- Hardcover: 560 pages
- Publisher: Station Hill Press (26 Sep 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0882681036
- ISBN-13: 978-0882681030
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.4 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,162,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Traces the life of the influential Black leader, describes the people who helped shape his philosophy, and looks at the circumstances that led to his murder.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bruce Perry's book, for me, has been the best one to date on Malcolm. I read it a few years ago, so bear with my memory. I do believe I liked this book because he challenged Malcolm's autobiography, and in some ways questioned some of Malcolm's recollections of his past. I believe also, if memory serves me, Mr. Perry receieved alot of heat for doing so. The documentary "Make It Plain" also hints in this area that Malcolm wanted to have some control over how his life would be written about. Bruce Perry tends to speculate that Malcolm was too biased to really interpret his own life correctly. What I like about this book is that the author can back up his assertions with research. I guess that is what got under some people's skin, the one's who can't get away from the belief that whatever Malcolm said was the "truth". I believe it is this book also that first introduced me to the connection between Louis Farrakhan and the death of Malcolm. Again, for me, this is the go-to book on Malcolm X.
Jon
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Questionable
23 Jun 2004
Format:Paperback
This book is good if only for the insight into Malcolm's childhood. Other than that, it makes too many cynical conclusions based on whatever it is the author was trying to get across-- which by the end, is still unclear. Reading the introduction one would assume that this book was poised to breathe new insight on Malcolm the political figure and man. However, what you end up getting is more of a repetitious editorial piece. The author almost insults the intelligence of the reader by constantly rehashing the possible reasoning for Malcolm's every move. At one point, he suggests that Attallah was favored by Malcolm because of her light skin (like his) the way his dark-skinned father had once favored him. Perry also volunteers the very real and most likely possibility that Malcolm took this particular daughter to different events because she was the oldest of the girls. This is just one example of how he insists on giving the reader something to ponder on Malcolm's sincerity as a Black leader, tangible or not. There are parts of this book that indeed ring true with me for what I have interperted Malcolm to be, but these instances are too few and far between. I was in no way expecting an idealized picture to be painted here, only this book offers no real balance. Beyond this wounded Malcolm he avidly portrays, what else was there? Also for the attention he gave to alleged homosexual activity, arson, etc. he mentioned Betty Shabazz sparsely as if she held no importance in Malcolm's life. I found that fact very telling. After supposedly over 400+ interviews, Perry could only gather enough to give the mother of Malcolm's six children passing mentions. I actually got more of a rounded glimpse of Malcolm the man in the biography of Betty Shabazz by Russell J. Rickford. I advise those who are thinking of reading this book first to check out the autobiography w/ Alex Haley instead, then tackle this one if you wish. Even for all its omissions and probable half truths, you'll come away from that book actually understanding something. After reading Mr. Perry's biography, you get the urge to so say, "So?! What was your point?"
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Too many unsubstatiated statements
4 Jun 2001
Format:Paperback
I was not too fond of this book, not because I'm a Malcolm fan, but there are too many conclusions that Perry makes with weak evidence. Such as Malcolm's father (and Malcolm himself) setting their houses on fire, Malcolm's alleged homosexual activity, Malcolm asking the Klan why they allowed Dr. King to live, etc. etc. One could see why Dr. Betty Shabazz (Malcolm's wife)told Perry to get lost!
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Approach With Caution
8 July 2001
Format:Paperback
You have to question what Perry wanted to achieve from this book. He seems to have missed, or overlooked, all of the important issues that Malcolm X stood for.
He takes the word of Malcolm's detractors as the gospel truth and diminishes Malcolm's teachings and beliefs by portraying them as paranoid.
Perry seems obsessed with highlighting flaws in Malcolm's personality and uses this device to side step the vital lessons which Malcolm was trying to teach - lesson's which still need to be learnt today.
By all means read this book, but do so very objectively.
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