In His Own Words

by Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton (Contributor)

In spreading the message of freedom, equality, and human dignity, Nelson Mandela helped transform not only his own nation, but the entire world. Now his most important speeches are collected in a single volume. From the eve of his imprisonment to his release twenty-seven years later, from his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize to his election as South Africa's first black president, these speeches span some of the most pivotal moments of Mandela's life and his country's history.

Arranged thematically and accompanied by tributes from leading world figures, Mandela's addresses memorably illustrate his lasting commitment to freedom and reconciliation, democracy and development, culture and diversity, and international peace and well-being. The extraordinary power of this volume is in the moving words and intimate tone of Mandela himself, one of the most courageous and articulate men of our time.

"There is no easy way to walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires." -- Nelson Mandela, September 1953

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Africa, Politics, South Africa, History, Memoir

608 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99.

Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe. The South African courts convicted him on charges of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed while he led the movement against apartheid. In accordance with his conviction, Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.

In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela.

Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela supported reconciliation and negotiation, and helped lead the transition towards multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, many have frequently praised Mandela, including former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/nelson...

Reviews

[missy jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

550 pages of Nelson Mandela's speeches? Yes, please. Mandela is one of my heroes, so reading speeches from his amazing life (before he went to prison, while he was President, from his more recent humanitarian initiatives) has been a real joy. The book also includes essays on Mandela's legacy by people like Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, Bill Clinton and Bill Cosby.

[Max Boukesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a collection of some of Nelson Mandela's great speeches from his release from prison up to after his presidency.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book:
"The most terrible walls, is the walls that grow up in the mind" N. Mandela
"...mistakes are inevitable element of any process of learning. It is always the case that the spectators are better than the players on the field" N. M.
"It is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success" NM
"When you give up hope, you may as well lay down and die" Miriam Makeba
"We must remember where we have come from. Though we may never forget, we have forgiven. Let us now join hands and work together for a better future" Miriam Makeba
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die" Nelson Mandela
"My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than minerals and diamonds" Nelson Mandela
"...what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of the others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" NM
"Wisdom comes from sharing insights and listening to and learning from each other" Walter Sisulu
"There is a natural suspicion of the intentions of the dominant power in any relationship, even when those intensions seek to serve a larger public good" James A. Joseph
"We have been asking what can we do for Africa, what can we do about Africa. We must now ask what can we do with Africa" Bill Clinton
"Every time Nelson Mandela walked into a room we all felt a little bigger, we all wanted to cheer because in our best day we all wanted to be like him" Bill Clinton

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a big collection of Nelson Mandela's speeches. It is a good book, as far as describing the political problems that face most of the countries on this planet. Nelson Mandela is an interesting person. He always stresses moving on and forgetting the bitterness from Apartheid's past, he believes strongly in compromising, and he always stands so firmly on the need for equality for all. Nelson Mandela frequently mentioned the problems that AIDS, poverty, violence, lack of education, healthcare, water, and electricity cause South Africans. I learned a few interesting things from this book. For 21 years, Gandhi fought for equality in South Africa, before he returned to India. Also, Nelson Mandela was at times critical of the United States, for what he called, neo-imperialism, militarism of the oceans, the war in Iraq, and not working to reduce its own weapons of mass destruction. Nelson Mandela always stresses the importance of bringing everyone together, to achieve a brighter future. Masakhane!

[~kris~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a leader that so clearly and eloquently presents the case of his people over and over again in speeches and writings. He could see the injustices and issues that hurt the people and his clarity of vision enabled him to be a respected leader unlike so many freedom fighters-turned oppressors throughout the African continent.

[Sabrina Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this book from the library on a whim and didn't realize until later that it was not a biography. Thought I would be bored to tears reading speeches, but it turns out I was wrong. While the speechless did tend to get a little repetitive towards the end they were still well worth reading. Mandela deserves every honour. A leader we should try to emulate.

[Stacy Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book my first year of teaching. Until then, I had never really studied about South Africa or about the life of Nelson Mandela. If I live my life accomplishing half of what he has done, I will leave this earth at peace.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This so far is a great read about the Nelson's speaches and inserts in the life of a man we know as Nelson Mandela.

[Rachel 💚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a collection of Nelson Mandelas speeches. truely inspiring, a true hero!

[Tushar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive, Makes for an exhausting read and the same points are repeated over and over again, I would rather recommend the biography.

[Stephanie]

I made it about halfway through this before it was due back at the library, and I'm ashamed to say that I wasn't enjoying it enough to renew it. So be it.

[Shelby Delbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larger than life!

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirerend

[Pooja Kashyap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nelson Mandela was, indeed, a prolific writer as well as a gifted speaker. He became an epitome of freedom around the world after his South African history in 1994. I have always looked up to him for his patience, diligence and integrity.

He strongly believed that forgiveness helps the forgiven and elevates the forgiver. Practically, this idea instills peace to both the parties. It was extremely powerful to witness relatives of people who were brutally killed by the old apartheid government forgive their former oppressors.

It is the most extraordinary things to forgive one’s own oppressors. It is difficult for us to think even. And when the time came, Madiba who was deeply wounded of his past and suffering, very easily did forgive his own oppressors.

In His Own Words is one of the most powerful and beautiful books in its own way. Highly recommend to those who like me can’t get enough of Madiba. I totally share his idea of life, that is, it’s never too late to do the right thing.

Via my blog post: In His Own Words by Nelson Mandela

[Tony · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really admire Nelson Mandela and it almost felt like sacrilege to give this book such a low rating but I just couldn't get into it. It is a collection of his speeches and in my view it became tedious and monotonous. I am yet to read a biography on Mandela and perhaps I should have done that first as that may have iven me more enjoyment with this book.

[Angela Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this more stars. it just got a little long and redundant. I had to put it down for a while and come back to it. it is a series of speeches made by Mandela or about him. some of them are very interesting. I also love the way he presents things in a nonracial manner for the most part. very nice departure from what we here in America today.