I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings cover art

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The internationally bestselling classic

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I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

By: Maya Angelou
Narrated by: Maya Angelou
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About this listen

 Maya Angelou's six volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a Black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement and celebration. In this first volume of her six books of autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother's lover.

'I write about being a Black American woman, however, I am always talking about what it's like to be a human being. This is how we are, what makes us laugh, and this is how we fall and how we somehow, amazingly, stand up again' Maya Angelou©1969 Maya Angelou Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

A brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman (President Barack Obama)
The poems and stories she wrote . . . were gifts of wisdom and wit, courage and grace (President Bill Clinton)
She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds (Oprah Winfrey)
She was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate (Toni Morrison)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity (James Baldwin)
A trailblazer in decolonial, anti-racist movements and intersectional feminism, memoirist, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is a powerhouse of a woman
Steeped in resilience and grace
One of the most influential biographies of our time
All stars
Most relevant
An absolute delight to listen to Maya narrate. What a life she lived. Looking forward to the next one.
Rich rich words

AMAZING!!

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Loved hearing Maya Angelou narrate the book in her beautiful voice. Really enjoyed her story, and I have the rest of them in my watch list to buy!

Loved it!

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What an amazing storyteller. Made all the more fascinating by the fact that its true.

Couldn't put it down!

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What did you like most about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?

To have the author and main character herself read the book made the experience so personal. It is such an important insight into her life and the lives of millions which is as relevant today as it was when it came out.

Read by Maya Angelou, what more could you ask for?

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very enjoyable and educational. reveling the untold truth. now I know why people do what they do even though I might think differently. understanding the differences in empowering & healing.

very enjoyable & educational

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This autobiographical story read by the author herself was fascinating from beginning to end. Parts of it were incredibly sad. It covers her childhood years up to the birth of her son at age 17. An emotional journey for author and listener.

Read by Maya

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Maya Angelou's honest and painful and uplifting story is read by her in her old age, adding extra poignancy to this reflection on her childhood years, with the richness and wisdom of her voice lending a special magic to the account. Her insights into her own character and development and the perceptions of her young mind on the people and world around her make this such a thought provoking and life-affirming story.

Reaches to your soul.

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Well written, an important book to read. Unfortunately can't find the next one on Audible.

Always good to hear a book read by the author.

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Maya Angelou reading her own book, her singing, her Southern drawl, and her magical writing just put this book on my top favorites of all time.

Absolutely glorious

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I have learnt so much about that time period. It gives an insight to a lovely soul who handles hardship with such forgiveness.

great author.

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