Nelson Mandela is a public figure whose inspirational story demonstrates what one person can do to enact change in the world. Now, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is encouraging people around the world to celebrate Mandela's legacy and to continue to share his message of promoting peace and fighting poverty. The foundation rechristened Mandela's birthday, July 18^th, Mandela Day.

Nelson Mandela was jailed for 27 years after being arrested for anti-apartheid activism. At his trial, Mandela said, "I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." (From the MandelaDay.com timeline)

Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and eventually elected president in the first South African election open to citizens of all races. In 2004, he retired from public life. For more information about his life, visit the Mandela Day website or visit Wikipedia.

Below are some Penguin books about Mandela's life and the struggle against apartheid.

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 12:25pm. in

Penguin Bloggers

»

Fri, 07/17/2009

Did You Really Write This?, By Craig Nelson:

I've noticed, especially when doing an author appearance at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, I spend a lot of time with kids who don't carry around $27.95 to buy a book. Even so, I have a great time showing them the picture section inside Rocket Men, and explaining how the cover accurately shows the sky on the Moon as being black as velvet, and other things you do to get kids excited about reading.

Yesterday, however, a very serious little boy grabbed the book all by himself. He gave me an eye like some District Attorney and asked, "Did you really write THIS?" He examined every aspect of the book for a VERY long time, and then went to consult with his father, becoming more and more excited about buying Rocket Men and meeting the author, getting so carried away by the whole experience that his little sister started yelling that she needed to get one, too. His father kindly asked if he could take pictures of me with the kids and the book and I said, "You betcha." Finally, I asked the boy what name he wanted inscribed, and he said: "Mine. Krishna. K-R-I-S-H-N-A."

Craig Nelson, Rocket Men, Apollo, NASA, moon landing, Penguin Books

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 11:20am. in

Rocket Men, Craig Nelson

»

Fri, 07/17/2009

The Language of Can Openers in the Italian Countryside, by David Farley:

(View entire post here)

It was the beginning of summer and nearly 100 degrees out when I found myself taking the the three-mile trek to Faleria, the closest thing the area has to civilization from Calcata. Calcata, a village about 30 miles north of Rome, has a small handful of stores: an ethnic shop that sells everything from African clothes to candles; a wooden box shop; a hat shop; and several art galleries. Thanks to the hippies and artists who make up Calcata's population, if I wanted a sari or a turban or some incense, I'd only need to walk about fifty steps from my apartment. But if I needed something useful like, say, food, I'd have to walk for a while.

I'd planned to stay in Calcata about a year while researching a book about the village relic that had gone missing (many said "stolen"), the Holy Foreskin (yes, that would be the foreskin of Jesus). And I was a week into my tenure when I'd gone to the not-so-super market in the new village of Calata Nuova (a 10 minute walk away) and went crazy when I saw they had cans of my favorite soup, Zuppa di Ceci (Chickpea soup). I rushed home, anxious to pop open a can; I got out a sauce pot, a bowl, and a spoon. I just had to open it. I scoured the corner of the main room that is the kitchen; a can opener was nowhere to be found.

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 11:06am. in

An Irreverent Curiosity, David Farley

»

Fri, 07/17/2009

Wake Up!, by Christina Pirello:

(View entire post here)

Hi Guys!

I'm totally under the gun here. Between blogging, work, newsletters, magazine articles and cooking and cleaning, I can barely think straight. And I am running out of time before I head off to Italy for another adventure hosting one of our fabulous groups.

Each trip to Italy reminds me more and more to live in the moment and to enjoy each day as if it was to be the last one. And I will proudly boast that, for the most part, my husband and I live exactly that way, savoring our days, working hard, playing just as hard and surrounding ourselves with people we love. It's a nice way to live.

But that is not say that I do not get incensed over how advertising is robbing America of its health and vitality. Look, I work in television, so I know the game, but seriously, if we don't wake up and smell the toast...really soon...we're headed for trouble we can't even imagine. To allow these health-robbing pirates to steal your future is criminal.

Posted by Penguin Group USA on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 9:56am. in