Amazon.com
The famously taciturn South African president reveals much of himself inLong Walk to Freedom. A good deal of this autobiography was written secretlywhile Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island by South Africa's apartheid regime. Among the book's interestingrevelations is Mandela's ambivalence toward his lifetime of devotion to public works. It cost him twomarriages and kept him distant from a family life he might otherwise have cherished.Long Walk to Freedom also discloses a strong and generous spirit that refused to be broken under the most trying circumstances--a spirit inwhich just about everybody can find something to admire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truly Inspiring
While some have hailed Mr. Mandela as "The Greatest Statesman of the 20th Century," I feel grossly inadequate in making such a claim (being an American who has never lived in South Africa).However, this book is one of the best books I have ever read and Nelson Mandela inspires me. ... Read more

Book Description
"A treasure for everyone in the family."—Bill Cosby

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales is a cause for celebration, landmark work that gathers in one volume many of Africa's most cherished folktales. Mandela, a Nobel Laureate for Peace, has selected these thirty-two tales with the specific hope that Africa's oldest stories, as well as a few new ones, be perpetuated by future generations and be appreciated by children throughout the world.

In these "beloved stories, morsels rich with the gritty essence of Africa," we meet, among many others, a Kenyan lion named Simba, a snake with seven heads and a trickster from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena and learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. Several creation myths tell us how the land, its animals, and its people all came into existence under a punishing sun or against the backdrop of a spectacularly beautiful mountain landscape. Whether warning children about the dangers of disobedience or demonstrating that the underdog can&#151and often does—win, these stories, through their depiction of wise animals as well as evil monsters, are "universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical."

What is particularly exciting about this book is that many of the stories, in their oral form, are almost as old as Africa itself. Most of them were, in fact, first told in various African tongues around evening fires in centuries past—tales from, for example, the San and the Khoi, the original hunter-gatherers and livestock herders of Southern Africa. Translated into English and other European languages chiefly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries from their original languages—be they Karanga, Nguni, Xhosa, or one of many others—these folktales are a testament to the craft of storytelling and the power of myth.

Accompanied by dozens of enchanting, specially commissioned color paintings, Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales—culled from African countries as far-flung as Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya&#151presents a fountain of precious knowledge that will be treasured by children, as well as adults, for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

great buy!
I bought this book for my newborn and I recommend it for children of all ages.The stories are great tales to share with your family.They are even entertaining for adults.I highly recommend this book.

fabulous....
These stories are delightful, the illustrations are superb...I bought a copy for my grand-daughter, and was so enthralled that I ordered a second copy for me!

Simply Lovely
The stories are rich and full of life.Storytelling lives on...thank you! ... Read more

Book Description
Nelson Mandela hardly needs an introduction. However, this powerful biography provides an in-depth look at the man who grew up in a rural village in South Africa under racist apartheid rule--a regime he ultimately helped overthrow. Denenberg explores the history of South Africa and its often violent struggle for civil rights, while tracingMandela's role in that history. Lawyer, leader of the African National Congress, political prisoner who spent 26 years in jail, president--no one else has had such enormous influence on his fellow South Africans . . . or his fellow human beings. ... Read more

Book Description
Perfect for book reports or summer reading, DK's acclaimed Biography series tackles two of history's most inspiring human rights figures: Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiring biography of Nelson Mandela
This biography of Nelson Mandela was my 13-year old daughter's introduction to the world of Apartheid.She found the book, and its depiction of Mandela's sacrifices and extraordinary acheivements, inspirational.
... Read more

Book Description
A collection of some of the most historic and inspirational addresses by one of the most renowned political leaders of our day.

The most stirring voice to come out of South Africa, Nelson Mandela has brought his message of freedom, equality, and human dignity to the entire world. Now, for the first time, his most eloquent and important speeches are collected in a single volume.

From the eve of his imprisonment to his release 27 years later, from his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize to his election as South Africas first black president, these speeches span some of the most pivotal moments of Mandelas life and of his countrys history. And they memorably illustrate his lasting commitment to freedom and reconciliation, democracy and development, culture and diversity, and international peace.

The extraordinary power of this volume is in the moving words and intimate tone of Mandela himself, a living legend and one of the most articulate, courageous, and respected men of our generation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Worthy Collection ofThoughts and Vision
IN HIS OWN WORDS is perfect reading for history buffs. There are 545 pages of speeches, addresses and statements of Nelson Mandela. When you read this collection of words by Mr. Mandela, you come away with a better understanding of this man who has dedicated his life to his belief of freedom and equality.

Nelson Mandela is a prolific writer as well as a gifted speaker. There are twelve chapters in IN HIS OWN WORDS. Because of its length, I suggest that you read this book by first reading the topics that most interest you. I started with Education, Health and Culture and was moved by Nelson Mandela's compassion and his tenacity to remain focused in his one man crusade for democracy for all people. As someone who enjoys reading about history, I read the remaining chapters over several weeks and found them to be fascinating. Very much worth reading.

Vannie(~.~)
Work & Family @ BellaOnline.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/Site/workandfamily

legendary speeches
Rebeccasreads highly recommends IN HIS OWN WORDS for those who have ever wondered how this man moved generations of people to agitate for civil rights. Settle down with this big, big book & relive the ideas that inspired us, & get a rare glimpse of the heroes from another time & another place.

Because these are public speeches, there will be repetition - relax & let the words flow over you. & while most of us won't notice it, what we read from the book in no way indicates the timbre, cadence & nuances of the spoken word, so it would have been a wonderful completion had a DVD sound recording of one or two of Nelson Mandela's speeches been included.

The extraordinary power of IN HIS OWN WORDS is in, once again, hearing legend's way of expressing himself, who, along with Mahatma Gandhi & Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of the most articulate, courageous, & respected men of our time. The list of people who contributed their impressions is extraordinary, & illustrates how deeply Nelson Mandela changed our lives & our world.

fine compilation
This is a compilation of Nelson Mandela's speeches divided into twelve categories that run a diverse classification.The topics run the gamut of historical: "Struggle" "Freedom", "Reconciliation", "Nation Building" and "Development"; social: "Education", "Culture", "Religion", "Health" and "Children"; Cross sectional: "Heroes" and "Peace".The collection provides a one source to obtain the works of a key twentieth century person, but like any of these IN HIS OWN WORDS is repetitive and at times boring.Unless needed for a school assignment, this biographical oratory is best savored over several weeks as Mr. Mandela through his words show why he remains an inspirational influential individual whose speeches provide a deep insight into the man, the legend, and an era of transition.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Book Description
Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has dedicated his life to fighting racism, segregation, oppression, and exploitation¿and championing democracy, equality, and education.

Mandela: The Authorized Portrait celebrates the courage, determination, and remarkable humanity of a great man and chronicles his extraordinary contribution to humankind.

Much of the story in Mandela: The Authorized Portrait is told by those whose very lives he has touched. Drawing on 60 original and extensive interviews with family members, close friends, colleagues, and many of the world's leading figures in politics and entertainment, Mandela: The Authorized Portrait tells the inspirational story of an incredible manth and early childhood in rural South Africa and his involvement with and eventual leadership of the African National Congress through his 27-year imprisonment and eventual emergence as one of the world's notable leaders and most active agents for change.

This richly designed portrait features a foreword by former U.S. president Bill Clinton and an introduction by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It is illustrated with 250 images and features material taken from private collections as well as the Nelson Mandela Foundation archive¿some of it published here for the first time. Mandela: The Authorized Portrait features artifacts and facsimiles of Mandela's voluminous writings and correspondencerds of his negotiations with the prison authorities, intimate letters to his family and friends during his imprisonment, and material from Mandela's personal diaries and calendars.

Mandela: The Authorized Portrait is one of the most lavishly illustrated and comprehensive tributes to Nelson Mandela's life and work ever produced.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Lots of information about Mandela
I hate leaving a book less than 5 stars, I really do. The book has lots of information and important facts about Mandela, but the problem I have is "ease of readability." There were so many things I just couldn't understand due to the author's extremely large vocabulary and phrasing. I suppose maybe that's my fault on some level, but the phrasing was so difficult I only grasped a small percentage of the book. Yes, there are lots of photos. Yes, there are handwritten pages Mandela wrote from his cell (none of which I could legibly read), as well as tons of dates and credits to acknowledgements. Unfortunately, I've decided to leave this book on the shelf.

A Beacon of Promise in a Troubled Continent
Nelson Mandela stands as a Beacon in South Africa, Africa, and the rest of the world as an example of what a political leader should be. Not only was he largely responsible for the 'one person one vote' changes in South Africa, but then after he was elected president he served one term and retired. This is very un-politician like. Especially in the third world politicians seem to stay in office until they die. Then again, there was FDR in this country.

This is a splendid book. It is profusely illustrated, and not quite a biography so much as a tribute. There are dozens of comments, interviews, documents from the time, historical reports and so on that record his struggle.

Mandela did marvelous things, great things. I wonder though what will be the story of South Africa after he and his legacy are gone. There are political movements afoot there who preach that the whites should all be kicked out, that their property should be confiscated, and that South Africa will be like the rest of Africa in poverty and misery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Important story but the execution is lacking
Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela is a biography telling the story of Nelson Mandela's life, beginning with his childhood and ending with his retirement from public office in 1999.Significant events are described, including Mandela's imprisonment for fighting apartheid, his being elected the first black president of the Republic of South Africa,and his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to peace.

This book is appropriate for ages 8 through 11.I would use this book in a school setting.The illustrations, which were made using gouache on watercolor paper, interpret the story appropriately.However, while they may be appealing to children because of their bright colors and childlike quality, I feel that more traditional African illustrations and photographs would be more appropriate for the subject matter.A hand-drawn map of South Africa appears on the endpapers. ... Read more

Book Description
The inside story of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, told through the experiences of one of its unsung heroes, with an introduction by Nelson Mandela

A South African of Indian descent, Mac Maharaj was a potent force in the Communist Party and African National Congress for nearly four decades. Tortured by South African security forces, he served twelve years in prison with Nelson Mandela and was able to smuggle out a painstakingly miniaturized copy of Mandela’s autobiography. He continued to play a key role in the movement and participated in the negotiations that ultimately led to a free South Africa in 1994. In Mandela’s new government, he served as minister of transport. Drawing on extensive interviews with Maharaj over the last eleven years, Padraig O’Malley vividly captures the experiences of this South African freedom fighter. By telling Maharaj’s story, O’Malley sheds new light on the decades-long battle against apartheid as well as the more recent struggle to build a free South Africa. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Real Insights
This is a vitally important book for understanding the transition to democracy in South Africa. O'Malley leaves no stones unturned and while much has been written about South Africa's transformation too few authors have asked the really hard questions and dug up the hard to find facts of what went on behind the scenes. O'Malley does this hard work. In this book readers will find never before published underground communications, look into secret missions, but most importantly understand the physical and emotional pain involved in being a true rebel. No film could equal the real life drama that unfolds in this story. Some of the early pages are a bit slow, but give this book time and you will be rewarded with a unique story of intrigue, violence, revolution, love, change, rise and fall-- and rise again. This is a beautiful and necessary work that should not be missed. ... Read more

Book Description
"It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller never die in Africa."—Nelson Mandela, from the foreword

The vibrant tradition of African folktales—an oral heritage that predates Ovid and Aesop—is long and varied, but to date it has been largely overlooked in the West. Aware of this gap, Nelson Mandela selected thirty-two stories, many of them translated from their original tongues, to show the seminal role of African folklore in world literature. We meet tricksters from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena and learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. These fables present a veritable bible of stories "universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts and the mystical." Winner of the NAACP Image Award. ... Read more

Book Description
On 11 July 1963, police raided Lilisleaf farm at Rivonia near Johannesburg, arresting alleged members of the high command of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Together with the already imprisoned Nelson Mandela, they were put on trial and charged with conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government by violent revolution. Their expected punishment was death. In The State vs. Nelson Mandela their defence attorney, Joel Joffe, gives a blow-by-blow account of the most important trial in South Africa's history, vividly portraying the characters of those involved, and exposing the astonishing bigotry and rampant discrimination faced by the accused, as well as showing their courage under fire. ... Read more

Book Description
Presents a brief look at the life of Nelson Mandela ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

La lucha contra el apartheid -- ¡En vivo!
Aquí tenemos una colección importante de declaraciones por Nelson Mandela,dirigente de la lucha en contra el sistema racista del apartheid en Sudáfrica. Incluye los textos de sus intervenciones antes tribunales del estado del apartheid, cuando el fue enjuiciado y encarcelado con cadena perpetua por su participación en la lucha.

Mandela habla de la historia de opresión y explotación en Sudáfrica y de las protestas de las masas revindicando sus derechos. Presenta la perspectiva del Congreso Nacional Africano de una nación democrático y no racial. Mandela también denuncia la violencia desatada por el gobierno apartheid, y detalla las masivas Campañas de Desafío contra las leyes apartheid, los paros nacionales y la decisión de lanzar una lucha armada.

¡Un libro de inspiración e educación política para todos nosotros hoy en día! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fantastic, Fascinating
All of my students (all white, all American) love this book. Some say that they haven't read anything like it in the past.

Prison account is interesting but rest is dull
I only found half the book interesting, the half where he talks about life in prison. The rest is just too much factual information that one can get by reading a history book or reading wikipedia. There is also a lot of political mumbo jumbo that tries to simplify a very complex political problem.

One really gains little insight into Mandela the human being . If you want to learn about Mandela the politician then this book is for you. I also did not like the narration by Glover. It was difficult to understand his accent and he spoke in a very unusual manner. I have a collection of over a hundred audio books, mostly non-fiction and this narration ranks among the least 'listenable'.

Audio - Long Walk to Freedom
I had to read the book for a class so I purchased the audio to go along with it to help speed things up.The audiofollows the book's order, but skips over sections here and there.As a stand alone audio, it flows just nicely and was very enlightening.

Interesting narrative
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the first democratically elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela began his autobiography during the course of his 27 years in prison. This audio offers a biography of Mandela's life from his birth in 1918 to his inauguration as president of South Africa in 1994. A large part of the audio is a description of his 27 years in prison, an account that could stand alone as a prison narrative. Long Walk to Freedom also explores Mandela's strong spirit that refused to be broken under very difficult circumstances. It ends with a call for everyone to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. From AudioColumn.com ... Read more

Book Description
This fascinating biography looks at the life of Nelson Mandela, placing his awe-inspiring accomplishments in historical context for a new generation to admire. On A February day in 1994, Mandela visited Robben Island, a desolate rock where he had been held during his twenty-seven years as a prisoner. Days later, he triumphed in an election that rescued South Africa from the climate of oppression that had held sway for so long. By "New York Times" executive editor, Bill Keller, this inspiring biography looks at the events that led Mandela from his tribal homeland to the center of the struggle for racial equality in South Africa. From early acts of protest to the leadership of an apartheid-free nation, this is an honest portrayal of a modern political and social icon. Marketing: . ARC mailings and giveaways . Poster with discussion guide . Targeted publicity . National advertising . Conference promotions . Online promotions . Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 18, 2008 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
TREE SHAKER is a very informative and colorful book written by Bill Keller, the Executive Editor of The New York Times. The entire book is written like one long article, broken up by chapters and festive with many colorful pictures.

It tells the story of Nelson Mandela's life -- from childhood to becoming the first black South African president -- and his impact on South Africa and the world.

This book was very informative; somewhat like a history textbook but with many colorful pictures and interesting story and dialogues in between the factual parts.

This book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about the life of a man who impacted the world with his brilliance and determination for black equality among a white supremacist country.

Reviewed by:Steph ... Read more

Book Description
Nelson Mandela, the first African politician to acquire a world following, remains in the 21st century an iconic figure. But what are the sources of his almost mythic appeal? And to what extent did Mandela self-consciously create the status of political hero that he now enjoys? This new and highly revealing biography examines these questions in detail for the first time. Drawing on a range of original sources, it presents a host of fresh insights about the shaping of Mandela's personality and public persona, from his childhood days and early activism, through his long years of imprisonment, to his presidency of the new South Africa. Throughout, Lodge emphasizes the crucial interplay between Mandela's public career and his personal or private world, showing how his heroic status was a product both of his leading position within the anti-apartheid movement and his own deliberate efforts to supply a form of quasi-messianic leadership for that movement. And as Lodge shows, Mandela's huge international appeal is a compelling and unusual cocktail. Of the sacred and the secular. Of traditional African values and global media savvy. And of human vulnerablilty, interwoven with the grand narrrative of liberation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent second book on Mandela's life.
I had read Nelson Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" some time ago. I was hoping to find an objective and complimentary third party analysis of his extraordinary story. I am happy to say that Tom Lodge's book provided me exactly with what I was looking for. Lodge has authored a persuasive and unbiased examination of the public and private life of one of 20th century's greatest men.

The book provides a fascinating view on the crafting of the Mandela icon by himself and those around him. It is also interesting to understand the details that Mandela has consciously chosen not to include in his autobiography, such as, for example, some of the more humiliating treatments inflicted on him by South African prison guards.

Considering the book's relatively short length, Lodge's assessment of the important events underlying Mandela's life is, in many cases, remarkably extensive, often considering the view of multiple sources from varying stand points. That being said, Mandela's political development, especially in the period of time prior to his long term imprisonment, is multifaceted and involves a large number of people and organizations. As a result, readers for whom this is an introduction to Mandela's story might be better off starting with his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom", and reading Lodge's work as an excellent second book on this subject. ... Read more

Amazon.com
A storybook biography of Nelson Mandela, written and illustrated by Cooper. The pictures convey Mandela's character as he progresses from childhood--he is the son of an African chief--through the struggle to get a good education in apartheid-ridden South Africa, to his days as an activist for the African National Congress, and then as the most famous prisoner in the world, ending with his election as the first president of the new South Africa. Small children will not understand some of the historical references in the text, so help from teacher or parent will be required to add context for the child. The book offers an ideal story for such interaction. ... Read more

Amazon.com
British journalist Anthony Sampson first met Nelson Mandela in 1951, when Sampson was editing a black magazine in Johannesburg, and his biography of the leader benefits greatly from his long familiarity with South Africa and his access to the 81-year-old statesman's unpublished letters and documents. These are particularly helpful in chronicling Mandela's political and spiritual odyssey during 27 years in prison, when the fiery anti-apartheid militant condemned to life imprisonment in 1964 evolved into a dignified, authoritative leader convinced that "reconciliation would be essential to survival." The roots of this stance lie deep in African history; Sampson's excellent chapters on Mandela's rural youth remind readers that he was the aristocratic scion of a royal family who early imbibed the tribal tradition of ubuntu (mutual responsibility and compassion) and the local king's emphasis on ruling by consensus. South Africa's relatively peaceful transition to multiracial democracy owes much to Mandela's ability to voice these concepts in contemporary terms. And Sampson's detailed explication of the ins and outs of revolutionary politics over five decades--though sometimes heavy going for the general reader--vividly reveals how his subject achieved the political and moral maturity that made his 1994 election as the nation's first black president both inevitable and exhilarating. --Wendy Smith Book Description
Nelson Mandela, who emerged from twenty-six years of political imprisonment to lead South Africa out of apartheid and into democracy, is perhaps the world's most admired leader, a man whose life has been led with exemplary courage and inspired conviction.

Now Anthony Sampson, who has known Mandela since 1951 and has been a close observer of South Africa's political life for the last fifty years, has produced the first authorized biography, the most informed and comprehensive portrait to date of a man whose dazzling image has been difficult to penetrate. With unprecedented access to Mandela's private papers (including his prison memoir, long thought to have been lost), meticulous research, and hundreds of interviews--from Mandela himself to prison warders on Robben Island, from Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo to Winnie Mandela and F. W. de Klerk, and many others intimately connected to Mandela's story--Sampson has composed an enlightening and necessary story of the man behind the myth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Amazing life of imprisonment to leadership!
What an amazing life this man had.He was born on the rural plains in South Africa..His father was absent due to forced circumstances.Mandela later received an education in law and began the practice of law. Political causes led to his imprisonment for nearly thirty years in Robbins Prison. The book tells the wrenching tale of his separation of his family during his imprisonment, yet the family(the second marriage, to Winnie) remained intact during his long imprisonment and only dissolved after the release from prison. The book isvery heavy on the political activity in whch Mandela was involved.This is an interesting book of personal triumph over overwhelming odds.

More than you ever wanted to know ..
The author obviously knows a great deal about Mandela and South Africa.However, there is so much detail that I found the book just deadening over time.The writing style was not engaging enough to sustain me through allthe blow-by-blow accounts that one has to plod through .-I was surprisedand disappointed that the book was not more enjoyable.

A well-told education in character and leadership.
If you believe there are no modern heroes - that fortitude and unselfish judgement in the face of adversity are out-of-date virtues, you need to read this book.That Sampson shows the whole man so well (with admittedlya few frailities) addsdepth to the tremendous courage, excellentjudgement, and magnanimity Mandela demonstrated his entire life, even whenthe cause of the ANC he led seemed hopeless.Along the way the book givesan excellent view of South African history during Mandela's adulthood.Ifyou are not very familiar with Mandela or South Africa you might do betterto start with Mandela's own book, "Long Walk to Freedom" whichdoesn't cover quite so much ground and is more on a human scale.Bothbooks are inspiring.

A very good introduction to a deep man
If you need to know Nelson Mandela, this is the book to read. This book's weaknesses are evident: It is written from a British viewpoint, and basically takes for granted a knowledge of South African history andgeography most Americans do not possess (though they should). It also softpedals the problems in Mandela's relationship with Winnie, though that isunderstandable. I have a feeling that not too many people could understandit. But it does a great job of making us see how the man was shaped andbecame what he is, and how he stands as a fearless, remarkable leader.

A Hero for our times!
I knew very little of Nelson Mandela before reading this book, but now I am confident that I have an excellent feel for what makes this man tick.This is an excellent book and one that should be read by anyone who wantsto be inspired! ... Read more