The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah cover art

The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah

The Autobiography

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The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah

By: Benjamin Zephaniah
Narrated by: Benjamin Zephaniah
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About this listen

 A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener. Activists Art & Literature Authors Entertainment & Celebrities Politics & Activism Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Social justice

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Critic reviews

'The Life and Rhymes has a performative quality reminiscent of Zephaniah’s poetry – honest, unshowy and ultimately unthreatening. It matches the man.'
'Vivid, frank and to the point, yet bristling with compassion, this is a rousing romp through a life less ordinary and a timely reminder of art’s redemptive force.'
‘Compelling and inspiring’
'His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.'
'His singular career has spanned poetry, music and activism, with detours into acting and academia. And he’s really lived a life less ordinary – from teenage jailbird to celebrity role model, embraced by the British Establishment, even if he hasn’t always reciprocated. His scepticism about the necessity of his memoir, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is unfounded.'
‘This is a beautifully penned and highly entertaining account of an intriguing life, opening us up not just to Zephaniah's story but to a wide range of topics arising out of it...tackled with down-to-earth honesty and insight, not to mention an element of gentle humour and self-effacement.’
'The people’s laureate'
‘A celebration of a truly extraordinary life story which remarks upon the power of poetry and the importance of pushing boundaries with the arts.’
'Retaining a humility and humour that belie his extraordinary rise from street gang to cultural touchstone…Zephaniah is one of the rare voices that manages to remain determinedly outside the Establishment (he famously turned down an OBE) yet is embraced by it...a riveting read worthy of a Netflix drama.'
'Filled with extraordinary moments, taking in his first poetry performance in a church aged 10, his time in borstal and prison, and his stint in a gang when he feared for his life and slept with a gun under his pillow. He was framed by the police for murder, turned his life around to the extent that he developed a friendship with Nelson Mandela – and his words helped usher in freedom in South Africa. But the book is also a searing social history of Britain and a salutary reminder that when it comes to the fight for racial equality, there is no end bell.'
'Zephaniah pulls no punches when it comes to talking about the racism that has shaped his life or the mischief he got up to in response to it.'
All stars
Most relevant
At times the racism experienced and shared by Zephaniah in this story is harrowing and heartwrenching. It doesn't mean don't listen to it, however. Listen to it all the more. Incredibly insightful and textured. Highly recommend.

Hearbreaking

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brilliant book read by a legend. from one poet to another im gutted i never got to meet benjamin but i waa lucky enough to meet his brother

AMAZING

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What a man and what a life he has lived. I loved this book and everything in it. His honesty compassion and insights are compelling. Took me back to the days of my youth as I recognised so many of the people and happenings.

Brilliantly written and read. I did not want to stop listening. Simple, deep and utterly brilliant.

Brilliant book

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I loved it . Thank you Benjamin for the insight to a lad from Brum who done good, real good .. and still faces the disgusting ignorance of racism today.
A beautifully crafted account told by the man himself of course ❤💛💚

Easy listening & inspiring

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I don’t normally leave a review but in this case I had to. A life that could of ended tragically he was strong enough to turn it around for the better. Gangsters, politicians, racism, punks, reggae & of course poetry all contained in this book. The book itself narrated by Benjamin himself was an absolute joy from start to finish. Highly recommended 10/10.

LIFETIME OF RHYMES

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