Nelson Mandela by Himself - Nelson Mandela
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Under the apartheid government of South Africa, it was illegal to quote Nelson Mandela. He is now among the most quoted people in the world, though as tends to happen, he is often misquoted. Nelson Mandela by Himself features upwards of 2,000 of these once-felonious gems, apparently 100% accurately recorded.
Unfortunately, when you have a reasonably sizable book of quotes from any one person, it is very unlikely that all are going to be mind-blowing or inspiring. In fact, many of the ‘quotes’ are simply extracts from speeches. The compilation places them under 317 headings as diverse as ‘Apartheid’ (of course), ‘Food and Drink’, ‘Love’ and ‘Freedom’, with 26 subheadings under ‘prison’. This volume is theoretically a great idea, giving one the ability to efficiently beef up one’s essay with a quote from this inspiring man. Sadly, you are likely to either become that person who’s always quoting Nelson Mandela or someone who stares wistfully at the book, wishing they had more use for it. Utility notwithstanding, this is an interesting book, as much for its history as its content. It is effective as a tribute to what Nelson Mandela achieved and inspired, and will happily sit on your coffee table to inspire your afternoon tea guests.
(3.5/5)