The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba

Quarantine has found me lazing around the house almost 24/7, giving an ample amount of time for various hobbies, with a notable portion dedicated to reading. A few weeks ago, I decided to revisit William Kamkwamba’s autobiography “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind,” a book I read around two years ago when I received it as a gift. Kamkwamba retells his life-changing experience of terrible famine in his home country of Malawi, and the innovative path he took to combat his critical situation and save his family. It’s the story of how the inventiveness and drive of a fourteen-year-old boy created a windmill from scratch to bring electricity to his village, his rise against seemingly insurmountable odds.

“The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” opens with an energetic prologue describing the moment when the culmination of his efforts finally reaches fruition, and he triumphantly stands at the top of his contraption. Kamkwamba then brings the reader back to the past, the start of his journey, and builds on the unique environment he grew up in. He tells of his childhood experiences with a tight-knit group of friends in a tiny village, his humble home situation, and his awakening passion for science. The book does a good job of painting the setting, full of colorful vivid descriptions of the world around Kamkwamba, as well as the thoughts that crossed his head on a daily basis. The narrative slowly works its way through Kamkwamba’s early years, eventually reaching the start of the crisis that turned all of this world upside down. He details the many struggles his family faces, be it school, money, or securing a meal for the day. Approaching the end of his memoir, he describes his self-studying of mechanical engineering, and how some books in the library led to his construction of a windmill from mere scraps and junk. The novel closes on an inspirational note, with his windmill providing electricity and water pumps to his resource-starved village, protecting it from the terror of famine and droughts. Kamkwamba reflects on his past experiences and prospects for the future, and shares a heartfelt message with the reader.

The book for me personally holds a lot of meaning, as I received it from someone important to me in a time when I was struggling to find my own way. The themes are straightforward and lack the intricacies of tales of fiction, but it works in this sort of story, a retelling of the author’s real life. The simple ideas presented by the book hold a charm that makes for just a fun read. A short and sweet story, I could recommend the book for anyone to casually pick up and read.

-Andrew

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