The Autobiography of Malcolm X : As Told to Alex Haley

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Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy hops at Boston's Roseland dance hall from the perspective of his Muslim faith, he can't help but make them sound pretty wonderful. These are but a few examples. The Autobiography of Malcolm X limns an archetypal journey from ignorance and despair to knowledge and spiritual awakening. When Malcolm tells coauthor Alex Haley, "People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book," he voices the central belief underpinning every attempt to set down a personal story as an example for others. Although many believe his ethic was directly opposed to Martin Luther King Jr.'s during the civil rights struggle of the '60s, the two were not so different. Malcolm may have displayed a most un-Christian distaste for loving his enemies, but he understood with King that love of God and love of self are the necessary first steps on the road to freedom. --Wendy Smith

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If there was any one man who articulated the anger, the struggle, and the beliefs of African Americans in the 1960s, that man was Malxolm X. His AUTOBIOGRAPHY is now an established classic of modern America, a book that expresses like none other the crucial truth about our times.
"Extraordinary. A brilliant, painful, important book."
TEH NEW YORKTIMES

Customer Reviews:

Interesting But I Didn't Always Agree.......2007-10-04

My sixth grade teacher assigned this book for homework, and we had a field trip to go see the Spike Lee movie when it came out. When a freelance writer and I had a discussion about Black leaders, she suggested that this book should be required reading, and I'd forgotten so much besides the most standout things that I picked up the book again. There are things that I don't agree with, such as Malcolm Little's ideas on how women should be checked and physically put in their place. There are things that I didn't agree with in Muslim religion, such as calling people White Devils. I understood where he was coming from, but after awhile, that just got old and I wanted the book to move on...quickly.

However, as with the movie, I was very interested and admired Malcolm X a great deal when he started paying attention to the world around him. It was interesting to watch the transformations he went through before he was unfortunately called to death way too soon. I'd be very interested in seeing his early notes, watching him go from not being able to tell what a verb was to writing the last word in the dictionary. Out of all of the things I respect about Malcolm X in this book and from other historical lessons I've learned is that no matter what the subject, if he wanted to talk about something or get it done, he didn't sit around waiting on someone else to do it. Every single event in this book was something he either played a part in organizing or made sure to get the ultimate results.

Favorite Quote of His: I've never been one for inaction. Everything I've ever felt strongly about, I've done something about it.

wow.......2007-09-14

this book was my guide book to loving my race and myself as a black woman..

Masterpiece Revisited.......2007-08-04

I read this book once about a decade ago and felt it was my civic duty to read it again. This book is the gospel truth. Reading it was deja vu. I blink once or twice feeling like I just witnessed a scene described in the book. There is nothing radical about this piece of work. It is an eye opener and often times people will put a negative slant on this story or any story of this calibre when they don't want the truth revealed/discovered. I recommend this book to every breathing human being, especial blacks, negroes and the "n-word" as we were branded. The book is personal, political, emotional and above all a forecast of the present state of America. Read and process it and pass it on!

One of the best books I've ever read........2007-07-22

You can't have a discussion on race in America without reading this book first. I loved the movie, but this books will leave you with a lot to think about, which I don't believe the movie does. It has totally opened my eyes. A must read!!

A Must Read for Everyone --- Especially Black Men---.......2007-07-09

This book has seriously changed the way I view the world around me. As an African-American male who once led a life "in the mud" as Malcom would describe, it is inspiring to see how far one can rise. History has truly committed one of the most heinous crimes in keeping his life hidden away from mainstream society. Even if one does not agree with his thoughts, words, or actions, you have to agree with his conviction and dedication to change. This book will be a required reading for all members of my family.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (MAXNotes Literature Guides) (MAXnotes)

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (MAXNotes Literature Guides) (MAXnotes)
Anita J. Aboulafia
Manufacturer: Research & Education Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0878910042

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MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independ ent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told to Alex Haley

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told to Alex Haley

Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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"This book is the result of a unique collaboration between Malcolm X and Alex Haley, whose own search for his African past, inspired by his encounter with Malcolm X, led him to write...Roots"

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The Autobiography Of Malcolm X
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Manufacturer: Ballantine Books/One World
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X (As Told to Alex Haley)
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Manufacturer: Grove Press
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told To Alex Haley
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Manufacturer: Ballantine, 1981
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley
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Manufacturer: Ballantine, 1973
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Book Description

Long after nearly fifty thousand soldiers shed their blood there, serious misunderstandings persist about Robert E. Lee's generalship at Gettysburg. What were Lee's choices before, during, and after the battle? What did he know that caused him to act as he did? Last Chance for Victory addresses these issues by studying Lee's decisions and the military intelligence he possessed when each was made. Packed with new information and original research, Last Chance for Victory draws alarming conclusions to complex issues with precision and clarity. Readers will never look at Robert E. Lee and Gettysburg the same way again.

Customer Reviews:

Houston we have a problem!!!!.......2007-09-21

I have read most of the reviews of this book and all are written so eloquently and with deep thought and meaning and fact based. I will get to the point. This book is a must. We can talk of Gettysburg until the cows come home and what if the scenerio to death. As a Woman with no children and never wanted children, I would have bore Lee 12 I loved him so much, but having said that. What a mess Gettysburg was. Yes you have to take into perspective the times and the comunication issues, or lack there of, but, in all reality, the fault I do believe does lie with the great one himself. Yes, I understand the vocabulary of the time, yes I understand that Lee was the epitome of what a true Southern Aristocrat consisted of, but just for a minute, try to imagine Nathan Bedford Forrest in that posistion. Do we really think that Nathan would have stated if at all practicable take that hill? Um,,NO. It would have just been take the damn hill. He would have been all over Longstreet as he delayed his assault. As much of a fan as I am of Longstreet, that was very questionable for me. And let us not forget my Louisiana Fightin Tigers who basically had the battle won the first day if yet they had the support that was needed.
If Lee was indeed sick at the time, who will ever know. Almost everyone dropped the ball on this three day battle, wether intentional or not. As I make my pilgramige to Gettysburg yearly and I walk Picketts charge, this plan, how ever crazy it may have appeared to everyone else, I understood. To cut through the middle and they almost made it. Poor Fella's.
Get this Book, it is great.

Interesting analysis of Lee's generalship at Gettysburg--but questions do remain.......2007-07-05

This book begins with a rhetorical question (page i): "'Do we really need another book about Gettysburg and Pickett's charge?'. . .. The short answer to that question is yes, another book is necessary." Why? The authors argue that Lee's battle plan at Gettysburg, in fact, was stellar and that defeat there was the result of many factors beyond his control (and some within his control). In short, they reject some of the recent revisionist histories of Lee's flaws as a general officer (e.g., McKenzie's "Uncertain Glory" and Nolan's "Lee Considered").

They note that he marshaled his forces well on the first day, as he seized control of the accidental encounter. By the end of the day, his forces had wrecked two Union corps (the First and the Eleventh). On the second day? They contend that his en echelon attack was perfect to confuse Union forces as the Confederate meat grinder continued, as the attack proceeded sequentially from their right toward their center, drawing in Union forces to meet immediate threats, only to have a follow up attack further down the line. Indeed, one can easily make the case that July 2nd, the second day of Gettysburg, was a great triumph for Lee and for Longstreet, whose First Corps did great damage to Union forces, even though outnumbered at most turns. Indeed, the second day at Gettysburg was one of Longstreet's best moments of the war (and he had quite a few good ones). But Hill's inept leadership of his corps led to a "fizzling out" of the en echelon attack (with some blame also attaching to his supposedly dependable division commander, Richard Anderson, who refused to send in additional brigades to continue the pressure on Union forces).

The third day. . . The charge by troops led by George Pickett, Isaac Trimble, and James J. Pettigrew, as we know was turned back with heavy casualties. The book places much of the blame at the feet of the officer Lee ordered to organize the attack--James Longstreet. And, indeed, this was not Longstreet's greatest hour.

In the end, according to the authors, Lee's generalship was sound and inspired, but he was undone by an enumeration of seventeen causes, among which were: poor selection of troops to lead the attack on July 3rd (many of these troops had been badly handled on the first day of the battle and were not in good condition to play such a role); Winfield Scott Hancock's stunning leadership on all three days of the battle; Longstreet's performance on the third day; Jefferson Davis, Confederate President, not forwarding several brigades of top notch troops from North Carolina to the Army of Northern Virginia; A. P. Hill's poor performance as leader of the newly created Third Corps; the breakdown of the en echelon attack on July 2nd.

As far as it goes, these arguments do make sense. However, Lee must bear considerable responsibility. After all, he was responsible for selecting the troops to make the charge on the third day; he had a record of high casualties among officers (replacing good officers with mediocre or inexperienced ones was, by this time, a way of life for his army) and troops by emphasizing aggressive tactics, thereby bleeding down his forces; too much of a "hands off" attitude when battle began (A. P. Hill was having a lousy three days; continuing to give him latitude was unwise, to put it mildly).

This is an interesting volume and is useful as a response to some overly critical revisionist critiques of Lee's generalship at Gettysburg and elsewhere. But to go to the other extreme, as the authors come close to doing here, is not the answer. Balance is what is needed in an examination of Lee's generalship. To be sure, he failed in a number of areas over time; he was also someone who could inspire his troops and pull victory out of hat looked to be defeat. Neither romanticization nor harsh critique serves Lee's leadership well. Balance. . . .

A classic!.......2007-01-05

This is one of the best military history books I've ever read. The authors analyze Lee's generalship and convincingly argue a number of controversial assertions. Specifically - that it was impractical and improper to send troops from Virginia to relieve Vicksburg. That Lee did not issue discretionary orders but rather orders with discretion that allowed the subordinate to decide how best to complete the task. That Stuart's ride around the Union army was therefore against orders. That it was originally intended as a ride THROUGH the Union army. That Ewell's orders were also not discretionary, so he too disobeyed orders by not capturing the high ground. That delays in Longstreet's deployment were reasonable and that his performance on July 2nd was superb. That a Confederate attack on July 3rd was the proper decision, but that the attack was not properly supported, and Longstreet's performance that day was poor. Bowden's Napoleonic expertise is very useful regarding staff work. Although many authors mention the problem, Bowden shows how Napoleon successfully used many times the number of staff officers that Civil War armies used, and he explains their functions. The authors also explain the en echelon attack on the 2nd, and show that it succeeded in drawing Union troops toward the early targets of the attack, making the Union line vulnerable elsewhere. They also show that the failure to extend the attack along the whole line resulted in the Confederate failure, and they explain who was responsible and why. The opportunity on the 2nd was great as Meade's shifting of troops had completely denuded some sections of his line. Although too much ink has obviously been spilled on this battle, you should not miss this book.

Fair and Balanced...Finally.......2005-09-08

This is an extremely well thought-out, annotated and bibliographed defense of Lee's actions at Gettysburg. It details the strategic and tactical thinking that Lee used to arrive at, then fight at, that particular spot in Pennsylvania. Lee is not completely absolved of blame for the Confederate loss, and ample credit is given to key players on the Union side (with some surprises). Great emphasis is placed on the shortcomings of Lee's lieutenants during those three days, however, and the book brilliantly details Lee's intended battle design. It's lengthy, but so engaging and readable that I was disappointed when it ended.

A Good Addition To The Gettysburg Library.......2005-05-10

I recently came upon this book in trade copy in a remainder bookstore and have enjoyed reading it.

From the other reviews here, one can fairly quickly see that by some readers this is a somewhat controversial book. Some have said it is pro-Lee, pro-South, and anti anything the authors don't agree with.

I'm essentially a Unionist, having members of our family perish as Unionists on the battlefield; I have a couple Civil War discharges on the wall, and also a G.A.R. medal that I cherish. So even though I am 'pro-Union' I can state unequivocally that I not only appreciate this book, but commend the authors for a large job well done.

Through much reading I've come to appreciate General Lee as not only a great man as a general, but an even greater man in general, and feel General Lee deserves a hearing such as this. I feel pleasure and honor that I visited Washington & Lee University to view Lee & Traveler's resting places.

And I know of few authors who do not somewhat 'fall under the spell' of the great person of history of whom they write. Still I would recommend this book to one and all.

I would think it best, however, for any reader coming to this book to have some background in Civil War history prior to their reading. Concerning this book, that would be my only suggestion.

All-in-all I think this is a very good book.

Semper Fi.

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Manufacturer: Savas Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W15U0C

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