Life in Transition Book

We all dream of fame at some time in our lives, yet the phrase that always returns to my mind is 'Walk A Mile In His Shoes.'

How many would truly take the challenge of walking a mile in the shoes of Nelson Mandela?

A man vilified and branded a terrorist by the propaganda of a regime.
A man who lived every minute in fear of his life.
A man incarcerated in indescribable conditions for over a quarter of a century.
A man, whom after his release, was the target of those who he sought to unite.
A man of dignity and pride, a man whose legacy will be unity. A man loved almost universally.

I read his autobiography, 'Long Walk To Freedom', some 6 years ago. It was a book that challenged every human emotion, from fear and sorrow through to unadulterated joy. However, an autobiography is just that, a reminiscence, even from a man who steadfastly diarised his time in captivity.

This book is something very different. This is that diary, betraying the innermost feelings of this most humble and private of men. Not only that, it documents various letters, and conversations, with a commentary from Mandela, which truly makes the reader feel that they were part of history.

To read this book really is to walk a mile in the shoes of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, to truly understand his struggle and motives, to feel his pain, and to experience his humility.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book not only to students of history or to enthusiasts of autobiography, but to anybody who has encountered difficult times and has felt like giving up. This man is the ultimate lesson in staying true to who you are and what you believe in, and also to dignified perseverance.