Books

As Told by Nthanda Manduwi

Nthanda Manduwi is a Malawian storyteller, entrepreneur, and thinker whose writing explores power, development, identity, and the human pursuit of possibility. Her work moves fluidly between intimate life lessons and sweeping critiques of global systems, creating a bridge between the personal and the political.

Tens Series

A reflective coming-of-age collection tracing the journey from adolescence into adulthood.

By the End of Your Teens (2018) — guidance and perspective for young dreamers stepping into adulthood.
Traversing the Terrible Twenties (2025) — an honest look at ambition, failure, reinvention, and growth in one’s twenties.

Lessons Series

A seven-part reckoning with international development, aid, and global systems—born from Nthanda’s years working within and around the United Nations.

Lessons – A handbook-memoir for early-career professionals navigating international development
Beggars in Suits – A candid look at elite capture and the corruption of “doing good”
Systemic Nonsense – A sharp dissection of how illogic often drives global policy
Impossible Economies – A historical lens on how large powers fail small nations
So Wrong for So Long – On why bad ideas endure in development spaces
We Are Still at War – Exposing the quiet, non-military wars waged through policy and aid
A New Normal – Imagining systems rebuilt with equity, creativity, and hope

READ ABOUT THE SERIES

Standalone Works

Feminine Silence (2025) — an intimate exploration of womanhood, voice, and resilience.
Lady at the Helm (2026) — a tribute to leadership and legacy, inspired by Nthanda’s mother’s (and father’s) maritime history.
Balance (2027) — reflections on ambition, wellness, and finding equilibrium in a demanding world.

Nthanda’s books invite readers to question entrenched structures while finding courage and clarity in their own journeys. Together, her catalogue forms a unique arc—from self-discovery, to critique, to reimagining the future.

Learn more, request speaking engagements, or partner on publishing through Bien Books, Nthanda’s imprint dedicated to amplifying African and global voices.

Each title asks hard questions about power, capital, and imagination — and how we move from inherited systems to futures built on critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. My hope is that, just as the UN reimagines itself for a new era, this series will help a new generation confront uncomfortable truths, reclaim agency, and design structures that finally work for the Global South — not as an afterthought, but as an equal architect of the world to come.