Letter to My Daughter

Letter to My Daughter

 by Maya Angelou
(based on 46 customer reviews)

Letter to My Daughter (Hardcover)
Edition: 1
Author: Maya Angelou
Publisher: Random House


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Most useful review as voted by customers:
92 out of 93 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/10/08


Absolutely inspiring; I couldn't put it down

"I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian and Spanish-speaking, Native American and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you," writes Maya Angelou in the introduction of her inspirational new book Letter to My Daughter. The following pages are full of stories and life lessons Angelou has learned over eighty years. "I have only included here events and lessons which I have found useful," the famous poet writes. "I have not told you how I have used the solutions, knowing you are intelligent and creative and resourceful and will use them as you see fit."

There are few books that I love so much I would read again. This is one of them. I got Angelou's Letter to My Daughter in the mail around 4 p.m. and finished it before bed. I read it to my children as they played, read it after they had gone to sleep, and far into the evening hours. Angelou's words were so poetic and musical I felt as if she were speaking directly to me. I learned of her best and worst moments in life, her ideas about love, death, violence, patriotism and spirituality. I really liked how she illustrated an important situation in her life without telling the reader what to take away from the scene.

My favorite story was when Angelou visited the famous actress Samia in Sengal. Angelou had heard that women in Egypt did not let their guests walk on their gorgeous Persian rugs and decided to test her hostess. She noticed the other guests at Samia's party were not stepping on the rugs and believed Samia had informed them not to do so. So Angelou walked on them, back and forth, back and forth. The other guests smiled at her weakly. Angelou engaged in a conversation with a fellow writer and barely noticed the maids rolling up the rug and replacing it with an equally beautiful floor covering. The maids covered the rug with place settings and dinner. Angelou had been walking all over their table cloth! She was so embarrassed she could barely eat. "In an unfamiliar culture, it is wise to offer no innovations, no suggestions, or lessons," Angelou wrote.

Here is one of my favorite paragraphs in the book: "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution."

Letter to My Daughter is a gem of wisdom and inspiration. Every woman should read it at least once. This book has become a permanent fixture in my personal library.

by Jennifer Melville
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

26 out of 26 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/13/08


A reference guide to life

Wonderful book - it was a quick read with several short stories. I want to know more, more, more....what happened after lessons - Maya tells you the story, but not her lesson learned. I also almost see it as a testament of her life and her goodbye book - you feel the wisdom, age, and desire to pass it on before it's too late. As soon as I finished it, I started reading it again....I think this book will become a reference guide of sorts for me.

13 out of 18 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/11/08


God Bless Maya Angelou - A Living Saint with Extraordinary Wisdom

Just to be able to write a review with Maya's name on it is an 3extraordinary honor.
Her words are like a gentle balm that soothes the soul. She is for everyone. Her encounters and wisdom come from the deepest place in her heart - all keeping me on the edge of my seat, hanging on to her every word.
How this world is blessed because of YOU, Maya Angelou!
You take our pains and anoint them with saint-like compassion.
Your messages relate to us all.
Every joy you have experienced and every important lesson you have learned is bestowed upon us like a blessing from on high.

In all of literature, throughout all of history, there will always be only one Maya Angelou. We are so deeply BLESSED to have you on this earth. THANK YOU from our soul for bringing us the incredible wisdom that can change our lives.
We love you!

13 out of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 11/14/08


Read, be inspired and be courageous!

This is the perfect book! At only 166 pages, it is short but every single page is filled with interesting stories and valuable advice. I recently read a quote that said, "Timid women don't make history." Maya Angelou lives her life boldly and with courage and has been making history for many decades. There are too many inspiring stories to mention them all but below are some of the lessons that I will carry with me as a source of inspiration.

* You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
* Be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.
* Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.
* Never whine. Whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood.
* Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking and you might find a new solution.
* Be charitable. Being charitable doesn't always involve a monetary gift; you can be charitable with a smile and a kind word.
* Kids make mistakes; its ok to love them through it
* When you are genuinely proud of your children, you give them permission to be proud of themselves.
* Miracles can happen through prayer.
* When people ask, "How are you?" have the nerve sometimes to answer truthfully.
* A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face.
* Each of us must care enough for ourselves, that we can be ready and able to come to our own defense when and wherever needed.
* You are never too old to find true love.

Ms. Angelou advises that Courage is our greatest attribute. Read, enjoy, be inspired and be courageous!


8 out of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/19/08


A Gift to be Treasured

I have always looked to Maya Angelou for the wisdom that she offers. This latest work is not a self-help book per se. Instead, Dr. Angelou shares many of her life stories and leaves it to the reader to decide what the lesson is. As a result, the book is intriguing while still offering the guidance that women need.

8 out of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/28/08


The Best

Dr. Angelou really captured me with this one. I received it and immediately read through the entire book. Her testimonies made me laugh, cry, and think about life in some new ways. I have already given it as a gift to a close friend. You are sure to enjoy it!

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