Author: Richard Stengel
_Richard Stengel_
Reading time: 27 minutes
Synopsis
Mandelas Way (2010) shows us how Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) became the amazing person we know today. His story teaches us to be strong in our mind and character. It shows us how to overcome problems, stand up for what we believe in, and learn to forgive.
What You Will Learn: Learning from a Great Leader.
Nelson Mandela faced many hard times in his life. Perhaps you have wondered how he could still show so much love and care for others? Most of us, after such a life of unfair words, hiding, and prison, would likely become bitter and hateful. So, how did Mandela manage to stay positive?
These summaries give you answers by looking at Mandela’s life story. They show you the great humanity and the leadership and social skills of South Africa’s first black president.
You will learn, for example:
- why Mandela learned about rugby rules,
- why he wore a three-piece suit when talking with his enemies, and
- why he cleaned another prisoner’s toilet pot.
Blink 1 – Courage Does Not Mean Having No Fear – It Means Learning How to Handle Fear.
Sometimes, we all wish we had more courage. We wish it came naturally. But no one is free from fear, not even Nelson Mandela. He learned early in his life that he had to control his fear.
Facing our fears, which is courage, is a choice. Mandela made this choice when he was only 16.
At that time, he took part in a traditional Xhosa custom. He had to stand in line with other boys. A scary man with a big knife performed a circumcision on him. After this, each boy shouted: “I am a man.” But when it was Mandela’s turn, the pain and his fear stopped him from saying these important words.
Looking back, this bad experience made him stronger. He promised himself to always fight his fears. He would never again be too scared to speak.
To beat fear means to show strength, even if you are shaking inside. Just acting brave is courage itself. Mandela showed this many times. He was a leader because he always seemed brave.
For example, this was clear when Mandela was on a small plane over South Africa. Suddenly, the engine failed, and the plane had to make an emergency landing. His bodyguard, who was with him, was amazed. He said Mandela stayed calm, even though his life was in danger. He just kept reading his newspaper. Later, Mandela said he was actually very scared. But he refused to show it!
Mandela’s ability to control his fear gave hope and strength to many of his friends and supporters. We can also learn this great leadership skill.
Blink 2 – You Must Act Calmly in Hard Situations.
It’s good to see people stay calm when things are difficult. We expect leaders to act calmly and suitably.
You might not be a calm person by nature. But you can learn to act calmly with practice and self-control. Mandela knew he needed this skill to be a good leader in the fight.
When he was young, he was hot-headed and often changed his mind. His reactions were often not calm. But during his 27 years in prison, he worked hard. He learned to react perfectly in hard situations.
His self-control helped a lot to calm a tense situation in 1993. Chris Hani, a strong young leader of the anti-apartheid group ANC, was killed. The country was very tense. A civil war could easily have started. But Mandela stayed calm. He spoke to the nation with great control, telling them to be wise.
His calm answer to this possible crisis stopped the chaos and bloodshed that people feared.
Some people at the time saw Mandela’s self-control as being too calm or slow. After he left prison, one woman told him he was a “boring speaker.” But he just laughed. It did not bother him. His years in prison had taught him for sure that clear, logical talks are always better than angry speeches.
Blink 3 – Stick to Your Main Beliefs – Everything Else Can Change.
Not many people know how practical Mandela was. He learned to put things first. Some beliefs cannot be changed, but others can.
When Mandela was young, he was not very good at this. He left university because of a small fight. It was about bad food and not voting in student elections. At the time, he might have felt his protest was right. But it made him lose a rare and important chance to study. He could have learned skills for the much bigger fight against unfairness in the country.
Once Mandela decided that fighting racial inequality was his main belief, he was ready to discuss everything else.
This included the idea of not using violence. Gandhi would never have used violence. But Mandela saw not using violence as only a plan. When it did not work against the cruel apartheid system, he stopped using it.
Clear main beliefs help us always remember our goals. We should not get lost in big, unclear ideas. Mandela left prison with one goal: to create a fair society for everyone, where all people had equal rights. He did not let ideas like socialism, capitalism, or tribalism distract him. He focused on the real question: how to give everyone equal rights and chances.
From this, we learn: As long as we hold onto our main beliefs, we can change smaller rules to fit new situations. This helps us reach our goal.
Blink 4 – A Wise Person Sees the Shades Between Black and White.
Mandela was a very complex person with many different sides. He had opposing ideas within him. You might think this caused him problems.
But Mandela saw that being inconsistent was not a fault. It is natural to have different, sometimes conflicting, thoughts inside you. Once, he was asked why he chose armed rebellion. Was it because violence was the only way, or did he want to save the ANC group? Mandela replied: „Why not both?“
Some strong beliefs make us see things as either right or wrong, black or white. But Mandela let black and white mix into grey areas. He looked at ideas like old ways and new ways, communism and capitalism, or how white and black South Africans felt about rugby. He accepted both sides of these issues.
Sometimes, you have to choose one side clearly. In such times, Mandela tried to choose the side with the best reasons. But he also showed he understood the other side. For example, AIDS was a very sensitive topic in South Africa. Many people did not want to talk about it. But Mandela knew he had to listen to doctors and good reasons. He made sure people got special medicines for AIDS.
We should never doubt our main beliefs. But for most other things, we need to think about the many differences between two extremes. Only then can we learn to make agreements. This helps us grow in a way often called „wisdom.“
Besides Mandela’s wisdom, his leadership skills were also important. They helped him to get so many people excited about his plans. In the next summary, you will learn about the most important ones.
Blink 5 – Take Action, Take Risks, Make Choices, and Be Ready to Do Any Task.
Mandela was always ready to take risks. He also wanted people to see him taking risks as their leader. He knew that being a leader also meant showing himself well. By showing his leadership skills, he could gain trust, respect, and loyalty from his followers.
Mandela showed strength and hope, even on the day he arrived at Robben Island prison. He and his friends would spend many years there for fighting the apartheid system. Another prisoner said that Mandela’s strong and hopeful way of moving in prison also gave comfort and hope to other prisoners.
But leaders must not only fight in the front. They must also be ready to make hard choices. So, Mandela decided to change the peaceful anti-apartheid group into an armed resistance.
His most dangerous choice was made in secret. In 1985, he started talks with the apartheid government. He did this against his own party’s wishes. He thought carefully about the good and bad points. He decided that talking was the only real way forward. So he took the chance to have secret meetings. He made this choice even though his party might call him a traitor if they found out.
Nelson Mandela also taught us this: Being a leader does not mean you get special treatment. In fact, leaders should be humble. They should be willing to do simple tasks themselves, not always ask others. One prisoner on Robben Island shared a story. He became very sick and could not empty his toilet pot. Mandela was the leader of the biggest group in prison. But he was not too proud to clean his sick friend’s toilet pot.
Blink 6 – Teamwork and Respect Are Key for Good Leadership.
A person who leads a group is often in the spotlight. But that attention should be shared. Sometimes, you need to bring people from the back forward and give them leading roles.
Mandela learned to lead from behind when he was eight. He was a cow herder. He put some smarter cows at the front of the herd. Then he guided them from behind with his stick. It looked like the herd followed the cows in front. But the small boy at the back was truly guiding them. Mandela saw this as a way to lead a group of people.
Whether you lead from the front or guide from behind, leadership is not like being a dictator. Leaders must listen well. They must always try to get everyone to agree.
King Jongintaba, a Xhosa king from the Transkei area, was a big inspiration for young Mandela. Mandela later became South Africa’s first black president. The king felt that being a leader was a special chance, not a right. He always let others share their ideas. Years later, Mandela used this idea of leadership in his meetings. He always let others speak first before he spoke.
This type of leadership believes that a group’s wisdom is greater than one person’s. This is like the idea of Ubuntu. It means working together and respecting each other. We must encourage groups to act and make decisions together. It does not matter if we lead from the front or guide others from behind.
Blink 7 – You Must Look the Part for Your Role.
Mandela always cared about how he looked. He always wore clothes that matched his role. He wore a uniform as a leader of the armed fight. He wore smart suits when he was a judge. When he was president, he wore traditional African shirts with bright patterns. This showed that African clothes were as good as Western ones. He knew it was important to dress in a way that fit his social role.
This is because we judge others by how they look.
In the 1980s, Mandela was still in prison. He set up a secret meeting with South African President Pieter Willem Botha. He knew how important first impressions were. So, he insisted on wearing a tailor-made three-piece suit. He did not want to look weak in a prison uniform. He wanted to look strong. Then, full of confidence, he walked up to Botha and shook his hand. The apartheid president did not expect this at all from a prisoner.
Symbols can be just as powerful as words and actions. Good leaders know how to use both. Mandela did this well. He planned exactly how he wanted to look. He also used symbols to make his message stronger.
Even his bright smile was a very strong symbol. It was one of the most important parts of his 1994 election campaign. It showed his big hope for his country. He wanted people to forgive and let go of the past.
Mandela chose who he wanted to be. Then he acted like that person until he truly became them, believing in his own ideals. He had to be very disciplined. He hid his weaknesses and feelings. This was so he could keep the strong image of an unshakeable leader.
Blink 8 – Always Think About the Long-Term Results of Your Choices.
People often get impatient. But if they act too fast and without thought, they often make mistakes. Mandela was also very impatient when he was young. He wanted things to change quickly.
But 27 years in prison taught him patience. He understood that getting rid of racism, colonial rule, and apartheid would take a long time.
Our society often praises being impatient. We wrongly think it shows quick thinking, bravery, and strong will. But good decisions are not made fast. Good choices that guide us on the right path need long-term thinking, not acting on sudden feelings.
In prison, other prisoners laughed at Mandela. He often took a very long time to make decisions. But Mandela always said it was important to think about the results for a long time. This way of thinking helped Mandela prepare the way for a new start in South Africa.
Mandela saw himself as a key person in a big historical moment. He just needed to know how to use this chance that history gave him. He wanted his actions to be approved by future generations. He became famous in history because his choices turned out to be right.
Life is a long test. It would not be fair to judge people by just one thing they do. No one is as good as their best act or as bad as their worst mistake. We are all the total of our actions. Mandela was sometimes sad about the weakness of other prisoners. But he never judged them only by their failures. He always respected their value as people.
Blink 9 – Believe in the Good in People – Then You Will Find It.
Mandela faced many hard times and unfairness for decades. But he still believed in the good in people – even those who had treated him badly.
Mandela knew you cannot fully judge someone only by their actions. Being pressured by society or not knowing enough can make people do bad things. But this does not make them monsters. So, Mandela did not speak badly about others. He always tried to find the good in them.
For example, he liked to remember the kind behavior of South African President John Vorster. Vorster supported Nazis and wanted Mandela executed. But Mandela remembered his politeness. Instead of talking about the bad things Vorster did, Mandela said he often acted like a „respectable man.“
Believing that people are good is not being foolish. It helps to bring that goodness out. In this way, Mandela often helped people who were rude and unkind to see their own human goodness.
A good example is when he met a racist churchman on Robben Island. The priest said that God wanted races to be separate. He hated the idea of racial equality. But Mandela saw that the priest was not truly a bad person. He was just too much influenced by a society that did not know better and was not stable. It taught him its ways of thinking.
Instead of hating or avoiding him, Mandela decided to ignore his insults. He chose to have an honest talk with him. Because of this, he was able to make the churchman believe in racial equality and why it was needed.
Blink 10 – Get to Know and Understand Your Enemy.
In the 1950s, Mandela’s boxing coach taught him something. Winning was not just about being fit or hitting well. It was also about knowing your opponent. You needed to know their moves and how they usually react in a fight.
This idea also works in politics. Mandela’s biggest enemies were the Afrikaners. They were a group of white South Africans who supported apartheid.
In his fight against white rule, Mandela became the leader of the armed part of the anti-apartheid group ANC. He had to go into hiding. During this time, he read many books about strategy, like The Art of War. He also learned the Afrikaans language. Why?
He looked to the future and knew a day would come when he could talk with his „enemy.“ He knew he could only reach the Afrikaners by speaking their own language.
Mandela’s understanding for the Afrikaners was more than just a plan. It grew when he saw they had much in common with Black South Africans. South Africa was their only home. Like Black people, the British had treated them badly. This explained why they felt unsafe.
Mandela learned a lot about their famous military history and their special sport, rugby. This helped him connect with their culture. He even took time to follow rugby news. Because of this, he gained the respect of a Major who really hated the anti-apartheid movement.
What does this mean for you? Empathy helps you bring your enemy closer to your side. This makes them less strong against you. But you should not feel happy about their weakness. It was a great achievement for Mandela to earn the trust and respect of many Afrikaners. He could only do this because he made sure not to shame his enemies.
Blink 11 – Keep an Eye on Your “Friendly Rivals” – You Never Know If They Are for or Against You.
Your best friends and your biggest enemies are reliable in one way. Your friends are always with you. Your enemies are always against you. But friendly rivals are in the middle. You need to watch them closely. This way, you can guess what they will do next.
So, be ready for what you know will happen: your rivals will challenge you. Mandela mainly tried to understand what these people thought and felt. For example, he did not trust a leader from another anti-apartheid group. This man seemed dangerous and tricky to him. So, Mandela made him a member of his cabinet. This way, he could watch him closely. If one of his other cabinet members could not look him in the eye, he would know something was wrong.
Mandela was not foolish enough to expect complete loyalty from his friends. He knew well that people are often loyal because it helps them. So, he always watched others and protected them.
Mandela also managed to control Bantu Holomisa, a young, strong leader in the ANC. Holomisa wanted revenge, not peace with white people. Soon, Holomisa liked Mandela’s praise and tried to please him. This way, Mandela removed a possibly dangerous rival. He turned him into a trusted supporter.
Blink 12 – Say a Clear “No,” Even If It Is Hard.
Mandela wanted people to like him. He always showed his famous traits: a bright smile, politeness, and being open to everyone’s ideas. But he never tricked people to do this. This means he knew when to say “no,” even if it made others sad.
Many of us feel unsure and cannot make up our minds. But this can be used against us easily. So, it is important to state your opinion clearly. And say “no” when you think it is the right thing to do.
Mandela could not afford to show doubt during his career. He had to say “no” to very big things. For instance, he had to say “no” at the end of apartheid. President Frederik Willem De Klerk wanted white people to stay in power during talks. Mandela was ready to compromise on small things. But he would not let anyone weaken his main belief: that all races are equal.
Mandela did not like to be too direct if he could avoid it. He knew it was good to save his strong “no” for when it was really needed.
An example of his indirect way: someone asked him if he enjoyed his time in the mountains. He replied, “I did not hate them.” Many South Africans loved these mountains. So he did not want to complain about them much.
If you know you must say “no,” it’s better to do it sooner than later. Dealing with the issue now will save you from saying “no” many more times later. But if you see that you do not need to say your opinion too clearly or start a fight, then save your “no” for when it is truly important.
Summary
The main message of these summaries is:
Nelson Mandela shows us how to stick to our main beliefs and do great things, even in the hardest situations. Self-control, strong character, courage, and a clear vision: We can also develop these good qualities that Mandela showed. To do this, we need to work hard, be patient, and be dedicated.
Here’s what you can do:
Start a garden.
In the 1970s, Mandela faced many problems. His wife was threatened, his son died, and prison guards treated him badly. He decided to start his own garden. He grew vegetables to add to the prisoners’ food. This project made him very happy. When he left Robben Island and moved to a prison on the mainland, he made an even bigger garden there. A garden is a place where you can find peace. You can forget your worries and do something healthy.
Learn to value the power of love.
Romantic love made Nelson Mandela leave his village and go to the city. During decades of fighting, his love helped him through hard times in prison and hiding. He said it only takes one day to fall in love. But it takes time for that love to grow. When you truly love someone, you do not focus on their faults. If you see the love inside you, believe in its power, and let it lead you, you can also achieve great things.
Leave when the time is right.
Nelson Mandela knew it was important to let go when the time was right. That is why he served only one term as president. Most other leaders after colonial rule stayed longer. Many people see this as one of his best actions. It shows that good leaders do not hold onto power. They do not always try to be right. You can also remember this. Do not hold onto things you do not need to, like your job or an argument.
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For further reading: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Do you want to hear Nelson Mandela’s own story about how he changed the world? Here are the summaries about it: In his book Long Walk to Freedom from 1994, Mandela tells how he grew from a normal boy in rural South Africa into a fighter against racial separation.
Source: https://www.blinkist.com/https://www.blinkist.com/de/books/mandelas-weg-de