Author of Auburn’s Common Book ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ to speak on campus Nov. 5

Published: October 23, 2014

Article body

William Kamkwamba, co-author with Bryan Mealer of Auburn University's 2014-15 Common Book, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope," will give a public talk about his book and life Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. in Foy Hall Auditorium. The event is part of the Auburn Connects! Common Book Program.

The New York Times bestseller chronicles Kamkwamba's experiences growing up in a small village in Malawi, Africa. As a young boy, Kamkwamba builds a windmill to bring electricity and running water to his farm and his village with nothing more than scrap metal, tractor parts and bicycle halves. Throughout the story he shares African folklore, insights into local and national government, details about cultural customs and the harsh realities of famine.

"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" also details what followed, including appearances at two TED conferences, scholarships to multiple secondary schools and a trip to California to experience wind farms firsthand.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session and a book signing following the author's presentation.

Throughout the fall semester 2014, the various themes presented in this year's common book selection, as well as the culture of southern Africa, will be explored in lectures, film screenings, service projects, exhibitions, public discussions and other programs. The Auburn community is encouraged to participate in programming made available throughout the semester.

The Auburn Connects! Common Book Program is an initiative of the Office of Undergraduate Studies. By creating a shared reading experience for students, faculty, staff and the wider Auburn community, Auburn Connects! seeks to provide insight into the human condition while developing lifelong habits of intellectual curiosity and engagement.

For more information about Auburn Connects! Common Book Program and the new selection, go to http://www.auburn.edu/auburnconnects/.

Related Links

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.