The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

Get it!

I was captivated from the beginning of this book. Poitier starts the book by him flipping through the hundreds of TV channels he has at home. Having gone through all the channels, and finding nothing interesting to watch, he goes through the channels once more, but again finding nothing interesting to watch. Then he asks himself the question, "What am I doing with my life?" I have asked myself that same question a thousand times while doing exactly the same thing: flipping through the myriad channels available to me. I therefore quickly connected with the author. Poitier then realizes that he need not be stuck in front of his TV set. He has many friends, he leads a very interesting life, and he is rich. He could do anything he wants, so why is he stuck in front of his TV set?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.

I missed my chance to have dinner with Mr. Poitier on Oprah's show; they are no longer accepting emails. I had so many comments of interet and questions for Mr. Poitier; for now, I missed my chance - but that is okay. I now get the chance to tell AMAZON exactly what they are offering society in the line of reading material; be proud of your "offering for sale" AMAZON!!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 whenhis 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"

Mr. Poitier had a remarkable life. He taught me that my life is remarkable too.The struggle to live life is what Mr. Poitier says is quite a battle. He realized that he had to recognize what demons he needed to fight and which ones had to stay dormant.Every person is capable of becoming their highest self. This is a life-long task, however.I wanted to read more. I felt he wanted to write more. Sometimes a person who writes doesn’t finish they just quit writing.Very seldom have I read a book and felt like wanting to learn more. Mr. Poitier certainly was a king and I can’t remember anyone acknowledging such greatness.

I have loved Sidney Poitier since I first saw him in “To Sir, With Love” back in the late 60s as a teenager. I made it a point to see every movie he ever made. He had such exquisite dignity and he made the people in the roles he played bigger than life. Such depth! I read his book, “The Measure of A Man”, as eagerly as a little kid devours candy. I hung on every word. I wanted so much to know the man I so admired. By the time I finished reading Sidney Poitier’s book, I felt like I had been having a conversation with a friend. I admired him and respected him even more. He was handsome and talented and he deserved to succeed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Sidney Poitier in the movies and to anyone who ever wondered what made him tick. As a teenager, I had a huge crush on him. As an adult, I learned to appreciate him for the fine actor he was. He was the first black man to win the Oscar. I never thought of him as a black man. I thought of him only as a man who was an exceptional actor. After reading his book, I know him to be an exceptional human being as well.

I have always admired Sidney Poitier and this book confirmed why. He didn't outline all his mistakes in life but he admitted he has imperfections. However in spite of them he was honourable in many ways, especially in supporting his race and never compromising his dignity. A well written book from an amazing man.

good book.

E' un'autobiografia, ma insolita. Il contorno ambientale e umano del protagonista e i fatti che succedono sono ciò che racconta la sua vita. Poitier ti prende mentre leggi, con una scrittura coinvolgente e stimolante, e mentre leggi impari anche tanto. Lo consiglio a chi vuol leggere con piacere un bel libro, che dia qualcosa di più di un passatempo.

I've always enjoyed Sidney Poitier as an actor. He always played different and difficult parts. He also grew up in a different era and much has changed over that period of time. And not always for the best. What I most admired about this book is Sidney's ability to be able to see within himself and to be able to use that ability to further himself. That skill is sadly a lost art form these days.

The measure of a man talks about things I personally believe in. I really understand and can identify with this man. I loved the part where he says "If I had succeeded in that effort, I probably would have spent my life at some low level job. So even in my lack of luck, once again I was very lucky" ... that phrase makes me have hope in the most hopeless of situations