101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

Discuss the final section and the book as a whole.

Part XI, Chapter 115: "...the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and open-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity."

I think more or less summarizes what the final section, and really the whole book--and whole struggle--are about. Recognizing the ways in which your "enemy" is himself entrapped by his own prejudices, and trying to work with instead of against.... oh, how much different this world would be if we all lived that way!

I know we have to take into account that this is one man's perspective, but it seems that he takes pains to show both the positives and negatives in his movement and in his own personal choices. The politicking and balance of pushing for goals, yet taking into account the perspectives of all sides, is amazing to comprehend. I can't imagine trying to keep my cool and speak my words so carefully all the time. We all should, of course, but how many of us really try to be so thoughtful about what we say and how we act?

The audio I listened to has an interview with his collaborator/editor at the end, and I love that this man, editor of Time Magazine, was so honored to be asked to be involved with the book. He sounded genuinely astounded that he was approached for it. I don't know how much of the book was influence by his edits, but regardless, it's an amazing narration not just of Mandela, but of South Africa itself. I found it incredibly moving.

Much of what was narrated in this section were events I was familiar with and closely followed at the time. He gave us so many horrible massacres so quickly that the ugliness of the fight was glossed over. I remember being part of demonstrations at this point. I wanted a bit more feeling, a bit more of the brutality of the situation to be depicted in a way it punched the reader in the gut.