Delving into culture, politics, sports, and war, this list of the worst villains in South Africa's history is inspired by books such as 110 People Who Are Screwing up America. The project provides a solid a roster of people have steered the good ship South Africa firmly in the wrong direction by virtue of their ruinous megalomania, foul beliefs, or general idiocy. Among those profiled are 1652 explorer Jan van Riebeeck, warmonger Lord Milner, Cecil Rhodes, and sports villain Richie Benaud.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
About the Author
Alexander Parker is the author of 25 Cars to Drive Before You Die.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.4 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
My gat af gelag
April 28 2011
By Mike Mellor
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" is flawed by anti-semitism but that doesn't stop it from being great literature.
"50 People" has flaws. It isn't great literature but it's damn good satire. Alex Parker writes fluently and well for a fast-paced read. If you buy it as a toilet book you're going to spend a lot more time on the throne than you planned.
Parker takes aim at some dangerous targets and I'd be surprised if he doesn't get death threats. Naïvete or courage?
The book is flawed by some strange inclusions. Kevin Pietersen's a twit but so what? He isn't a lead character. He's an extra, or is it a bye? (Perhaps Mrs. Parker remarked that KP is quite good-looking.)
Sol Kerzner? Are you mad, Alex? He's our hero!
The bitter expat and the polo guy? Probably included to add a white balance to the collection.
The exclusions harm the book even more. Winnie, Nkosazana Z, and Robert McBride surely deserved their chance at the limelight.
Parker totally fails to mention Essop Pahad's greatest stuff-up, namely Outcomes Based Education, creating a new Lost Generation to match and even outdo the tragedy of the Soweto rioters.
I don't mean this as criticism. I'm hoping that Alex and his editor, Tim Richman, will take my comments into account when drafting the second edition.
Alex Parker did not intend the book to be taken too seriously. He happily indulges in wild exaggeration, unfounded rumour, and glib assumptions, but it's all in a spirit of challenge.
F'example in the Mark Thatcher profile Parker praises the SA Police for their excellent detective work. (Completely straight-faced too.)
If you don't agree with some, many, or any of his statements (HECK but he writes a lot of opinionated drivel), stop and think how you would go about refuting him. Not easy, is it? You just sort of generally took it for granted that everybody knows that...
So you thought you knew South Africa. Huh. Buy this book.
"50 People" has flaws. It isn't great literature but it's damn good satire. Alex Parker writes fluently and well for a fast-paced read. If you buy it as a toilet book you're going to spend a lot more time on the throne than you planned.
Parker takes aim at some dangerous targets and I'd be surprised if he doesn't get death threats. Naïvete or courage?
The book is flawed by some strange inclusions. Kevin Pietersen's a twit but so what? He isn't a lead character. He's an extra, or is it a bye? (Perhaps Mrs. Parker remarked that KP is quite good-looking.)
Sol Kerzner? Are you mad, Alex? He's our hero!
The bitter expat and the polo guy? Probably included to add a white balance to the collection.
The exclusions harm the book even more. Winnie, Nkosazana Z, and Robert McBride surely deserved their chance at the limelight.
Parker totally fails to mention Essop Pahad's greatest stuff-up, namely Outcomes Based Education, creating a new Lost Generation to match and even outdo the tragedy of the Soweto rioters.
I don't mean this as criticism. I'm hoping that Alex and his editor, Tim Richman, will take my comments into account when drafting the second edition.
Alex Parker did not intend the book to be taken too seriously. He happily indulges in wild exaggeration, unfounded rumour, and glib assumptions, but it's all in a spirit of challenge.
F'example in the Mark Thatcher profile Parker praises the SA Police for their excellent detective work. (Completely straight-faced too.)
If you don't agree with some, many, or any of his statements (HECK but he writes a lot of opinionated drivel), stop and think how you would go about refuting him. Not easy, is it? You just sort of generally took it for granted that everybody knows that...
So you thought you knew South Africa. Huh. Buy this book.
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Guilty?
Dec 30 2012
By Patrick Clarke
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Quite bizarre to see Richie Benaud, Sepp Blatter and Kevin Pietersen in this list but not Winnie Mandela, JG Strijdom and Mike Gatting. Other than that, it's certainly a comprehensive list of targets.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly Written Drivel
Jun 8 2012
By Nicci Davis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
One of the worst written books ever. Reads as if it was knocked up in a single sitting one afternoon. Don't waste your time.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews
3.4 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Africa > South Africa
- Books > History > Africa > Southern Africa
- Books > Humour & Entertainment > Humour > Political
- Books > Humour & Entertainment > Humour > Satire
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Humanities > History > Africa
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
