It will get you interested! - Rated 
I have never really been that interested in politics; I would say I have a level of interest in UK politics as that is where I live but not foreign politics so for me, buying and then reading such a long book, I really wondered whether I would get through it.
I have to say, it was interesting from the start and difficult to put down. I am not even an avid book reader but if you are curious about people generally, then this is a great book to get into. This isn't just about Nelson Mandela, fighting apartheid. It's about someone who started out similar to us - just an ordinary person but who had a simple but enjoyable childhood - different in relation to culture and upbringing.
If you don't understand politics, you don't need to know a great deal and neither do you have to have indepth knowledge of South African history.
I came away with a feeling of understanding this person - even knowing him to a certain extent because of how much he lets you into his thoughts and his heart. I also gained knowledge and interest from South African politics. I am in my 30s - all that I heard on television as a child myself during the Thatcher years, remembering the song Free Nelson Mandela - it all means so much more to me now.
But this book not only gives you insight into Nelson Mandela as a politician, but as a person. Even that has great interest in itself. If you are similar to me and you read this book, you'll not be disappointed.
Indispensible - Rated
"Indispensible" is one of the reviewer quotes that appears on the cover of this book, and this really sums it up - this is a book that everyone should read. The book is simply Mandela telling his own life story. His life has been truly exceptional - it strains the limits of credulity that someone jailed as a political prisoner for almost 30 years could maintain a positive attitude and grow as person while in prison the way he did and ultimately emerge as the leader of a nation. Given the circumstances and experiences of his life, the lack of bitterness toward his enemies and lack of racial prejudice that he expresses in the book is inspirational and bound to make an impact on any reader. Despite its length, the book is easy to read and moves along quickly. There is little historical context provided, but this is not attempting to be a book about South African history but rather a book about humanity.
Balanced and yet one sided - Rated 
I enjoyed most of this book, though like all autobiographies it has a problem that is the author. Events are one sided and we do not get the full picture. It is a good book though I felt that towards the end something was lacking and there were events not quite fully explained or details were left out. Nelson Mandela says in his autobiography he is an ordinary man, though I feel in reality the myth very much over shadows the man. This should be read by anyone interested in South Africa, though read other books to get an overall picture.
Shaping the World - Rated
I am honoured to have had the priveledge to share Mandela's story - a humble man who, at every chance commends those that shared his vision of a democratic system not just in SA but around the World. 2 last words in my review - READ IT...
An essential read - Rated
This book has over 800 pages and even its own index, but don't let that scare you off. It is far from being a boring historical report on the events surrounding his life. If you want to know what he did, go to an encyclopedia and read such a historical report. If you want to know Nelson Mandela, to know his way of thinking, to feel every emotion as he feels it, to really get a picture of the pain he and the oppressed felt, read this book.
As the book progresses, the development of Mandela's character and his way of thinking is made apparent to the reader. Every emotion that Mandela feels is shared with the reader in a deeper way than in most autobiographies, as alongside his personal struggles, there is the struggle for freedom that can incite strong feelings of injustice and sympathy in anyone. This is definately an emotionally and politically heavy book, but there are several moments of light-heartedness where Mandela expresses certain past events with an irony or humour. As he looks back on certain bad experiences, he can laugh about it.
This is a man that everyone should learn about, and this is certainly the book to read in order to do so.
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