Learning How to Fly

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam believed deeply in young people. Over the years he met more than 21 million children and students in India and abroad, visiting schools, universities and institutions in almost every corner of the country. He spoke to them the way a devoted teacher would, about knowledge, ambition, moral conduct and the need to change society for the better.

Learning How to Fly gathers a selection from the nearly 2,000 lectures he gave to teachers and students, both inside and outside the classroom. Each talk returns to the same questions: how to prepare for life, how to recognise and overcome obstacles, and how to draw out the best in oneself.

Kalam makes his case through stories from his own life, from his teachers and mentors, and from some of the world's most admired men and women. He also brings in recent developments in science and technology. Together these show why dreams matter and how much hard work it takes to make them real. The book is warm and optimistic, and it is meant for Indian readers of every age.