Books Recommended by Nelson Mandela
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
Source: "I found many similarities between the plight of the migrant workers in [this novel] and our own laborers and farmworkers." - Nelson Mandela
Burger's Daughter
Nadine Gordimer
Source: "I read all the unbanned novels of [this author] and learned a great deal about the white liberal sensibility." - Nelson Mandela
The Late Bourgeois World
Nadine Gordimer
Source: "I read all the unbanned novels of [this author] and learned a great deal about the white liberal sensibility." - Nelson Mandela
A World of Strangers
Nadine Gordimer
Source: "I read all the unbanned novels of [this author] and learned a great deal about the white liberal sensibility." - Nelson Mandela
On War
Carl von Clausewitz
Source: "[The author's] central thesis, that war was a continuation of diplomacy by other means, dovetailed with my own instincts." - Nelson Mandela
Red Star over China
The Classic Account of the Birth of Chinese Communism
Edgar Snow
Source: "In [this book] I saw that it was Mao’s determination and nontraditional thinking that led him to victory." - Nelson Mandela
FAQ
Did Nelson Mandela recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Nelson Mandela must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Nelson Mandela mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Nelson Mandela is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Nelson Mandela actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Nelson Mandela, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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