Book reviews

Koos Bekker’s Billions

Koos Bekker has amassed one of the largest fortunes ever by a South African. Under Bekker, Naspers made several bad investments, a few mediocre ones, a few good ones… and one that shot the lights out. In Koos Bekker’s Billions, TJ Strydom delves into Bekker’s life, career and business decisions. He identifies 15 winning strategies that catapulted a Heidelberg boerseun into unfathomable wealth. This is a fascinating look into the life of a very private billionaire.

The Presidents

Since 1994, South Africa has had five presidents who have varied greatly in style and character, despite all belonging to the same political party. How do they compare? How did they handle the crises they faced? Written with insight and rigour and drawing from interviews with political insiders who are close to events, The Presidents shines sharp new light on the leaders who have been entrusted with South Africa’s future.

No Retreat, No Surrender

Oscar Chalupsky relives some of his most exhilarating and nail-biting races and shares the lessons he has learnt from winning on the international surf lifesaving, kayak and surfski circuits. The final chapters recount his courageous battle against cancer and his refusal to let the deadly disease dictate his life. No Retreat, No Surrender is an uplifting account of grit, perseverance, talent and attitude, vividly capturing the determined mindset of an inspirational sporting legend.

Never Waste a Good Crisis

Never Waste a Good Crisis was born in the wake of Covid-19. However, the book elaborates on many other challenges that leaders in corporate South Africa have had to deal with – including deeply personal ones. Carié Maas asks 20 seasoned leaders what their leadership philosophies are, and their opinions vary as widely as the industries they come from. The lessons they share will inspire, encourage and challenge the reader.

Black Beach

In 2013, South African businessman Daniel Janse van Rensburg set off to the West African country of Equatorial Guinea to finalise a legitimate airline contract with a local politician. Within days, Daniel was arrested and detained without trial in the island’s infamous ‘Guantanamo’ cells, and was later taken to Black Beach, one of the world’s most feared prisons, notorious for its brutality and inhumane conditions. This is his remarkable story of survival over nearly two years.

My Journey to The Top of The World

In this truly remarkable life story Saray Khumalo shares her epic journey to the top of the world: Mount Everest. From her childhood in Zambia and Zaire, to a corporate career in South Africa, through marriage and motherhood, Saray harboured one overriding ambition: to reach the summits of the world’s highest mountains. After three unsuccessful attempts, Saray became the first black African woman to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.