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The Power of One #1

The Power of One

bryce courtenay

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In 1939, as Hitler casts his enormous, cruel shadow across the world, the seeds of apartheid take root in South Africa. There, a boy called Peekay is born. His childhood is marked by humiliation and abandonment, yet he vows to survive and conceives heroic dreams, which are nothing compared to what life actually has in store for him. He embarks on an epic journey through a land of tribal superstition and modern prejudice where he will learn the power of words, the power to transform lives and the power of one.

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1989
Series
The Power of One
Literary awards
west australian young readers book award (wayrba), 
Places
south africa, 

This edition

Format
544 pages, Paperback
Published
September 29, 1996 by Ballantine Books
ISBN
9780345410054
ASIN
034541005X
Language
English
Characters More characters

More editions

About the author

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bryce courtenay

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Arthur Bryce Courtenay, AM was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist. He is one of Australia's best-selling authors, notable for his book The Power of One.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
40(40%)
4 stars
26(26%)
3 stars
33(33%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
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99 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
RaveNAA
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Please do not do this to yourself if you're reading this for fun. It will not be fun unless you have no taste. Read this for class, sure. It will be the most boring experience of your life unless you've read Jane Eyre, then it will be the second most boring experience of your life. I think the worst part about this was that I had to read this during my summer vacation because of school. And then I had write essays on why it inspired me and, thanks to those, I have gotten really good at pretending to like things. I'm done pretending. The only good part about this book is when he gets trapped under the rock because it's a cool action scene filled with friendship. But even that part is weird because of the way it's written. And he also survives that with small injuries which is just unrealistic. Read this for class or be like all of my friends and just use spark notes. They were right. I was wrong. Don't read this for fun because you will not have fun. It will not be inspiring because everything is just handed to him. Don't read this unless you wish to torture yourself.
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whoiam_me
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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As the book begins the reader meets Peekay, a precocious 5 year old in South Africa. Two important men in his life, one white, the other black, help him overcome incredible persecution and obstacles as he grows to manhood. This a beautifully written coming-of-age novel about apartheid which is a must-read for young and old. It is heart touching, motivating, and thought provoking.
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secretanimefan97
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Audio version with introduction by the author himself. He is such a larrikin with a happy voice. Bryce Courtenay's debut, apparently toiled over at the kitchen table with his son's girlfriend stating "This is the best book I've read, you need to publish it" or words to the effect. The rest, they say, is history.

n  "First with the head, then with the heart"n

What an Australian classic, one that I should have read by now.

Peekay starts out as a tiny tot (I have a 6 year old son and therefore horrified) who suffers dreadful abuse at this young age at boarding school, at the hands of horrible older boys, one in particular. Emerging a wonderful, well rounded and amazing human being.

Memories of his beloved wet nurse, neurotic mother and beloved music teacher and mentor; this is an epic story centring on the discipline and craft of boxing. South Africa is a sometimes bleak and beautiful place, told from around the time of 1930-1940. Worthwhile reading. Amazing narration.

29/03/18 Addendum. I stumbled across notes taken during my audio read, so I have some more thoughts.

On Peekay losing one of his most favourite people in the world, due to a zealously religious and neurotic mother:
n   "The lord is a shithead and I allowed myself a good cry” “The only person I knew not to have camouflage was Nanny” n

There are too many sweet and wonderful comments from Peekay, I must purchase the hard copy, it would be a valuable asset to any bookshelf.

Peekay’s grandfather, I loved reading these parts between the young and the old: n  "There’s a good lad.” Tap tap. Stroke n” goes Grandfather’s pipe process.

Peekay’s perception: n   “Very high up born again Christian” n” This was so humorous with the full on nature of Peekay’s mother, so worried about the ranking of all this stuff!

I cannot read my writing, so I hope I am doing Mr Courtenay justice here. n   “To emerge as myself. To regain the power of one.” n
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charlotterose
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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What a nice surprise this book was for me. This coming-of-age story set in 1939 South Africa has a focus on the sport of boxing throughout, which I am generally not a fan of, but certainly loved every minute of it in this story. Peekay endures awful humiliation and abandonment at such a young age yet he struggles along through adversity and heartbreaking losses.

Numerous comments by readers mention they did not care for the ending, but I, for one, loved it! I kept wondering when the 'judge' would reappear hoping he would get his comeuppance and was so glad Peekay gave it to him good. When early in the book the 'judge' abused Peekay, even after he did all his homework and promised otherwise, made him eat human sh*t, tortured and killed Granpa Chook, Peekay's beloved and clever rooster and only friend, the ending made me feel pretty darn satisfied. As for becoming the World's Welterweight Champion, you knew he would do just that.

A touching and up-lifting story I plan to read again. Absoloodle! (you'll have to read the novel to appreciate that one) Highly recommend!

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Enzeru92
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I firmly believe that a book or a movie can be about absolutely anything as long as its well written. There are a few sports movies out there that I have enjoyed, that I got wrapped up in, all because what they were really were was just good stories. This is a book like that. If you do happen to read the back cover, you will learn that the book is about boxing, but it's hardly just about boxing. Saying The Power of One is only about boxing is like saying doing well in school is only about showing up to class. Well, bad analogy, but you get my point.

The book starts off with the main character, whose real name you never learn, heading off to boarding school at 5 years old. Although it's told from his point of view, the story is not at all childish because Peekay is wise beyond his years. (Peekay is the name he chooses for himself after he is called Pisskop, which means "pisshead." I never did quite understand why he chose a name based on that insult, but he carries his new name proudly.)

The book is overly sentimental at times, but is so well written that that is easily forgiven. Bad things happen to Peekay, but the reader quickly realizes that all will work out in the end. The question is how. The book is so beautifully written that the rather basic story line of a poor kid with a big dream fighting his way to the top by staying honest becomes a truly unique tale that will stay with you long after you've put the book down.

Highly recommended.
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twotangerines
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Very moving. A weak and friendless English boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most powerful force - the power of one. (excerpted from editorial reviews)
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minicsth
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I know I read this as a child and adored it. I didn’t remember anything about it. Gave it another try and forced myself to make it to page 50. The racism was tough. The simplistic writing pushed me too far.


n  n
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HyperGamer14
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I found this book to be a mixed bag. For example, I loved the story of the main character's relationships with others, particularly with an old German professor who helps to shape his mind. However, I got bored with the focus on boxing, something I have no interest in but which permeated every aspect of the story. I thought the treatment of racial and cultural issues was excellent, especially the insights into struggles among the Boers, Afrikaners, and English settlers. On the other hand, I got tired of the story itself, which had five or six climaxes and denouments. I thought the author's treatment of South African nationalism was very good, and it helped me understand later issues of apartheid and Mandela. On the other hand, I really disliked the end, in which the main character finally gets revenge on a man who had tormented him when he was five years old. I wanted him to find redemption through his power to forgive rather than through the power of his fists. The narrator of the audiobook (which is how I "read" it)has a wonderful Australian accent and is very expressive, but reading this in print form might give you the chance to skip over the endless boxing scenes.
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