The famously taciturn South African president reveals much of himself in Long Walk to Freedom. A good deal of this autobiography was written secretly while Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island by South Africa's apartheid regime. Among the book's interesting revelations is Mandela's ambivalence toward his lifetime of devotion to public works. It cost him two marriages 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 in which just about everybody can find something to admire.

An international hero, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and leader of South Africa's antiapartheid movement chronicles his life, including his tribal years, his time spent in prison, and his return to lead his people. 175,000 first printing. Major ad/promo.

If you read only one autobiography this year, I recommend this one.

Leadership breakthroughs are few and far between. They are even rarer in the political arena. Although I had closely followed the path to an integrated democracy in South Africa (and worked hard on the anti-apartheid sanctions and boycotts), much of Nelson Mandela's struggle was hidden to me at the time. Only after the reconciliation had gone on for a number of years did it become apart how remarkable this man's contribution has been.

Recently, I read Playing the Enemy which described some of the nuances in how Mandela conceived of creating a peaceful transition through an unauthorized sole negotiation from a prison cell. Those stories impressed me even more. Now, I had to read the autobiography. And I'm glad I did.

Let me warn you, however, that Nelson Mandela is so self-effacing that the real story of what he accomplished and how he did it doesn't fully come through in the autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. I recommend that you read Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation first.

What the autobiography will do is show the cultural and social backgrounds of the struggle and how critical it was that Mandela be a man of honor, principle, and loyalty. He was a leader for the whole nation even when many people didn't want him to be in the nation. It's a remarkable way to be, a way that few people can accomplish.

The apartheid system was as vile a way to treat citizens as anything that has come along since Germany in the 1930s. It's hard to imagine that it arose after World War II and was so difficult to break.

The treatment of the African National Congress's leaders will appall you. Their grace will delight you.

May every nation have a Nelson Mandela to lead it!

I have been reading the "Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela" and I find it completely delightfully and thoroughly enjoyable. It is very well written and the experiences are more than interesting. Nelson Mandela's life is very fascinating and it is so insightful to gain the background and foundation for the life we all know so well. Very inspiring.

I first bought this book in paperback form at the PX while stationed at Fort Hood. It was a long and outstanding read! I understand that there are some things that Mr Mandela may have decided to leave out i.e.: his linking to various political uprisings against the aparthied government. I wish that he would have discussed that part of his life more. Nonetheless, this book tells the story of a man who came from humble beginnings to become the first black president of post-aparthied South Africa. I had to buy copy of this book for the Kindle. If you want a piece of modern history, and a good long read as well, get this book. I recommend it to everyone!

A must read for all, especially my generation (1964) and younger. We need to ensure that what South Africa went through and the racism present in the U.S. is never allowed to return. Any racism no matter how small or seemingly insignificant needs to be stamped out. Wouldn't it be nice if someday we were all classified as "Human" and not by some other label? Read this book and realize the struggle this man, his family, and his country went through to gain the simple freedoms we often take for granted.

It was a great read. Anyone who is in any way interested in the history of South Africa or the life of one of the greatest figures of the 21st century should read this. This should be on the required reading list for anyone going to South Africa. It really paints a humble yet engrossing picture of the events that surrounded not only Nelson Mandela's life, but also essentially the collapse of the Apartheid system in South Africa. All the way from his early childhood until after the presidential election of 1994. The real amazing part is that a book so rich in political history and facts can also be an extremely interesting and well paced read for the average person.