Notes to the Future

South African human rights activist and politician Mandela has inspired millions of people, and many of his most famous public proclamations (as well as some private ones) are collected here. Snippets from speeches following his release from prison in 1990 and during his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa, as well as short passages from the as-yet unpublished sequel to his autobiography are interwoven with previously published excerpts from books, interviews, and other material, creating a rich tapestry that gives readers a well-rounded portrait of the man. Some themes, such as negotiation, forgiveness, and resolve recur throughout, but it is Mandela's honest and humble assessments of his shortcomings that stand out. "When I look back at some of my early writings and speeches I am appalled by their pedantry, artificiality and lack of originality," he wrote to his wife, Winnie Mandela. "The urge to impress is clearly noticeable." There are plenty of poster-worthy platitudes, such as "[t]he best weapon is to sit down and talk," and "[o]ur morality does not allow us to desert our friends," but it's clear that the Nobel Prize-winner's wisdom was hard-won. More than merely a collection of commandments, Mandela's inspiring Notes to the Future are as salient today as they will surely prove to be for generations to come. (Nov. 20)