South Africa Books

The contributors of thie anthology apply ideas in men's studies to Southern Africa. Principly, they ask how do black men and white men formulate their sense of manhood in post-apartheid South Africa. The book is divided into parts on fatherhood, performing masculinity, sexuality, and male tools. The entries are diverse covering topics such as surfing, quasi-Nazi activities, gun abuse, HIV/AIDS, police officers, etc.

Through reading this book, I learned a lot about South Africa, especially over the last decade. The book is scholarly without being inpenetrable. The articles are relatively short if one excludes reading the footnotes.

Before I read this book, I read Lindsay's anthology on modern African masculinities. In that text, the contributors worked to show how men's studies ideas could not be transplanted to the Continent. However, in this book, men's studies gurus were cited, followed, and praised. Thus, it's little surprise that those leading figures (namely, Connell and Kimmel) contributed an afterword or spoke at the pre-book symposium.

The majority of the articles discussed black African masculinities. This is not surprising giving the racial make-up of the region. Still, the articles on white African masculinities should be of special interest to those in the burgeoning field of critical white studies. Only half of one chapter discussed what the South Africans called "coloureds" (what we would call "biracial" in the United States). Even the editor himself apologizes for his lack of material on South Asian men in that region.

Though the title states Southern Africa, only two chapters and the introduction discuss dynamics outside of South Africa. Only one contributor had an African name. Though each was clearly anti-racist, most contributors were whites who had access to black interview subjects. Forgive this essentialist examination; I just think readers should know this text is not about "subjects within" for the most part.

Halberstam and Sedgwick in the US have been critical of how masculinity studies have often failed to look at whow women can be masculine. This book has one chapter addressing that concern. I especially love how gay-inclusive this book is. Much men's studies may as well be called "straight men's studies." For example, the author of "Iron John" states from the start that his book will not touch gayness. Here, not only is homosexuality not dropped out of the masculinity equation, the specific dynamics of male-on-male relations in that region are detailed. Constructionists amony gay studies scholars should find this text highly useful. I think any bigot who would dismiss gayness as "unAfrican" will be especially challenged by this book.

I wish this book had at least chapter on pro-feminist men in Southern Africa. Though innocently done, this book makes black men look like savage, misogynist, tyrants and white men like defeated, racist, crybabies. There is also little discussion of men addressing matters in multiracial settings and with uniting efforts.

This book is of great interest to anyone who is interested in the history and current trends of suburbia in all of the top 4 English-speaking nations (i.e. the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia).

I was especially interested in the one chapter about post-war suburban development in Australia, because I am interested in how Australia's suburbia compares with that of North America (the U.S. and Canada). This is the first book I have found so far that has detalied information on the history and current trends of Australia's suburbia. From what I have read in this book, it doesn't sound as if Australia's suburbia is very different from that of Canada.

I was a little surprised by the fact that the one chapter about Australia's post-war suburbia doesn't give any explanation for why the suburbs of Australia's major cities are served by more extensive networks of commuter rail service than the suburbs of comparably sized Canadian cities. I would never know that from what I read in this book, but I happen to know that from other sources. Knowing from this book that Australia's suburbs are just as spread out as those of Canada, I am surprised that they have more extensive networks of commuter rail service! I know that European cities have more extensive networks of commuter rail service (than Canada) too, but they are also more densely populated and less spread out than those of Canada or Australia.

This book is a handy and clearly-written overview of corporate governance law in South Africa. Unfortunately, its scope is quite narrow. It opens with an interesting discussion of corporate governance in the global economy, but much of what follows is little more than a summary of sections of the Companies Act and the 2002 King Report, with a particular focus on directors' responsibilities. The book ends with a plea for ethical investment strategies, which the author believes will maximize corporate financial performance in the long-run.

Lawyers and law students will find the book unsatisfying, since it doesn't analyze case law or delve into legal details. Economists and general readers won't be interested, either, since the book has little empirical discussion of how South African companies are actually governed or how this affects the national economy (there are sidebars on corporate scandals such as Leisurenet, but these are little more than newspaper excerpts). Bottomline: non-lawyer company officers who want a short reference work will find value in this book, but other readers needn't bother.

That's too bad, since the topic is important. South Africa has a long history of corporate misconduct, especially under apartheid. As the author notes, good corporate governance can make it easier for companies to raise capital and contribute to social well-being. A book that fostered wider understanding of these issues and proposed practical reforms would benefit all African countries -- but this one doesn't really do the job.

I have found that Culture Shock: Mauritius is a great resource for those visitors to Mauritius who are actually living in the country, rather than just visiting the touristy sites. There are very important local customs and traditions to be aware of that are discussed in detail in this book that are only skimmed over in the common tourist guides. While the other guidebooks help you find your way to the beach and which hotels to stay in, Culture Shock goes a great deal further in dealing with people. Mauritians have a great deal to offer in their multiculturalism, but without a book like Culture Shock, it may be difficult to understand how the cultures come together. The book gives advice for numerous social and business situations, as well as advice for living and getting around the country. In general the book has been fairly easy to read -- enjoyable and interesting before arriving to Mauritius, and helpful as a reference and to re-read after settling on the island.

I have felt that there are a few things the book is a bit in lacking -- it could include a bit more of the touristy options and in some parts seems a few years outdated, but in general the advice has proved very helpful, in very different situations. Roselin Lum has done a good job of balancing the different ethnic groups, and explaining their places within the country. Her book, though best for people who plan to stay significant time periods in Mauritius, would also be extremely useful for a short-term visitor who wants to understand more about the people they will meet. For a country known for its beaches, Mauritius has a lot to offer due to its multicultural composition. Lum's book lays a significant groundwork for making lasting contacts while in Mauritius.

A swashbuckling adventure written in the first person, this is a wonderful and exciting story taking place in the France of Louis XIII, and Cardinal Reichleu. De Berault, the main character, is a notorious duellist. He is arrested for for killing a man in a duel, despite the Cardinal's eddict against duelling. He is given a choice, either he hangs, or works as an agent for the Cardinal. Guess which he chooses...

Though misunderstood SA was the last standing west friendly state in dictatorship ridden Africa.

Takes us on a view since the early 1960's.

Years after its collapse, we get this book with an inside overview of the old SA government, and its mistrust towards its own defenders, especially by De Klerk.

In the end he regretted saying he'd given in to them too easy, getting nothing in return.
Finally realising he'd been taken for a ride by the ANC?
Duped, mate? -Yeah too late though, and there are no turnings back.

Typical how politicians wake up only when its too late.
The harm is done now.

How ironic the most powerful armed forces in the African continent didn't have a say in the vanishing of the last white tribe in Africa.

The Boers fought the zulus, fought the british, fought for freedom and independence from tyranny.

Leave it to the politicians to through away generations of struggle.
And History goes on and on.

This is essential for anyone seriously studying Desmond Tutu and the ways he contributed to a relatively peaceful transition to democratic government in South Africa.

Critical works on Dinesen and Schreiner, individually,are few and far in between. This book which looks at both authors is some sort of a gem.

Although not necessarily very reader-friendly, it nevertheless examines a relationship between the two authors that has been obvious.

Definitely an interesting read for those in Schreiner and Dinesen research. For the layman who is interested in the authors, it can also be rather enlightening.

This is an excellent survey of South African economic history, with an emphasis on developments after the discovery of diamonds and gold in the late 19th century. The narrative ends with the democratic transition in 1994.

As the book explains, gold mining was the driving force behind South Africa's skewed development. The need for cheap black labor led to racist legislation aimed at driving blacks off the land and making them dependent on employment in mines and on farms. Taxes levied on the mines paid for excellent infrastructure and for subsidies to white farmers; meanwhile, high tariffs nurtured manufacturing industries that fed the mines' demand for industrial inputs. These policies enabled whites to carve out a nice life for themselves on the backs of blacks and gold.

The system foundered when gold exports declined in the 1980s and South Africa's inefficient manufacturing sector couldn't export to take up the slack. The central problem was the reliance on cheap, low-skilled black labor: the domestic market for manufactured goods remained small, while high unit labor costs hobbled manufactured exports. Growth slowed and eventually turned negative, investment dried up, unemployment skyrocketed, and sanctions undermined the balance of payments. By the 1990s, the material basis for apartheid had collapsed.

Feinstein's book tells this fascinating story in clear, if dry, prose. Anyone interested in South African history or general economic history will enjoy it. However, readers unfamiliar with the basic concepts of national income accounting may find some sections hard slogging.

Great book amazingly produced at an incredible value for money: hardcover in a perfect bound, every page full of excellent color pictures that presents every species described in a not too botanical language that every garden will understand.... The only 'but' is that cultivation is just dealt in one page, not enough for such an interesting book..