A few da
ys ago I ran across Richard Stengel, editor of Time Magazine and author of Mandela’s Way – 15 Lessons on Life Love and Courage, on the Charlie Rose show. This interview primed my interest for the book on Mandela and I recommend it to you.
First off it needs to be said that I’ve long admired Mandela for his moral leadership in the face of what can only be called the evil behavior of the South African government that held the majority black population as second class citizens, and who held him as a political prisoner for decades in the prime of his life. Despite this repression, Mandela stood tall. And while he himself would be the first to admit that not every political decision he made was right, on the major issue of his stand – that every man is equal and should be allowed a vote – he was right on.
This book was terrific, full of practical advise and each lesson laced with great personal insights from Mandela’s personal life. How do we know that these insight’s ring true? Because Richard Stengel is personal relationship with Nelson Mandela, forged over years of being his personal biographer, has given him an insiders perspective of Mandela’s life.
Stengel is quick to reveal that Mandela is not a saint, and gives us an honest and unvarnished view of the man who was the historical leader. Nevertheless, there are many great lessons for us everyday leaders and many things to admire about the man.
Although I’m not going to recite all the lessons in this book, suffice to say that it’s strongest lessons are that Mandela was a mature, courageous leader who used patience and strategic leadership to overturn one of the greatest injustices of modern time, and he did so in a peaceful way.
GREAT BOOK! BUY IT.
David
