Unbowed

Wangari Maathai’s memoir is direct, honest, and beautifully written - a gripping account of modern Africa’s trials and triumphs, a universal story of courage, persistence, and success against great odds in a noble cause – Bill Clinton
Renowned and admired throughout her native Kenya and across Africa for her pioneering struggle against deforestation and for women’s rights and democracy, selfless and steadfast, Ms. Maathai has been a champion of the environment, of women, of Africa, and of anyone concerned about our future security – Kofi Annan
Wangari Maathai is a prophet for our time and Unbowed is a call to arms for all of us who feel that the planet is overwhelmed by careless, corrupt or violent leadership. I have long suspected that the voice to lead us forward would come out of Africa, and it has - a voice of humor, sense, strength and compassion. Read this book and pass it on – Alexandra Fuller
Wangari Maathai is the rare leader who knows how to create independence, not dependence. On the page as in person, her example makes each of us a little stronger, wiser and braver than we ever thought we could be * Gloria Steinem *
Compelling… A striking reminder that the peace award, more than any other Nobel honor, recognizes success achieved through tremendous adversity * The Seattle Times *
Inspirational … Ms. Maathai will not be beaten down * The Economist *
[Maathai’s] story provides uplifting proof of the power of perseverance - and of the power of principled, passionate people to change their countries and inspire the world * The Washington Post *
As this inspiring memoir shows Maathai’s work is about a lot more than getting women to plant trees … The more difficulties Maathai faced, the more determined she became … Her book wonderfully demonstrates that you don’t need to be in a position of power to start doing something about your environment * The Sunday Times *

Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1940. She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, which, through networks of rural women, has planted over 30 million trees across Kenya since 1977. In 2002, she was elected to Kenya’s Parliament in the first free elections in a generation, and served as Deputy Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 in recognition of her campaigns for democracy and environmental reform during the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi. She died in 2011.

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