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    Good Morning, Mr Mandela: A Memoir
    Good Morning, Mr Mandela: A Memoir
    Good Morning, Mr Mandela: A Memoir
    Audiobook14 hours

    Good Morning, Mr Mandela: A Memoir

    Written by Zelda la Grange

    Narrated by Adjoa Andoh

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A white Afrikaner, Zelda la Grange grew up in segregated South Africa, supporting the regime and the rules of apartheid. Her conservative family referred to the imprisoned Nelson Mandela as ldquo;a terrorist.rdquo; Yet just a few years after his release and the end of apartheid, she would be traveling the world by Mr. Mandela's side, having grown to respect and cherish the man she would come to call ldquo;Khulu,rdquo; or ldquo;Grandfather.rdquo;Good Morning, Mr Mandela tells the extraordinary story of how a young woman's life, beliefs, prejudices-everything she once believed-were utterly transformed by the man she had been taught was the enemy. It is the incredible journey of an awkward, terrified young secretary in her twenties who rose from a job in a government typing pool to become one of the president's most loyal and devoted associates. This audiobook offers a rare, intimate portrait of Nelson Mandela and his remarkable life as well as moving proof of the power we all have to change.Includes an introduction read by the author as well as an author interview.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateJul 15, 2014
    ISBN9781622315260
    Good Morning, Mr Mandela: A Memoir

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    Reviews for Good Morning, Mr Mandela

    4/5

    17 ratings3 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I Liked the different perspective and the unique story of Madiba by someone he also ‘transformed’. I am not a fan of the the writing style
    • 4/5
      This very unusual and intimate portrait of Zelda la Grange’s time with Nelson Mandela as his personal secretary is as heartbreaking as it is memorable. Zeldina, as Madiba chose to call her, was applying for a typist job in the new ANC government in 1994 when word came that the President’s office needed a typist. A young, white Afrikaner, Zelda became the youngest of the rainbow staff that served the President. In time, she grew to manage his schedule and accompany him on trips abroad.

      This book does tell us about Mandela, what he was like in person, and what he liked. But it is mostly about Zelda and how she managed Mandela’s hectic schedule during and after his presidency. She seems an exceptional person: focused, persistent, caring. Mandela came to rely on her to organize his life and to cater for his needs. It is nice to know there was someone willing and able to take that role for a man who had given so much to the world. “Professional co-dependency” is the phrase la Grange uses to describe their relationship.

      Mandela comes across as a disciplined but gentle man, nevertheless with strong opinions and beliefs. Some lessons Mandela imparted to those he worked with I hope stay with me: “Remember, the way you approach someone will determine how that person reacts to you” and “a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.” Willing to acknowledge his own errors, he forgave them in others, but he was also able and willing to cut off from his life those whom he felt did not have his interests at heart. Zelda comes across as a well-meaning, capable administrator and caregiver who had an immersive, full-on style. Madiba was her life and work.

      One thing that has stayed with me long after reading this book is that la Grange often felt it necessary to explain to people what her job was--what she did all day. It was not hard for me to imagine the amount of energy, drive, intelligence, hutzpa, charm, and brazen bullishness it would require to make a famous person feel their international travel experiences were as seamless, smooth, and productive as possible. Her job is a perfect example of what I would use to demonstrate the incongruity of wage disparity in a country like the United States. The head of a corporation (or country, in this case) is only as good as the secretary organizing his schedule, travel plans, and obligations. Let's face it, we'd all look pretty good with a Zelda at our backs. But we're no Mandela.

      La Grange was circumspect with what she revealed, but we do get a sense of great division and confusion at the end of Mandela’s life, for which we feel sorry. Despite his ‘great man’ status, Mandela could only keep the divisions among races and personalities in his sphere manageable while he was well and circulating regularly. As he became older, it sounds as though his lessons about forgiveness and generosity of spirit were lost on those he hoped to influence. Mandela was kind. Let’s hope his legacy is not completely lost for all time.

    • 5/5
      A particular look into a young woman's life that transmits a positive living image of Madiba as well as of his wife Mrs. Machel and many of his close friends and comrades. I enjoyed the precise, descriptive writing by Zeldina and her authenticity. Her personal story is often charming and her love for and transformation by her boss palpable. The audio narration is attractive and masterful with many inflections of emotion.