The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club) | 
| Author: Sidney Poitier
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  258 reviews
Sales Rank: 10072
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 0061357901
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.43028092
EAN: 9780061357909
ASIN: 0061357901
Publication Date: February 1, 2007
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Product Description
"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that Ive suddenly come up with the answers to all lifes 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 Ive 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, "whats coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and mommas voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters and thats 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 Poitiers 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 worlds. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 253 more reviews...
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Customer service is very important to me. The merchandise arrived timely and in excellant condition. Thanks
Racism Goes Both Ways... December 20, 2008
I understand that Poitier experienced discrimination in his youth and I don't wish to discount that fact. But with that said, all of us face discrimination at some point in our lives. I remember visiting a movie theater in a town not far from my home town. My friend and I were 16 years old and knew nothing about racism; we hated no one. We bought our tickets and sat at the front of the theater, excited to see the movie. We talked amongst ourselves, not paying attention to our surroundings. Next thing we knew, the theater was full of black people. Three or four young black men surrounded us and began to harass us. We were scared to death. They blocked the isle so that we could not leave and the entire theater chanted, yelled and laughed at us. The ticket taker never said it was a black theater where whites were not welcomed. All we wanted to do was eat popcorn and enjoy the movie. This is why I say discrimination goes both ways. With that said, I admire and respect Poitier and have always thought him to be a brilliant actor. His story is well written and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed a Poitier movie.
Sir Sidney Poitier September 29, 2008
His roles in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) and To Sir, with Love (1967) were for their time landmarks in the breaking down of social barriers between blacks and whites, and Poitier's talent, conscience, integrity, and inherent likability placed him on equal footing with the white stars of the day. He took on directing and producing chores in the Seventies, achieving success in both arenas. Although he has reduced the frequency of his roles in recent years, he remains one of the most respected and beloved figures in American cinema of the twentieth century.
 It was boring! September 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
He has a nice voice, but he's boring. My husband was listening and gave up on the CD about an hour before me. I tried to stick with it...but after a while I felt as though I was watching grass grow. It was a total waste of money in my opinion.
Enjoyable read, focusing on life - not Hollywood August 4, 2008
I very much enjoyed this book. This book focuses on his life, and his decision-making, and what he has learned through the journey. It is a good way to get some biographical information about him, and to see him as a real person - a normal person, not an actor. If you are looking for a lot of tidbits about his acting career, you might want to try another book. This book touches on those things, but it is not the focus. Very good read.
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