Letter to My Daughter

Publisher's Summary

For a world of devoted readers, a much-awaited new volume of absorbing stories and inspirational wisdom from one of our best-loved writers.

Dedicated to the daughter she never had but sees all around her, Letter to My Daughter reveals Maya Angelou's path to living well and living a life with meaning. Told in her own inimitable style, this book transcends genres and categories: guidebook, memoir, poetry, and pure delight.

Here in short spellbinding essays are glimpses of the tumultuous life that led Angelou to an exalted place in American letters and taught her lessons in compassion and fortitude: how she was brought up by her indomitable grandmother in segregated Arkansas, taken in at thirteen by her more worldly and less religious mother, and grew to be an awkward, six-foot-tall teenager whose first experience of loveless sex paradoxically left her with her greatest gift, a son.

Whether she is recalling such lost friends as Coretta Scott King and Ossie Davis, extolling honesty, decrying vulgarity, explaining why becoming a Christian is a lifelong endeavor, or simply singing the praises of a meal of red rice, Maya Angelou writes from the heart to millions of women she considers her extended family.

Like the rest of her remarkable work, Letter to My Daughter entertains and teaches; it is a book to cherish, savor, re-read, and share.

©2008 Maya Angelou (P)2008 Random House Audio

Wisdom that not only experience can give...

I just saw this book appear in my library one day (after checking I found out my girlfriend got it) and it looked short enough so I thought... What the heck? To say I was impressed would be a massive understatement. If I never thought Maya Angelou was an icon before, I would know now. Her insight, humility and wisdom is something that cannot be bought and it's not something that only experience can teach. It takes something more... something that Maya Angelou clearly has. She speaks of both her shortcomings and triumphs in a great way, I often have to really just stop whatever am doing to replay a portion of book so I can really absorb what she has to say.

I first thought the book would be geared specifically for women, and maybe it is in some way that my limited insight cannot perceive. But I would suggest this book to anyone... Black... White... Mixed... Asian... Indian... male... female... whoever you are. The wisdom in this book is something that is just great to say the least, narration by Maya Angelou was a heaven sent.

Truly an EPIC piece!

43 of 43 people found this review helpful

Mistakes and personal insights, beautifully read

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 embarrassing 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.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

My Best Listening Reviews

I am a very big fan of the author and try to get as many of her publications as possible. I am not quite finished with this book but finding it very interesting as it holds my attention with every word. And for me that is very important. Recommendation for this book A Must Have and/or Read. A+

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A delightful listen

A dose of Maya Angelou's typical wisdom. Shorter than I had expected but a wonderful listen nevertheless.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

Stories, thoughts, opinions, feelings, and impressions of her life and during her life , as told by Maya Angelo. I could listen to her voice go on and on indefinitely. I was expecting this to read more like an autobiography, but was pleasantly surprised- this is more like a memoir.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Delightful Listen

What a delightful surprise to find out that Maya Angelou herself was the narrator. I felt like I was sitting at the feet of a sage, soaking in wisdom. This is a book I may end up picking up - that is the hardcopy - in order to easily reference the pearls of wisdom she graciously shares with her audience. My only criticism, is that towards the end, the stories became a bit impersonal, and seemed as if they were added as an afterthought. Didn't seem to fit with the idea of writing personal letters to a daughter. It sounded more like recycled speeches presented at other venues and hastily added towards the end of the book. This is why I gave the overall review 4 stars instead of 5.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Nail on the head!

Maya Angelou never had a daughter but this narrative of short stories and lessons, told in only a Maya Angelou can, is remarkable. Women, men, all races and religions van benefit from this. You'll be enlightened and have new perspectives on any struggles you may be going through.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Expected

I enjoyed the book and learned more about the author. I enjoyed clipping and slowing down the read .Also the reminders of the book. New to audible and pleased.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Increased my Desire to read

I am pleased. with being read to because I have been so distracted. and couldn't focus on word for word in a book! Now, I plan to read more through audio book!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Luved It!

Loved, loved luved it! Thank you Maya! God bless you! Your legacy lives on. XO

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

DESTINED TO CONNECT WITH Dr. FOREVER MY GRANDMAMA

I wish I met this beautiful woman
Rest in peace magnificent Queen
I love you

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Inspirational listen!<br />

Loved it! Especially what Angelou says about going out and making a difference in the world a must read for the youth of today!

compelling

loved it..and I love the sound of her voice she is a mother to all.

Nicely written.

I love listening to Maya Angelou and the way she shares her experiences of life moves me everytime. I call this woman my grandmother. Words so profound it brings you to tears. She is forever here.

Just like sitting in grandma's kitchen

Loved every minute, eloquent witty and interesting to hear more about her life...rip Dr Angelou!

the inimitable Maya Angelou...

uplifting, affirming, empowering and inspiring... hearing the warm voice of Maya herself is a pure pleasure.

Full of wisdom, though dated in places

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It is never time wasted to hear the voices of those who have experienced different lives to yourself.

What about the narrator’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed the honesty that came from her performance.

Was Letter to My Daughter worth the listening time?

This was a very short book and so the listening time was not a problem.

Any additional comments?

Some of her views can be seen to be dated but everybody is a product of their times.

a lovely written book

A lovely written book I would want to share with my daughter. the account of her experiences are so valuable one is able to even take life lessens at 45. Shows you to how to get up and do rather than putting yourself and raise standards .

A Heartfelt and Honest Rambling of a Life Well Li

Loved this book. Haven't read Maya Angelou since college and it felt like slipping into an old pair of pyjamas - familiar and comforting.

She shared some harrowing experiences from her young adult years as well as her life in the arts and as part of the 60s Civil Rights movement.

Ultimately this book is a story of a woman nearing her end who has taken the time to summarise some of the high and low points of her life in the brutally honest but kind way that is distinctly Maya's voice.

The fact that she read her own book made it even more touching.

I think anyone could and should read this book.