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Madiba A to Z: The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela
From the makers of the major motion picture Long Walk to Freedom, a completely unique biography and thematic telling of the story of Nelson Mandela. This book, which provided key source material for the film, is an unexpurgated collection of the views and opinions of South Africa's first Black president, and it draws on Danny Schechter’s forty-year relationship with "Madiba," as Nelson Mandela is known in his native South Africa. Each chapter of this unique portrait corresponds to a letter of the alphabet, and the letters cover major and minor, unexpected and fascinating themes in Mandela’s life and his impact on Athlete, Bully, Comrade, Forgiveness, Indigenous, Jailed, Militant, and President, to name a few. The book quotes liberally from Mandela himself, his ex-wives and other family members, global leaders, Mandela's cellmates and guards on Robben Island, the team behind Long Walk to Freedom , former president F. W. de Klerk, members of the South African Police, and his comrades including his successor Thabo Mbeki.
Madiba A to Z reveals sides of Nelson Mandela that are not often discussed and angles of the anti-apartheid movement that most choose to brush under the table in order to focus on the happy-ending version of the story. As Schechter reports in the book, according to Mandela's successor as president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, “the fundamental problems of South Africa, poverty, inequality, have remained unchanged since 1994.” This is partly because, as Schechter writes, “six months before the 1994 elections, when South Africa was being governed jointly by the ANC and the National Party under a Transitional Executive Council (TEC), there were secret negotiations about the economic future.”
There are many rarely spoken of revelations in Madiba A to Z , a book about Mandela’s brilliance, his courage, his tremendous impact in saving his country and its people of all races, but one that also shows how far South Africa still has to go.
Madiba A to Z reveals sides of Nelson Mandela that are not often discussed and angles of the anti-apartheid movement that most choose to brush under the table in order to focus on the happy-ending version of the story. As Schechter reports in the book, according to Mandela's successor as president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, “the fundamental problems of South Africa, poverty, inequality, have remained unchanged since 1994.” This is partly because, as Schechter writes, “six months before the 1994 elections, when South Africa was being governed jointly by the ANC and the National Party under a Transitional Executive Council (TEC), there were secret negotiations about the economic future.”
There are many rarely spoken of revelations in Madiba A to Z , a book about Mandela’s brilliance, his courage, his tremendous impact in saving his country and its people of all races, but one that also shows how far South Africa still has to go.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 15, 2014
This book was my book club read for our January meeting. The consensus of opinion is that while we did get some information about Madiba/Mandela's life we did not get what we wanted. All of us feel that the autobiography may fill in the gaps left with this book. The back story, the feelings, the feel of the times, the life story itself, from when Mandela was a child. This book had too many names, dates, facts, but no life or feeling. We all agreed that to read Mandela's autobiography might fill in the blanks.
August 30, 2019
If you are a fan of all the good that Nelson Mandela did and are looking for alphabetized details of his acts, his life, the people in his life, then this book is for you.
If you're looking for an honest view on the good (yes, there is some) and the bad things he did, the effect his actions had, and some still have, then this is not for you.
If you're looking for an honest view on the good (yes, there is some) and the bad things he did, the effect his actions had, and some still have, then this is not for you.
March 2, 2019
Finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation
June 1, 2014
Disappointing. Lacks detail. Not historical. Instead, it is a series of chapters each dealing with one aspect of his life, each aspect beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. It is almost a childlike simplistic approach.
In my opinion, the book is biased. The author admits? brags? that he is a friend of Mandela. He seems to skirt issues of personal failings, often suggesting that there were not adequate facts to back up the stories.
No man is perfect, even if he is perceived as a hero by some.
As an intelligent reader, I want all the facts, both good and bad, so that I can make my own opinion about Mandela. There were reasons that the UK called him part of a terrorist organization and the US would not allow him to enter the US for many years after his release from prison. Even as a young adult many years ago, I heard that some of the approaches of the anti-apartheid movement were ineffective and harmful to their cause. I wanted to know why. I am glad that apartheid was removed; I am glad that the many who suffered so long did not give up until they achieved freedom. But I do not think the anti-apartheid movement of South Africa was as effective as Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement in the US. I wanted to know why. But this book is just hero worship by a friend. One bias is as bad as the other...
Mandela did found the ANC which became a Communist terrorist group using necklacing and other tortures as a means of control. His wife Winnie said they would use necklacing, if necessary, to win their war on apartheid.
I am glad that apartheid is gone. Many blacks were treated much worse than necklacing by whites. I am glad that Nelson Mandela was determined to fight for human rights.
But there is a difference between a resistance movement and terrorism. Some people take the higher ground and say that they will not win if they resort to the methods used by evil. The Allies did not treat prisoners of war as badly as Axis powers did. Killing a person may be necessary in order to stop evil. But evil methods do not need to be used to kill. A bullet is justified; a 20 minute slow death by burning with a gasoline-filled tire around a prisoner's neck is not.
As a Caucasian Canadian, I watched news reports with horror as blacks were taught in the quadrant of their public housing units in Selma not to react violently when hit over the head with police batons. I watched in horror as they were beaten during marches and pushed back with fire hoses. I was horrified by pictures in our newspapers of lynchings and burnings of blacks.
And I did not understand, even when I heard Martin Luther King or read of Ghandi saying that they would get public opinion on their side if they did not fight back. If they fought back, they would be blamed. But after it worked, I understood.
The world was horrified and it did something and America changed.
I think that MLK was more of a hero than Mandela ever could be. It takes more courage to not fight back. He was not gutless. He was wise.
I think that some of Mandela's direction to his country was harmful although his intentions were good. I want a fair analysis of Mandela, not a report by a friend and admirer who can seem to see no wrong in Mandela.
An intelligent person wants the facts presented.
I was disappointed in this book.
In my opinion, the book is biased. The author admits? brags? that he is a friend of Mandela. He seems to skirt issues of personal failings, often suggesting that there were not adequate facts to back up the stories.
No man is perfect, even if he is perceived as a hero by some.
As an intelligent reader, I want all the facts, both good and bad, so that I can make my own opinion about Mandela. There were reasons that the UK called him part of a terrorist organization and the US would not allow him to enter the US for many years after his release from prison. Even as a young adult many years ago, I heard that some of the approaches of the anti-apartheid movement were ineffective and harmful to their cause. I wanted to know why. I am glad that apartheid was removed; I am glad that the many who suffered so long did not give up until they achieved freedom. But I do not think the anti-apartheid movement of South Africa was as effective as Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement in the US. I wanted to know why. But this book is just hero worship by a friend. One bias is as bad as the other...
Mandela did found the ANC which became a Communist terrorist group using necklacing and other tortures as a means of control. His wife Winnie said they would use necklacing, if necessary, to win their war on apartheid.
I am glad that apartheid is gone. Many blacks were treated much worse than necklacing by whites. I am glad that Nelson Mandela was determined to fight for human rights.
But there is a difference between a resistance movement and terrorism. Some people take the higher ground and say that they will not win if they resort to the methods used by evil. The Allies did not treat prisoners of war as badly as Axis powers did. Killing a person may be necessary in order to stop evil. But evil methods do not need to be used to kill. A bullet is justified; a 20 minute slow death by burning with a gasoline-filled tire around a prisoner's neck is not.
As a Caucasian Canadian, I watched news reports with horror as blacks were taught in the quadrant of their public housing units in Selma not to react violently when hit over the head with police batons. I watched in horror as they were beaten during marches and pushed back with fire hoses. I was horrified by pictures in our newspapers of lynchings and burnings of blacks.
And I did not understand, even when I heard Martin Luther King or read of Ghandi saying that they would get public opinion on their side if they did not fight back. If they fought back, they would be blamed. But after it worked, I understood.
The world was horrified and it did something and America changed.
I think that MLK was more of a hero than Mandela ever could be. It takes more courage to not fight back. He was not gutless. He was wise.
I think that some of Mandela's direction to his country was harmful although his intentions were good. I want a fair analysis of Mandela, not a report by a friend and admirer who can seem to see no wrong in Mandela.
An intelligent person wants the facts presented.
I was disappointed in this book.
September 9, 2016
"Madiba A to Z: The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela" by Danny Schechter is a wonderful celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and everything he represents. With a great introduction by Anant Singh, producer of "The Long Way to Freedom", the reader gets already reminded of the charisma and infectuous personality that was Mandela.
The author then adds his own foreword and explains his personal connection to Mandela - as if anyone reading the stories to follow would doubt his familiarity with and knowledge of Mandela, his life and his wonderful nature.
I personally had a brief encounter with Mandela on a plane to New York and have been captivated and inspired by those brief moments - exactly as Schechter describes in his stories.
The book is a patchwork of short articles, following the alphabet from Athlete to Zuid-Afrika. They are great stories, beautifully written and all covering various aspects of Mandela's life. Not following a chronological order or focusing on one singular aspect, this worked very well for me. Despite the much publicised and well known facts about Mandela I learned a lot and did see new sides to him that I had previously not noticed, such as hidden barriers to his emotions, or his feelings towards the communist party.
The comparison of his life to Kafka's writing was clever and apt and was one of many highlights in this reading experience that was all too short.
I am not one for celebrity cult and deifying people but I challenge you to walk away from this book and not be in awe of its subject.
Thanks Danny Schechter for this woderful book.
The author then adds his own foreword and explains his personal connection to Mandela - as if anyone reading the stories to follow would doubt his familiarity with and knowledge of Mandela, his life and his wonderful nature.
I personally had a brief encounter with Mandela on a plane to New York and have been captivated and inspired by those brief moments - exactly as Schechter describes in his stories.
The book is a patchwork of short articles, following the alphabet from Athlete to Zuid-Afrika. They are great stories, beautifully written and all covering various aspects of Mandela's life. Not following a chronological order or focusing on one singular aspect, this worked very well for me. Despite the much publicised and well known facts about Mandela I learned a lot and did see new sides to him that I had previously not noticed, such as hidden barriers to his emotions, or his feelings towards the communist party.
The comparison of his life to Kafka's writing was clever and apt and was one of many highlights in this reading experience that was all too short.
I am not one for celebrity cult and deifying people but I challenge you to walk away from this book and not be in awe of its subject.
Thanks Danny Schechter for this woderful book.
March 14, 2014
I got this book shortly after the death of Nelson Mandela. Its a fine book but in my opinion not a great one. Though for those who have an interest in Nelson Mandela I would definitely recommend this.
My first problem with this book was simply that it wasn't particularly interesting, it was very methodical and it lacked anything to grab the readers attention. But as someone who is interested in Mandela I was able to stick with the book. As I got farther in the book I realized what the best part of this book is which is that its different. It shows a very different side of Mandela, instead of the normal perfect portrayal of him as a celebrity, it details a more intimate side of Mandela as a person. Still though the book had one last problem, it was editorialized and quite self patronizing. The author was quite sure that his opinions of Mandela were the best and went so far as to criticize other biographies of Mandela. In the end I would recommend this book to people who are especially interested in learning about Mandela.
My first problem with this book was simply that it wasn't particularly interesting, it was very methodical and it lacked anything to grab the readers attention. But as someone who is interested in Mandela I was able to stick with the book. As I got farther in the book I realized what the best part of this book is which is that its different. It shows a very different side of Mandela, instead of the normal perfect portrayal of him as a celebrity, it details a more intimate side of Mandela as a person. Still though the book had one last problem, it was editorialized and quite self patronizing. The author was quite sure that his opinions of Mandela were the best and went so far as to criticize other biographies of Mandela. In the end I would recommend this book to people who are especially interested in learning about Mandela.
August 12, 2016
I received Madiba A to Z as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Madiba A to Z is an alphabetic overview of anecdotes and significant topics from Nelson Mandela's historic life. It's not a biography by any stretch of the imagination; rather, each short chapter highlights an aspect of Mandela's life, career, or personality (Questions, Love and Loss, X Factor, etc.). Developed by Danny Schechter, a maker of the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Madiba A to Z can supplement the film and accompanying documentary.
It's an interesting book, especially for someone like me who only knows the bare-bones details of Mandela's life. Definitely more of an introduction, so I'd recommend it to relative novices to Mandela. The chapters may be brief, but they're also engaging, and whet my appetite to learn more through a more substantial biography.
3.5/5.
Madiba A to Z is an alphabetic overview of anecdotes and significant topics from Nelson Mandela's historic life. It's not a biography by any stretch of the imagination; rather, each short chapter highlights an aspect of Mandela's life, career, or personality (Questions, Love and Loss, X Factor, etc.). Developed by Danny Schechter, a maker of the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Madiba A to Z can supplement the film and accompanying documentary.
It's an interesting book, especially for someone like me who only knows the bare-bones details of Mandela's life. Definitely more of an introduction, so I'd recommend it to relative novices to Mandela. The chapters may be brief, but they're also engaging, and whet my appetite to learn more through a more substantial biography.
3.5/5.
May 13, 2014
I'm not much of a non-fiction reader. Generally, I prefer a new world to get immersed in. Unknown people that I can get to know and either love or hate, rather than having a predisposed feeling toward.
This, however, presented the material on a very public figure's life interestingly and beautifully. The non-linear "story-telling" and presentation definitely kept me engaged as a reader. It was also extremely informative. And while I do feel that there was a good deal of glorifying, it also did not attempt to deify a man who has left a very important legacy. Mandela was presented as human, mortal, and therefore also flawed. He could've became a number of things, but instead Mandela became a leader and father of a nation, and this biography gives a different insight into the life of a great man.
This, however, presented the material on a very public figure's life interestingly and beautifully. The non-linear "story-telling" and presentation definitely kept me engaged as a reader. It was also extremely informative. And while I do feel that there was a good deal of glorifying, it also did not attempt to deify a man who has left a very important legacy. Mandela was presented as human, mortal, and therefore also flawed. He could've became a number of things, but instead Mandela became a leader and father of a nation, and this biography gives a different insight into the life of a great man.
April 19, 2014
MADIBA A TO Z: THE MANY FACES OF NELSON MANDELA
If you only get to read one biographical book this year let it be this one! Danny Schecter lets the reader see the different facets of Mandelas life, politics and his personality. We see how his heritage as well his 28 year imprisonment shaped the man and helped him fight for a better way of life in his native South Africa.
Through various anecdotes of friends, family and fellow politicians Schecter has painted a 3 dimensional picture of a great Statesman. Reading Madiba A to Z was an education as I didn’t know much about Nelson Mandela.
Mr. Schecter has written a brilliant account of Mandelas life and his politics. I can easily give it 5 stars for an informative read.
If you only get to read one biographical book this year let it be this one! Danny Schecter lets the reader see the different facets of Mandelas life, politics and his personality. We see how his heritage as well his 28 year imprisonment shaped the man and helped him fight for a better way of life in his native South Africa.
Through various anecdotes of friends, family and fellow politicians Schecter has painted a 3 dimensional picture of a great Statesman. Reading Madiba A to Z was an education as I didn’t know much about Nelson Mandela.
Mr. Schecter has written a brilliant account of Mandelas life and his politics. I can easily give it 5 stars for an informative read.
February 12, 2014
I won this book 8 days after Mandela passed away and after watching some of the media coverage I looked forward to learning more about him. This book brings you just as the title says, The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela. I enjoyed the lay out of the book from A to Z. It gives such a insight of who he was in many different ways. I enjoyed one of statements in the last chapter,"No one film can tell it all, nor should even aspire to". I find this to be true with books or documentaries which makes me want to seek out and study his life more from the people that were around him and have written and shared from all points of view. Well worth the read if you wish to know more about Nelson Mandela.
November 6, 2014
I always admired Nelson Mandela growing up but never knew much about the main events of his life. Although his name was notorious in the schools I attended, I never really was assigned to write about his life. However I do remember researching his timeline and see how he changed society for the better. This book answered a lot of questions regarding his life, struggles and his victories. Additionally, the photographs in the book was a nice touch, it made the book come alive. I am not a huge history bluff but I do like reading more about iconic people that made a difference in the lives of many people.
April 15, 2014
I won a copy of Madiba A to Z from Goodreads. I am a longtime admirer of Nelson Mandela so reading this book has been a very pleasurable experience. I have read other books about Mandela, and I thought this book offered a refreshing approach to understanding the inner strength of Mandela. My favorite chapters in this book were the chapters on forgiveness, and love and loss. Although I had already read other books on Mandela, I found Schechter's book very informative. I believe Schechter's book offers a more complete view of Mandela.
April 12, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads. I have always been interested in the man that was Nelson Mandela and this book gives a personal view and insight to the man. I realize that some may not like the format. However, for me, the way it was written in the form of 26 unique essays made it more interesting. It is definitely a tie in to the movie, but for those who want a more personal glimpse into the man and his struggles, I definitely recommend they read this book.
April 6, 2014
I enjoyed the alphabetical-by-topic format for these short essays about Nelson Mandela and his exceptional life. The essays were short but direct, allowing the reader to be completely engaged with the writing as nuances of this great leader's life were brought into focus.
See my #booktube review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v010i...
See my #booktube review here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v010i...
March 14, 2015
I found this book to be quite interesting and certainly a different approach to a book about Mandela. It has even sparked my interest in seeing the movie 'Long Walk to Freedom'. Haven't seen a new movie in awhile, it maybe this one that will have the honour.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews