The Measure of a Man : A Spiritual Autobiography
by Sidney Poitier
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sidney PoitierEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2001-05-01
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Book Reviews of The Measure of a Man : A Spiritual Autobiography
Book Review: Left Me Hanging
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm not sure what to say about this book because I am not sure that the point or the purpose was made clear. Mr. Poitier rambles on in a disorganized style. The format is not really chronological and not quite thematic either. Therefore, the reader could put the book down and open it up again at a different page and not have missed anything. There was not much movement and no climax. I also felt the "spiritual" tag of the title was misleading as that seemed to be an afterthought. Where was his editor???
The book contained an intermittent smattering of anecdotal events throughout Mr. Poitier's life. These were revealing and interesting and actually could have delivered a powerful message if left to tell the story. The flow of those events, however, was interrupted by philosophizing, pontificating, and confessing that detracted from the events and frankly became redundant. Ho hum. I gave the book a three star rating because I did finish with more empathy and understanding of the plight of the black man in the decades about which the book was written.
Summary of The Measure of a Man : A Spiritual Autobiography
In this beautifully written, candid memoir, legendary actor Sidney Poitier reveals the spiritual depth, passion and intellectual fervour that has driven his remarkable life. Poitier credits his childhood of poverty on idyllic Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of self-worth, family values and simple ethics that he has never since surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke countless barriers to launch a pioneering career portraying important, dignified characters in some of the most morally significant films of the late 20th century. His engaging memoir spans a time in American history from segregation, through the early Civil Rights conflicts, to present-day cultural struggles. Poitier shares his provocative thoughts on racism in Hollywood, consumerism and the media, illness and mortality, honouring a higher consciousness and paying the price for artistic integrity. This book is a powerful testament to the rewards of being true to one's self, acting passionately on one's convictions and boldly walking on the edge.Sidney Poitier wrote The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography because he "felt called to write about certain values, such as integrity and commitment, faith and forgiveness, about the virtues of simplicity, about the difference between 'amusing ourselves to death' and finding meaningful pleasures--even joy." Yet Poitier's book does not speak from on high; its tone is conversational and endearingly self-critical. He begins the first chapter by recounting an evening spent channel-surfing and wondering, as most of us do at one time or another, "What am I doing with my time?" The spiritual reflections in The Measure of a Man are nonsectarian; Poitier's faith is clearly influenced by his experience in Christian churches, but he is not, strictly, Christian. Though idiosyncratic, his faith is disciplined and rigorous, informed by leaders as diverse as Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Poitier's love--for himself, his family, and the world--infuses his recollections of his early life on Cat Island in the Bahamas and his memories of his stage and film career (including his Oscar-winning role in Lilies of the Field). Poitier has been rich and poor; he has been popular and despised; and his extremely varied experiences have made him a wise man, as he demonstrates with statements like this one: "[W]hat we do is stay within the context of what's practical, what's real, what dreams can be fashioned into reality, what values can send us to bed comfortably and make us courageous enough to face our end with character."
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