South Africa Books

I am an avid birder and own all the recognised field guides to birding in the Southern African region. I have used them all extensively and am convinced that the Illustrated Guide To the Birds Of Southern Africa stands head and shoulders above its rivals. I say this for the following reasons:-The combined knowledge of its authors cannot be matched as these are the Guru's of birding in the region with Ian Sinclair undoubtedly the most travelled,most experienced and most knowledgable expert of the lot.His co-authors not being far behind!The quality and accuracy of the distribution maps are, I believe, where the field guide steals a march over other similar guides.The quality of the illustrations which show all the major plumage variations as well as flight patterns makes this an invaluable guide to experienced and novice birders alike.There is currently simply no better book on the market than this one.

Timeless Wilderness was the first book from Gerald Hinde and Richard du Toit to grace my desk. I paged through it with such excitement that I immediately phoned the publisher asking if I could meet the photographers... This book is filled with the most extraordinary images that I doubt any other photographer has ever captured. The first picture that captured my imagination in the book was the hippo's feet... The large aquatic herbivore rolled underwater in an unlikely display of water ballet and Richard du Toit was there to immortalise the moment. The collection of animal interaction shots is simply astonishing. There are shots of conflict between a Steppe Eagle and a Saddle Billed Stork, as well as between Wild Dog and Fish Eagle to name just a few. These are moments so unique they may never be captured on film again.

In writing the text for the book, Richard du Toit really includes you in those unexpected bush moments which one only experiences in a life time of beast watching. His comments show both his extensive knowledge of animal behaviour and his sensitivity in communing with wild creatures.

I do have one criticism of this beatuiful work. Richard du Toit writes magnificently and his lengthy captions left me craving for more. Let's hope that in his next book he lets the ink flow more freely and gives us even more to get stuck into.

I did finally get to meet Richard du Toit and Gerald Hinde. Over a marvellous lunch, I asked why they had named the book "Images from a Timeless Wilderness". Richard's face lit up and he said "There are a handful of places left on earth where you can feel such primal power. This place on the Kwai River feels as though it hasn't changed since the beginning of time. It is the real Eden."

Thankfully, there are talented souls like Gerald Hinde and Richard du Toit to document in exquisite detail the fleeting moments of magic in this African Eden.

This was the first romance novel I ever read. It is well written and provides interesting detail of the time period. Great for beginners to this genre. Suitable for young readers too! I just read it again, after my first read a decade ago and have renewed my efforts to buy other novels by this author.

The author of "In Darkest Hollywood" is Peter Davis

I cannot believe that I am the first one to do a review ofBernard Crick's great masterpiece, "In Defense of Politics."This is a honor that forces me to question my worthiness. Crick so aptly understood that the aiming for a kind of absolutist perfection in any human relationship is dooming oneself to inevitable bitter disillusionment. This may especially be true within the political sphere. Those who indulge in a virtual cult of adoring specific "great men" totally misunderstand the goal of politics. Democracy can never be more than an attempt to search out a workable compromise between disagreeing citizens. A certain agnosticism concerning one's position is often required; a dogmatic true believer mentality may indeed become dangerous and threaten the very tenuous underpinnings of our governmental institutions. We must indeed strive to improve our political process. It is even a moral obligation to do so. Nonetheless, The search for the perfect and virtuous leader to give one's unhesitating allegiance and adoration has always resulted in a hell on earth.

The political process is often yucky, disappointing, and after much effort may leave one at best with a half a loaf result. It has been said that there are two things someone with a weak disposition may wish to avoid---viewing the processing of sausage and the making of human law. Am I a cynic and possessing a defeatist attitude? The answer is an adamant no! On the contrary, Crick and I recognize the glorious possibilities of an evolving civilization premised upon frail and imperfect human beings. It takes incredible physical, intellectual and moral diligence to bring about viable human relationships of any sort. What we have so far accomplished in Great Britain and the United States is of mind boggling beauty and structural effectiveness. Bernard Crick understands the limits of politics and that a democratic society deserves two cheers, not three. Winston Churchill paradoxically said it best--democracy is usually disappointingly awful--it's simply better than all the other political systems devised and implemented throughout human history.

In 1986, Paul Simon's album, "Graceland" focused international attention on the music and people of South Africa. The music was not the mournful dirges of apartheid victims but rather the vibrant sounds of a cultural affirmation. Anyone interested the people and culture behind the "Graceland" sound need look no further than David Coplan's "In Township Tonight!"

Those who might shy away from an academic work, for fear of encountering dry-as-sawdust pedantic prose, will be pleasantly surprised. Coplan's writing is clear and unencumbered. Coplan provides a brief survey of the dynamics of Black South African culture in the nineteenth century. This serves a backdrop to the book's primary focus, Black music and culture in urban South Africa during the twentieth century.

Coplan's account is intersting and exciting, sad yet homorous. Through rigorous research and passion for his subject Coplan provides the reader with a compelling look at one of the most unusual societies of the twentieth century, apartheid South Africa. The reader is taken beyond the simplistic South Africa of media sound bites to a world of complex characters where music is part of life and where, in the background one hears the irrepresible peep of a penny whistle.

Uhhh, buy the book, do it, now.

From being an intelligence operative in a network of anti-apartheid armed struggle in South Africa to reflections on middle school days forming a human sign of "OFF THE PIGS!!!" to the National Guard's invasion of Berkley to launching a sustained and insightful critique of the operation of white privilege/supremacy in the academy, Frank Wilderson has written a ridiculously fly memoir that I feel incredibly grateful to have gotten my hands on.

For your own sake, please, purchase this amazing piece of writing immediately.

AN INDIAN AFFAIR: FROM RICHES TO RAJ by Archie Baron was written as a companion book to a British television historical documentary series. It is therefore clear and beautifully written for the general public. It chronicles the interaction of Great Britain with India before 1858.
My ideas about the British in India were fuzzy at best and basically informed by tales and legends from the Victorian age. This book turns all my ideas upside down. It's wonderful.
It begins with an introduction and ends with an afterword and inbetween are 9 chapters. Chapter 1 entitled Rogue Traders and Spice Girls relates the beginnings of the British East India Company. Chapter 2, Accidental Empire gives information about Clive and the beginning of military power in India to protect trade. Chapter 3, Nabobs tells of the British who lived in India and got rich off her wealth. Chapter 4, An Indian Love Affair basically gives details about Warren Hastings, a governor-general of India and William Jones, an intellectual. Both these men loved India and thought the Indian culture was on par with most any cultures and maybe exceeded those of Great Britain. Chapter 5, Going Native, is about men like Hindoo Stuart who embraced India, not just intellectually but in all ways. These are the White Mughals. Chapter 6 First Fusion informs us about the profound influence Indian culture had back home in Great Britain and about some of the Indians who visited or came to live in Great Britain. Chapter 7, First Among Equals is about the schemes and military actions between France, the Indian rulers, and Great Britain. Chapter 8, The New Rome, chronicles the events that started the beginning of the British Government as the rulers of India. Chapter 9, Brown Englishman, tells how native Indian languages and learning were thrown over for English and western culture in India and even, for good and bad, embraced by Indians.
AN INDIAN AFFAIR has gorgeous color plates and pictures interspersed throughout the chapters. It is 254 pages in length with Sources and Further Reading, Acknowledgements, and an Index. It is altogether a satisfying, beautiful reading experience.

This, no nonsense book is a must have. If you are serious about working with people. about caring about the people you work with (and who work for you) you must read this book. No, you must own this book. It is the best guide to successful people management that I have ever seen. It is to the point and it works. The practical advice given and the way the book explores options assist you in understanding human dynamics. If you are unsure about whether or not you are a people person, read it anyway. It may reveal that necessary ingredient that will make you a successful team leader. I highly recommend it as a tool to develop skills and to be the best people motivator that you can possibly be!

Though fictionalized, a large portion of this novel is based on events that really happened and characters in the story are of people that actually exist(ed).

I am a South African who is featured as one of the characters in this story. Presently I am living in the USA. I offer to turn in my review, comments and opinions of the novel once I have read the American English version.

I have read the South African English version. I lived in the valley in which the story occurred. Michael Williams, author of the novel, Into the Valley, dedicated the South African version of this book to me.

I am disappointed that the American English version is out of print. Help me to acquire, even a used copy.

Thank you. John Mkhize