Tree Shaker: The Story of Nelson Mandela

by Bill Keller

An honest portrayal of a modern political and social icon looks at the life of Nelson Mandela, placing his awe-inspiring accomplishments in historical context, from his early acts of protest to his leadership of an apartheid-free nation.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Africa

128 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2013

About the author

Bill Keller (born January 18, 1949) is Executive Editor of The New York Times. Keller is the son of former chairman and chief executive of the Chevron Corporation, George M. Keller. Bill Keller attended the Roman Catholic schools St. Matthews and Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California.

After graduating from Pomona College in 1970 where he began his journalistic career by founding an independent newspaper called The Collegian (later called The Collage), he was a reporter in Portland with The Oregonian, the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, and at The Dallas Times Herald.

Keller is married to Emma Gilbey Keller and has two daughters named Alice and Molly.

Reviews

[Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casi no leo estos tipos de libro pero fue interesante de conocer la historia de Mandela y su país sorprendiendomente descubrir eventos y acciones que nunca esperaría de él, basado en la imagen que tenía.

[Joan Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

TREE SHAKER - THE STORY OF NELSON MANDELA - BY BILL KELLER

For all these years I had listened to News casts all over the World about this fascinating man called Nelson Mandela and his journey of being unjustly imprisoned for 27 years and yet rising to become the first Black President of South Africa and 0ne of the world's greatest heroes.

I even had the once in a lifetime opportunity of seeing this great man live in person during a visit to my island of Saint Lucia in 1998 and still never got to read his story ...... Imagine my delight when on a visit on the Book Ship Logos Hope in 2017 , I found this amazing paperback Tree Shaker with the awesome updated edition of Nelson Mandela's captivating Life Story ...it is indeed one of the best books I have ever read !!!

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree Shaker is a moving tribute, an educational delight, and A Beautiful and engaging view of a life well lived. From the sources, interviews, and timelines provided, the reader is taken deep into the flavor of Mandela's extraordinary life and the history of his beloved country.

We meet him at his beginning, see his political growth, and feel his impartial desires. I enjoyed learning about his brilliant courtroom flair as an attorney. Then seeing his deep love as a devoted family man. There are many moving aspects that explain how Mandela became the gentle spirit, he is most known for.

Many aspects of his narrative are lightly covered through media, but this manuscript delivers the path and motivations in profound details. Tree Shaker gave me the bases for many more questions and a desire to discover more. I look forward to rereading and growing my knowledge of south African issues.

[Bryan Borgman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, summarized, biography of one of my heroes

[Michael Nimoh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keller's writes an inspiring story about a man that saved a nation and became the first Black president of South Africa. This illustration shows the reader that no dream is impossible if you follow your heart. This piece challenges the reader to examine there own beliefs about human rights and the fairness of any government. Nelson Mandala is that man showing courage even after being put in prison, beaten and giving many other painful experiences he continued the fight. I felt a sense of power myself knowing that if he can succeed in those conditions surely I can in mine.

This book is very well written because it gives you a visualization of Nelson Mandala's life for example it says " As a teenager the Xhosa boys painted their face white to show that they are ready for manhood"(Keller 29). that quote lets the audience visualize a young boy trying to become a man. Keller uses a lot of tactics to make sure the audience is paying attention and knows whats going on. The way the book is written is unique because the reader will feel a sense of humor as well as sympathy towards Nelson Mandela. This book is very captivating and emotional. I could relate to Mandela when he wanted to be different from everybody else and be his own person. The reader will be laughing at times and at other times they will feel sympathy for Nelson Mandela.

This is a great book in a lot of ways because it gets specific details about his life that some other books wouldn't tell you such as "Mandela went from a successful college student to a poor country boy in the city in less than 5 days"(Keller 31). One bad thing about the book is that its not as detailed as other biographies. This book opens up a whole new world of becoming a man. Also this book shows you what it takes to become a man. Overall it is a inspirational book and i would advice everyone who has trouble achieving their goals.

[Roee Grutman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite rating this book only two stars, it is a good read. This biography not only teaches the reader about Nelson Mandela, it also shows much about South African culture. This book illuminates how different yet similar South African culture is while narrating Nelson Mandela's life story. Two things can be taken from this book: A better understanding of the world and inspiration. Nelson Mandela himself was a remarkable man. His emotional and physical aspects are constantly challenged throughout the book as his life slowly moves forward. He experiences the punishment of rebellion as well as the difficulties of having a wife. Through pain and strife, he toiled until eventually reaching the top. The man went on to become the president of the ANC who's presidency symbolized change, equality, and justice. After two failed marriages, he successfully settled down with Graca Machel. Several other figures are introduced in this book as the less known men who helped better South Africa. Him, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo changed the course of this world itself. While the morals and ideas taken from this book may be golden, the composition of the book is not. Bill Keller successfully bores his reader to death. The book is purely 128 pages of textbook-like adventures. There is no emotion in the slightest.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clearly-written and accessible biography of Nelson Mandela, written by the journalist who covered South Africa in the early 1990’s. Readers will find the bright colors and historical photographs visually interesting, if occasionally distracting from the main text, which is enhanced by anecdotes and personal interviews with Mandela. The references to primary-source New York Times articles, reprinted in an appendix, add another perspective to the narrative.

Summary: A biography of Nelson Mandela, including the historical context of apartheid in South Africa and reprints of relevant New York Times articles from the period.

Booklist: Overall a positive review, calling the book “more than the usual biography,” with “stirring black-and-white photos and quotes.” The only negative comments cite the cluttered page design, which make it hard to read all the quality material that has been “crammed” into one book.

Publisher’s Weekly: Called this biography “a balanced, thoughtful account of Mandela's political activism and accomplishments and his pivotal role in South Africa's modern history.” Also noted that the “graphically intense design” with photographs, paint, and African images may be cluttered.

[Al_anna Smunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tree Shaker
Bill Keller tells the story of Nelson Mandela and his fight to overcome apartheid in South Africa. The book is filled with color and black and white pictures depicting the information that you actually want to see, not meaningless supplementary information. There is also a comprehensive timeline in the back of the book that documents the trends toward apartheid and its dismantling, from 1650 until present day. What’s best is the biography is accompanied by newspaper articles to give readers a feel for the politicization of the country during apartheid as well as access to primary sources.

The only aspect I thought Keller could have dealt with more thoroughly is the criticism of Mandela as a leader. He touches on the negative aspects of Mandela’s personal life, but doesn’t give too many details about other areas of criticism. The book is overtly in favor of Mandela as a person, and though he accomplished some amazing goals for South Africa and the rest of the world, it would be interesting and fair if more criticism were included.

This book is a great resource for middle school through high school readers alike. I would definitely include it in units on biography, social justice, and nonfiction. A great model for biography writing!

[ISS Singapore]

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

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! My favorite part of this amazing book was when Nelson Mandela was nagging and annoying the gaurds about how the white men had long pants and the black men had short pants. Until the point where he woke up one morning with long pants on the floor of his cell. then he figured out that none of the other black men had long pants. So, he refused to wear them until the gaurds gave everybody long pants, which they did. I also loved how whenever someone made a remark about him or was very mean, he stayed calm and didnt care.
i didnt like how there was so much murder and racial remarks, i know that it is the point of the book that it was most of Nelson Mandela's life but i just hate it! i hate listening well i guess reading about that kind of stuff its just i love and admire Nelson Mandela so much that i just had to read it. i mean my stepdad counted the votes for the presidential election and stayed in South Africa for 10 years!!!!

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Steph for TeensReadToo.com

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.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

GENRE- BIOGRAPHY

This biography was very simply written, describing the life of Nelson Mandela and his journey through presidency and becoming a president. This book was illustrated with dated pictures to help give the reader an idea of what a certain "scene" or "episode" of Mandela's life was like. Starting from when Mandela was young, this book talked about all of the events of his life including his long term in prison and becoming the president of South Africa. To me as a reader, all biographies are slightly hard to follow and hard to comprehend but this one I thought was easy to understand. Because I still had a little struggle, gave this biography a three star rating and I would only recommend it to people with an interest in biographies and for those who want to know more about the life of South African president Nelson Mandela.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful biography based on the life of the famous and infamous Nelson Mandela. This book is written in a wonderfully approachable manner that would appeal to any young adult. I enjoyed the rich use of pictures and the manner in which Mandela’s history was told. The author never sensationalized Mandela, he told the story of an average man who was flawed but also willing to fight for his rights and the rights of his fellow South Africans, suffering the great expense of years behind bars. I would recommend this book highly to any student who enjoys non-fiction and who would like to learn more about Mandela. I would say a separate reading on the rules and regulations of apartheid would be needed before reading this book.

[Bob Beemsterboer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree Shaker tells the story of Nelson Mandela from his early childhood to the present in a precise and colorful fashion. I finished this book in one sitting in just over an hour, and absolutely enjoyed doing so. In just over 130 pages, Bill Keller manages to effectively get Mandela's story across without all the fluff-it was right to the point. It did not feel like I was reading an encyclopedia article, which may bore some children. Keller made use of colorful pictures mixed with text with just enough information to get the story across. I would not use this book to teach a class directly, but it would be great to keep on a classroom bookshelf to recommend to students as a secondary source.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful, DK-like illustrations and a compelling narrative make Nelson Mandela's story approachable to readers unfamiliar with the history of South Africa. New York Times journalist (now editor), Bill Keller, authentically illuminates more about the life and times of one of the 20th Century's most well-known statesman.

CIP: Biography of Nelson Mandela.

"[M]ore than the usual biography...authoritative account...stirring black and white photos...excellent back matter..." Booklist 11/1/2007

"Keller's personal experience ...with Mandela imbues his often graceful prose with immediacy and offers insight." Publishers Weekly 12/24/07

[Al_ryanleagre · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are interested in learning about the basic information pertaining to the life of Nelson Mandela, this is a good book to choose. Middle school students and higher would have no problems reading this book. It's fairly short and has many pictures to help keep the reader engaged. However, it is difficult to get a glimpse of the real Nelson Mandela, the one behind the public image. I can't help but compare it to another biography, The Lincoln's - A Scrapbook Look at the Life of Abraham and Mary. In that novel and other's like it, you get a glimpse of the true personality of Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary. But in Tree Shaker, those types of interesting facts remain elusive.

[Al_ErinDickey Dickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very informative for me. My knowledge of Nelson Mandela was after he was released from prison, so it was great to see him as a child, teenager, and young adult. The action that Mandela took in prison was also new to me and quite phenomenal! I really liked having the pictures there as well, it was nice to see the men that he worked with. I think this is a great book to have on hand in the classroom. I could see a bunch of my students reading this instead of doing my classwork. :)

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! I have read Mandela's 'Long road to Freedom', which was long but informative. This version of events about South Africa's history of apartheid is great. It's easy to read except for a few areas where there is a lot of political vocabulary. Mostly though, it's informative and straight forward. I liked that Mandela's negative points were addressed as well his his positives so that he wasn't just made into a hero whilst forgetting his flaws and mistakes. Overall a great read for older primary students.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this for work and it is a terrific summary of Mandela's life and work for young people. Keller is a New York Times journalist, so the narrative is particularly concise & clear. It's sobering to think that Mandela was imprisoned when he was only slightly older than I am, and remained there until he was seventy-one. I don't think many of us could handle that experience with the dignity and grace that he displayed as the world's most famous political prisoner.

[Ann Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was motivated to learn more about this remarkable man after watching Invictus...good summary of his life and achievements. There were a few disappointments in reading about him, primarily in his earlier, more radical years, but still came away realizing what a pivotal role he played in the history of South Africa.

[Al_norahughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, beautifully put together- this book is simple and straightforward and a great book for the history of Nelson Mandela. From a young age Nelson had a passion for social justice. South African prison and apartheid only fueled this rage and passion. A good quick read- made me want to pick up his autobiography.

[Reader]

Written by Bill Keller, former executive editor of the NYT. A balanced, good read, and a good supplement to visiting the Apartheid Museum's special exhibit on Mandela (in Johannesburg). Probably appealing to all ages. Glad my mother was willing to part with it so the South African secondary students I work with can read it!

[Ben Lipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was quite boring however I respect him for his accomplishments. He stood up when no one else would. I enjoyed reading it because in all honesty i dont like reading at all; It was a nice change to read a shorter paged book with less on the page including pictures.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent albeit brief (most important points covered) overall look at the life of Mr Mandela. Not as richly rounded as Long Walk to Freedom but a great introduction to one of the most important men in the history of human existence. Everyone should know who and what he stood for.

[Candi]

Ages 10 and up

[Umpalumpa · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is about Nelson Mandela and his strugles in his life

[Molly K]

I probably should have read this already, seeing as I have like 7 copies.

[Valeria]

Wow! Nelson Mandela is my new world-changer hero! A must-read!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick little intro to the life of Nelson Mandela and a good reminder of how very little I know about history.

[Reggie Shoats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book that provides great details in a quick read. 4 out of 5.