The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope (2009) is William Kamkwamba’s autobiography. He grew up in Malawi, a country deeply rooted in magic and the supernatural, and as a result, one that struggles to modernize. William's life is full of struggles and hardship, including the famine of 2002, poverty, and a lack of education. However, he is drawn to science and innovation, even as a small child. After reading about windmills at his local library, he is inspired to create one and bring water and electricity to his village, thereby changing their lives tremendously.
William's story spread to the international community, and garnered a lot of attention for his country and its struggles. With this attention, resources from the Global North came pouring into Malawi in an effort to educate and promote the lives of its people. His windmill was only the start of a lifelong journey of innovation and creation.
Following the release of this book, the book received critical acclaim. It is now being adapted into a film of the same name directed by, written by, and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. Scheduled for release in 2019, it is currently in post-production and also stars Joseph Marcell and Aïssa Maïga.
