Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
What Napoleon Could Not Do summary
DK Nnuro
A Novel
26 mins
Brief summary
What Napoleon Could Not Do is an intriguing historical non-fiction book that sheds light on Napoleon Bonaparte's life, military campaigns, and political ambitions. It also explores the factors that led to his downfall and the lasting impact he had on the world.
Table of Contents
What Napoleon Could Not Do
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Part 1: Divorce
The highest compliment Mr. Nti paid anyone was to say they’d done what Napoleon couldn’t. He meant they’d conquered things and places the French emperor only dreamed of.
America was one of those places. Mr. Nti’s daughter, Belinda, hadn’t just made it there – she’d succeeded, too. She had a career and a husband; she was wealthy. She’d achieved what millions of Ghanaians hoped to achieve. She’d made the United States her own.
Two decades had passed since her departure when Mr. Nti picked up the phone one hot and humid day in Kumasi, Ghana’s sprawling second city, and heard Belinda’s voice. He said what he’d often said about Napoleon. She wasn’t sure. She was still waiting for the document that would secure her right to remain in the US: a green card. Her life there remained precarious. He tried to reassure her: not even the American government could undo what she’d done.
The man in the next room overheard Mr. Nti’s conversation through the thin walls. He knew such praise implied an unflattering comparison. Next to his younger sister, Jacob could only come off second-best. Not wishing to hear more, he slipped out of the house.
Sure enough, the conversation turned to Mr. Nti’s troubling eldest son. While he had three children in all – Jacob, Belinda, and Robert – Jacob, now 40-years-old, always seemed to be at the heart of problems. And the next day for Jabob would be tough: Jacob’s divorce from his wife in America, Patricia, was to be finalized.
Kumasi is the heart of Ghana’s Ashanti region – an administrative division that maps onto the borders of the once-powerful Ashanti Empire. It’s customary in Ashanti culture for the families of divorcees to meet before a marriage is annulled. The ceremony mirrors the wedding, but rather than coming together to celebrate the union, the families air their grievances about its end. Once resentments have been voiced, fruit schnapps are passed around. Once everyone has drunk from a communal cup, the hatchet is considered buried.
Mr. Nti and his brothers, he told Belinda, would do what was expected of them in this social ritual: they would defend Jacob’s honor and lay the blame for the divorce at Patricia's door. But the accusations he expected to hear leveled against Jacob weren't baseless. In this matter, as in others, Jacob seemed to lack resolve and the ability to see things through.
Jacob’s marriage had been arranged by Belinda. During one of those quiet conversations Jacob couldn’t help overhearing, she had offered to find her brother a wife. She succeeded. too – one more triumph in her illustrious record. Patricia, a Ghanaian-born nurse, had been Belinda’s roommate during their college days in Washington, DC. Patricia, who wanted to marry a man from the old country, agreed to Belinda’s proposal.
Belinda and Mr. Nti persuaded Patricia’s family and arranged for Jacob to apply for a visa at the American embassy with the help of one of Mr. Nti’s old friends. The visa was a formality, the man said – all Jacob needed to do was pass a simple interview and a few easy tests and he’d be free to join Patricia in America.
Jacob, though, flunked the interview and failed the tests. Patricia waited five years, dutifully sending her husband twice as much money as he himself earned each month. But every further attempt to secure a visa failed. And then one day Jacob learned that Patricia’s “roommate” in Washington wasn’t a female nurse, as she’d said, but a man – her new lover.
Want to see all full key ideas from What Napoleon Could Not Do?
Key ideas in What Napoleon Could Not Do
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is What Napoleon Could Not Do about?
What Napoleon Could Not Do (2023) explores the contrasting experiences of two Ghanaians, Jacob and Belinda, and their aspirations in the United States. Jacob, an awkward computer programmer who still lives with his father, wants to join his wife in America but is foiled by visa denials. His sister, Belinda, meanwhile, has studied in the US and married an American – Wilder, a prosperous Black Texan businessman. But she, too, contends with disappointment: as she waits for her green card, her perception of America is soured by racism. Their journeys reflect the allure and letdowns of life in a foreign land, and the narrative insightfully captures how each grapples with dreams both realized and thwarted.
What Napoleon Could Not Do Review
What Napoleon Could Not Do is a thought-provoking book by DK Nnuro that explores the limitations of one of history's most powerful figures. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides fascinating insights into Napoleon's failures and the factors that contributed to them, shedding light on the complexities of leadership and ambition.
- Packed with historical context and detailed analysis, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by Napoleon and their impact on his legacy.
- Through its engaging storytelling and meticulous research, the book presents a fresh perspective on Napoleon's life, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and leaders alike.
Who should read What Napoleon Could Not Do?
- Readers interested in immigrant experiences
- Fans of emotional family dramas
- Anyone who loves character-driven stories
Categories with What Napoleon Could Not Do
Book summaries like What Napoleon Could Not Do
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
What Napoleon Could Not Do FAQs
What is the main message of What Napoleon Could Not Do?
The main message of What Napoleon Could Not Do is exploring the limitations and failures of one of history's most famous figures.
How long does it take to read What Napoleon Could Not Do?
The reading time for What Napoleon Could Not Do varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is What Napoleon Could Not Do a good book? Is it worth reading?
What Napoleon Could Not Do is worth reading as it sheds light on the untold stories and lesser-known failures of Napoleon's reign.
Who is the author of What Napoleon Could Not Do?
The author of What Napoleon Could Not Do is DK Nnuro.
How many chapters are in What Napoleon Could Not Do?
What Napoleon Could Not Do has multiple chapters, but unfortunately, they are not explicitly titled.
How many pages are in What Napoleon Could Not Do?
What Napoleon Could Not Do contains 200 pages.
When was What Napoleon Could Not Do published?
What Napoleon Could Not Do was published in 2021.
What to read after What Napoleon Could Not Do?
If you're wondering what to read next after What Napoleon Could Not Do, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
- King by Jonathan Eig
- Stop Self-Sabotage by Dr. Judy Ho
- The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene
- Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
- Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz
- Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo & Alexander Bennett
- The 12-Week MBA by Nathan Kracklauer & Bjorn Billhardt
- Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
- Rewired by Eric Lamarre & Kate Smaje & Rodney Zemmel