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Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
Maya Angelou, one of the best-loved authors of our time, shares the wisdom of a remarkable life in this best-selling spiritual classic. This is Maya Angelou talking from the heart, down to earth and real, but also inspiring. This is a book to treasured, a book about being in all ways a woman, about living well, about the power of the word, and about the power do 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.
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 1993
About the author
Maya Angelou
243 books13.7k followersAutobiographical novels of best American poet and playwright Maya Angelou, originally Marguerite Johnson include
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
(1970).
Maya Angelou, a memoirist and actress, importantly figured in the civil rights movement. In 2001, Ladies Home Journal named her among the thirty most powerful women. Maya Angelou started her series of six with her magnum opus and nominee for a national book award. People nominated Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die , her volume in 1971, for the Pulitzer Prize.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_An...
Maya Angelou, a memoirist and actress, importantly figured in the civil rights movement. In 2001, Ladies Home Journal named her among the thirty most powerful women. Maya Angelou started her series of six with her magnum opus and nominee for a national book award. People nominated Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die , her volume in 1971, for the Pulitzer Prize.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_An...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 671 reviews
February 18, 2018
Wisdom and grace, these are the attributes I most associate with Maya Angelou. It is also what I seem to need the most right now, with many areas in my personal life and of course the horrible things going on at n my country. Sometimes it is hard not to feel bombarded, uncertain and searching for solutions, answers.
It is also black history month and Angelou is a credit to women everywhere, regardless of race. She tackles everything from style, to humor, from Faith to charity. One can literally turn to any page in this book and find something impressive, something to ponder, want to emulate. These two though have stuck with me. The first a wonderful definition of what it means to be a woman.
"Woman should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible, and live long lives. The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with either and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory."
Written almost fifteen years ago, and still prevalent today. Maybe today more than ever.
The second quote can be applied in many different ways, from health decisions to the personal, and certainly the current political climate and how we feel about what is happening in our world?
" Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads that lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looks ominous or unpromising and the roads back uninviting, than we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well."
Easier said than done, but a good reminder all the same. Wise, wise woman who has seen and experienced so much.
It is also black history month and Angelou is a credit to women everywhere, regardless of race. She tackles everything from style, to humor, from Faith to charity. One can literally turn to any page in this book and find something impressive, something to ponder, want to emulate. These two though have stuck with me. The first a wonderful definition of what it means to be a woman.
"Woman should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible, and live long lives. The struggle for equality continues unabated, and the woman warrior who is armed with either and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory."
Written almost fifteen years ago, and still prevalent today. Maybe today more than ever.
The second quote can be applied in many different ways, from health decisions to the personal, and certainly the current political climate and how we feel about what is happening in our world?
" Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads that lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looks ominous or unpromising and the roads back uninviting, than we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well."
Easier said than done, but a good reminder all the same. Wise, wise woman who has seen and experienced so much.
February 10, 2017
Maya Angelou recites her poem for Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.
MAYA Angelou, author of the best-selling books I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Gather Together in My Name, and the Heart of a Woman, has also written several collections of poetry, including Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie. She read her poem On the Pulse of Morning at the inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton on January 20, 1993. She also wrote 10 one-hour programmes for the television series called ‘Blacks, Blues, Blacks’, which highlight Africanisms still current in American life.
Angelou struts her stuff with her partner.
However, the book under discussion here is Angelou’s 1993 book Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now which is considered by many to be an inspirational book. Written in the form of short essays, this memoir muses on spirituality, people who have been important in her life, womanhood, racism, travel and other topics.
Angelou painted by Guy Stauber.
In ‘New Directions’ she writes: ‘In 1903 the late Mrs Annie Johnson of Arkansas found herself with two toddling sons, very little money, a slight ability to read and add simple numbers. To this picture add a disastrous marriage and the burdensome fact that Mrs Johnson was a Negro.’ Mr William Johnson too was dissatisfied with the marriage. He told her he wanted to preach in Enid, Oklahoma but he did not tell her that he knew a minister there with whom he could study and who had a friendly, unmarried daughter. The couple parted amicably. Annie, who was sturdy and over six feet tall, decided that she would not go to work as a domestic servant and leave her ‘precious babes’ to someone else’s care.
In Annie’s words: ‘I looked up the road I was going and back the way I come, and since I wasn’t satisfied, I decided to step off the road and cut me a new path.’ Each morning Annie, armed with an iron brazier and coal, would walk three miles to a cotton mill, carrying two five-gallon pails filled with chicken pies. On reaching the venue she would cook fresh pies and sell it to the labourers for lunch. Then she would walk another five miles down the road to a lumber mill where she would sell her remaining pies. Towards evening she would walk back the eight miles to her house to take care of her babies and her home. The next day she would first walk to the saw mill to sell her pies and then to the cotton gin. She would walk a total of 16 miles everyday. Although business was slow at first, it gradually started picking up. When she was sure that the workers had become dependent on her, she built a stall between the two hives of industry and let the men come to her for their luncheon needs. She had indeed stepped down from the road which was leading her nowhere and cut herself a brand new path. Over time that stall became a store where customers could buy anything from cheese to cookies, and from writing tablets to soles for their worn-out leather shoes.
To conclude Annie Johnson’s story I will borrow Angelou’s words from her essay titled ‘In All Ways a Woman’: ‘The woman warrior who is armed with wit and courage will be among the first to celebrate victory.’
Angelou's first album, Miss Calypso, produced in 1957, was made possible by the popularity of her nightclub act.
The power of her prose is such that it seems as fascinating as poetry. The following lines from the ‘Power of the Word’ will illustrate what I am alluding to: ‘I am a big bird winging over high mountains, down into serene valleys. I am ripples of waves on silver seas. I’m a spring leaf trembling in anticipation.’ The reader could easily mistake these lines to be from a poem had they not been told otherwise in advance.
Maya Angelou: author, poet, civil rights activist, singer, dancer, professor, first San Francisco woman cable car conductor... the renaissance woman.
While writing about her mother, the late Vivian Baxter, she writes, ‘She practiced stepping off the expected road and cutting herself a brand-new path anytime the desire arose. She inspired me to write the poem ‘Mrs V. B.’:
Ships? Sure I’ll sail them.
Show me the boat,
If it’ll float,
I’ll sail it.
Men? Yes, I’ll love them.
If they’ve got style,
To make me smile,
I’ll love them.
Life? ’Course I’ll live it.
Just enough breath,
Until my death,
And I’ll live it.
Failure? I’m not ashamed to tell it,
I never learned to spell it.
Not Failure.
Angelou poses with her book that found her fame and fortune.
In the anecdote titled ‘Complaining’, Angelou’s grandmother is teaching her a few things about life or rather how to lead a better life by fighting against all odds: ‘So you watch yourself about complaining, sister. What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.’
Maya Angelou framed with President Barack Obama.
In ‘Voices of Respect’, the African-American author writes: ‘We have used terms to help us survive slavery, its aftermath, and today’s crisis of revived racism. However, now, when too many children run mad in the land, and now, when we need courtesy as much as or more than ever, and when a little tenderness between people could make life more bearable, we are losing even the appearance of courtesy. Our youth, finding little or no courtesy at home, make exodus into streets filled with violent self-revulsion and an exploding vulgarity.’
Replace the word ‘racism’ with ‘ethnicity and sectarianism’ and you almost feel that these lines have been written about Pakistan in general, and Karachi in particular. So the youth of the US, the Big Bully, are no better than those of Pakistan.
She concludes: ‘We must recreate an attractive and caring attitude in our homes and in our worlds.’ The same holds true for Pakistan.
The audio-book of 'Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now'.
In an anecdote titled ‘Our Boys’ she writes about befriending a Jew while interviewing him for the television programme ‘Blacks, Blues, Blacks’. However, she is later extremely hurt to learn that he is, in fact, a racist and hates blacks, which is why the first line reads: ‘Here is a dark little tale which exposes the general pain of racism.’ Had the incident been the other way around, poor Maya Angelou would not only have been labelled an ‘anti-Semite’ but would also have been blacklisted by the media as well as book publishers.
A painting of Maya Angelou in an African dress.
In the essay titled ‘Jealousy’, she writes, ‘It must be remembered, however, that jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savour, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening.’
Do these words need further explanation? I don’t think so as Angelou has herself said it so brilliantly.
Angelou's poem on a porcelain mug.
May 23, 2012
I started reading this during a short train ride. Chapter one: In All Ways A Woman. I drank it up, and then I thought and thought and thought. and then I went to my writing group, and started to talk. And I haven't stopped talking about it. Granted, every chapter is short. Every theme, random. But each makes me think. Use it for your morning meditations or read one chapter per train ride.
September 14, 2021
If our children are to approve of themselves, they must see that we approve of ourselves. If we persist in self-disrespect and then ask children to respect themselves, it is as if we break all their bones and then insist that they win Olympic gold medals for the hundred-yard dash. Outrageous.
July 2, 2022
Maya Angelou's collection of short essays is inspirational and full of wisdom. She writes from the view of an African American and a woman, but anyone could appreciate her thoughts. She's willing to share experiences from her journey through life to illustrate her ideas. Her writing has a timeless quality although the book was published in 1993.
The title is taken from the lyrics of an African American spiritual about life's journey. The chorus of the song is:
"Oh, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now
Gotta make it to Heaven somehow
Though the devil tempts me and he tried to turn me around
He's offered everything that's got a name
All the wealth I want and worldly fame
If I could, still I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now"
The title is taken from the lyrics of an African American spiritual about life's journey. The chorus of the song is:
"Oh, I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now
Gotta make it to Heaven somehow
Though the devil tempts me and he tried to turn me around
He's offered everything that's got a name
All the wealth I want and worldly fame
If I could, still I wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now"
June 8, 2011
Ms. Angelou shares a lot of wisdom in this book...I love it where she states, "We need to have the courage to say that obesity is not funny, vulgarity is not amusing, insolent children and submissive parents are not the characters we want to admire and emulate. Flippancy and sarcasm are not the only ways in which conversation can be conducted."
January 4, 2024
Se, como diz Angelou "a vida é apenas aventuras e, quanto mais cedo nos dermos conta disso, mais depressa vamos poder considerá-la uma arte" e que "a arte de viver a vida exige uma capacidade de perdoar", o copilado de textos aqui postos são de enorme valia acerca daquilo que deveríamos nos munir para sermos guiados a ser melhores conosco e consequentemente com o outro.
Em passagens acerca das condições de mulher, religiosidade, racismo, nossas vestimentas e quais seus impactos sobre o outro, assim como a necessidade de estar vigilante quanto às formas que permitimos que se dirijam a nós, Angelou faz como em Letter to My Daughter e guia o seu leitor à abdicar da mesquinhez em prol da abertura para si e para o outro em uma obra belíssima e tão essencial como foi e é a escritora. Eu tive uma excelente leitura.
Em passagens acerca das condições de mulher, religiosidade, racismo, nossas vestimentas e quais seus impactos sobre o outro, assim como a necessidade de estar vigilante quanto às formas que permitimos que se dirijam a nós, Angelou faz como em Letter to My Daughter e guia o seu leitor à abdicar da mesquinhez em prol da abertura para si e para o outro em uma obra belíssima e tão essencial como foi e é a escritora. Eu tive uma excelente leitura.
January 26, 2008
This book made me feel good to be a woman. The life lessons are wonderful. The chapters are short, but each one pertains to life and our journey through it.
August 19, 2022
This is a collection of short personal essays about lessons learned and an approach to life worked out by Maya Angelou. I think if I had read this 10 years ago I would have felt it was too lightweight. Having gone through much personal upheaval in the last decade and feeling like I came through all that fairly intact, I felt friendly towards Maya and in agreement with her own conclusions about life.
In fact, I could call this volume of wisdom her version of The Tao.
In fact, I could call this volume of wisdom her version of The Tao.
June 1, 2024
A small, digestible book with nuggets of wisdom — on forging new paths, living well and the importance of generosity and compassion. I was given this book along with handwritten letters by friends who knew I was having a difficult time. It was like a balm and reminded me what really matters in life.
March 22, 2016
It's hard to find words to describe how much I loved this book but I'll do my best.
Reading this was like talking deeply with a favorite aunt, a wise grandmother, a best friend, and a sister all rolled into one. The wisdom in these words emanates from the woman, that if I'm very lucky, I'll grow to be one day.
There are books that just feel good to read, that bring us back to ourselves and remind us about the existence of our soul. Maya angelo reminds us that everything we do, every seed we sew, every energy we put out into the world, shapes the world around us and will directly come back onto us. If I'm sounding biblical, it's because reading this was nearly a religious, and most definitely a spiritual experience.
Welcome to my very short list of idols Maya Angelou. The world lost a gem of a soul when you passed, and is all the more dreary and dull for that loss.
December 11, 2014
Aside from a scene at the bar, when the narrator has a breakdown after realizing that despite her stardom she is alone and without a date, I didn't go on an experience in this book--like I do with Maya Angelou's books.
November 29, 2007
after reading "i know why the caged bird sings" and "singin and swingin and gettin merry..." this fall, i was excited to read the final paperback that came in this box set that i borrowed from my mom. i read the whole thing while sitting at the free ear acupuncture clinic on monday. i was kinda disappointed. the book is dedicated to oprah and it feels clear that it is targeted towards her audience - little "pearls of wisdom" rather than whole stories. of course it's still maya angelou so there really are some pearls in there, she is amazing and smart and funny and real, but just as i would start to get into her story she would wrap it up with some lesson or advice, then move on to the next one. it didn't feel fulfilling.
April 27, 2011
For anyone who hasn't read Maya Angelou I'd run to the closest bookstore. I've read all her books, as I do when I like any author, and I have to say Maya Angelou is beautiful and gracious in all of her books as well as in person. I saw her once in Santa Cruz, Ca. and once in New Mexico and I often think about the regal presence she gave in her presentations. Both a poet and memoir writer, her books speak about life and love and hardship and they don't mess around. In Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now Maya Angelou gives validity to her own traumatic childhood while validating the childhood of her reader as well. You can start with any of her books you choose and you'll be glad you did.
June 10, 2020
I have so much respect for Maya Angelou as both a writer and a woman. Her work is always so inspirational to me. This book is a quick read as it consists of vignettes, which many of the topics are quite timely. Just an enjoyable, nice read.
February 8, 2021
Another Magnificent Maya Masterpiece!
Once again I am blessed to read another book by this wonderful American hero. She gathers her important thoughts and concepts into a series of essays. Each is rich in wisdom.
As usual her writing flows very nicely and welcomes the reader into the story. From this style the topics are easily believable.
This holiday season I have gifted myself with many Maya Angelou books. This is one that I missed. I am better for it and you will be to should you read them.
My highest recommendation!!!
Once again I am blessed to read another book by this wonderful American hero. She gathers her important thoughts and concepts into a series of essays. Each is rich in wisdom.
As usual her writing flows very nicely and welcomes the reader into the story. From this style the topics are easily believable.
This holiday season I have gifted myself with many Maya Angelou books. This is one that I missed. I am better for it and you will be to should you read them.
My highest recommendation!!!
April 4, 2024
Another great, quick read. I enjoyed the philosophies and insights. Maya Angelou writes so well and has such great ideas. This little book is almost too dense to absorb in such a quick read, though.
July 28, 2024
“ser mulher dá muito trabalho. há suas alegrias e até seus êxtases, mas ainda assim é um trabalho implacável e infinito”
June 5, 2024
Wise words; reading this was like taking a walk with a mature, graceful, happy friend.
November 13, 2009
This book is a collection of Maya Angelou's meditations on a broad range of subjects, from health to manners to memories. I picked it up expecting a quick read, but was unprepared for how quick it really is: there's really very little content, and her meditations are generally only a few paragraphs long. And there wasn't much of a unifying theme, either -- she picks up just about any topic, it seems, offers a few thoughts on the matter, then drops it just as quickly.
She seems not to be quite as culturally aware as she might like to think. For example, at one point she says, "I am besieged with painful awe at the vacuum left by the dead.... Are they, as the poet James Weldon Johnson said, 'resting in the bosom of Jesus?' If so, what about my Jewish loves, my Japanese dears, and my Muslim darlings? Into whose bosom are they cuddled?" (p. 48) You know, some of us do just fine without Jesus's bosom, thankyouverymuch. Also, "Japanese" is not a religion (and some Japanese people are Christians, by the way).
I was disappointed that the book had so little content. I had wanted a meaningful read, but I found it hard to get into this. In addition to the short sections, it seemed that every other page was a chapter title page. And it ends on such a strange note....
She seems not to be quite as culturally aware as she might like to think. For example, at one point she says, "I am besieged with painful awe at the vacuum left by the dead.... Are they, as the poet James Weldon Johnson said, 'resting in the bosom of Jesus?' If so, what about my Jewish loves, my Japanese dears, and my Muslim darlings? Into whose bosom are they cuddled?" (p. 48) You know, some of us do just fine without Jesus's bosom, thankyouverymuch. Also, "Japanese" is not a religion (and some Japanese people are Christians, by the way).
I was disappointed that the book had so little content. I had wanted a meaningful read, but I found it hard to get into this. In addition to the short sections, it seemed that every other page was a chapter title page. And it ends on such a strange note....
March 24, 2020
The whole of this book is not brilliant. The brilliance is found within the depth of layered meaning, in certain sentences, that contain gold-laden truths.
A woman as revered as Maya Angelou, for many, may never be found lacking. Worthy of 5 stars for every body of work she ever brought forth! However, those would be biased reviews.
Objectivity leads one to a 3 star rating. Just like Anjanette Barr's "Enclaves" offering, a book that encompasses many thoughts or short stories and not just one is a hard book to rate or pass judgement on. Certain shorts you would grant a 4 or 5 star status too; but, for the rest you wouldn't. Therefore, you find the rating needs to be smack dab in the middle. There are words that shine, moments that are beautiful, but when all is said and done it lacks a bit of luster. The whole of a book needs to be rated not just the heart.
Is this book worthy of being read? Absolutely! Just go in with an open mind and eyes to seek out the truth that matters most to you in this time and space. There's wisdom to be gained. In reading Maya Angelou's words there always is.
A woman as revered as Maya Angelou, for many, may never be found lacking. Worthy of 5 stars for every body of work she ever brought forth! However, those would be biased reviews.
Objectivity leads one to a 3 star rating. Just like Anjanette Barr's "Enclaves" offering, a book that encompasses many thoughts or short stories and not just one is a hard book to rate or pass judgement on. Certain shorts you would grant a 4 or 5 star status too; but, for the rest you wouldn't. Therefore, you find the rating needs to be smack dab in the middle. There are words that shine, moments that are beautiful, but when all is said and done it lacks a bit of luster. The whole of a book needs to be rated not just the heart.
Is this book worthy of being read? Absolutely! Just go in with an open mind and eyes to seek out the truth that matters most to you in this time and space. There's wisdom to be gained. In reading Maya Angelou's words there always is.
August 28, 2011
Maya Angelou discusses life and some of the lessons she’s learned along the way. Faith, racism, grieving, and respect are just a few of the topics included in this book.
While most of the lessons this author speaks about were inspiring, there was one in particular which I liked the most. It has to do with moving in new directions. Sometimes you come to a point in which you are not satisfied with the way your life is headed or with the choices you have in front of you. When that happens, Angelou suggests that you have to step off the road and cut yourself a brand-new path. In other words, you have to get creative and make new options for yourself. It always feels rewarding when you can come away from a book feeling like you learned something valuable that you can apply to your own life.
While most of the lessons this author speaks about were inspiring, there was one in particular which I liked the most. It has to do with moving in new directions. Sometimes you come to a point in which you are not satisfied with the way your life is headed or with the choices you have in front of you. When that happens, Angelou suggests that you have to step off the road and cut yourself a brand-new path. In other words, you have to get creative and make new options for yourself. It always feels rewarding when you can come away from a book feeling like you learned something valuable that you can apply to your own life.
April 10, 2013
This is fabulous. I was given this as a gift nearly 20 years ago when I was still in my teens, and just re-read it recently. Full of essays and prose about womanhood, bravery, kindness and confidence. This was my introduction to Maya Angelou, and reading it the second time was as wonderful of an experience as reading it the first time. You can hear her voice - wise and soothing - as you read it, which is an added treat. This is an excellent gift for a woman of any age, especially for a young woman. Curl up with Maya, a cup of coffee or a glass of wine anytime you want to feel a little more connected to all that you are, or connected to the wonderful women in your life.
September 21, 2014
I really like the book. She is a great woman who had a lot of wise things to share. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
I think this book would make a great gift for a young person just starting out their journey in life.
I think this book would make a great gift for a young person just starting out their journey in life.
February 7, 2017
I wish I had a pen with me while reading this because I want to underline every sentence! This book is definitely a quick read and it's one that everyone should give a chance. Each passage ends with these metaphors or these important lessons that are so beautiful! I'm definitely going to re-read it again very soon. And if you have a birthday coming up just know that this book is what I'm getting you :)
April 12, 2013
Liked this book by Maya Angelou. It was filled with short essays about her experiences and about women. The snippets she provided about her own life picqued my interest to the point that I might see if she has a bio or autobio out there. Update: she has 6 autobiographies. Guess I'll start with 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'.
May 5, 2018
A bit too short for me and it didn't really touch me as much as I was expecting.
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April 7, 2023139 pages isn’t enough. I want MORE!
This consisted of numerous short essays filled with Maya Angelou’s cunning wisdom and curiosity. Her warmth and sturdiness shines through so beautifully.
This feels like a book you come back to and take away different lessons depending on what stage of life you’re in. It’s a timeless piece.
This consisted of numerous short essays filled with Maya Angelou’s cunning wisdom and curiosity. Her warmth and sturdiness shines through so beautifully.
This feels like a book you come back to and take away different lessons depending on what stage of life you’re in. It’s a timeless piece.
May 31, 2024
Top favorite author of mine and I love that she narrates, her voice is sublime. I spent a lot of time putting quotes from this in my journal. I ♥️ Maya Angelou, highly recommend for her exquisite prose and wisdom.
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March 23, 2021this was such a great read. perfect for the season in my life that i’m in right now. i’ve never read a Angelou novel but now i want to read more of her works. Angelou’s writing is so beautiful and filled with so much wisdom.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 671 reviews