Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom summary
The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
46 mins
Brief summary
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela is an autobiography detailing his struggle against South African apartheid. It is a testament to the power of perseverance and courage in the face of immense adversity.
Table of Contents
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
Introduction
Bedtime Biographies are best when listened to. Check out the audio version to get the full experience!
Are you willing to give up everything to fight injustice – are you willing to give up your freedom, your family, your future? Nelson Mandela would face this question time and time again. And throughout the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, his answer was always “yes.” He dedicated his life to fighting apartheid and endured decades of public persecution, living underground, and thirty long years of imprisonment.
When he walked out of prison on February 11, 1990, the world watched in awe as the system he’d fought all his life started to crumble. Though apartheid wasn’t broken by his efforts alone, his imprisonment had come to symbolize the injustice of this regime – and it didn’t survive long once he was free. In 1991, the legal structures that supported apartheid were repealed, and 3-years later the country held it’s first free elections. All South Africans, both Black and white, were finally allowed to vote. In that same year, at the age of seventy-five, Nelson Mandela became president of a new, hopeful, and free nation.
Where did he find the strength to fight for as long and as hard as he did? What drove the twentieth century’s most famous freedom fighter? In this Bedtime Biography, we’ll take a reflective journey through his long walk to freedom.
Want to see all full key ideas from Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
Key ideas in Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom about?
Read to you by Twaambo Kapilikisha
Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom (1994) is one of the most famous autobiographies of recent times. It tells the story of his life, from his humble beginnings in the South African countryside to his work as an iconic anti-apartheid freedom fighter, and ends, after chronicling his twenty-year prison sentence, with his final victory and release.
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom Review
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom (1994) is a captivating memoir by Nelson Mandela, detailing his life and fight against apartheid in South Africa. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- It offers a firsthand account of Mandela's experiences, shedding light on his struggles, triumphs, and the resilience that led to the dismantling of apartheid.
- Through personal anecdotes and reflections, the book provides deep insights into the values that guided Mandela, inspiring readers to reflect on their own principles.
- With its compelling narrative and raw emotions, the book brings history to life, making it an engaging read that is anything but boring.
Who should read Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
- People interested in Nelson Mandela
- Anyone curious about South African history
- Proponents of social justice
Categories with Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom
Book summaries like Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom FAQs
What is the main message of Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
The main message of Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom is a testament to the power of resilience and forgiveness.
How long does it take to read Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
The reading time for Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom a good book? Is it worth reading?
Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom is worth reading for its inspiring story of courage and determination in the face of adversity.
Who is the author of Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
The author of Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom is Nelson Mandela.
What to read after Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom?
If you're wondering what to read next after Bedtime Biography: Long Walk to Freedom, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Bedtime Biography: An Autobiography by M.K. Gandhi
- The Making of Modern South Africa by Nigel Worden
- Bedtime Biography: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- Bedtime Biography: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Martin Luther King
- An Autobiography by M. K. Gandhi
- Bedtime Biography: The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis
- Bedtime Biography: Shoot for the Moon by James Donovan
- The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers
- Bedtime Biography: Me by Elton John
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel