Reviews

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

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eleonora_s's review against another edition

5.0

I mean not only is this worth reading for the content alone, but it is also incredibly well-written and engaging, I could not put it down.

hgraff's review against another edition

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5.0

This is not a book about Apartheid; it is a book about humanity. I will never forget the beauty of Mandela and his service to his people. We should all learn by him.

dlt603's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective

4.0

Even hearing it in Nelson Mandela's words, it is unfathomable to imagine a person spending decades in prison and remaining so resolute and hopeful. This was really inspiring to hear in more detail. I listened to this book and ironically close to the end received a news notification while it was playing that the South Africa election resulted in a loss for the ANC for the first time since the end of apartheid. It was interesting to read more about these current events having just learned so much more from this book. Mandela certainly left a significant legacy behind and I'm glad his work was captured in this way.

qamelion's review against another edition

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5.0

What an inspirational read. One of the rare books I simply couldn't put down.

Nelson Mandela's autobiography exemplifies in a unique way the common analogy of life as a rollercoaster ride. There are moments in the book where I found myself wondering if I'm actually reading about a life that has happened in the way it is described. The hardships Mandela had to go through (talk about spending more or less 10,000 days in prison) reach beyond one's imagination in a way that at times it seemed as if you've picked up a very depressing fictional book. And even though there are many pages that can dampen your spirit, Mandela never allows you to close a reading session with that sensation. He brightens the mood with his loving soul on so many occasions that it is difficult to suppress a smile.
This book puts things into perspective. After reading it you'll find yourself yearning for challenges and the wish and motivation to better yourself. Mandela's legacy will live on for quite a while and this book plays a significant part in that.

Highly, highly recommended!

"Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished."

jsparks's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

aruarian_melody's review against another edition

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Probably good as a historic reference book but not the kind of autobiography I enjoy. I thought it is a very distant writing style with many details that don't seem to impact the overall story. Contains a lot of name dropping (which I assume is meant to give credit to other important people - which is very considerate - but doesn't help with the flow of the story at all). I think this could have benefited from tight editing and some footnotes for (optional) details and explanations.