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The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club) Paperback – Illustrated, January 26, 2007
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"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."
—Sidney Poitier
In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure—as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.
Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.
Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.
Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limits—his own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJanuary 26, 2007
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.63 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100061357901
- ISBN-13978-0061357909
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“With the unwavering sense of dignity and worth . . .this man’s authenticity is earned by the life he describes.” — Los Angeles Times
Reading The Measure of a Man is somewhat akin to having a worthwhile conversation with a revered older relative; he doesn’t always tell you what you want to hear, but you appreciate it just the same. — Washington Post
An affecting new memoir. — Dallas Morning News
In this powerful book, [Poitier] shares his touchsotnes with us and makes us question what foundations guide our own lives. — Ebony
Revealing . . . Poitier invites us to re-examine his work and, through it, our history. — New York Times Magazine
Candid memoirs from teh actor who has starred in more than forty movies, directed nine, and written four. — USA Today
Reflective, generous, humane . . . moving . . .[Poitier] writes with vivid emotion. — New York Times Book Review
Having already penned a book about his professsional life, legendary actor Sidney Poitier tackles a greater subject--life itself--with this new spiritual autobiography. — American Way
From the Back Cover
"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."
—Sidney Poitier
In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure—as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.
Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.
Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.
Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limits—his own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.
About the Author
Sidney Poitier was the first black actor to win the Academy Award for best actor for his outstanding performance in Lilies of the Field in 1963. His landmark films include The Defiant Ones, A Patch of Blue, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and To Sir, With Love. He has starred in over forty films, directed nine, and written four. He is the author of two autobiographies: This Life and the "Oprah's Book Club" pick and New York Times bestseller The Measure of a Man. Among many other accolades, Poitier has been awarded the Screen Actors Guild's highest honor, the Life Achievement Award, for an outstanding career and humanitarian accomplishment. He is married, has six daughters, four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Product details
- Publisher : HarperSanFrancisco (January 26, 2007)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0061357901
- ISBN-13 : 978-0061357909
- Item Weight : 7.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.63 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #127,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #240 in Fatherhood (Books)
- #1,253 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #4,262 in Memoirs (Books)
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The book promised to be very interesting from the onset, but I felt it did not really deliver the spiritual message I was hoping for. The book is really a biography of Poitier's life, especially his early years. He moves forward and back through his life, recounting stories from his adult as well as young years, and I found this shifting back and forth between his early and adult life a bit confusing. Had he recounted his life in a linear fashion I would have absorbed the book better (but this is just a personal preference).
I really enjoyed reading about his early life, especially when his parents thought he would die when he was a baby, and his father brought a shoe box to bury him in it. The struggles he went through as a child, and his relationship with his mother, who used to beat him, were also very interesting.
I did lose interest half way throughout the book, but I continued reading. I did regain interest three quarters of the way through, but still I did not understand the spiritual message he was trying to convey.
He mentions a movie part he did not accept to play, at the surprise of all, but later explains that it was the measure of a man inside him that prevented him from taking the part. He just felt that the character he was supposed to play was too weak, and therefore did not represent the true measure of a man. Thus the title of the book.
I recommend you listen to the audiobook read by Poitier. I found the audiobook more interesting than the book. There is a certain effect on the soul when listening to the voice of the author than reading his written words (I ended up finishing the book by listening to the audiobook while walking every morning). Imagine of you can actually hear the voice of Jesus instead of reading his words!
There is a lot of acting in the author's voice in the audio version. The author does not simply read the words, but actually acts on the words. It is a different experience.
I also liked the author's conversational style, as if he is talking directly to you. For example, he says things like, "You understand? You follow?..."
I liked this book, and found Poitier's life very interesting. However, I was disappointed by his spiritual message.
As a product of the Civil Rights Movement and the Revolutionary 60's, Sidney Poitier's MEASURE OF A MAN took the "pain" out of my soul that I knew I had for so many years and did not know why..now, I know.
This man not only guides the King's English in his narrative, he's an archetect of it. Let me explain.
He not only acknowledges the men and women who helped him to make up his mind (smile) to write this masterpiece, he introduces you to them, (no other writer has ever did that), and let's me know exactly who/whom he would trust to ride with him intellectually, Spritually, and comically..
The Measure of a Man not only tells a story, IT TAKES YOU THERE!! I'm there with him when the bigot sheriff stopped him, I'm there with him when he explored the caves, I'm there with him when other greats (such as himself) tried to snub him - Tracy/Hepburn), I'm there when
his parents gave him more than food, shelter, clothing -they gave him a "sense of worth" not only for himself but to be applied to all those he allows in his space.
I am there with him when he turned down the the movie part of a second-class citizen, a man who did not know how to pull himself up by his bootstraps, a man who did not know how to tie a knot at the end of his rope and hang on; I'm there with him when he turned it down because this character -- fictional though he may be - DID NOT MEASURE UP..
I used to wonder why Hollywood never put Mr. Poitier in a film that was less than stellar -- The Measure of a Man has put my soul to rest and answered all my questions about this man known as "Sidney Poitier."
Mr. Poitier, allow me to thank you, allow me to tell you how proud I am of you, allow me to tell you that grammarians have not written the book that comes close to how you express any and all words that you utter in this "growing experience" for everyone, allow me to thank you for expressing out loud what I used to scream in my heart for years but did not know how to say it with passion as opposed to hate. I can hear your soft gazelle-like words, I can hear how I would say it now..God bless you yesterday, today, and tomorrow...Lady"C"
Top reviews from other countries
May
Exzelent als Biografie und auch lesenswert für allegemine und spezielle Politik. Es sollten viele Gegner von Rassismus lesen. Gilt nicht nur für USA, sondern auch für Europa.