Reviews - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

819 reviews for:

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

This is a wonderful story. Not always beautiful but true. I loved the insight into the culture of his home village in Malawi and the reality check of the difficulties still faced by many in Africa. Famine, corruption, and poverty, countered by the education, determination and God’s provision. I love that all of William’s work has allowed him to continue to return and bless his home and help his family and neighbors.

claytell's review against another edition

4.0

A professional Read, and an inspiring story.

jencafardi's review against another edition

4.0

This is an inspiring book that I read to my kids. We loved the creativity and foresight of the young boy, and it’s worth reading. We look forward to watching the movie!

graceklepacz's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

thukpa's review against another edition

4.0

I heard about William Kamkwamba a couple of months ago, ordered the book from the library, and then it sat, waiting its turn, until finally, this past week I've gotten to read it. Coincidentally, I was reading the slow procession of the famine in Malawi on Thanksgiving Eve. It didn't quite hit me until the next morning as I worked out my strategy for getting all the food cooked, that the night before I couldn't stop reading until I read about the harvest that ended the famine, (even though I KNEW that William, at least, had survived.)

Since much of the news coverage focused on William's self-taught knowledge that led him to build the windmills that changed his life, and the lives of the villagers, there was a certain sense of already knowing what this book was about, going into the reading of it. Luckily, there was much more to it, and the writing of the co-author, Brian Mealer, really brought William's life story to, well, life! William describes life in his village, farming of maize and tobacco, his parents' and grandparents' histories, belief in witchcraft and the history of Malawi, as well as the famine that killed friends, schoolmates and neighbors, leading to William's drive to free his family and village from the devastating effects of drought.

Totally inspiring without ever being boring. William always seems very human and normal, while accomplishing amazing things.

fuzzyhebrew's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful medium-paced

This book is unlike other memoirs in that is it more hopeful than sad. There is a long section about the famine, which I think is important, but it does not overshadow all the positive things William does. I truly hope this gentleman is doing well in life.