The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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Narrated by:
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Chike Johnson
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Written by:
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William Kamkwamba
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Bryan Mealer
About this listen
William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger, and a place where hope and opportunity were hard to find.
Enchanted by the workings of electricity as a boy, William had a goal to study science in Malawi's top boarding schools. But in 2002, his country was stricken with a famine that left his family's farm devastated and his parents destitute. Unable to pay the 80-dollar-a-year tuition for his education, William was forced to drop out and help his family forage for food as thousands across the country starved and died.
Yet William refused to let go of his dreams. With nothing more than a fistful of cornmeal in his stomach, a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks, and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to bring his family a set of luxuries that only two percent of Malawians could afford and what the West considers a necessity--electricity and running water. Using scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves, William forged a crude yet operable windmill, an unlikely contraption and small miracle that eventually powered four lights, complete with homemade switches and a circuit breaker made from nails and wire. A second machine turned a water pump that could battle the drought and famine that loomed with every season.
Soon, news of William's magetsi a mphepo--his "electric wind"--spread beyond the borders of his home, and the boy who was once called crazy became an inspiration to those around the world.
Here is the remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2009 William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (P)2009 HarperCollins PublishersWhat the critics say
"This exquisite tale strips life down to its barest essentials, and once there finds reason for hopes and dreams, and is especially resonant for Americans given the economy and increasingly heated debates over health care and energy policy." ( Publishers Weekly)
What listeners say about The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Madeline
- 2020-09-28
Bright Unschooled Boy Beats the Odds
A fresh take on the rags to riches theme as William, a young boy from an impoverished community in Malawi , takes us on a journey, akin to that of Odysseus. Beset by many trials and tribulations , and unable to stay in school, he visits a library to feed his appetite for science , while tinkering with junk wherever he can find it. The outcome - he builds a windmill that brings electricity into their modest home. Wiliam's personality sparkles throughput, a credit to the performance of narrator Chike Johnson. A very refreshing read.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Norman
- 2023-09-27
By his bootstraps
This is a very inspiring story. If someone, growing up under third-world conditions, can grow this much, there's no excuse for anyone else.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-06-25
A Must Listen(read)!!!!
The narration was amazing and had a great authentic tone. The story had me on the edge of the world of emotions. Always wanting to keep going back to the story. This is a story that everyone should learn about and discover how dreaming about a better future can become a reality with an inquisitive mind, imagination, education, determination, and most importantly, Hope.
Enjoy!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ramon Brooker
- 2020-10-08
Inspiring, and..
He made me feel as if I was there with him. It even brought me to tears on more than one occasion.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. L. Young
- 2019-09-02
Uplifting and intriguing
What an amazing story. Truely inspiring. The voice actor does the story justice and certainly breaks up the monotony of some of the robotic other voices found in audio books. This is a must read and will reach everyone!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Brown One
- 2021-02-27
Inspiring
I was not familiar with this story when I first decided to listen to it. It was such an inspiring and remarkable story. His innovation, perseverance and thirst for knowledge were very apparent. It’s heart-warming to know that he was ultimately recognized and given opportunity. I enjoyed the narrator: good cadence and rhythm and expression.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angie M. Smith
- 2021-08-09
Inspiring
Loved the performance and story. We should all be so driven to succeed and learn.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rnd
- 2020-03-11
Excellent
The narrator does a marvellous job of bringing this astonishing story to life. We are really enjoying it.
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