![the measure of a man book the measure of a man book](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61GFJCs6HoL.jpg)
Petty criminal and drifter Ian Black believes in one thing-self-preservation, until the night his path collides with a woman running for her life. I highly recommend it.A pure soul plumbs the depths of a damaged heart. There isn't the slightest hint of ego or self-aggrandizement in this work. Like a good movie, this is a recording that I will listen to several times to make sure that I hear, and comprehend, all of the nuances in the story. It is almost as if the listener is sitting at Poitier's kitchen table, sipping coffee with him, while he tells you about his life. It is clear that he is speaking from the heart.
THE MEASURE OF A MAN BOOK FULL
He pours the full dramatic power of his voice (which is substantial) into it. But what made this recording special is Poitier's reading of it. It is obvious that Poitier's ability to write equals, or surpasses, his ability to act. Rather, it is a summation of some of the significant events in his life and the effect that those events had on the development of his being and character.
![the measure of a man book the measure of a man book](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41linhx0PuL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
If you are looking for that, this is not a book for you. This work is not a chronological, blow-by-blow description of Poitier's life. I have listened to dozens of audio books (I have a daily work commute of about 60 miles roundtrip) and this is the first time I have written a review. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limits - his own and the world's. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents.
![the measure of a man book the measure of a man book](https://i.cbc.ca/1.4473753.1515102346!/fileImage/httpImage/the-measure-of-a-man-by-jj-lee.png)
Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life. Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure: as a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. Grammy Award Winner, Best Spoken Word Album, 2000