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Summary: Forget what the Literature Buffs say - this is a must read!
Review: I read this book many years ago, and it remains one of my all-time favourites. Don't listen to anyone that says that the story is contrived and the language mediocre, books are not written purely for the author to show of their knowledge of high literature and prose, they are written to entertain and capture the imagination. This book is all about the story - and a fantastic story it is. At some point whilst reading it, you will probably experience every emotion in the human range. Don't bother with the movie - it does not even compare to the book. I believe it was one of the worst film adaptations of all time - not at all thought provoking or emotive. I have convinced almost everybody I know to read this book, and even given this book to several of my friends who don't even really like to read. With the exception of my Literature Professor (himself a struggling writer) they have all loved it; some even re-reading it every year. If you haven't read this book yet, you must!
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Summary: The Greatest book ever written
Review: i read this book about 2 years ago just before i started my 8th grade year. i began the book because i had fallen in love with the movie and wanted to read what the story was actually about. and WOW, it just made everything in my life so much simplier. it is such a moving book. everything about it is just so mindbogling how Peekay manages to live through it all and not be bitter, his losses just cut you to the quick, you just want to cry for him. i gave this book to my friend last year and she completely agreed with me that Peekay and Doc and Geel Peit and Hoppy are simply the greatest people you could ever hope to meet and have influence your life. i hope you enjoy this book as i have
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book
Review: Bryce Courtenay doesn't merely weave a story. He conveys a message without really being judgemental. This is a fantastic book. this should be required reading for high school students.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: This is the kind of book that makes you want to be a better person. It's a great story, and also makes you think about your own life. Very inspirational.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-written, ultimately empty
Review: In pre-WWII South Africa, a young boy named Peekay is caught in tensions between Afrikaaners and English residents. Peekay, with a natural gift for language, uses what he learns from a Zulu wise man to go on to succeed at both academics and boxing.I was entranced as a reader for most of the book, so the problem is not with its readability. The way that Courtenay describes South Africa is compelling and vivid, and it's hard not be by attracted to Peekay and his world. I think that the problem with the book is that nothing is ever really a challenge for Peekay. He harnesses the Power of One so effectively that everything he does is graceful and accurate and ultimately successful. By the end of the book, I hardly cared about what happened because I didn't believe that there would be any surprises (and despite a gimmicky ending that ties everything together, there weren't surprises). Peekay essentially didn't have any conflict, and that made it in the end uninteresting. It's still a good read for people who like the standard melodrama and some really well-written atmosphere. I'll probably pick up something else by Courtenay if I can find it to see if I like it better.
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Summary: More than just boxing
Review: This is one of the most satisfying reads I have ever indulged in. I am an avid reader and "The Power Of One" is definitely on my top ten list. Set in South Africa, the book follows the journey a young English boy takes to become the welterweight boxing champion of the world. Though by reading the short synopisis, you might not be interested, it goes far beyond a boy's aspirations to become a boxer. It delves into racial issues, childhood problems, and the traumas of growing up. It touches the heart in a way few books can these days. Truly a worthwhile read.
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Summary: A Great South African Tale
Review: I think this book is an excellent book. It is a book for those who like to learn while they read. This is not a true story, but it is based in a time that really did happen. It is the story of a boy growing up in South Africa. He is not included, because he is English, so he finds friendship with the Blacks living there. He finds his place in boxing as well. He soon discovers that not everything is perfect as well. The Blacks are being mistreated, and when he sees that, it touches him. He knows he must do something about it. He grows up to be a smart student who has the potential of doing anything he wants, and uses that to help the Blacks. I thought I could relate to some of the parts in the book. I've been picked on and made fun of before. I think we all have. He discovered this inner courage and strength through boxing, we find our strengths everyday in what we do. This story is just very moving. It really shows the injustice of the South African blacks. I think it also helps us be more aware of what did really happen in South Africa. Some people may not have known that this injustice was happening, so this book could help them understand. I knew I had a small idea of what had happened before I read this book, but when I read this, I knew more about the situation down there. Some parts are more graphic than what you want, but it is still an excellent book.
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Summary: The power to inspire!...
Review: I have to admit that this is one of the best books I've ever read. I happened to pick it up one day at a bargin store. It was in the middle of a bin full of books on sale for half price. The title caught my eye and I decided to buy it after reading the description inside the dust cover. Boy am I glad I did!! I couldn't put it down. I read the whole book cover to cover in two days. It was amazing!! The characters are so beautifully descriptive. Peekay becomes so real, you feel like your right there with him. You will cry and laugh with him and cheer for joy when he succeeds. He learns some pretty hard lessens early in life and yet he still treats everyone, no matter what color or background, with equal respect (this should be a guide for us all). He battles through adversity and every challenge and refuses to let it dampen his will to accomplish his ultimate goal. First with the head and then with the heart...!! I know that some might say that this book is unrealistic, some might even call Peekay selfish. I, on the other hand, took the romantic viewpoint and saw the story of a small boy who grew into a forward thinking youngman that saw through racial blindfolds and followed his heart to fullfill his dreams. Please do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!... You will not regret it.
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Summary: The triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
Review: I must say that The Power Of One is one of the most satisfying books I have read. Courtenay cleverly crafts this remarkable story about a young 'rooinek' (English) boy, Peekay, growing up in the turbulent and violently divided South Africa of the 1930's. Peekay's traumatic childhood experiences, along with the long-lasting friendships he builds, help him to overcome adversity and unite all the tribes of South Africa - white and black. Using the metaphor of boxing for human survival, Courtenay shows us how Peekay learns the Power of One, the greatest power of a human being. This novel, although large in size, is quite easily read as Courtenay wastes no words. Every person around the world should read it, as the principles and morals portrayed in this story are universal.
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Summary: I loved this book
Review: I loved this book. I read a lot for fun, across many genres and eras. Of all the books I've read in the last ten years, this one jumps out. I simply did not want it to end. Even more so, I wanted to be Peekay (the main character) ... learning about cacti, boxing in the ring, etc. These comments may not make sense to anyone who has not yet read the book. But, if I was to on a desert island and had the choice of only one work of fiction to read again, this would be it. Absadoodle! (While the book is wonderful, it is not sugar-coated. Expect to squirm a little now and then.)
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