|
|
|
|
 |
 |
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
You have found The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
one of the thousands of books about antiques
at Antique Book Store. We hope that by offering you a tremendous selection of the
books about antiques that you want at incredible prices, you will be back the next time you need anything from Antique Book Store.
We greatly appreciate your patronage and look forward to
servicing you again.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
You Are Here: Books About Antiques > Blue Books > Item 409 of 480
|
|
|
 |
|
| List Price: |
|
$14.95 |
|
| Our Price: |
|
$10.17
|
|
| Customer Rating: |
|
|
Available from Amazon
Price Last Updated : 7-30-2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Features
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco January 26, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061357901
ISBN-13: 978-0061357909
Product Dimensions:
7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
Product Review
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."
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Poitier's second memoir retains the soul-searching candor that marked his first (This Life, 1980), but lacks its narrative drive. After painting an idyllic portrait of his youth on Cat Island in the Bahamas ("a place of purity"), Poitier traces his path to Hollywood stardom with frustratingly broad strokes. (For the details of Poitier's journey, and his involvement in the civil rights movement, readers are left to consult his earlier work.) Poitier demonstrates the strength of his character with moving stories about his struggles with racism, and he includes anecdotes about his roles in such memorable productions as A Raisin in the Sun, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night and A Patch of Blue. But in the end, this book reads like the random thoughts of a sincere and honorable celebrity channeled through the pen of an experienced and jaded ghostwriter. As an autobiography, it is "spiritual" only in the loosest sense of the term. Poitier's relationship with God, whom he conceives in Hollywood terms as a vague cosmic consciousness, is not mentioned until one of the last chapters of the book. Throughout, he offers moralizing reflections on rage, forgiveness ("a sacred process"), marriage, parenting, prostate cancer and the burning question of whether Sidney Poitier has a dark side. "I had come to believe a little bit in my own press clippings," he notes, reflecting on his reputation as a man of unusual integrity and virtue; for better and for worse, this book contains little to complicate that belief. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Reader Reviews
Being a good little white boy, I knew little about Sidney, but felt respect for him as an actor due, in part, to my discovery of "The Defiant Ones" as a child. (The movie is a powerful work about racism, and I loved it.) This spiritual autobiography is no judgmental, squeaky-clean depiction of walking with God, nor is it an in-depth detour into the tribal religions available to Sidney as a child in the Bahamas. This book is an open-hearted view of the circumstances and, more importantly, the values that guided Sidney Poitier to the pinnacle of acting. He candidly discusses his failures as husband and father. He speaks lovingly of the example his parents gave him. And he shows the power of holding to your integrity no matter the cost. By holding to this integrity, Sidney lost some opportunities and also gained respect from the white community, while facing ridicule as a "sell-out" from his own community. What stands out in his story is his desire to bring these communities together with respect, refusing to be dragged down by the bigotry and anger of either side. He speaks powerfully, encouraging us to focus anger in a positive way. Mr. Poitier writes in an eloquent, yet communicative style. At times, he borders on unfocused rambling, but even then he has worthy things to say. This book is a valuable discourse on never giving up on your goals, on reaching beyond yourself to be who you were truly created to be. Thank you, Sidney, for your time.
Comment (1) | Permalink |
(Report this)
Back To Top
|
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
by Sidney Poitier
List Price: $14.95
Available from Amazon
Price: $10.17
on 7-30-2008
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
