Regardless of what I think about Malcolm X the man or the activist, this is an invaluable collection of speeches, interviews, and historical narrative that traces the evolution of his thought in his last year, maybe his most dynamic in terms of personal and political growth. While the speeches toward the end get repetitive, the first several are sharp, articulate, and nearly jump off the page with an angry energy. Several times while reading I wished I had been able to see him speak just once, but I suppose I'll have to content myself with any available recordings.

In his later speeches, beginning with the address to the African nations, one can see his idealism getting the better of him. After the discussion with Gary Hall, you are left wondering how rational Malcolm was (versus delusional) in his assessment of the popularity and chances of his own movement. The book doesn't really answer these questions, but it provides a great jumping off point to further research. And even if you determine, as I did, that Malcolm's ideas about communism, Africa, China, and history were simplistic and naive, you have to marvel at the discipline and determination required to educate himself out of his ignorant gangsterhood into a learned and eloquent human rights spokesman. ( )