Moving yet strangely uplifting...
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I can only concur with my fellow reviewers, for this is a book that should be on the book shelf of every discerning reader. It is truly inspiring to read of the strength of Mr Massaquoi's character, as he combats the low level racism he faced during the Nazi era. Somehow, despite the abuse, the insults, the bombing, he manages to survive - driven on by his humanity, his mother and a handful of decent Germans. What I found fascinating was the constant paradox of Hans, an Afro German, trying to join the Jungvolk, the Hitler Youth and the Wehrmacht and being UPSET that he was banned from entry - due to his non-Aryan status. This paradox shows itself most clearly when he begs his auntie to get him a desired Christmas present - of Hitler, Goering and Himmler plastic figurines! I heartily recommend this book for any who are of a mindset that 'master races' exist, as it shows that we are all born equal - despite extremists who would divide us from one another - due to race, class or culture. If you like this may I point you in the direction of another book: One Love Two Colours, by Margaret Oshindele, a book that shows how racism can be overcome in a modern world.
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Best autobiography I've ever read...
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I've just finished reading 'Destined to Witness' and like the other reviewers, have nothing but praise for this amazing book. I've never read an autobiography like it. To keep the reader throughly engrossed in the story, as Massaquoi unravels his amazing tale is an extrodinary feat for any author but this is a story unlike any other I've come across.I simply couldn't put the book down & devoured its almost 450page content in a day & a bit even though I should have been revising for my upcoming exams!
The book takes us through the vividly described journey of Massaquoi's life as he tried to survive living as a black person under the brutal and oppressive Nazi regime. That fact alone gives the story an fascinating and unparrelled perspective of this infamous period of history as many people are under the oppression that there were no blacks in Nazi Germany. I'm very glad that Massaquoi chose to share his story because its a very thought-provoking read and makes you question alot of the perceived notions that not only Germans but Africans and Americans held. He also takes the reader throught his travels to Africa then onto his dream country, America, detailing the many close shaves, and adventures that he experienced along the way.
Massaquoi is an amazing writer & I can't believe that there were many moments of humour in his account which surprisingly sat well with the many sad sections in the book but that's down to him being able to subtly detail the highs and lows of his extraordinary life.There's nothing negative that I can say about the book as every aspect of its contents is vital to his overall story & I never felt bored while reading it.
I cannot recommend this book enough, & like the other reviewers I am very surprised that this book wasn't a massive best-seller. It should be on everyone's bookshelf as it details an inspiring story of truimphing against all the odds. Please do yourself a favour & read this book as its wonderful & puts to shame all those so-called 'autobiographies' of d-list celebrities eager to make a quick buck. Massaquoi actually has a very important account of his life to tell which everyone should be made aware of.
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Excellent book
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I agree with Mark Kelly that this book should have been a bestseller. It is a book you can't put down and Hans has an excellent writing style - there are parts that are tense and emotional and others that are humourous. Hans comes across as such a nice and thoroughly decent person and I am so glad he survived to tell us his story.
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Geart Book; Lousy Title
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I read a favourable review of this book in a newspaper and vowed to read it. I was not disappointed. It would be very hard indeed to write a bad book about a black kid growing up in Nazi Germany and I concur with most of the comments in the other reviews. I expected the book to be a huge bestseller but in the UK it was not, and the only reason I can think of is the bland title. It gives no idea of what the book is about. The subtitle does but that is not what grabs people's attention.
Note to publisher. Try re-launching this book with a better title and you would have a huge bestseller on your hands.
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The most incredible autobiography I've ever read.
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This is the most incredible autobiography I've ever read. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it kept me gripped from start to finish. Basically, it's the story of a boy with a white German mother and a black father, who grew up in Hamburg during the Second World War. The whole way through I was on the edge of my seat thinking Will he survive - or will the Nazis kill him for being 'subhuman'? But it's also really funny - the amazing thing is that he manages to lead something like a normal childhood, with all its scrapes and adventures, in the midst of one of the most horrifying periods of history. After the war he escapes to Liberia and then to the States, where he becomes a journalist for Ebony magazine and meets stars like Muhammad Ali, Diana Ross and Chuck Berry. What I really like about the author is that he's really unpretentious and down-to-earth - he knows that he's had an extraordinary life, but he doesn't say 'Hey, look at me', he just tells it like it is.
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