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Authors: William Kamkwamba

BOOK: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

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About the Authors

WILLIAM KAMKWAMBA
is a student at African Leadership Academy, a pan-African high school in Johannesburg, South Africa. A 2007 TED Global Fellow, Kamkwamba has been profiled in the
Wall Street Journal
and his inventions displayed at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. He’s often invited to tell his story, and in 2008, he delivered an address at the World Economic Forum on Africa.

BRYAN MEALER
is the author of
All Things Must Fight to Live: Stories of War and Deliverance in Congo,
which chronicled his experience covering the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mealer is a former Associated Press staff correspondent and his work has appeared in several magazines, including
Harper’s
and
Esquire.

www.theboywhoharnessedthewind.net
www.movingwindmills.org
williamkamkwamba.typepad.com
www.bryanmealer.com

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Praise

“This book is inspirational. What William did took nothing more than initiative and a little learning, yet he changed his village and his life. There’s never been a better time to Do It Yourself, and I love how much we can learn from those who often have no other choice.”

—Chris Anderson, editor in chief of
Wired
and author of
Free
and
The Long Tail

“I first met William onstage at TED. At the time, his English was faltering and he was understandably nervous. It didn’t matter. His story, told in just a couple of minutes, was both astonishing and exhilarating. This book proves what those few minutes hinted at: a remarkable individual capable of inspiring many to take their future into their own hands.”

—Chris Anderson, TED Curator

“A powerful read. This book takes you on a journey to discover pure innovation and the unfolding story of a natural genius. A true vision of struggle and tenacity to make a bold idea become a reality. This should be required reading for anyone who dares to dream.”

—Cameron Sinclair, Eternal Optimist, Architecture for Humanity

“A moving, touching, important story. One more reminder of how small the world is and how powerful the human spirit can be.”

—Seth Godin, author of
Tribes

“Wonderful! I challenge you to read this story of one young man changing his corner of the world with nothing but intelligence and perseverance and not come away more hopeful about the prospects for a brighter, greener future.”

—Alex Steffen, editor, Worldchanging.com

“Beyond opening the door to a nascent genre of African Innovation literature,
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
makes excuses about why Africans can’t change their fates untenable. This potent, powerful, and uplifting message is the heart of William Kamkwamba’s courageous story.”

—Emeka Okafor, internationally acclaimed author of blogs
Timbuktu Chronicles and Africa Unchained

“In this book, the spirit, resilience, and resourcefulness that are Africa’s greatest strengths shine through. My heart was gripped by the tale of how William’s family pulled through the famine, and it was lifted up by the tale of how his determination brought light to his home and hope to his village.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
is a remarkable story about a remarkable young man and his inquisitive and inventive mind.”

—Amy Smith, founder, D-Lab, MIT

“I loved this enchanting story of a humble young hero from an impoverished African village who accomplished a miracle with scrap materials and unstoppable enthusiasm. What an inspiration!”

—Mark Frauenfelder, founder of boingboing.net; editor in chief of
MAKE

“I was moved first to laughter, and then to tears by William’s explanation of how he turned some PVC pipe, a broken bicycle, and some long wooden poles into a machine capable of generating sufficient current to power lights and a radio in his parents’ house: ‘I try, and I made it.’”

—Ethan Zuckerman, cofounder, Global Voices

“A rare and inspiring story of hope in rural Africa, a true story of youth challenging and winning against all of the adversity that life throws at it. William represents a new generation of Africans, using ingenuity and invention to overcome life’s challenges. Where so many tilt at windmills, William builds them!”

—Erik Hersman, AfriGadget.com

“An inspiring tale of an African Cheetah—the new generation of young Africans who won’t sit and wait for corrupt and incompetent governments—or vampire states—to come and do things for them. Here is one who harnessed the wind to generate electricity for his village—on his own.”

—Professor George Ayittey, Distinguished Economist, American University

“William will challenge everything you have thought about Africa, about young people, and about the power of one person to transform a community. This beautifully written book will open your heart and mind. I was moved by William and his story and believe you all will. Essential, powerful, and compelling.”

—Chris Abani, author of
Graceland

“William Kamkwamba is an alchemist who turned misfortune into opportunity, opportunity beyond his own. The book is about learning by inventing. William’s genius was to be ingenious.”

—Nicholas Negroponte, founder, MIT Media Lab; founder and chairman,
One Laptop per Child

“Much more than a memoir, this is a snapshot of life as a precocious teenager in contemporary Africa, and an affirmation of the notion that talent, beauty, and brilliance are distributed in equal measure around the world, even if opportunity is not. This is a story that hums with excitement of an individual who, like the continent where he was raised, is poised for greatness.”

—Nathaniel Whittemore, Change.org

Credits

Jacket design and illustration by Mary Schuck

Jacket photograph by Matt Gray/Getty Images

Map and illustrations in text by William Kamkwamba.

Copyright

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND
. Copyright © 2009 by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Adobe Digital Edition August 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-193769-9

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