Mandela: The Authorized Portrait

by Mike Nicol

'What makes Mandela so special is that he's a real human being. . . . He's got a real life. And the fact that he is so flesh-and-blood real makes his greatness and his sacrifice and his wisdom and his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0740755722
• ISBN13: 9780740755729
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Length: 355 Pages
• Weight: 4.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 9.4" x 12.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

This wonderful book gives a well-rounded view of Nelson Mandela, his country and times. There is a chronological biography, many pictures including copies of letters, etc. plus remembrances from people in his life so you can see Mandela from a variety of viewpoints and often glimpse personal moments that go so far to make up a real individual. I came away richer in understanding Mandela and his impact on the world, clearer in my knowledge of South Africa and amazed at the difference one courageous person can make. The size and weight of the book made me savor it rather than racing through it.

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.