Now a Netflix Film, Starring and Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor of 12 Years a Slave 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. But William had read about windmills, and he dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. His neighbors called him misala—crazy—but William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  is a remarkable true story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity. It will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him. "This book is inspirational. What William did took nothing more than initiative and a little learning.... 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 " In this book, the spirit, resilience and resourcefulness that are Africa's greatest strengths shine through.... 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 "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 "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 rare and inspiring story of hope in rural Africa....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 "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 "I first met William on stage at TED.... 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 "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.--Ethan Zuckerman, cofounder, Global Voices "One of the best books I've ever read."--Mark Frauenfelder, founder of boingboing.net, editor in chief of MAKE "The book abounds with themes that resonate deeply: the idea that with hard work and persistence comes triumph; that optimism is not a mental state but a type of action, that from grief and loss can come success."--Nathaniel Whittemore, Change.org "This book.... is a testament to the power of a dream and the freedom that comes from accomplishing a sustainable way of life. Read this book, act on its message and pass it on."--Carter Roberts, President & CEO, WWF "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 (starred review) "This is an amazing, inspiring and heartwarming story! It's about harnessing the power not just of the wind, but of imagination and ingenuity. Those are the most i