Non-Fiction Books

No rugby nation has more passionate supporters than South Africa. If, as a Springbok fan, you have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes of our national team, this book will provide the answers. Renowned rugby scribe Gavin Rich has interviewed a wide cross-section of Springboks from the post-isolation era and asked them a variety of questions, covering politics, issues relating to schools rugby, the exodus of players overseas, and the challenges that come with dealing with life after rugby.

In "Our Blood Is Green", 35 Springbok rugby players talk about their careers: the controversies they were involved in, the highs and lows of being a Springbok, and how they made it to the top of their profession. They talk about what it was like to carry the hopes of a nation into battle, how they dealt with the officials and, yes, coaches who often didn't know what they were doing. Is there still a divide between English- and Afrikaans-speaking players? Does the 'quota' system work? Most importantly, do we have a coaching problem in this country, or is our rugby system just fatally flawed? Is Bok rugby driven by playing for the jersey or nationalism, and what is it like to face the haka, or sing the national anthem, before a Test match? These questions and more are answered in "Our Blood Is Green".

By allowing the players to tell their own stories in their own words, Rich offers readers insight into players' personal experiences, as well as their thoughts on the game today and the way forward for the sport in this country. "Our Blood I Green" is a compelling read for rugby fans of all ages.

What is the origin of the word 'bluetooth'? How do you have sex in space? Which UK football ground is surrounded by Bloemfontein and South African roads? When walking round Rondebosch Common, why is it wise not to go widdershins?

These are just a few of the questions put to the formidable John Maytham by 567 CapeTalk listeners to test his remarkable general knowledge in the ever popular Rapid Fire insert on the afternoon drive-time show.

Now, join the veteran broadcaster on a tour of some of the oddest, arcane and most surprising questions - and be tickled by the weird and wonderful answers.

"Rateltaai" is die storie van die oudrugbyspeler en SuperSport-kommentator Ethienne Reynecke se annus horribilis. Hoe hy 'n driedubbele doodsaanslag in 'n enekele jaar oorleef het, hoe hy homself van die krytvloer opgetrek, die bloed uit sy mond gespoeg en sy eie houe op die lewe geplant het.

Dit is 'n getuigskrif van die mens se vermoë om vas te byt, om fisiek en emosioneel te herstel nadat jy rondgegooi en platgetrap en sommer ook in die midderif geskop is.

Ethienne vertel ook interessante staaltjies oor sy grootword- en universiteitsjare, en sy belewenisse as 'n berese beroepsrugbyspeler. Hy vertel wat hom motiveer, hoe hy oor die lewe dink en hoe hy bly vasklou aan hoop waar wanhoop ander sou meesleur.

Dit is egter nie 'n rugbystorie nie. Dit is 'n verhaal van iemand wat homself, ondanks soveel terugslae, gelukkig ag en vervulling in pa-wees, liefde en vriendskap vind. Iemand wat kies om die lig in 'n donker kamer te soek. En as hy dit nie kry nie, sélf 'n vuur aan te steek.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BATS
IT'S ABOUT US

It's about you and me - and our governments. As Covid-19 has wreaked havoc across the world, the time for this idea has come: we need to re-set our relationship with nature.
The pandemic has put the spotlight on how human expansion on earth has led to an increase in zoonic viruses jumping species, and calls on us to re-examine our rampant commercialisation of nature and animals in farming, wildlife management and in our diets. At the heart of the problem is 'anthropocentrism': our egotistical view that ecosystems, plants, trees and other animals exist for the benefit of humans, and humans alone.
In his trademark accessible and anecdotal style, Cruise explores the ethical and practical issues, the personal and political choices - and solutions - to the greatest problem facing all species on earth.