Audiobook version, read by the author. Maya Angelou has a voice like warm butter. If she read it aloud, she could make her grocery list sound wise and sensual and beautiful. When listening to her, I just want to nod my head and agree, grateful that she's sharing her thoughts with me. In this book, she recounts many of her personal experiences across eight decades of life. It's honest and sincere, and I was touched that she generously shared some of her own most embarassing mistakes and what she learned about herself and the world through them.

After finishing this book, which only took a couple of hours, I reflected back on her lessons and can't say that I can embrace them all, perhaps because my experiences are not hers. But I'm nonetheless grateful that she's shared the insight she's gained through her remarkable life, and in her own voice. ( )

Some essays affected me more than others.
3.5 stars rounded up ( )

Yet another 5 Star book from Ms Angelou.

This book is full of 'short stories' talking about things she's dealt with, poems, her spirituality, etc. I really enjoyed all of the 'stories' she told. Many familiar, some not. Poems by her that I had known about but never listened to or read until this book. Some poems she quoted from other Poets.

There are just no words for what I feel about this book and how many of them touched me. This will be a book I will probably pick up from time to time just to read over some of the things she has written: just to brighten up my own day!

Although I never knew her personally, the thoughts of her being gone, still tugs at my heart. She is still sorely missed...By me, and I'm sure even more so by those close to her.

The audio book was read by the Author: Dr. Maya Angelou. I enjoyed listening to it just to be able to hear her voice again! ( )

Maya Angelou was niet de eerste de beste in de VS. Ze was één van de gezichten van de strijd voor de rechten van Afro-Amerikanen en voor vrouwen. Ik las al haar bekende “I know why the caged bird sings” over haar traumatische jeugdervaringen die ze leerde omzetten in een strijd voor positieve waarden. In bedekte termen komen die levenslessen ook in dit boekje aan bod. Het is een mengsel van mijmeringen over het leven, vertrekkend van haar eigen ervaringen. Niet oninteressant, uiteraard, maar soms wel wat moraliserend en betuttelend. Naar het einde toe haalt het spirituele de overhand met een ode aan de liefde en de kracht van het geloof. Omdat het allemaal zo aan de oppervlakte blijft, vlug-vlug lijkt geschreven (en nogal houterig in het Nederlands vertaald) maakt dit boekje niet echt een beklijvende indruk. Maar daarmee wil ik niks afdingen aan het respect voor de persoon Maya Angelou. ( )

A nice short book - briefly reviewing Angelou's life.