The Book of African Proverbs: A Collection of Timeless Wisdom, Wit, Sayings & Advice

As a children's author and speaker, I wanted to be able to integrate and leave exciting, powerful, meaningful quotes to audiences and this book will enable me to do just that. I really like knowing where the quotes are from.

Great Kwanzaa white elephant gift.

Exquisite tome

This book gives you a lot of wisdom is worth the money.

This book is awesome!!!!

Drawing from a wide variety of primary sources, author Gerd de Ley has compiled a fascinating collection of proverbs and sayings from across the African continent. Many different nations, tribes, and cultures are represented in the hundreds of pithy sayings that populate this book. I have spent time living in the Republic of Haiti. This nation boasts many traditions that hark back to the African roots of former slaves. I was struck by how similar many of the African proverbs are to ones I had come to know in Haiti.The proverbs are organized in nine chapters, with headings such as Life and Death, The Value of Hard Work, Animal Wisdom, and Words to the Wise. I was impressed with how much universal wisdom is shared across the globe. This Zulu proverb, "The Horse That Arrives Early Gets Good Drinking Water," is very similar in spirit to our familiar trope,"The Early Bird Catches The Worm."This is the kind of book that can be read and enjoyed a few pages at a time - in a professional waiting room, in the bathroom, during a commute. It is a delightful addition to our appreciation of the universality of folk wisdom,Enjoy!

The book has a durable feel, meaning that it will be one of those books that will be handed down from generation to generation. Gerd de Ley has come up with a great reference work, based upon his study of what has been passed around African nations and peoples for years. Assisting him in the translation of some of these ‘wisdom nuggets’ was David Porter. “The Book of African Proverbs” is one of those works that can also serve to ‘spice up’ speeches, term papers, or general conversation. Each proverb is, of course, grouped into nine categories…sure to please even the most dedicated proverb fan.

Great perspectives on life!