My rating is probably somewhat closer to 4 stars. I enjoyed the story of Peekay and all the other characters but for me (I know I'm the outlier) it just took too long to tell it. I won't soon forget him though :))

After two years of thinking about this novel after I wrote the review below, I have upgraded to five stars. It was that impactful for me.

The Power of One is a semi-auto biographical coming of age story set in South Africa during the 1940’s.

PK is an English boy who endures a great deal of abuse from the Boer children, some of whom are Nazi sympathizers until he is taught to box. He is an exceptional student who later befriends Doc, a German professor who is a great pianist but who is confined to the local prison for the duration of the war. The professor teaches PK many valuable life lessons including the piano but boxing and excelling at schoolwork remain his true passions.

This is a great novel for the first 2/3 of the book essentially covering the period when PK is age 5 to 12. PK is the ultimate underdog throughout the first half. He becomes a local boxing champion and always displays a great deal of humanity towards Zulus and seemingly anyone who is not part of the power structure in those awful conditions that made up Apartheid. Returning home from boarding school to live with his grandpa and mother, PK first meets and later visits Doc at the prison when he is incarcerated. PK knows three languages which is uncommon even for adults. With the help of the professor and Geel Piet, a Zulu prisoner with a huge heart, PK helps smuggle letters in and out of the local prison. Along with his boxing prowess he becomes a real hero to the prisoners. This does not escape the notice of some of the racist guards although they don’t suspect PK, one guard does suspect a clandestine activity. There are incidents that follow that are quite sad and I won’t spoil but rest assured the incidents are masterfully told.

The last 1/3 of the book covered PKs teenage years into young adulthood and for me were not as interesting. The child like innocence and wonder were gone after age twelve and the end of WWII. I think the story would have been perfect if he had ended there.

Bryce Courtenay, the author, was a truly gifted writer and there are some truly beautiful passages in this novel and many valuable life lessons.

I probably learned more about South Africa from this novel than any history book on Apartheid or the Boer War that I ever read.

“First with your head, then with your heart PK”

Wow wow wow
What an amazing book. Emotional rollercoaster and although difficult in parts to hear about society in that part of history I would still rate this as one of my favourites. Wonderful characters that build and leaves you with hope in your heart.
Would recommend the audiobook 100%. Amazing narrator that brings the characters even more to life.

One of my top 5 favorites. Read this at the deeper/figuring your life out moments - it will give you strength and inspiration.

This is the story of Peekay, a young boy growing up in South Africa before, during, and after World War II, and the good people he met along his way to becoming the welterwieght boxing champion of the world. The memorable characters included (among many) Giel Peet, an imprisoned black man who taught Peekay to box; Doc, a gentle 6'7" German professor who taught Peekay to love nature and music and books; and, Miss Boorstein, a brilliant Jewish teacher who fostered Peekay's intellectual genius through her guidance and tutoring.
I learned many things in this book- the complex art of boxing, how bad and inhumane apartheid is, and how much more I might have accomplished if I had grown up in an era where there was no television or other distractions. I know I would have read more and practised that piano more and given of myself more as well. I also find myself wishing for those mentors like Peekay's who saw the great promise he had and gently guided him to his full potential.
Through this book I also learned to appreciate the idea of the "voice" of the writer. The book began when Peekay was about five and ended when he was about 18. Along the way his words slowly matured and changed from that of a young child to that of an educated young man.
Finally, I had no idea how bad apartheid is. I had heard talk of it, but did not really understand the indignities the colored race suffered in South Africa at the hand of the ruling white race. Racism is bad and I think we are to fight it wherever and whenever we encounter it or at least try to help our fellow man like Peekay did.

I am giving this book eleven out of ten! Absoloodle!

I hardly know where to begin writing this review. This book had been on my to-read list for a long time. I finally decided to take the plunge and listen to the Audible version, narrated by the fantastic Humphrey Bowers (who really brought SHANTARAM to life also). And now it's over. Twenty hours spent getting to know the wonderful Peekay, and now I'm done? This is one of those books that isn't really over when you finish it. It stays with you and the characters live on inside your head.That's really the highest compliment I can pay a book.

The story is so hard to describe without making it sound simplistic. It is a coming of age story, a tale of friendship and history and love. It's the kind of book I already know I will find myself recommending to all sorts of people. I can see it appealing to young and old, men and women, which is a rare thing to come across. There is such humanity and thoughtfulness in this story, it's got humor, but a great depth, too. Since it is told by a boy, growing into young adulthood, he sees a lot of the political and social strife of the South African people though the eyes of a child, which adds such a strong emotional element to the story.

I feel a bit at a loss now, and don't quite know what to pick up next. I think it will have to be something entirely different, for it to have a chance, and for me not to compare it unfavorable to THE POWER OF ONE.

Needless to say, once I have let some time pass for this story to sink in, I will be seeking out Bryce Courtenay's many other books. I only wish I could write to him, and tell him how much I enjoyed his book, sadly he passed on two years ago. As I understand it, this story was largely autobiographical, which makes it that much more fascinating. Highly recommended!!

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Well written, semi autobiographical novel set in South Africa from 1939 to the early 1950's. It tells the story of Peekay, a lonely 5 year old English boy sent to an Afrikaner boarding school. He was cruelly bullied by a boy Peekay calls The Judge and suffered great humiliation and physical pain. The book takes us on Peekay's coming of age journey as he learns the power of one, the power that is Peekay.

The author created memorable characters ranging from a mangy-looking brave rooster Grandpa Chook who was devoted to Peekay; to Doc a 6'7" German pianist and botanist who befriends Peekay; to Geel Piet a biracial prisoner who is both despicable and lovable.

It was the characters that I loved about the book. Also fascinating was the history and culture of the Zulu and other tribes as well as that of the Boers, and the tensions between the ruling English and the Afrikaners.

I did not enjoy the aspects of the book that dealt with boxing, the hierarchy of boarding schools, and the depiction of prison life.

I enjoyed this book, in fact more than I thought I would. I learned much about the struggle and the racism in South Africa. I listened to the audio of this and also read some. The narrator is excellent! Peekay was a wonderful character and great storyteller. Many of the secondary characters were wonderful as well. Do I recommend this read? Absolutel!!!

The power of one good book!

This book was a slow starter for me, so I got the Audible companion audiobook.... and THAT made all the difference. Soon I was immersed into Peekay's life and found it to be a beautifully (although at times, VERY descriptive) crafted story of a South African boy's coming of age. But it was also so much more, a story of South Africa and the rising tide of Apartheid following WWII. The imagery, lyrical prose, humor, and pathos won me over as did Courtenay's introduction of marvelously rich characters! As Doc would say, this book is "being an eleven out of ten! Absoloodle!"

It is hard for me to find words to describe this book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the end, but that was only because of my desire to have it wrapped up and end with Peekay reaching his goal. But, that is not how life works and I think that is what Courtenay was getting at. I can't remember a book that I felt so invested in the character AND loved the writing. I also can't remember the last time I read a book that made me cry more than once. It was a beautiful coming of age tale that I was sad to see end and I can't stop thinking about it.

God help me, I'll never finish this book. I'm drowning in uninspired writing.

Ok, I finished it. This was truly one of the most laborious reads I've had in quite a while. Suffice it to say I thought I'd never climb my way out to read another book again in my life. The writing style isn't difficult--it's not that that made it painful to get through. It's just a terribly written book with terribly boring, stock characters who go around doing terribly improbable things that evoke not one ounce of feeling from me because I'm making "blah blah blah" noises. Sweet merciful Jesus.