Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now

by Maya Angelou

Book Overview

Maya Angelou, one of the best-loved authors of our time shares the wisdom of a remarkable life in this bestselling spiritual classic. This is Maya Angelou talking from the heart, down to earth and real, but also inspiring. This is a book to be treasured, a book about being in all ways a woman, about living well, about the power of the word, and about the power of spirituality to move and shape your life. Passionate, lively, and lyrical, Maya Angelou's latest unforgettable work offers a gem of truth on every page. Maya Angelou speaks out . . . On Faith- "I'm taken aback when people walk up to me and tell me they are Christians. My first response is the question 'Already?' It seems to me a lifelong endeavor to try to live the life of a Christian. It is in the search itself that one finds ecstasy." On Racism- "It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter their color." On Taking Time for Ourselves- "Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. A day away acts as a spring tonic. It can dispel rancor, transform indecision, and renew the spirit." On Death and Grieving- "When I sense myself filling with rage at the absence of a beloved, I try as soon as possible to remember that my concerns should be focused on what I can learn from my departed love. What legacy was left which can help me in the art of living a good life?" On Style- "Style is as unique and nontransferable and perfectly personal as a fingerprint. It is wise to take the time to develop one's own way of being, increasing those things one does well and eliminating the elements in one's character which can hinder and diminish the good personality."

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553569074
• ISBN13: 9780553569070
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.4" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Wisdom From a Wise Lady

Maya Angelou lived in a desperate time, and in a desperately difficult family situation. There was a person in her early life who lifted her up so she could see her own worth. From there, this Lady has grown wise about human life, and how to live it wisely, fully, and more happily. I love her chapters in this book on New Directions and the one on The Sweetness of Charity. Her viewpoints in the chapter called "What's So Funny" needs to be read often. She notes that when we as audiences indulge entertainers in their use of profanity or vulgarity by laughing and applauding it, "we are like the Romans at a colosseum battle between unarmed Christians and raging lions." God bless her for stating that "obesity is not funny, vulgarity is not amusing, insolent children and submissive parents are not the characters we want to admire or emulate." Ms. Angelou's first book, her autobiography,"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" was my first introduction to her writing. Much courage was needed to write that book, of a painful childhood. It is beautifully written, but was so hard for me to read. This author has the words and the heart to reach the heart of anyone who has a heart. This book is dedicated to Oprah Winfrey. It is a treat to read.

A must-own book

I tend to borrow books from the library and use my limited funds to purchase only those that truly help me grown in some way. This book is one of those. I bought it before I had to return the library's copy. It is a small, easy-to-read book whose simplicity belies its wisdom and power. I have harvested some of that wisdom to assist me in conveying lessons and messages to others. Most recently, I used the essay "Death and the Legacy" as a reading for meditation at my grandma's memorial last month. My reading of that powerful piece inspired my cousin to read this anthology and to ask me for more Angelou recommendations. The essay that speaks most to me, however, is "New Directions," which I use to teach a seminar to people living with HIV. It is an inspiring essay which points out that we have "the right and the responsibility" to step off paths which are not working for us. What a great message of personal accountability! This is truly a wonderful book--my favorite among many Angelou books that I love.

Really good book

I really enjoyed reading "Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now" by Maya Angelou. In this book, she writes about the positive and negative expericences she has had in her life. By reading this book, you can she that Maya is a very intelligent woman. A couple of topics she writes about in this book are Religion and Living good and living well. She gives advice on how you can be a better human being. This book makes you think about things you may take for granted. It also makes you see things in a different light. I haven't read any of Maya's other books, but now I definitely will! This book is a must-read.

I love Maya

This is my favorite of the books I've read in which Maya Angelou sits around contemplating life, though it's perhaps not the most representative of her work. For the moment she sets aside her intellectual self, her history, her issues -- anything by which you might identify her as anything but a fellow member of the human race. In this book you're left with the essential Maya -- the wise woman with the great heart and the steady mind who speaks out from timeless space. It's an easy read, and life feels better when you're done. And if you're at the end left in doubt whether she's also a world-wise and savvy intellect, then anything else she has written will put your doubts to rest.I love Maya Angelou.

This book has a lot of good advice and much wisdom

One of the most memorable stories on this audio cassette (and in the book as well) is where Maya tells what her Mama (grandmother) would do when a known-whiner would come into their general store in Stamps, Arkansas.Mama would call for Maya, saying, "Sister, come over here." When the "whiner" came in, Mama would ask them "How are you doing?" and the whiner would launch into a lengthy complaint about the weather and work and other things.After this whiner left the store, Mama would turn to Maya and say "Sister, nobody likes to listen to someone who whines and complains..." and she'd tell Maya that there were lots of people - black and white, rich and poor - who went to bed last night and never woke up this morning, who'd give almost anything to have one more day of work or one more day in the summer's heat. And the summation - "Sister, if you don't like something, change it. And if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."This is a powerful book/audio tape. And it is narrated by Maya Angelou, which makes it even more of a treasure. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve the way they think about life.