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Product Description
Review
‘THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND is the inspiring story of a young man in Africa who used the only resources available to him to build a windmill and elevate the lives and spirits of those in his community. William Kamkwamba's achievements with wind energy should serve as a model of what one person, with an inspired idea, can do to tackle the crisis we face. His book tells a moving and exciting story.’
Al Gore, former Vice President and Nobel Laureate
‘A moving, touching, important story. One more reminder of…how powerful the human spirit can be.’
Seth Godin, author
‘One of the best books I have ever read.’
Mark Frauenfelder, boingboing.net
Review
"THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND is the inspiring story of a young man in Africa who used the only resources available to him to build a windmill and elevate the lives and spirits of those in his community. William Kamkwamba's achievements with wind energy should serve as a model of what one person, with an inspired idea, can do to tackle the crisis we face. His book tells a moving and exciting story."
--This text refers to the
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The story should really be called 'The boy who survived the famine and then harnessed the wind.' The first two-thirds of the book is about Williams growing up in Kasungu in Malawi and understated simpleness of his life and the tragedy of the Famine of 2001 in Malawi.
Reading about the famine is heart-wrenching. I did at a point have tears in my eyes and an anger that things like this could be allowed to happen.
The purpose of the famine story serves as a contrast to the hope that is brought about by Williams windmill and the telling of his success through adversity is heart-warming.
The story is written in a very matter-of-fact way which actually is very refreshing and makes for an easy read.
I wouldn't say the book is 'enjoyable' because reading about horror of famine is never enjoyable. But if you like reading stories about people overcoming the odds or if you have even the slightest interest in physics or Africa then you will appreciate the candor and honesty of Williams story.
It is essentially a story of hope - hope for a boy, for a village, for a nation and for a continent. Simple and inspiring.
I hope that helps :)
Reading about the famine is heart-wrenching. I did at a point have tears in my eyes and an anger that things like this could be allowed to happen.
The purpose of the famine story serves as a contrast to the hope that is brought about by Williams windmill and the telling of his success through adversity is heart-warming.
The story is written in a very matter-of-fact way which actually is very refreshing and makes for an easy read.
I wouldn't say the book is 'enjoyable' because reading about horror of famine is never enjoyable. But if you like reading stories about people overcoming the odds or if you have even the slightest interest in physics or Africa then you will appreciate the candor and honesty of Williams story.
It is essentially a story of hope - hope for a boy, for a village, for a nation and for a continent. Simple and inspiring.
I hope that helps :)
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I read this book and felt humbled, embarrassed by our lifestyle. William Kamkwamba tells his life-story in a matter of fact way, without any bitterness; he paints a vivid picture of life in Malawi where witch-doctors rule and poverty is the norm.
William's family struggle to survive during a famine, made worse by Government corruption and exploitation, that kills many of their countrymen. It is not comfortable reading, you feel the hunger and also angry that this can happen; you also get a real sense of the strength of William's family, his mother and father set an example of fairness and kindness.
The price for surviving the famine is that they are unable to afford the school fees to send William to school. However William has an aptitude for Science and discovers some science books in English at the local Trading Centre. Electricity is rare and unreliable in Malawi but William realises that he could use a bicycle dynamo as part of a windmill to generate electricity. In his words "I try, and I made it"
The windmill transforms their lives.
This is a book of hope and inspiration, I recommend it.
William's family struggle to survive during a famine, made worse by Government corruption and exploitation, that kills many of their countrymen. It is not comfortable reading, you feel the hunger and also angry that this can happen; you also get a real sense of the strength of William's family, his mother and father set an example of fairness and kindness.
The price for surviving the famine is that they are unable to afford the school fees to send William to school. However William has an aptitude for Science and discovers some science books in English at the local Trading Centre. Electricity is rare and unreliable in Malawi but William realises that he could use a bicycle dynamo as part of a windmill to generate electricity. In his words "I try, and I made it"
The windmill transforms their lives.
This is a book of hope and inspiration, I recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an inspiring story about a Malawian teenager who built a electricity-generating windmill, switches and other parts needed to provide electricity to his home... all from parts of machines salvaged from a scrapyard. intriguing enough for adults, written in English simple enough for everyone, this book deserves to be read. I can't recommend it enough. I wish it had included the actual diagram for the first windmill, though.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great story of the human spirit and overcoming africa's harshest.
I had read about this young man on the Internet so was excited to get the complete story.
The first part of the book describes his life growing up in Malawi. Read more
The first part of the book describes his life growing up in Malawi. Read more
Published 8 months ago by stephen Luff
Read this!
I was sitting on a plane and the person next to me was telling his friend about this fantastic book that he had just read; he described the story and the impact it had on him - to... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Paul Madge
So Un-British!
Plenty of the reviews here use the word "inspiring" and I'd have to agree. British society has fallen into a pattern of valuing qualifications, processes, regulations and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Simon Phipps
An amazing story
This is a story that should be on the 'must read' of every school in the country. It's a beautiful, touching, moving story of a boy who, in a village with no running water and no... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Michael Heron
Not a book I could get into
On the face of it this book sounds quite good, but as an avid reader I have tried to get into this several times but each time have ended up moving on to a different book... Read more
Published 16 months ago by rodders81
Hope for the future
This should be read by everyone who despairs of the African Continent. This young boy teaches himself the basics of electricity, so that he can bring electric light to the shack he... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Chris Lorien
A book full of hope, perseverance and determination
An excellent recommendation to anyone who has a dream but loses hope that they will ever achieve it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Book chatter
Building the future!
This is an inspiring and delightful story, which has been written in an interesting and even gripping way. Read more
Published 17 months ago by G. Bonati
Review of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
This is a very interesting and enjoyable read. I know a bit about renewable energy and quite a bit more about Africa. It scores hightly on both counts.
Published 17 months ago by ChrisP
Winds of Change
How ironic that it takes a 14 year old boy to show that world that wind power really works. Whilst we in the UK in particular have to deal with a very small, but very shouty... Read more
Published 18 months ago by C. H. Burke
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