South Africa Books

I was happy to buy this book to send to a school in Rwanda.

"One Child, One Seed: A South African Counting Book" is an excellent book for children age 4 - 8. It teaches counting, and tells the story of a South African child, her family, and their garden, and a seed that grows into a plant and yields a harvest of pumpkin that is made into . . . Isijingi. There are actually three texts in this book that can be read separately or together: the counting text; the story of the seed; and background about South African family life. The book is illustrated with a couple dozen color photographs, and also includes a map of Africa and South Africa. This book teaches more than counting, something just as valuable: a look at another people and their culture. Younger children will like the counting text, with its large font and big pictures, slightly older children will appreciate learning about South Africa, its people and food.

Thanks to Steyn we get a closer look at one of the most fascinating persons in modern history. Nelson Mandela demonstrates most convincingly that integrity and respect for fellow human beings of all levels is not a sign of weakness but rather the ultimate demonstration of greatness. This book ought to be mandatory reading for every person in a leading position, be it in the political or any other field. Thus, let us hope that it becomes more readily available outside of South Africa!

An excellent book! This book was very well written and contained in depth information about executive and personal protection that few people have the intimate knowledge to find out about. I was especially drawn to the special relationship that formed between Mr. Steyn & his protectee, President Nelson Mandela. This book also contained some very humerous passages, such as the incident where the driver for Mr. Mandala's principal car accidently locked the keys in the car, with the president's helicopter inbound a due to land in a few minutes! I would recommend this book to any protection specialist in the field and others alike.

Going to the archives can be a bore -- for historians and those who read their work. But going to and through the archives is also what great and true historiography is all about. In this book, I.R. Smith carries out the historians' craft with meticulous care and commendable merit. Smith demonstrates through this seminal case study that the British empire was not merely a scramble for one market after another. He demolishes the various conspiracy theories surrounding the South African War, particularly those put forward by left-wing economic determinists, proving a point that surely needs oft-proving: economics is often subordinated to politics and the pursuit of power.

This is a meticulously researched study of the events leading up to the outbreak of the Boer War. Particularly when tracing the events of 1899 the book is really impressive in its marshalling of the facts, and I thought its conclusions are well-reasoned. It was another age, when countries could look at war and decide that maybe it was worth while.

If you ever want to know anything about the rainforest, this is the series to buy. The author thoroughly discusses people, environment, and hope for rainforests. Beautiful colored pictures throughout the book supports the easy written text. I highly recommend this series to any student who needs to do a report on the rainforest. This series is a must have in any children's library collection.

If you ever want to know anything about the rainforest, this is the series to buy. The author thoroughly discusses people, environment, and hope for rainforests. Beautiful colored pictures throughout the book supports the easy written text. I highly recommend this series to any student who needs to do a report on the rainforest. This series is a must have in any children's library collection.

I had read The Good Doctor and enjoyed it plenty for great characters, great writing and a slow-building, relentless tension. The Quarry has the same great characterization and prose, but nothing at all slow about it. The beginning of the story is enthralling, both the introduction to the main character and the first incident at the quarry (best not read liner notes etc more max effect). What continues seems a combination of Greene's "Power and Glory" (in terms of "feel") and Coetzee's "Waiting for the Barbarians" (in terms of suspense and pace). A fantastic aspect is the power of the not explicitly stated (e.g. main character's real name never revealed, ). And the construction and build-up to the denoument is something Tolstoy - like. The Quarry is clearly another example of the spectacular literature of South Africa.

In this stunning novel, Mr Galgut tells the story of a fugitive from justice hitchhiking in the desolate backdrop of South Africa and who is picked up by a driver, a minister on his way to a remote parish. When the minister discovers that the hitchhiker is a fugitive and confronts him in a disused quarry, the response is lethal.
This novel is a masterpiece featuring a story and characters utterly compelling. The author shows that even the quietest spots on earth can seethe with repressed violence. A blunt and tense read about guilt and evasion of truth. Justly enough, Mr Galgut has been compared to the greatest South African writers like Andr? Brink, Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee and Achmat Dangor.

The author, Alon Peled, examines the question as to whether or not subjected ethnic groups (i.e. 'trojan horses') can be trusted in the army. Peled briefly cites the recent Yugoslavia conflict and Czechoslovakia in 1938 as two well-known examples of successful trojan horses. The Yugoslav army disintegrated and was turned into a Serb ethnic militia, and the Czechoslovak gov't stood down under the combined threat of hostile German invasion and internal subversion by Sudeten Germans. In the last section, he describes the horrendous ethnic genocide in Rwanda that could have been instantly quelled had Rwanda had a truly ethnically integrated military. With this unnerving history, can subjected ethnic groups ever be trusted with weapons in their nation's army?

Peled looks at the three historical cases of ethic integration or disintegration within the military. First, he examines how South Africa, even when under the severest terms of apartheid, managed to slowly but successfully integrate first coloreds, then Indians, and finally blacks into the SADF. This highly-sensitive political issue in apartheid South Africa was handled very deftly by its leaders. Singapore, on the other hand, started with a military almost purely staffed by an ethnic minority and wound up almost entirely excluding them (Muslim Malays) within Singapore's defense establishment. And finally, Israel has integrated some ethnic groups (e.g. Druze, Christian Arabs) while continuing to exclude others (i.e. Muslim Arabs).

Peled defines two types of integration, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal integration is basically the increase in number the number of ethnic enlisted soldiers, while vertical integration is the promotion of ethnic soldiers into positions of leadership and sensitive areas (intelligence, operations, etc.). Peled states that for ethnic recruitment to be successful that horizontal integration must be followed by vertical integration. If not, the subjected ethnic group feels used, remains alienated, and represents a continued threat to internal security.

This is an important book on a rarely discussed, but highly important, topic. The description of the defense organizations in South Africa, Singapore, and Israel were quite interesting in and of themselves, while the ethnic integration/exclusion process was fascinating. (Ethnic leaders often negotiate the recruitment of their youth with the dominant gov't leaders.) I enjoyed this book, but more importantly, I believe that military manpower specialists will find this book an excellent introduction to the issue.

Alon Peled, a Harvard Ph.D who has achieved world-wide acclaim for his knowledge of both empirical political "events" and the theory that underlies these events, has written a truly brilliant book. It is my understanding that Peled visited several foreign countries, among them Singapore and Israel (Peled himself was a decorated Israeli officer) as he wrote this book, which arose from his doctoral dissertation, written under the auspices of the late Judith Shklar, who was a genius in her own right. Peled's analysis is inspirational in its breadth, thoroughness, and mostly in the piercing insight he offers. He is razor blade brilliant, and I am sure anyone interested in international affairs, military issues, Israel, political theory or the world as a whole will benefit from it immensely. I would like to add that I once had the good fortune of meeting Dr. Peled, and I am sure that he is a man of honor and decency whose interests transcend the intellectual realm and are aimed at the greater good of our society, our children, and ultimately ourselves. I have read many books in my day, yet none are more probing, more carefully thought out, nor more brilliantly written than that of Dr. Peled. We should count ourselves fortunate to have him among us!

Photographing Innovation Art is considered one the wonderful natural world books. In this book, Art Wolf mirrors the virgin reforents area in elegant manner. Art Wolf knows quite well when and where to boast these rare places, animals, and plants that live in. His representation style is unequal to any other works, particularly in clear views, which express the theme he wants to convey in detailed natural views. It looks like hand made artistic works. Art Wolf has high skills and capabilities in views production. His views are wonderful and have natural beauty, which makes you feel, taste, and sees natural elegance and expressive views as we have seen in his previous works. The text and photo are complementary to each other. Both seek to achieve one goal- to save the area from surrounding danger as depicted in Wolfs work. Generally it is a wonderful book indeed by art Wolf. It makes us astonished by its expressive and moving pictures. He allows us see the photos from any angles to get different impression. This book is recommended for those who love unique natural world and high standards photos

A book that is spectacular to look through and educational in content. A Christmas gift that was truly special.

Stunning, breath-taking, can't put it down. This author is the Finest Living Writer in the English Language and this is her best work.

I've read this book 3 times. It gets better every time. The action, the drama, the gut-wrenching story line between the three-position rotary switches and tractor lamps...just breath-taking! Five stars!

I really enjoyed reading this book and its predecessor, The Road to Home. Vanessa's writing is so vivid and her stories are captivating. I read each of them cover to cover, putting them down only when I had to! I can't wait to read the next one...

I could not put this book down. I read it in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was the story entertaining but the characters came alive in an interesting and vibrant country.

I was not able to put this book down..the politics of South Africa seemed to put the reader in a very frightening place and sadly have things changed that much???

Written by one of music's most promising stars, Shadow People provides a unique and authentic portrait of Durban, Cape Town's District Six and Jo'burg's Sophiatown exactly fifty years ago.

Dhava Aiengar is a young pianist with brilliant prospects, but he has one problem: he is an "Indian" in apartheid South Africa. He is not allowed to travel and work where he likes or love whom he likes, and he spends most of his time dodging the police, Zulu rioters, Indian gangs and white thugs. Driven by a passion for music, Dhava, along with his friends Claude Tshikalange and Micah Bernhardt, defies everything apartheid stands for. They live life to the full, achieving acclaim and adoration from the townships to the most exclusive whites-only clubs... until the sinister machinery of apartheid starts to turn against them.

Shunna Pillay sang in Alfred Herbert's African Jazz and Variety, alongside such luminaries as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuka. He resides in New York City and Connecticut.

In 2003, Hugh Masekela was featured in the documentary film Amandla!, about how the music of South Africa aided in the struggle against apartheid. In 2004, he released his autobiography, Grazin' in The Grass: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela, which thoughtfully details his struggles against apartheid in his homeland.

Hugh Masekela says, "Shunna Pillay tells this story of South Africa's 1950s with a deep sympathy for all those human beings in the world who yearn for freedom, liberty and the right to enjoy life on this earth ... This is a brilliant tale, told with the lack of fear which finally drove Shunna out of his country of birth."