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Who are the greatest villains, the direst leaders and most
offensive personalities to have spread their regrettable influence
throughout the modern world? Be it through politics, war, sport,
culture or just their general idiocy? Well, take your pick… From
Adolf to Zuckerberg – via Mao and Mountbatten, OJ and Osama – 50
People Who Stuffed Up The World is filled with the nastiest names
from the 20th century and beyond. These are men of infamy (and a
handful of women) who have steered our good ship Humanity towards
the World-War-fighting, smart-phone-tapping age we are mired in
today, be it through their totalitarian visions of global dominance
(Stalin, King Leopold II), ruinous warmongering (Hideki Tojo,
George W Bush) or tragic megalomania (Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein).
But the obvious political despots and historical heavy-hitters are
just the half of it; there’s also the archetypal modern terrorist
(Carlos the Jackal), the man behind the global obesity epidemic
(Ancel Keys), the clothes-less emperor of modern art (Charles
Saatchi), the world’s most notorious drug baron (Pablo Escobar),
the father of the A-bomb (Robert Oppenheimer), architects of a
failed social experiments (DF Malan & HF Verwoerd), the less
expected sports villains (Lance Armstrong, Diego Maradona), the
talentless icons of modern celebrity-dom (Kim Kardashian, Justin
Bieber) and our current surreal car-crash-in-motion (Donald Trump,
of course). The result is a book with global appeal that is part
popular history, part social commentary, and all entertainment.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the smash-hit 50 People Who Stuffed Up South Africa, the original 50 People team brings you an all-new sequel: 50 People Who F***ed Up South Africa: The Lost Decade.
As witty, enlightening and entertaining as all the franchise books, this Christmas compendium is an eye-watering indictment of our tragicomic “last lost decade”, a time of ruinous and unprecedented national decline. Whereas it took more than 350 years to come up with the list of shame for the first book, they needed just ten more for the next 50 names, from Shaun Abrahams to Zuma, Zuma and Zuma. Shot through with the architects and beneficiaries of state capture – Magashula, Mahlobo, Mahumapelo, and not forgetting the Guptas – it is also features crisp takedowns of the individuals who represent the standout scandals in this time: the like of Nkandla, Marikana, Life Esidimeni, Steinhoff, Bosasa and VBS Mutual Bank.
The end result is a readable, accessible overview of the South Africa’s recent political and socioeconomic landscape. Because sometimes humour and a clearly painted picture really is the best coping mechanism…
What does it take to be a flippen brilliant South African? Simple:
sheer brilliance and a good story. So, whether naughty or noble,
crazy or controversial, here are 50 of the most talented,
successful, inspirational, intriguing, fascinating Saffers to have
walked the planet… Of course, there are the great statesmen
(Mandela, Luthuli, Smuts), the landmark achievers (Charlize Theron,
Chris Barnard) and the incredible talents (Miriam Makeba, Irma
Stern), but the lesser-knowns will also make a case: such as
Ntshingwayo Khoza, the conqueror at Isandlwana; Ampie Roux, the
atom-bomb creator; Ryan Sandes, the world’s best trail runner… As
will the honorary inclusions (Churchill, Rodriguez, Gandhi) and the
previously scorned (Mbeki, Shaka). But how exactly does Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela qualify? From space adventurers (Mark
Shuttleworth) and fighter pilots (Sailor Malan) to entrepreneurs
(Elon Musk) and environmentalists (Ian Player), this is a raucous
celebration of the country we call home, proving that you just
can’t have the bad without the good. Picking up where he left off
with the bestselling 50 People Who Stuffed Up South Africa (also
nominated for the Bookseller’s Choice Award in 2011), Alexander
Parker’s irreverent but scathing writing is once again brought to
life by Zapiro, who adds the finishing touches with his iconic
caricatures.
Who would top your list of the fifty people who have done the most
to make the modern world a worse place? 'I can't imagine how they
whittled it down to just 50 people' - comedian Nik Rabinowitz 'A
fantastic thought-provoking book that renews my appreciation for
history. It reminds us how we got here and how we can avoid things
getting worse' Mandla Shongwe, SAFM Lifestyle 'A fascinating,
terrific read' Gareth Cliff, CliffCentral From despotic
mass-murderers to sports cheats, and from corrupt politicians to
truly dreadful celebrities, who has had the most damaging -- or
vexatious -- impact in their particular sphere of modern life? This
line-up of the very worst of the twentieth century and beyond
includes the obvious candidates: those who have caused
extraordinary damage through their murderous paranoia, brutal
avarice, or demented self-regard -- Stalin, King Leopold, Idi Amin
and the like. But murderous dictators aside, there are plenty of
others who deserve recognition for their role in making the world a
significantly more dangerous or, at the very least, more annoying
place: terrorist Carlos the Jackal; Robert Oppenheimer, the man who
gave the world the atomic bomb; notorious sports cheat Lance
Armstrong; and the one and only President Donald Trump, who has of
course succeeded in making the world both more annoying and more
dangerous. This perfectly focused spotlight on infamy is
illustrated throughout by award-winning political cartoonist
Zapiro.
Who are the greatest villains, the direst leaders, the foulest
corrupters and the most offensive personalities to have spread
their regrettable influence through our fine and glorious land – be
it through politics, war, sport, culture or just their general
idiocy? Well, take your pick… From Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 to
Julius Malema in 2012 – via Basson, Botha, Shaka and Shaik – 50
People Who Stuffed Up South Africa is filled with the nastiest
names to have besmirched our past. These are men of infamy (and
three women) who have steered the good ship South Africa firmly in
the wrong direction by virtue of their ruinous megalomania (Mbeki),
twisted loyalty (Tshabalala-Msimang), irrepressible greed
(Blatter), prime evil (De Kock) or utter incompetence (Erwin). But
the obvious political gangsters and historical heavy-hitters are
just the half of it: there’s also the colonial warmonger (Lord
Milner), the national embarrassment (Rudolph Straeuli), the social
delinquent (The minibus taxi driver), the unexpected sports villain
(Richie Benaud!), the career criminal (Ananias Mathe), the
Euro-chancer (Mark Thatcher), the traitor (Kevin Pietersen) and the
twat (Kevin Pietersen). Morons and militants, rogues and racists,
together they tell a fascinating and wholly South African tale. The
result is a (best-selling, critically acclaimed) book that is part
popular history, part social commentary, and all entertainment.
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R398
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Discovery Miles 3 300
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