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What Nelson Mandela Taught Me: Timeless lessons on leadership and life
When a thoughtless tweet by Zelda la Grange unleashed a storm, she was ‘Have you learnt nothing from Nelson Mandela?’ This book is her answer. For years, she was the closest witness of Mandela’s interactions with people both famous and ordinary, and here she draws out his lessons on humility, respect, honesty, how to truly listen and what to do if you realise you have made a grave mistake, a lesson she herself had to learn the hard way.
- GenresMemoir
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2024
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March 13, 2025#WhatNelsonMandelaTaughtMe – Zelda la Grange
#Tafelberg
Unlike Orwell’s animals, all criticism has not been created equal. After spending almost two decades at the side of an icon, nothing could force Zelda la Grange to a halt with the impact of this simple question: “Have you learnt nothing from Mr Mandela?”
This followed her posting controversial and impulsive Tweets whilst mourning the loss of her beloved mentor and witnessing the decline of the South Africa that he had envisaged. The media storm that erupted consequently gave rise to self-reflection, and the results thereof to this memoir.
The four sections scrutinize the following themes: The author’s search for her own identity, lessons learnt, an interpretation of Madiba’s legacy as made applicable to current tropes, and a discussion of hope, including the nature thereof.
The offending Tweets are discussed at length. Although the context thereof is offered, it does not come across as an attempt at justification: “People were telling me how disappointed they were in me, but that paled in comparison to how disappointed I was in myself.” (23) On the contrary, the contrition is clearly detectable in statements like: “Now that he’d (Madiba) gone, my true north had faded, and being under pressure, I had failed to allow his influence to dictate my behaviour. I had slipped back into my own selfish and inconsiderate ways…” (58)
A discussion of lessons that she had learnt from Madiba then follows. Topics include leadership, humility, respect, forgiveness, and honesty, but also less comfortable realities, such as biases, blind spots, and prejudices. Thereafter follows the practical effects thereof on the digital age and, more specifically, the potential toxicity of social media and the phenomenon that has become known as “cancel culture”.
The statement “No one is the result of a single mistake… We are complex, messy and full of contradictions” (42) is motivated by reflecting on Madiba’s interactions with the fallen, people like Bill Clinton and Hansie Cronje, and is extended to artificial intelligence that assimilated human behaviour, to wit the 2016 Microsoft chatbot, Tay.
The memoir is part nostalgy, part grief, part anecdote, and part education, emphasizing the fragility of human nature, despite our best intentions.
#Uitdieperdsebek
#Tafelberg
Unlike Orwell’s animals, all criticism has not been created equal. After spending almost two decades at the side of an icon, nothing could force Zelda la Grange to a halt with the impact of this simple question: “Have you learnt nothing from Mr Mandela?”
This followed her posting controversial and impulsive Tweets whilst mourning the loss of her beloved mentor and witnessing the decline of the South Africa that he had envisaged. The media storm that erupted consequently gave rise to self-reflection, and the results thereof to this memoir.
The four sections scrutinize the following themes: The author’s search for her own identity, lessons learnt, an interpretation of Madiba’s legacy as made applicable to current tropes, and a discussion of hope, including the nature thereof.
The offending Tweets are discussed at length. Although the context thereof is offered, it does not come across as an attempt at justification: “People were telling me how disappointed they were in me, but that paled in comparison to how disappointed I was in myself.” (23) On the contrary, the contrition is clearly detectable in statements like: “Now that he’d (Madiba) gone, my true north had faded, and being under pressure, I had failed to allow his influence to dictate my behaviour. I had slipped back into my own selfish and inconsiderate ways…” (58)
A discussion of lessons that she had learnt from Madiba then follows. Topics include leadership, humility, respect, forgiveness, and honesty, but also less comfortable realities, such as biases, blind spots, and prejudices. Thereafter follows the practical effects thereof on the digital age and, more specifically, the potential toxicity of social media and the phenomenon that has become known as “cancel culture”.
The statement “No one is the result of a single mistake… We are complex, messy and full of contradictions” (42) is motivated by reflecting on Madiba’s interactions with the fallen, people like Bill Clinton and Hansie Cronje, and is extended to artificial intelligence that assimilated human behaviour, to wit the 2016 Microsoft chatbot, Tay.
The memoir is part nostalgy, part grief, part anecdote, and part education, emphasizing the fragility of human nature, despite our best intentions.
#Uitdieperdsebek
September 24, 2024
What makes this book truly special is La Grange's candid portrayal of Mandela's complexities. She doesn't shy away from his flaws or difficult decisions, but rather presents him as a multifaceted and ultimately inspiring figure. She also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, both on a personal and national level.
"What Nelson Mandela Taught Me" is a must-read for anyone interested in Mandela's life and legacy, as well as those seeking inspiration on leadership and overcoming adversity. La Grange's eloquent prose and personal insights make this book an unforgettable read.
"What Nelson Mandela Taught Me" is a must-read for anyone interested in Mandela's life and legacy, as well as those seeking inspiration on leadership and overcoming adversity. La Grange's eloquent prose and personal insights make this book an unforgettable read.
May 12, 2025
Not great
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews