The World's Best Book Summaries
What were the key features of the indigenous civil rights movement in the US? What did Native activists accomplish in the 1960s? The indigenous civil rights movement sought to achieve self-governance, treaty enforcement, and land restitution for Native Americans. The movement has had many long-term impacts still seen today. Read on for more about Native American activism during the civil rights era.
How did a little girl from Pakistan become a Nobel laureate? Why did Malala leave Pakistan? Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was only 10 years old when the Taliban arrived in her hometown in Pakistan. When Malala was 15, the Taliban shot and nearly killed her. I Am Malala, a New York Times best-seller, is Malala’s autobiography. Continue reading for an overview of I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
What was Malala Yousafzai’s family like? What values did they pass on to her? Malala Yousafzai was born into poverty in a society that valued boys over girls and religious tradition over secular education. Yet, she became a Nobel-winning activist for girls’ education. The values of her family—compassion, gender equality, education, hospitality, and compassion—shaped her life early on. Read more to learn about the childhood of Malala Yousafzai.
Who was Maulana Fazlullah? Why was he called the Radio Mullah? What was life like under his rule? It started with aid to remote Pakistani villages devastated by an earthquake. But, Maulana Fazlullah and other mullahs used this disaster to preach against women and girls and increasingly (and violently) restrict their liberties. Keep reading to learn about the actions of a brutal ruler that motivated Malala Yousafzai to speak out.
What role has Malala’s father played in her life? How did he feel about having a daughter? In her memoir, Malala Yousafzai recounts how her father and she came of age against the backdrop of the Taliban’s rise to power. She discusses how her father was willing to defy tradition and fundamentalist religious views to raise her in an environment of compassion, gender equality, and secular education. Continue reading to learn about Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai.
How did the Taliban change the life of a young girl and her society? Why did she speak out against them, at the risk of her own life? Malala Yousafzai was only 10 years old when the Taliban arrived in her hometown in Pakistan. As their attacks on women’s and girls’ freedoms rapidly escalated, Malala began to speak out against them, even as she and her family faced death threats. When Malala was 15, the Taliban shot and nearly killed her. Read more to learn about Malala, the Taliban in Pakistan, and why they’re such fierce enemies of each other.
How did Malala Yousafzai survive being shot? What was her recovery like? What did she do after she left Pakistan? On October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala Yousafzai in the face when she was on her way home from school. Miraculously, she survived. In her autobiography, she discusses her recovery and what she’s done since. Keep reading to learn about Malala after the shooting that nearly took her life and silenced her voice.
Why does Malala Yousafzai have such a strong value for education? How does she find the courage to speak out against people who want her dead? It’s a remarkable story: A child born into poverty in a society that valued boys over girls and religious tradition over secular education became a Nobel-winning activist for girls’ education. Malala Yousafzai’s activism started at an early age and continues to inspire people all over the world. Continue reading to learn how even a bullet couldn’t stop Malala’s brave fight against evil.
Are you a modern leader or a throwback to the Industrial Age? What if you could hit the nail on the head when it comes to what’s required in leadership today? In Trust and Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey argues that the fundamental nature of work has changed since the industrial era, necessitating a corresponding shift in leadership. He discusses the difference between industrial and modern work and explains why leaders must evolve to keep up. Read more to understand Command and Control vs. Trust and Inspire leadership.
Why did the Taliban shoot Malala Yousafzai? Why did they consider her such a threat? Surrounded by the Taliban’s increasing violence and attacks on women and girls in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai did what she believed was right. She continued going to school despite the Taliban’s ban, and—encouraged by her father—she spoke out in support of girls’ education. Read more to learn why the Taliban shot Malala.