Africa Books

Quincy S. Smith tells an incredible story while taking the reader on an incredible journey. Read to learn, read to become aware and read to enjoy. This is a hard-hitting book very similar to Shelby Steele's Content of our Character.
My Skin was My Sin can be used and enjoyed by all.

Author Quincy Smith takes you on an emotional journey through his life and shows you how racism still exists in America and the ways it can affect a life.

The autobiography of Quincy S. Smith is truly an inspirational story. It's a story full of hard-hitting facts about racism in America. The information the author provides regarding the pain and anguish felt as a child growing up in a racist world is something everyone can benefit from. Quotes and citations from some of his favorite literature give the reader an understanding of the knowledge gained from his mentors and how he overcame the many obstacles that children face when growing up without parents. In spite of all the obstacles that would have prevented his success, he becomes a strong, determined, and spiritual black man in the world today.

I'm surprised to be the first to review this book. It was recommended to me a couple of years ago by a professor and I've only now gotten around to reading it: it's definitely one of the best books I've read recently.

As the title suggests, the book explores the myth of continents. The authors show the origin of the idea of the continent in ancient Greece and show its continued use throughout the centuries even as the addition of the Americas and Australia to the world map caused more and more incongruities with the original Greek and medieval world system.

The authors also look at the concepts of 'East' and 'West' and the similarly overused (but underdefined) 'Orient' and 'Occident', arguing against Edward Said for the continuation of a world divided into geographical regions, albeit ones that does not draw upon geographical determinism or cartographic ethnocentrism. Unlike Samuel Huntington they stress their world regions (i.e. African-America and Central Asia) as not always coherent territories with distinct borders. Agreeing with Herodotus and Toynbee about the need to examine the continental system, they thoroughly discuss the philosophical and political views of continents in recent centuries, looking at Rousseau, Herder, Hegel, Montesquieu, H.G. Wells, J. Burckhardt, Wallerstein and others.

This book is so good at deconstructing the built-up assumptions of the aforementioned terms that I hesistate to list any faults, although I should at least mention that I would have liked a few more maps and a separate section on how and why the authors chose each world region and its borders (i.e. why not a separate region for Madagascar).

In any case, this is a convincing and powerful book.

This stimulating challenge to conventional geography should be an essential ingredient to your next upgrade of your metageographical basics, world history as one for a change. The book is a nice debriefing of the several myths that distort that history. One of the main culprits is the East-West divide, whose illusory divide as to culture obsesses too many, butis one of the chief offenders, along with the notion of a 'western civilization' whose boundaries, content and latent ethnocentricism deserve a reminder that the East was always built into the West and vice versa. The Greek myth of Europa was always misleading, no? and isn't the realm of the Israelites the East, then?
One of the liabilities of Toynbean style analysis into 'civilizations' has been the failure to see the inherent unity of one 'Civilization' emerging in a series of partially diffentiated versions, rendering the many distinctions misleading, and quite tribalistic. A good example is the case of Japan which modernized sooner than much of Europe, it is a question of 'information', not of continents.
Fascinating take on 'metageography' and a good rolfing of some archaic concepts we take for granted.

...and never the twain shall meet." Kipling was wrong about that. This fascinating book shows how culture and world-view influenced not just Kipling and others of the past, but continues to do so with us today. Our maps, both mental and otherwise, are largely shaped by our own realities. Indeed the authors argue we are all unwitting believers in THE MYTH OF CONTINENTS. The metageography that this book critiques is defined as "the set of spatial structures through which people order their knowledge of the world." Such structures are arbitrary, but it's not just continents. It extends to world regions, culture areas, zones, and even civilizations. Also any depiction in atlases, on globes, in texts, and on political maps. It's all extremely subjective.

One of the strengths of this book is how it shows these artificial views emerging, changing, and adjusting to the dynamism and power of cultures. The concept of the continent of Europe is directly connected to the power of that region. Why else, the authors ask, should India be a sub-continent and China only a part of Asia? "In physical, cultural and historical diversity, China and India are comparable to the entire European landmass, not to a single European country."

The book traces the origins of the continental system from Herodotus through Ptolemy, the Romans, Medieval Europe to the Age of Discovery and beyond. The whole idea of what defined a continent (large landmass seperated by water) was always very fungible. The authors say that as late as 1599 "any reasonable large body of land or even island group might be deemed a continent". They give the example of a geographer referring to the West Indies as a "large and fruitful continent". The West Indies themselves are a perfect example of perception dictating form. We know that the "Indies" part came about because Columbus thought he had arrived in the East. The metageographies of West and East then are concepts that, like continents, are open to criticism. So too are the New and Old worlds, the First and Third Worlds (was there ever a Second World?) The same vagueness surrounds the North and the South, the Occident and Orient, Far East, Middle East, South Asia and the Pacific Rim.

In offering their own system for organizing human space the authors replace continents with "world regions". Arnold Toynbee and more recently Samuel Huntinton's system of using civilizations as the organizing principle gets a nod from the authors. In the classification they use, Europe is now "Western Eurasia", "African-America" includes not just the West Indies but the entire Caribbean and North-Eastern Brazil. North America remains and Ibero-America emerges.

Obviously geographers will thoroughly enjoy this book but it has a much broader appeal. Wherever we are in the world we use some of the terms above to describe our place. If nothing else this book will make us all a little more aware of how we define ourselves and others.

There are three great characters that Haggard created - that is three great stars: Ayesha( She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed), Allan Quartermain, and Umslopogaas of the Axe. This is the tale of Umslopogaas as a youth, a tale of his great love, his wandering as an outlaw under sentence of death, and of his alliance with Galazi the Wolf Brother, weilder of the great club Watcher of the Fords. Fabulous battle scenes, strong characters - what more does the reader want? And then the reader can advance to the only other two books to feature Umslopogaas: She and Allan and Allan Quartermain.

Sadly, Rider Haggard is no longer required reading in the school system. Nevertheless, this rip-roaring action story about the early life of Umslopogas, a character more usually found in a supporting role in the novel Alan Quartermain, is probably Haggard's most poetic and free-flowing yarn. A multiplicity of interesting characters is to be found in this tale, although the central theme is the moving love story of Umslopogas and Nada (a native girl of great beauty). If you have been moved by West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet, and also enjoy a rollicking action-packed adventure saga, this book is a must for you!

Almost everyone is familiar with King Solomon's Mines, She and Alan Quatermain etc but I have encountered relatively few readers of Nada the Lily. This is extraordinary since it is one of Haggard's greatest stories. Given the scenario of an adventure/love story spread out accross the South African landscape during the ruthless and absolute rule of the Zulu king Chaka, this is, as they say, a story that has everything. In this regard I have often wondered that whilst Haggard is one the most filmed if not over filmed authors, Nada the Lily has never made it to the cinema even though it reads as if it was written for the big sreen and the bigger the screen the better.

I love this book - and my children love it too! I sat with a child on each lap and read them this story. Though too young to grasp the concept right now, (they're just 20 months old), they delighted in the pictures and listening to me ad-lib the story page by page. This book will remain on my shelf as one of my family's favorites to read to our children over and over. How refreshing to find such a unique story...the lessons for our children can be found on each and every page. Enjoyable and educational. Thought-provoking and heart warming. I bought one of these for each of my nieces that are now expecting and will continue to make this one of my "must have" gifts to give to every new parent.

I was introduced to this wonderful book by a friend. I was drawn to the book by it's beautiful front cover. As I read this story for the first time, in front of a live audience of 6-9 year olds,I was stunned by thier interest and constant interuption to examine each and every illustration. Completely unaware myself, apparently the children had found a different little creature in each picture. When the story came to its conclusion smiles and a lively discussion on the concepts of conservation insued. I knew, dispite its meager appearance, that I had found a relative "classic" for me to share with the children again and again.

This is such a sweet book, especially for the youth of today. I bought this for my nephew who is 3 years old and is at the age where he listens and learns from everthing said and from everything that he is exposed to. Sometimes as adults we get tied up in the hustle and bustle of our professional lives, that we need to slow down and take in each moment, and appreciate the simple things in life. - Fantastic read for our youth, simple life lesson clearly stated, along with beautiful illustrations!

I bought this book for my newborn and I recommend it for children of all ages. The stories are great tales to share with your family. They are even entertaining for adults. I highly recommend this book.

The stories are rich and full of life. Storytelling lives on...thank you!

These stories are delightful, the illustrations are superb...I bought a copy for my grand-daughter, and was so enthralled that I ordered a second copy for me!

Tim McKee and Anne Blackshaw have collaborated on an important book that speaks to anyone who is interested on where South Africa is headed and where it has been. In words and photographs, the two capture the mixture of hope, confusion and uncertainty that these young South Africans face in their changing nation. Their words are frank. Their photos compelling.

No More Strangers Now is a good book.It tells about how people would fight for their lives.How they would sometimes hide in their houses because some people would break in and shoot them.It had a lot of violence in it but it would teach you how white people would treat people of color. The book was very good.I think the last chapter was the best. It told about teenagers that were Chinnesse,Afican,Japansse,White,and Mexican.They were all friends they slept over. They even go to the mall. People would just stare at them,thinking they were wierd.I would like everybody to read this book - No More Strangers Now.

As an avid reader and a teacher, I love this book! I have been savouring it for breakfast, a chapter a day, careful not to read too much and exceed my emotional limits, often moved to tears, and always impressed by the strength and passion of the young South Africans. Not only is it a joy to read, it is one of the most educationally exciting books I have ever discovered. What a great tool for opening the minds of young people around the world and helping them to seize on both their own place in history and their ability to shape the future. The voice and image of young South Africa is so poignantly conveyed, I feel as if I have just returned from an intensely revealing reality tour, making several great friends in the process. In No More Strangers Now, Blackshaw and McKee have delivered an honest, eloquent and visually stunning breakthrough!

I am from South Africa, and really enjoy teaching my children about where I grew up. This book has lovely illustrations, and a great story about a boy and his grandmother. It reminded me of the stores, taxis, and people that make South Africa such a colorful place. This book would make a perfect addition to any family's multicultural library!

After living in South Africa for four years in the early 1990s, I came to appreciate the "small" stories of peoples' struggles as well as the larger fight for racial justice. "Not so fast, Songololo" represents both the larger and smaller story: Songologo doesn't have a pair of new sneakers - which many children take for granted - because it costs a lot of money for his family to pay for them. So when his grandmother treats him to a pair, it's a big event in his life. The pictures are lovely - capturing the rhythms of life for some South African children. I regret that there are not more books about them - and not enough by South African authors (Niki Daly is one of the few, and his other children's books set in South Africa, including Papa Lucky's Shadow and Jamela's Dress, are also lovely; Rachel Isadora is an American writer who has written some wonderful children's books set in South Africa). It's a sweet book that my daughter, who is 5, and I have loved reading together. We especially enjoyed taking it to South Africa when we went there together earlier this year, and then gave it to the mother of a four-year-old we met.

This book is full of creative, yet brief descriptions. For instance, a city crosswalk is referred to as a "zebra crossing." Also, with few words and simple language, the author is able to create vivid pictures inside the reader's head. These images are supplemented by awesome illustrations, which, besides accurately depicting the plot described in the text, also suggest stories of their own. As a kid, I liked this book because I empathized with Songololo in his quiet longing for new shoes. Now, as a teenager, I read it because the writing is meaty and touching, and the illustrations are fun to look at. You must buy this book!

Obo is the name of a young monkey, and Bob Anderson'sdelightful book for children, titled OBO, is the story of how Obodiscovered Paradise. While still very young, Obo heard a beautiful bird singing. He asked the bird where it was from. When the bird told him it lived in Paradise, Obo decided to search for that wonderful place. And that's just what he did when he got big enough to do so. As he searched, he asked each jungle animal he met whether or not it knew where Paradise was... Anderson filled his book with wonderfully detailed drawings of all the plant and animal life Obo encountered in the jungle. The final picture is a gathering of ninety-nine creatures around a watering hole. A poster of that scene is available upon request from the publisher. OBO ends with a glossary describing nearly forty jungle dwellers. Each animal has a small picture, followed by a pronunciation guide to its name. He also includes a brief description of the creature's habits. Young and old alike will enjoy Obo's search for Paradise, and their own search for all the creatures hiding in the jungle. Sandra I. Smith, Reviewer

Obo, the story of a monkey searching for Paradise, manages to take the reader there as well. The author and illustrator, Bob Anderson, has captured a distinct quality of fantasy in his drawings, allowing adults and children alike to immerse themselves in this lush world. The true beauty of this book is in the minute detail and realism found in the pen and ink drawings and in the author's dedication to lush environmental atmosphere. This book is a must-have for families with children of various ages.

I had the rare opportunity of seeing this book in its original manuscript form and although I have not yet seen the final in-print version, I can say that it is a treasure! The illustrations are intricate, mysterious, and sophisticated, and I can only assume that they will be equally appealing to adults as well as children of all ages. The story is timeless with a universal theme which is dealt with on multiple levels in such a way that small children who are being read to will enjoy it while also offering enough interest and humor to encourage young readers and adults to enjoy it as well. The drawings and glossary at the end add a nice extra touch which really pulls the whole work together as an excellent learning tool (again, for both children and adults).

This endangered animal is the star of a wonderful story.

Robby the rhino's identity problem is lots of fun for kids. Also, the art in this book is spectacular. Look for the wonderful pictures of the imaginary nosserus.

The rhinocerus in this story is so delightful. He thinks he'stracking down a dangerous beast. It's really himself. And the art ismagnificent.

Ned Middleton is incorrect to say that the destroyers were reluctant to go along side the Ohio. She was dragged into Valleta harbour with a destroyer lashed to each side.You cannot get any closer than that.

Geographically, Ohio may be a long way from Malta but the two became forever linked through the historical events of WW2. The Ohio was a ship - at that time the largest (and fastest) Tanker ever built, and Malta a country under siege. Malta's position in the Mediterranean meant she played a vital part in the war in North Africa - with aircraft based there attacking Rommel's supply lines at every opportunity. In order to maintain those attacks, however, it was imperative she continued to be re-supplied by convoy.

By August 1942 Malta was in dire need of help. Unless substantial supplies were delivered - and soon!, Malta would have to be surrendered by 7 September at the very latest. In the meantime the German campaign in North Africa was going from strength to strength because aircraft based at Malta had no fuel to continue their campaign. They were also running out of aircraft.

Operation Pedestal comprised 14 commercial ships which departed the Clyde on 2 August 1942. By the time they entered the Mediterranean on 10 September such was the importance of this convoy that no fewer than 4 Aircraft Carriers were assigned to the overall defence. From here on those ships came in for attack after attack from air and sea and they pushed ever closer to their destination. Almost immediately the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle was lost and the next day the 8,000 ton cruisers Kenya and Nigeria were put out of action and the 4,190 ton light cruiser Cairo sunk. It was at this time the Ohio took a direct hit from a torpedo. For a long while she was stopped in the water with her crew making frantic repairs and an easy target. In spite of her extensive damage, however, the ship got under way and was soon making 15 knots. By the morning of the 14th she had caught up. In the meantime, however, the 9,400 ton cruiser HMS Manchester was lost.

The loss of so many capital ships on a single operation only served to underline the importance of this convoy. One at a time the freighters with their valuable cargoes were being reduced in number as they were attacked and lost. From now on the Ohio received greater attention - from both sides. Firstly she had become the primary target for Axis forces and secondly she was regarded as the most important ship still afloat as far as the convoy was concerned. In short, the Ohio must reach Malta at all costs. She was torpedoed, she was shot at, she was bombed with explosives and bombed with fuel in a bid to set her alight. The many near missed she suffered twisted her hull and with her cargo of fuel oil and kerosene leaking in all directions she could have simply blown apart at ant time. She was abandoned and re-boarded (twice), her steering gear was first damaged making steering impossible and then it was blown away altogether. She lost countless tows and was so badly damaged that Destroyers were loath to come alongside less they sustain damage from the ship itself.

But come alongside they did and, re-boarded yet again and - when any lesser ship would have been sunk several times over, the Ohio was finally berthed alongside Parlatorio Wharf, Malta at 0930 hrs 15th August 1942. Only four other ships from the original 14 also arrived. Incredibly, very little of the Ohio's cargo had been lost and as a direct result of this incredible feat of human endurance, the fuel carried by this one ship helped turn the war in North Africa in favour of the Allies.

This book tells the tale of a single ship. In bringing Operation Pedestal to life in a thrilling and readable style, Michael Pearson skilfully draws the reader into the events aboard other ships at key moments in the voyage. He also includes just about each and every many who played a key role at various times. All the facts and figures are there including brief technical details of every ship. For those who wish to study the many pages of bibliography, his account is also exceedingly well researched and I congratulate him on a job well done.

NM

A great true story about the trials and tribulations of a tanker and its crew trying to get their ship to Malta through the gauntlet of German and Italian planes and submarines during ww2.