The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Aged 13 I met someone who was to inspire. That person was none other than Mr Benjamin Zephaniah.I read this in two sittings, something I don’t often have the time to do these days but giving that time to this book was a real pleasure. I’ve also never written a book review before but then I’ve rarely been so personally touched by a book, let alone an autobiography. Benjamin is a born freedom-fighter, supporting causes & struggles he identifies & sympathises with is something he seems to have almost no free will over, he is obviously an uncompromising individual which brings him into conflict with others, particularly those in authority. But he also appears to be a wonderfully warm, funny, creative human being. His life-story charts recent British social history from a working class black man’s perspective whilst being intensely personal & human, touching on issues ranging from police prejudice & brutality to infertility. I loved every chapter & will probably re-read several, if not the whole book.The world needs more people like Benjamin. They might help sort the mess we’re in.

What a life this man has had! He had a hard start, living in one of the least affluent areas of Birmingham (UK), and running away with his mother to escape a violent father. The 1980s saw race riots, miners strikes and demonstrations against police brutality. Zephaniah and his dub poetry were at the forefront. By the 1990s he was a household name, and not just at home in the UK - he travelled and performed around the world.I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.

The most fascinating thing about this book was the author's description of growing up as a black kid in twentieth century Britain. I grew up at the same time but, living as I did in rural North Wales, I was unaware of the racial tensions in urban UK. Benjamin Zephaniah's autobiography is something of an eye-opener and is written in a simple and straightforward style. Later, as he becomes more successful, I find the story a little less riveting. If you disagree with his radical, socially aware politics you may not find this book to your taste but my guess is, if you know the guy's works you probably wouldn't pick the book up in the first place. It's well-written, entertaining and carries a strong message but may only preach to the converted ultimately.

This probably provides a unique perspective of the social history of the UK in late 20th/early 21st century, for anyone interested in those times it's well worth the read. However, I'm not sure Benjamin Zephaniah particularly believed in this as a project or was convinced in the idea of an autobiography in the first place.He admits that he needed to be persuaded to write it and that it's sort-of ghost written, which gives it the feel of a footballers' book (doesn't flow, occasionally contradictory, some tiresome bravado - it's hard to work out if he's proud or ashamed of some of the actions of his younger self). As he says himself, his poetry doesn't easily translate from "stage-to-page", so perhaps his life story doesn't either.I'd recommend that this is mostly a scan rather than read sort of book - but the value for me was the inspiration to look up his performance poetry online, that's how he made his name and that's probably the best way to really appreciate him.Really enjoy his performances - this book, unfortunately not so much.

I've been reading books for nearly 36 years and studied English literature to Masters level, but this is the first book of many thousands that I've ever given up on. I get the impression that most other reviewers have given feedback based on an opinion of the author (both genuine and imagined) or of his 'poetry', because if they had truly read this book then there's no way possible that they could have anything positive to say about it.I waited so patiently for a twist in the narrative, a sign of literary flair, a unique perspective... in the end of I would have even settled for an individual voice, but the book has none of these. Aside from being an irritatingly dull story, there is absolutely nothing about its form, pace or the author's use of language to recommend it. It reads like a book written by a child for a childish audience - it's simple, underdeveloped and anonymous in every given way.I ended up not caring about any of the characters, the author's circumstances or the outcome of the story, which - even in consideration of the fact that this is an autobiography rather than a crime thriller - makes me wonder what on earth it's purpose is.The Guardian review of the book perhaps best summarises how utterly anodyne it is, and why it's best avoided - 'The Life and Rhymes has a performative quality reminiscent of Zephaniah’s poetry– honest, unshowy and ultimately unthreatening. It matches the man.' (The Guardian)'. "Unshowy" and "unthreatening", it is dull beyond belief.