The Measure of a Man audiobook

This novel, published when Poitier was 73, is a philosophical reflection of his life, his accomplishments, and what makes for a life well lived in his opinion.  It is also about race, integrity, grit and perseverance.Poitier was born on Cat Island, a tiny island in the Bahamas.  He was not aware of the color of his skin or what significance this would have on his life while on Cat Island.  Indeed, there was not even a piece of glass that would have showed him his reflection in his childhood home.  He lived a life of simplicity on the Island, with routines that could be counted on.   It wasn't until age 10, when his family moved to Nassau that he saw his first automobile.  In Nassau, Poitier was swept up with a grew of kids that stole and he narrowly escaped going to jail.  His parents sent him to the US to live with one of his brothers and his family.  He began working as a dishwasher, but ended up auditioning for a role in a play.  He was told that since he didn't read, he should work as a dishwasher or something.  He had never seen anything shameful in his work up until that point.  After that, a Jewish man began to teach him to read every night after work.  He worked hard and took acting classes drawn with a passion to acting from the start.Poitier discusses the roles he was offered and refused because he did not feel the characters' actions portrayed integrity.  He discusses  his feelings about being black and outsider in America.   He talks about his close friends, with whom he was often asked to sign an paper not to socialize with, because of their progressive views.  Of course, he always refused.  He speaks about how his value system, sense of self and integrity formed at an early age in a life of simplicity and how this grounded him.  He let his ideals and strength of character guide him, even if this meant refusing a role and going hungry.He talks about the movies he was part of, the actors he becomes friendly with, and his rise to fame, and the breaking of so many race barriers along the way.  He speaks about his family, and his relationships with his two wives and children.He is a gifted actor, writer and speaker.  To hear him reflect upon his life within which he overcame such adversity is inspirational.  One point that came through loud and clear in all of this was that now that are lives are more complicated and enriched in media, we have lost the simplicity that leads to quiet and profound reflection.I'm not a big consumer of celebrity memoirs, but was challenged to read this as part of Book Riot's 2018 Read Harder Challenge.  Sidney Poitier is a brilliant actor whose movies I've very much enjoyed and I was so pleased to get to know the man behind the actor in this memoir.  I listened to the audio version, narrated by the author which has won numerous awards, as he is such a gifted speaker.  If you decide you are interested in this book and are wanting to learn more about this charismatic, talented man I would highly recommend listening to the audio version.

We're all somewhat courageous, and we're all considerably cowardly. We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections. To Sir, With Love remains one of my favorite shows ever and it is mainly because of Mr. Poitier's performance. I have had "The Measure of a Man" on my book shelf for the last two years and I finally decided to give it a read and I am happy I did. In Sidney Poitier's memoir we get an in-depth look into his life, growing up poor on Cat Island, off the coast of Nassau and making it big in Hollywood at the time, was no small accomplishment. We get a first hand account of all the struggles and problems he faced growing up and while in Hollywood. A timeline piece on how important it is to stick with to the values you were taught growing up.

Sidney Poitier is one of my favourite actors because of his integrity as a person first and foremost. This book tells the reader about the struggles he had on his way to his acting career, of which there were many. Throughout this book his manners, ethics and integrity shine through. He shows us how men think, and how they can choose to overcome any obstacle put in front of them. This reminds me of times gone by which is also one of the reasons that I like it. Thank you for this book Sidney!

Money vs. Integrity which should I choice. Should I choice the conviction of the soul – my integrity. Should I choice the oxygen of man – money. Should I choice the will of strength – my integrity. Should I choice the status of the world – money. Should I choice the love of my heavenly father – integrity or should I choice the root of all evil – money. I would say that sometimes convictions firmly held can cost more than we’re willing to pay. And irrevocable change occurs when we’re not up to paying, and irrevocable change occurs when we are up to paying. Either way, we have to live with the consequences. If I’m up to paying the price in a certain situation. I walk away from the experience with some kind of self-respect because I took the heat. And if I go the other way, feeling that the cost is too high, and then however bright the situation turns out, I feel that something is missing. Missing is what choices are about. Surrendering is what choices are all about. Compromise is what choices are all about. Seeing a better person in you is what integrity is all about? Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of it is. Much is required for those who have money and for those who don’t. The vast majority of people can be trained to do any job, career, position, or status in life in order to make money. But, no one can train you to have character, integrity, wholesomeness, or a deeper you to see something better in someone else. Those are the people life is truly searching for and the people life will remember. Will I remember you? Eat well and enjoy life. Oxygen makes you breathe easier. Taking in the full breathe of air can make your lungs explode into knowing that you are alive. Breathe In - Breathe Out and now you know how good it feels to be alive. Is this integrity or is this money? Seeing your child smile or riding a bicycle for the first time. Is this integrity or is this money? The feeling of having someone trust you for the first time. Is this integrity or is this money? Counting your blessings and not your problems. Is this integrity or is this money? Being able to say you are truly sorry. Is this integrity or is this money? Having a hurt feel? Is this integrity or is this money? Being Loved By Another Human Being. Is this integrity or is this money? Vincent J. Lombardi once said “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will” Where does man get his greatest will – In what he can see or what he can not see? For the Love of Money or For the Love of God. The world sees money. But, people see a better you. Have a beautiful wonderful great awesome day. Thank you for lending me your ear today. Thank you I am honored.

Inspired me . . .a lovely read. We need more like him.

Outstanding. Memorable. Many life lesssons.

Sidney Poitier is sooo smooth...I just love him...especially in the old movies he used to be in - "To Sir With Love," "A Piece of the Action," and "Uptown Saturday Night." He's one of my best actors - hands down, and it was great to hear his autobiography.

Today I just read on my phone that Sidney Poitier left this earth but what a shadow is left behind! I read this book years ago and remember it fondly. Several stories of his life remain so vivid. One in particular is the story of the first time that he ever went to a movie… he did not even know what a movie was! His first time off of the small island of where he was born was a small boat trip with his mother. A group of boys had invited him to go to the movies and he did not know what a movie was. As the lights in the movie theater dimmed he shares the shock he had seeing cowboys and horses on what he believed to be a stage. He was just in absolute delight watching the movie. When the lights came on and the boys were ready to leave he chose not to leave with them. Instead he slipped to the back of the building to wait patiently for the cowboys and horses to come out the door. I cannot think of a better story for one of our most famous movie stars had for his first experience with a movie! I have always admired this icon of a man and even more so when I read his life’s story.He left so many movies behind to help us remember his smile that lit up his whole face and to have the opportunity to hear that wonderful sound of his laughter. We have been blessed to have him . I think sometime soon I need to read this one again.

This blew me away. It’s an autobiography, but doesn’t go through his life and career as a complete inventory. Rather, Poitier tells stories about his life which highlights his choices, his intentions, his humanity. Just an incredible soul.

This is not the first autobiography by Sidney Poitier, but it is a powerful one. It is a story of wholeness, of working to achieve the best within himself. The story begins on a small piece of isolated land, Cat Island, in the Bahamas, untouched by the outside world without even the most rudimentary of what most would call necessities, so untouched the locals don’t even know there are necessities, and they may be right. The true essential is family and that they do have.In this autobiography, Sidney Poitier looks within, the good and the bad, what drives a man, how to maintain dignity when all around attempts are made to remove the dignity. His first view that there was another kind of life, even that there was a world, was at the tender age of ten and a half, when he moved to Nassau, capitol of the Bahamas. This was the first time he lived outside the “Natural” world. A boy used to evaluating risk, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, he had never encountered the new types of risk. The thing is, he had prepared himself for life by believing that he was who he was, that not only could he be as good as anyone else but with hard work he could be better.This is the basis of the book. It covers many years of looking for answers, taking risks to better himself, searching for meaning, the how, the why, the when, the where. Successful as his career became, he still stretched from within to better himself. He wanted to avoid slipping into thinking things were pretty good as they were. He wanted to maintain his dignity, honour his father, be all he could be, and be the best father he could. I’m summarizing rather than delving too far into the book because the summation is constant for Poitier. I learned a great deal personally from this book and found it moved along very well, although I did notice a bit of a stall or slow spot toward the end which did pick up again, so it didn’t last very long. This is not about black and white except where necessary, this is about being human and where humanity belongs in Nature’s world. I believe it is an excellent book and recommend it for the many lessons that can be learned.