i knew a little bit about the horrifying legacy of apartheid. but what i didn't really understand was it's magnitude, scope, and precise ability to cut into every aspect of life. Mandela's account fills in all the details for you in a very (com)passionate way. great quick read!

A wonderful account from Nelson Mandela, not only of the history of the fight for equality in South Africa but also his own personal thoughts and takes. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Danny Glover. This was beautifully done.

As most of the books based on historical events in South Africa, this autobiography of Nelson Mandela is very educative, eyes opening, inspiring, and exciting tale. It should be compulsory reading at schools and universities all over the world.
A personal story full of courage, great purpose, struggle for equality and fairness. A story of an extraordinary personality of Nelson Mandela, his unique life walk, a long walk..long walk to freedom.

Before reading this book I would highly recommend get acquainted with the complicated historical path of South Africa and read a couple of historical books to better understand some details, concepts, places, names and organisations mentioned in "Long Walk To Freedom".

For me it was a perfect read in a perfect place at a perfect moment. I started reading it in Cape Town and finished it today on my departure from Uganda. This beautiful and thought provoking read accompanied me on my long travel around South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Uganda.
One of the best reads so far during my around the world trip 2023-2025!!

The story of a great man. A man who knew the true value of his country and its rich and varied culture. But what sets him apart from all others is his tireless quest for truth, fearless struggle for non-racialism (of Africans in their own land), his kind heart which could not bear the suffering of his countrymen, and his urge to sacrifice his personal life for the sake of his country and his people.

At the start if the book, it seems like Mandela is just another ordinary African person. However, as we progress in our reading, we are able to see how the circumstances brought out the greatness of "Madiba" - bold, compassionate, conscientious, a true man.

For me the biggest idea from this book is how much stories we hear in childhood shape our understanding of the world. #howtospeakwithchildren

Africa’s giant leader from apartheid to democracy. Vision over vengeance.

I like the application

Powerful story of an incredible man! Nelson Mandela is someone we can all admire.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a long read with unfamiliar names, but broken down in shorter chapters it is just small bites at a time and you will interested in an amazing story of resilience and courage. Twenty-seven years in prison because that all people, blacks and whites are equal and should be treated equally and giving an education.

I spent over an hour typing a review with quotations et al, but it seemed to have disappeared. SIGH!

If you have any interest in equality and respect for fellow humans, this is worth reading.

" with freedom come responsibilities"
Nelson Mandela
#inspiration

The European global expansion of the 15th century marked the beginning of a destructive and oppressive tide of colonization that lasted for centuries. From Africa to India to North and South America, white European travelers claimed land and people that were different from themselves, displaying incomprehensible hubris. In his home country of South Africa, Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter who dedicated his life to breaking the chains of oppression.
Raised to be an advisor to the local African chief in his native Transkei region, Mandela had the privilege of education from a young age. He was the only black student studying law at the University of Witwatersrand at the age of 25 when he joined the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC was opposed to the government's policies of apartheid, which codified laws and regulations that had kept Africans in an inferior position to whites for centuries. The ANC's goal was to desegregate the country and grant equal voting rights to all citizens, ending the government's racist and oppressive laws and practices.
Mandela and his colleague Oliver Tambo opened the first black-owned and operated law firm in Johannesburg, which was immediately swamped with clients looking to challenge the white government's unfair treatment of black people. His years spent arguing cases on behalf of his clients exposed the realities of the system, which was not as just as he had believed. The law was a tool used by the ruling class to shape society in a way favorable to itself. In 1960, the government declared the ANC illegal, and Mandela was forced to live underground as an outlaw in his own country. He was eventually caught and sentenced to life in prison in 1963.
Mandela served only 27 of his life sentence, with 18 of those years spent in a small cell on Robben Island. Despite being imprisoned, the struggle continued, and Mandela fought for better prison conditions while advising freedom fighters on the outside. During his imprisonment, the world began to take notice of the South African struggle, with sanctions and political pressure mounting. In 1990, Mandela was set free, and within a few years, the ANC and other organizations successfully campaigned for a new constitution and system of democracy for the people. Mandela became the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994, officially ending three and a half centuries of European colonialism and oppression.
While Mandela's struggle for freedom is inspiring, it is sadly not unique. Many countries achieved independence from their oppressors, such as Angola gaining independence from Portugal in 1975 and Venezuela declaring independence from Spain in 1811. As Mandela wrote, "Freedom is indivisible, the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me."

I love books based on true stories, & this one was no exception. This one was especially enjoyable because of the goodness that comes out of Salva’s, the main character’s, life and the good he does for others.