not trying to make more money to get into a nicer golf club or buy a horse or something—at least as an end in itself, which I’m sure it is, for some people, maybe even some ‘cool people’—sometimes with whatever form of psychology, healing the self, can get greedy: me and my healing, me and my time alone with my Creator—even me and my enlightenment, my transcendence, real or imagined.

One of the Course in Miracles teachers once said, When you think you’re in trouble, find a way to help others. THEN you’ll heal.

This unbearable whiteness of being is now over. For now…. Go to the light, the white light, lol. The white, light…. The white, light….

Anyway, in conclusion just, don’t call Mandela a terrorist unless you think that Churchill’s bombing of Dresden was a war crime, and if you think both of those things, well, I admire Gandhi, but pacifism seems like almost too hostile, too condemnatory, a thing for me.

And if bombing whole cities full of civilians is better than property damage, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe get a little more abstract; don’t look history in the face, ha.

…. Of course, in one sense, Mandela was eventually freed because he had been in prison so long—a whole generation—that things had gone by and the world had changed; the same views that were radical in the early 60s (he wants Black rule! He wants to take our power away!) we’re starting to be more moderate by the late 80s (he doesn’t want to drive us into the sea! He won’t shoot us!). And, then also, in de Klerk, Mandiba says, South Africa got its Gorbachev.

And as for Mandela himself, he was Martin and Malcolm in one.

…. “I was asked as well about the fears of whites. I knew that people expected me to harbor anger towards whites. But I had none. In prison, my anger towards whites decreased, but my hatred for the system grew. I wanted South Africa to see that I loved even my enemies while I hated the system that turned us against one another.”

…. I guess if you wanted to make a case against de Klerk, you’d say that he tried to play Indian against Black and rural and urban Blacks against each other; certainly there were things that Black and especially African National Congress people went through then that I can’t imagine going through. But I guess as cynical as many Afrikaners were in their history, I really want to believe that there was a good Dutchman as well. So….

…. (I always end up writing about the white people in books like this.) On the one hand, de Klerk certainly wiggled and stalled and tried to slow-ball the transfer of power, I guess hoping that the sky would fall in on Mandiba. But, even today, many white Americans put in his place would say, you know—well the whites have always won the elections before; maybe we just need to build a wall, and keep all the money on our side of it…. And plenty of whites would claim to be Way to the left of de Klerk, as long as no one ever calls their bluff, right…. You mean I’m not the primary material beneficiary of this new change? But everything’s about me…. I’m enlightened; I’m white—I’m to the left of de Klerk, for God’s sake!

…. It’s a long walk to freedom.

Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom takes readers from his early years in Mvezo through his twenty-seven year imprisonment and finally to his inauguration. This memoir focuses on the struggle to end apartheid, but does not discuss Mandela’s time in South Africa’s government so if you are looking for a complete picture of his life, you will need to supplement your reading. This memoir is interesting in a few different ways.

Despite your feelings about Mandela as a person, it must be acknowledged that the movement he led was incredible. Not only did the ANC manage to overthrow apartheid, he led South Africa to a democratic system in a time when more African countries were replacing their colonist yokes with dictatorships. South Africa is still in a lot of turmoil – racial inequalities and government corruption still reigns. But the steps he took are important, and it was fascinating to read about his journey.

Long Walk to Freedom is not a traditional memoir – instead, the narrative comes from two parts: first, Mandela’s “prison diary” describing his life up to his time in Robben’s Prison. Everything afterward has been converted from interviews between Mandela and journalist Richard Stengel, who ghostwrote Long Walk to Freedom. The flow of the memoir is fantastic and consistent – you really can’t tell the shift, and Stengel did an excellent job humanizing Mandela, combining the facts of his life on a grand scheme with the small pieces of daily life. One moment, he will be relaying information about early negotiations with the government and the next, an antidote about Mandela’s taste in wine. It’s all fascinating, but incredibly accessible, too.

While Long Walk to Freedom is quite a long memoir, I found it excellent and well worth reading, especially if you want to better understand the dismantling of apartheid from a primary source. This is not a piece of objective non-fiction. It’s a memoir, so it’s incredibly biased. That said, I really think it’s worth a read! Nelson Mandela is an important historical figure and a Nobel laureate and there’s no better source of information about an influential individual’s life then his memoir. ( )

A Long Walk to Freedom has been on my list for a long time. I had planned to visit South Africa in 2021 and wanted to learn more about the political history before I went. Mr. Mandela is a critical figure in the struggle for a unified nation and his autobiography did not disappoint.

I listened to the audiobook, which provided an immersive experience. From his time as his father's third son and a child of his father's third wife, to being the first leader of a new nation post-apartheid, he displays courage, humility, and persistence. He sacrificed a more traditional life with his family and among his people to fight for the principle of equality among the races.

The book is clearly, carefully crafted as both the person story of one man and a history of the struggle. His coauthor deserves credit for bringing this balance to such an important book. Additionally, the narrator also deserves kudos. It is probably an honor and a burden to be the voice of an iconic figure. Well done, all. ( )

This is a story of a great man who was surrounded by great people fighting for a great cause... This autobiography is told as a story of how Nelson Mandela was a stubborn and determined person who saw great injustice in South Africa and wanted changes by whatever means necessary. Throughout the book he stayed true to his principles that he didn’t just want freedom for people like him or less freedom for people unlike him, he wanted freedoms for everyone without any conditions. He sacrificed everything to make this happen and suffered dearly because of it.. he was a very humble man who wasn’t interested in the spotlight, but was a true leader in the fight for change against a nationalist agenda that repressed people based on the colour of their skin.. the cover of the book says this should be read by everyone alive and I couldn’t agree more! ( )

Mandela writes in an easy to read manner, not only giving you insights into his journey to becoming President of South Africa but also the history and culture of the country. From his experiences, I learned courage, perseverance, hope, and tips to be a good leader. ( )

An enlightening read. What a freedom struggle it was, and I'm sure still is. Prejudice is a defining mark in many societies, and it was incredible the extent to which it was manifested in South Africa. I applaud Mandela's pragmatic approach toward liberation, and his book shed light on what it takes to be a good politician. Many mistakes and much self-evaluation. ( )

I rarely read autobiographies, preferring biographies written by professional historians and writers. While many such professionals naturally fall into hagiography when presenting their subjects, they are certainly more objective and have the benefit if hindsight and historical relevance to fall back on.

That having been said, I have read “memoirs” from time to time, but like to follow up with a biography if I want to get a bigger picture or more objective presentation of the subject. In this case, while I have already ordered a work on the history of South Africa, this autobiography of Nelson Mandela should suffice to tell me what I need to know about his life and the struggles he faced.

The problem with many autobiographies, at least the ones not “ghostwritten” by others, is that the author is not a professional writer, and even a good editor can only do so much. This is clearly Mandela’s work, and while perhaps not pristinely polished, is certainly well written, and authenticity is important, especially in a case such as Mandela’s. I’m certain that others might paint certain aspects of his struggle differently, I doubt that there is any dishonesty, and even the barest amount of hyperbole contained in this presentation.

Most of what is contained in the work is very personal to Mandela, both with respect to the time frame involved, as well as the geography of the struggle, hence my desire to get a longer historical viewpoint and a “bigger picture” look at the fight against apartheid, but I certainly recommend this work for the view it gives into the mind of one of the seminal individuals of the 20th century. ( )

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela is an intriguing autobiography of one of the world’s foremost civil rights leaders. Born in 1918 in the Thembu tribe of the Xhosa people the book described Mandela’s upbringing as a child and adolescence. His education was at a Thembu College, and the University of Fort Hare. Later he earned a law degree while in prison. By the 1950’s Mandela had joined the African National Congress (ANC). During that time Daniel Francois Malan implemented the apartheid policies in South Africa. Mandela played a major role in the formation of ANC’s Youth League, and its policies shifted from peaceful civil disobedience to armed conflict.
The 1960’s saw ANC being forced underground as it grappled with the concept of armed struggle. In 1961 Mandela was convicted for inciting people to strike, and leaving the country without a passport. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment. Three years later in 1964 Mandela was arrested again and sentenced to life imprisonment for incitement of sabotage, treason, and an involvement in violent conspiracy. Mandela was to spend 27 years in prison on Robben Island. His experience in prison was harsh, a microcosm of South Africa’s apartheid world, and years in solitary confinement with hard labor. While in prison he was able to receive glimmerings of news about the apartheid struggles, received redacted letters from family members, and an occasional media report about the world.
It was in 1990 Mandela initiated, and was able to meet with South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk, who eventually freed him from prison. In 1993 he and de Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize. Multi-racial elections that followed in April 1994 and the ANC under Mandela’s leadership came to power. Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. ( )

A Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela, is an autobiography that describes the South African anti-apartheid struggle from his point of view. In the book, Mandela talks about his childhood, time in prison, and his political and social life. Throughout this journey, you see the development of an international hero, and one of the largest moral and political leaders. He uses various quotes to pursue his meanings in a secretive way; while creating a larger impact.
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. Mandela's first step towards freedom was when he ran away to escape an arranged marriage. After his escape, his education life follows and his first trial to becoming an international hero. On pg. 24 of chapter 2, he says, “On the first day of school, my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name and said that from thenceforth that was the name we would answer to in school. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. The education I received was a British education, in which British ideas, British culture, British institutions, were automatically assumed to be superior. There was no such thing as African culture. Africans of my generation—and even today—generally have both an English and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it had something to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, but that would be only a guess.” Ever since his first day of school, he was already seen as “different”. They were taught all about British culture, and British institutions. Whites didn’t bother and try to pronounce his name. They also believed that Africans should have English names because their native names were uncivilized. This makes me wonder and feel amazed at how much society has changed in a positive manner. People now are much more united and significantly less ignorant. Later on in the story, Mandela talks in depth about his life in prison; it is both horrifying and edifying and it is during these chapters that the reader develops a strong empathy with the man. For example, on pg. 276 of chapter 61, he says, “ Prison is designed to break one's spirit and destroy one's resolve. To do this, the authorities attempt to exploit every weakness, demolish every initiative, negate all signs of individuality--all with the idea of stamping out that spark that makes each of us human and each of us who we are.” While prison is designed to break one’s spirit and destroy one’s resolve; Nelson didn’t let it get to him in his 27 years in prison. While I’ve never experienced something similar to this myself but I can imagine how authorities can try and demolish you mentally. This truly shows his colors; his spirit of compassion, forgiveness, inclusiveness, and ability to live by his principles that made him. In addition, the final parts of the book deal with his life after prison, politics and the dismantling of apartheid. It also deals with the elections, violence and how Mandela ultimately becomes President. For example, on pg. 127 of chapter 20, he says, “ Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”Education is what allows us to learn and grow. It is also what allows us to escape poverty. For instance, my parents came from Mexico to the U.S so I could get the chance to go to a university and live a better life than they did. Without education, no one would have the chance to better themselves, their families, or their future.
In conclusion, A Long Walk to Freedom was truly a magnificent journey and a must read. Mandela’s journey and his hardships all convey the message of, “fight for what you believe is right” and Mandela did just that. Nelson Mandela is truly worthy of his title of an “international hero”. The wisdom, fortitude, strength, and humanity of Nelson Mandela radiated from every page. I felt very enriched after closing the last page of the book, but I also felt an immense sense of anger after the final page; I wanted more! The autobiography creates another layer of perspective; after reading it you can not look at things the same anymore and it creates an experience as if you were the one going through this journey. It was truly a long, long walk to freedom.

A long awaited read for me- I enjoyed it very much. I found quite a few of the details about Mandela's imprisonment surprising - due to the fact that I thought I had known his story through media coverage. At the time of Mandela's death, I watched several documentaries but found this book more illuminating. A very strong, brave man. ( )

Wow! It has been such an amazing journey. Thank you Madiba. I actually felt like I was there with you - in your childhood, all those years in the jails and the long walk to freedom. I will truly miss those moments and of course you. Maybe I will revisit all those moments again, after few years, by rereading this awesome book. ( )

This is a detailed history of Nelson Mandela's struggle to help South Africa overcome apartheid. Strangely, there is not as much about himself as I expected. It is more of a recitation of who did what, and when, rather than how he felt about anything. It's very long. Twenty years after the end of events portrayed in this book, I wonder what people think has been the result. ( )

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
I am not sure how I want this review to go because I was incredibly touched by this story and the struggles that Nelson Mandela went through. I think that the struggles he went through made him the man that he was. I think that any man who can stand forward to unify the races and to bring peace is an admirable person. No one is perfect and neither was Mandela and his story told this. I love an autobiography when a person can admit there weaknesses and strengths as they tell a story. ( )

Should I stress that this should be on the top of your reading list? It should be obvious. The incredible sacrifices made by this Mahatma Gandhi of South Africa is at time unbelievable. While South Africa has found it's Mandela, the whole world is waiting for one and needs one urgently.

This was a worthy read of the life of a great man, the times he lived in and the men and women he strove beside to overturn the evil of apartheid.
It showed that even in his decades of life in prison, he still accomplished much, while trying to hold onto his dignity and fight against many of the petty indignities and tyrannies that were exercised against helpless prisoners.
The struggles and compromises continued when freed from prison and Mandela offered the first tentative gestures of cooperation before he'd even been released, which I hadn't realised. ( )

Should I stress that this should be on the top of your reading list? It should be obvious. The incredible sacrifices made by this Mahatma Gandhi of South Africa is at time unbelievable. While South Africa has found it's Mandela, the whole world is waiting for one and needs one urgently.

I truly relished reading this book from cover to cover. It was long for a picture book, but well worth the time. What I enjoyed most about this book was its content. The book is very interesting, and I learned a lot from reading it. This book takes the reader on a journey from the birth to the death of Nelson Mandela. It was enormously informational but still interesting to read. The book covers all of the hardships nelson faced, such as, being in jail for 27 years for attempting to “overthrow the government” and running away from home as a teenager to a foreign place far from home. This book is the official picture book of his autobiography, so it is all written in first person. I think that makes a substantial difference when reading the story because it makes it that much more personal. This book touched on a lot of important topics from apartheid, to democracy, to rioting and protesting. There is a variety of vocabulary activities that could be done with this book. More importantly, this book is such an amazing story because it sheds light on such a horrendous period of time and presents the information in a way that children can understand, without the integrity of the story being lost. For example, to explain what apartheid is, the author wrote, “Apartheid was a cruel system. It classified every person in South Africa according to race for example, as ‘black,’ ‘colored,’ or ‘white,’ and controlled the loves of those who were not white.” The author did a great job of being descriptive and true, while making the information digestible for children. If this autobiography gives any message to children, its to never give up no matter how many odds are against you. This is an excellent book that shares a powerful story of an exceptional man, and this would be a great in a social studies class. ( )

Just finished reading Long Walk to Freedom in preparation to a holiday in South-Africa.

How to review an epic work like this one?

After finishing reading about Mandela's struggle which was his life, I can only humbly assess what I think of this book as a medium to tell his story, for his life's story as such is to be rated by everyone with 6 stars out of 5 -- simply amazing.

The book however, was a bit too long for my liking and from time to time a bit too factual. Less a biography than a history textbook, if you know what I mean.

On the other hand, there were many passages which kept me glued to the pages too, but there could have been more.

Nevertheless, a recommended read if you're looking for exemplary inspiration on perseverance or on an interesting view on the recent history of South-Africa. ( )

Brilliant, love this gut and his never say die attitude, a fantastic read and also educational at times if you are not up to speed with Apartheid anf what it meant ( )

First read this book when I was 19 years old. The spirit of this man was inspirational. He has definitely left his mark in this world. ( )

A truly remarkable life--it's amazing to read about everything he experienced and what a difference he made in the world. Well-written and compelling, to boot. Some great quotes:
1) 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.--p. 368, Rivonia Trial
2) I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it....The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.--p. 622
3) 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.--p. 622

I also recommend the Idris Elba movie! ( )