I really enjoyed this book by Nadaba Mandela. It tells us tbe story of how is grandfather, Nelson Mandela, raised him after his release from prison. It is a great look into the life of his grandfather as well as the culture of South Africa and its ancient wisdom.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Nelson Mandela’s hundredth birthday approaches. His grandson Ndaba, whom Mandela raised following his release from prison, talks about growing up with the titan that led the movement against Apartheid in South Africa. He reflects on Xhosa culture and the role that it played in the struggle and in his own development, and it is within this framework that he talks about his grandfather, and about the future of his people.

My thanks go to Net Galley and Hachette Books for the review copy, which I received free and early.

Ndaba spent his early years moving between his parents’ households. His mother struggled with alcoholism and other disorders; his father was ill, and would later die from AIDS. He tells of the surreal juxtaposition of the slum that had been his entire experience with his grandfather’s house, where he had his own room, food that was healthy and prepared for him, clothing, and even a video game system; it was just about everything a child could ask for, but it came at the price of separation from his mother, and he rebelled and acted out in response. As a man with a wider view of the past, he recognizes that this was by far the best outcome, but for many years he resisted, yet was safe because of his grandfather’s stable influence and wisdom.

He speaks of having come to Disney World as a youngster, where he was engaged in conversation with a friendly American, who asked him, as they stood in line for a ride, how big the lions are in Africa. Ndaba, of course, grew up in an urban environment and had no more seen a lion wandering around than the questioner had. He came to realize that these are the stereotypes that the Western world has for Africa: lions in rural areas, and crime in the cities. Dangerous animals; dangerous people. He suggests that the U.S.A. improve its own police forces before presuming to talk to South Africans about theirs.

He has a point.

The entire memoir is told using Xhosa folk tales as allegory, and the result is glorious and deeply moving.
Although I seldom become teary while reading, a good hard lump formed in my throat when he spoke of taking his grandfather on his final journey to Capetown.

Highly recommended to everyone, whether you know the history of the South African Revolution or are new to it.

Going to the Mountain is a powerful memoir, told by Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela. He writes about coming of age when South Africa was in turmoil and the effect this had on his life and his family. His tribe used the phrase "Going to the mountain" when they undertake the ritual of becoming a man. The writer wrote a brilliant book about this period of his life and about the lessons he learned. This book offered a glimpse of the relationship that Nelson Mandela shared with his grandson and the impact he had on his life.

Going to the Mountain
Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela
by Ndaba Mandela
Hachette Books

Politics
Pub Date 26 Jun 2018


I am reviewing Going to the Mountain through Hachette Books and Netgalley:


This book tells of Nelson Mandela’s life through the eyes of his grandson Ndaba Mandela. This book tells about how Nelson Mandela helped steer his grandson in the right direction after a reckless youth. Where he ditched school and fought in gangs. He helped him through his maturation into a fully realized and principled adulthood. The story is both intimate and epic, the book will tell the extraordinary journey.


This book will give us insight into the relationship between Grandfather and son. And how his Grandfather helped shape the man that Ndaba became.


I give Going to the Mountain five our of five stars!


Happy Reading!

"Going to the Mountain" is a memoir full of life lessons, written by the grandson of Nelson Mandela who lived with "Madiba" in his adolescence. Ndaba Mandela tells this story using the African fables and stories told to him by his grandfather and by other family members throughout his childhood, and how those stories shaped Mandela as well as himself. His insights provide a different look at Mandela after his time in prison and during his presidency. Well written and insightful, I highly recommend it for those interested in post-apartheid South Africa, President Mandela, and stories of African upbringings.

Going to the Mountain is a powerful memoir, told by Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela. He talks of his coming of age during a time when South Africa was in turmoil, and how the transition from apartheid to its current state affected him and his family. "Going to the mountain" is a phrase used by people in his tribe when they undertake the ritual to become a man, and ultimately, that's what this book is about: growing up, learning from your mistakes, and how your environment and the people in your life affect your growth and who you become as an adult. Mandela talks about everything, from the mundane that everyone can relate to, like going to school and dating, to other things that were unique for someone in his position, like the attention he received from being Nelson Mandela's grandson. Whatever the subject, however, Mandela speaks with stark honesty and we could all learn a lesson from his reflective nature and his continuing encouragement to do better and be better.

I love the way Mandela is able to weave teachings and sayings from the Xhosa tribe with his grandfather's teachings and his own life experiences. This memoir is rich with his culture, and we learn a lot about the Xhosa tribe and the Mandelas' way of living through this. I am inspired by this book to learn more about different cultures; Mandela shows that it is through an active effort of understanding that we grow and learn and make better choices for the future generations.

What I love the most, however, is that Ndaba Mandela is not afraid to reflect on his shortcomings. He puts everything out there so that the reader can understand him to be a fully relatable person, and shows how much a person can grow (especially a young person) when given guidance. It's an inspiring story that we can all take to heart, and I personally, have never felt more motivated to try to be my best self so that the young people in my life can learn from my example and be their best selves. It's something we should all keep in mind.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. It's full of life lessons, and the reflective nature of it brings the reader in to reflect on their own lives. It's also a genuinely interesting story; Ndaba Mandela has lived a remarkable life during a remarkable time, and his insight into all of it is fascinating. Anyone who is interested in memoirs will find value in reading Going to the Mountain; it's a compelling story told through exceptional writing.

This memoir by Nelson Mandela’s grandson gives insight into both the great man and the culture of South Africa. This book would make a good companion read to Trevor Noah’s Born A Crime. Some good nuggets here, but the whole was not as cohesive as I would have liked.