SA History Book Recommendation Thread

[rambo919]

Having completely exhausted my little library on SA history books that are not mere dry regurgetation I am wondering what books would others reccomend I also read. I figured a general recommendation thread might be a good idea. Its very easy to live in an intellectual bubble which I would prefer to avoid. To start off, below a list of read books deemed important (there are others but this is what I can remember):

[1988] Koevoet! ~ Jim Hooper

Koevoet!

Koevoet! book. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers.

www.goodreads.com

[1974] Die Ander oorlog - Die stryd om openbare mening in Engeland gedurende die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog ~ DW Kruger

[1992] Bannelinge oor die oseaan - Boerekrygsgevangenes 1899 tot 1902 ~ Coen Groenewald

Bannelinge oor die Oseaan

Bannelinge oor die Oseaan book. Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers.

www.goodreads.com

[2003] The Afrikaners - Biography of a people ~ Hermann Giliomee

The Afrikaners

This book is a biography of the Afrikaner people. A historian and journalist who was one of the earliest and staunchest Afrikaner opponen...

www.goodreads.com

(a little biased here and there but generally a very good overview)

[1981] The White Tribe of Africa - South Africa in perspective ~ David Harrison

The White Tribe of Africa: South Africa in Perspective

1 HARDCOVER BOOK WITH DUST COVER

www.goodreads.com

(only had access to the 1st ed, lots of names left un-named for obvious reasons, the 2nd ed with all the names named I have been unable to find except for a few copies that cost an arm and a leg)

[1979] The Super-Afrikaners ~ Ivor Wilkins, Hans Strydom

The Super-Afrikaners

'THE SUPER-AFRIKANERS', originally published 1978, scan…

www.goodreads.com

[2001] Government By Deception - Psychopolitics in Southern Africa - Why SA could become another Zimbabwe ~ Jan Lamprecht

Government by Deception: Psychopolitics in Southern Afr…

The end of colonialism in Africa was greeted around the…

www.goodreads.com

(at this point the author was still sane, he seems to have suffered a mental break of some kind a decade later, drunk white supremacist coolaid and is now blaming "the Jews" for everything)

 

[rambo919]

So no one reads SA history but me?

 

[chemfis]

I can very highly recommend "Peoples war" by Anthea Jefferies.

 

[Pegging]

I've read Koevoet from your list. Very witty.

Strange title for a book, but if you like mountain passes and wonder who built them and how.
I paid R150 or so for it in a book shop.

The Romance of Cape Mountain Passes (Hardcover)

There are more than 490 mountain passes in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, in areas of spectacular natural scenery. Many of them are more than a century old and the product of considerable engineering feats. In themselves objects of beauty and ingenuity, they provide ways through and...

www.loot.co.za

There's also one called Vlamgat about the Mirage F1.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Since I haven't read it yet, I can't call it a recommendation, but I've had it recommeded by a few history enthusiast friends, so I picked up a copy.

"A History Of South Africa" by Frank Walsh

If that's not enough, the 35 page bibliography should provide enough to keep you busy for the next couple of years.

One book that I wholeheartedly can recommend is "The Bang Bang Club" by Greg Marinovich. It's a memoire of their exploits, more or less, and not intended to be a history book. But i nevertheless learned a good deal from it. It's a great read, but graphic at times, complete with pictures. Be warned, Kevin Carter's photo of the boy and the vulture is among the milder images.

 

[rambo919]

I forgot to add Lawrence Green to my list.

It's difficult to elevate one of his works as a good example though (and I have only read a few so far anyway)

It's not so much that he wrote history as that he traveled extensively and collected local tales, and he traveled across the whole continent. What makes him unique, other than all the tales he collects, is his rich kind of writing and him including many of the the smaller characters he meets that are figuratively speaking part of the furniture and elevating facts most people would gloss over as unimportant.

I have to say though his colonial romanticism does get obvious.

 

[newby_investor]

Anyone interested in a brief overview of the recent history of SA would get a good start with Max du Preez's A Rumor of Spring.
It's written pre-Ramaphosa but he predicts the succession accuratelly.

 

[Nanfeishen]

I forgot to add Lawrence Green to my list.

It's difficult to elevate one of his works as a good example though (and I have only read a few so far anyway)

It's not so much that he wrote history as that he traveled extensively and collected local tales, and he traveled across the whole continent. What makes him unique, other than all the tales he collects, is his rich kind of writing and him including many of the the smaller characters he meets that are figuratively speaking part of the furniture and elevating facts most people would gloss over as unimportant.

I have to say though his colonial romanticism does get obvious.

Grew up on Lawrence Green books, have them in hardcover, some first editions , and still return to them from time to time, really enjoy his stories and anecdotes.

another Author to look for is Eric Rosenthal , his books are largely out of print, but you may find them in decent 2nd hand bookstores.

There are 2 books about C.T. Harbour , by P.S.Smith a former harbour Pilot. "Tales of Table Bay" & "Pilot"

Peter Stiff has a number of books on the Border War and Rhodesian War, if that interests you.

2 Large format coffee table type books worth it ,"Timeless Karoo" & "West Coast - Cederberg to Sea" great images and overview of the areas.

And finally, there is Select Books , largest selection of books related to S.A. History i know about, just browse through their catalogues to see : https://www.selectbooks.co.za/africana

 

[Adamcpt]

@rambo919 "An Unpopular War - from afkak to bosbefok" by JH Thompson is great.


I haven't yet read "Birth: The Conspiracy to Stop the '94 Election"by Peter Harris, but I've heard it's also brilliant.


Then a quite thin, but interesting book by Dale McKinley: "South Africa’s Corporatised Liberation: A Critical Analysis of the ANC in Power".



Rambo - do you have a copy of that "psychopolitics" book by Jan Lamprecht? And what has happened with him? He has gone full anti-semitism, he's now running a revisionist history website.

 

[rambo919]

Rambo - do you have a copy of that "psychopolitics" book by Jan Lamprecht? And what has happened with him? He has gone full anti-semitism, he's now running a revisionist history website.

Yeah I got one in about 2010 I think, I think he sells kindle copies now.

Yes he went full blown bat-poop crazy anti-Jew at some point, he's still active only now he see's Jew's everywhere and has a odd hatred for the suidlanders in particular. His book though was written before he went nutso (my suspicion it's from a combination of isolationism and intelligence agency harassment, he at one point did not own a website that was not continuously hacked), it's a great overview of the psychology of why things happened the way they did and continues to happen as well as how real propaganda actually works in practice. I have found no other book that really covers this.

I honestly dislike the modern use of revisionism, it's as much of an anti-thinking slur as conspiracy theory.

For a truely bat-poop crazy anti-Jew book if you are interested get this one.

The Synagogue of Satan: Updated, Expanded, and Uncensored

www.thesynagogueofsatan.com

In between the rabid "the Jews did it"s (the dude does not hold back) there is actually a lot of uncommon knowledge and it gives you a good insight into the minds of hardline anti-Semites. I remember when I read a previous version years ago I actually pushed the e-reader away a few times because of how bonkers the guy became

 

[rambo919]

As an aside anyone read any of Arthur Kemp's books?

The name pops up now and then but I have not read one myself yet. Saw-listened to a few interviews with him on youtube at some point.

 

[peterleroux]

a little bit further back- two good books on the South African War/2nd Anglo-Boer War/insert preferred term here:

Commando - Deneys Reitz - written by the son of the president of the Free State Republic, who led guerilla raids as far into the Cape as Port Elizabeth. Interesting first-hand account of the war.

The Boer War - Thomas Pakenham - proper door-stop of a book, written by a neutral(ish) Irish authore

 

[thestaggy]

For those with an interest in military history, I recommend this one.

Jan Breytenbach was the founding commander of the infamous 32 Battalion. He details its rise from rag-tag Angolan guerrillas into an elite COIN unit, covering many of its operations and engagements, often with first-hand accounts of combat and with supporting maps. He also delves in to the politics of the unit and how he had to scrap to get it decently equipped. In the early phase of equipping the unit, some of them were wearing surplus WW2-era fatigues flown in from SA and most of their transport were re-purposed (read stolen) civilian trucks.

 

[etienne_marais]

Stephen Goodson's book, more a pamphlet, on Jan Smuts.

 

[Adamcpt]

Yeah I got one in about 2010 I think, I think he sells kindle copies now.

Yes he went full blown bat-poop crazy anti-Jew at some point, he's still active only now he see's Jew's everywhere and has a odd hatred for the suidlanders in particular. His book though was written before he went nutso (my suspicion it's from a combination of isolationism and intelligence agency harassment, he at one point did not own a website that was not continuously hacked), it's a great overview of the psychology of why things happened the way they did and continues to happen as well as how real propaganda actually works in practice. I have found no other book that really covers this.

Thanks Rambo! That's really interesting, and sad. I know of at least one other person who went mad from all the surveillance that was put on him - that seems like a curse hey - even if they find nothing, just having it on you...

Why does he hate the Suidlanders? I thought they'd be his natural allies.

Speaking of revisionists. Have you seen "plot for peace"? A documentary about Monsieur Jacques and how he supposedly helped facilitate ANC-NP talks leading up to 1990.

For a truely bat-poop crazy anti-Jew book if you are interested get this one.

The Synagogue of Satan: Updated, Expanded, and Uncensored

www.thesynagogueofsatan.com

In between the rabid "the Jews did it"s (the dude does not hold back) there is actually a lot of uncommon knowledge and it gives you a good insight into the minds of hardline anti-Semites. I remember when I read a previous version years ago I actually pushed the e-reader away a few times because of how bonkers the guy became

Oh wow. I'll check it out.... Though I have been doing work on conspiracy theories lately so might need to read something less crazy first haha.

You've obviously read '32 Battalion' hey?


Have you read "All the ways we kill and die"? Brian Castner. Not about SA but about modern warfare, and drones and the US presence in Iraq, super interesting book. The author was an EOD officer there, he talks about how quickly war is changing, and how the preds are flown by guys in the mid-west, and how the bomb-makers are university educated specialists.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Ways-We-Kill-Die/dp/1628726547/

 

[rambo919]

Why does he hate the Suidlanders? I thought they'd be his natural allies.

He believes they are the new focus of state intelligence after the AWB which also was a state intelligence project fizzled out..... and I think he calls Simon Roche a Jew with a predilection for non-white woman or something I forget the details of his ramblings. He also calls Lauren Southern a crypro-jew.... the dude must be a joy to be around these days.

He might even be right about the Suidlanders being operated by outside forces who knows these days.... but the dude has clearly gone nuts. What the organization tells their people is that they are aware that agents have infiltrated and have been trying to compromise the leadership but everything is fine since nothing gets done in secret anyway.

Speaking of revisionists. Have you seen "plot for peace"? A documentary about Monsieur Jacques and how he supposedly helped facilitate ANC-NP talks leading up to 1990.

Don't think so, put it on the togeto list now.

You've obviously read '32 Battalion' hey?
View attachment 892364

Yep though tbh I have read so much on the subject in such a short time all the books seem to blur together, Also have "Die Buffel Struikel - LJ Bothma" here somewhere.

Have you read "All the ways we kill and die"? Brian Castner. Not about SA but about modern warfare, and drones and the US presence in Iraq, super interesting book. The author was an EOD officer there, he talks about how quickly war is changing, and how the preds are flown by guys in the mid-west, and how the bomb-makers are university educated specialists.

https://www.amazon.com/All-Ways-We-Kill-Die/dp/1628726547/

No don't think I have.

 

[Cius]

I mostly read international books. The main SA one I have read was Pakenham's "The Boer War" which was not an easy read. It is very detailed and informative but was not as easy to read as some authors I have read.

 

[Adamcpt]

He believes they are the new focus of state intelligence after the AWB which also was a state intelligence project fizzled out..... and I think he calls Simon Roche a Jew with a predilection for non-white woman or something I forget the details of his ramblings. He also calls Lauren Southern a crypro-jew.... the dude must be a joy to be around these days.

He might even be right about the Suidlanders being operated by outside forces who knows these days.... but the dude has clearly gone nuts. What the organization tells their people is that they are aware that agents have infiltrated and have been trying to compromise the leadership but everything is fine since nothing gets done in secret anyway.

I'm surprised at how openly anti-semetic he is on his various websites. I'm super interested to read his Psychopolitics book, just ordered a copy now. I think he's making a similar argument to what "The Road to Unfreedom" makes (though that is about Russia, Ukraine and the United States).

His role in the farm murders /white genocide activism makes me wonder who else is involved there - have been hearing back stories that it's funded by US gun money and EU neo-nazi types.

Don't think so, put it on the togeto list now.

I've got a copy of it in CPT if you're interested - it's fairly hard to find - and apparently a work of political fiction. So interesting only from that perspective.

Yep though tbh I have read so much on the subject in such a short time all the books seem to blur together, Also have "Die Buffel Struikel - LJ Bothma" here somewhere.

Hahah, all the war books do blend in to one another.

"All the ways we kill and die" is brilliant, also have a copy to lend if you're in CT.

 

[rambo919]

His role in the farm murders /white genocide activism makes me wonder who else is involved there - have been hearing back stories that it's funded by US gun money and EU neo-nazi types.

So many things gets said against that which completely misses the point or is just downright hysterical..... just like much which the proponents of it say. No one really takes the effort to balance their views.

 

[Mortymoose]

Having completely exhausted my little library on SA history books that are not mere dry regurgetation I am wondering what books would others reccomend I also read. I figured a general recommendation thread might be a good idea. Its very easy to live in an intellectual bubble which I would prefer to avoid. To start off, below a list of read books deemed important (there are others but this is what I can remember):

[1988] Koevoet! ~ Jim Hooper

Koevoet!

Koevoet! book. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers.

www.goodreads.com

[1974] Die Ander oorlog - Die stryd om openbare mening in Engeland gedurende die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog ~ DW Kruger

[1992] Bannelinge oor die oseaan - Boerekrygsgevangenes 1899 tot 1902 ~ Coen Groenewald

Bannelinge oor die Oseaan

Bannelinge oor die Oseaan book. Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers.

www.goodreads.com

[2003] The Afrikaners - Biography of a people ~ Hermann Giliomee

The Afrikaners

This book is a biography of the Afrikaner people. A historian and journalist who was one of the earliest and staunchest Afrikaner opponen...

www.goodreads.com

(a little biased here and there but generally a very good overview)

[1981] The White Tribe of Africa - South Africa in perspective ~ David Harrison

The White Tribe of Africa: South Africa in Perspective

1 HARDCOVER BOOK WITH DUST COVER

www.goodreads.com

(only had access to the 1st ed, lots of names left un-named for obvious reasons, the 2nd ed with all the names named I have been unable to find except for a few copies that cost an arm and a leg)

[1979] The Super-Afrikaners ~ Ivor Wilkins, Hans Strydom

The Super-Afrikaners

'THE SUPER-AFRIKANERS', originally published 1978, scan…

www.goodreads.com

[2001] Government By Deception - Psychopolitics in Southern Africa - Why SA could become another Zimbabwe ~ Jan Lamprecht

Government by Deception: Psychopolitics in Southern Afr…

The end of colonialism in Africa was greeted around the…

www.goodreads.com

(at this point the author was still sane, he seems to have suffered a mental break of some kind a decade later, drunk white supremacist coolaid and is now blaming "the Jews" for everything)

I sell a few military type books in the store, mostly about the border war. I like to choose titles written from both perspectives in the conflict.

I often got an old retired Tate' reading the books, "Tate' Angula... hoekom jy lees do boek van die boere, jy was mos n SWAPO, " , I would exclaim.....

He would turn towards me whilst holding the open book in his hands, a smile revealing bright white teeth , his spectacles reflecting under the store lighting, "Moose, Man, ek like al die boeke, maar die boek van die boere is baie interresant , ek will utivind van hulle kant hoe hulle die oorlog gesien het....."

It was said that Tate' Angula was a SWAPO fighter, but I always thought differently, his fluency in the Afrikaans language bothered me.......

Anyhow, I digress..... I was never in the military and have only recently started to read a bit more about the going on's up on the border..... starting off with Jom Hooper's book, "Koevoet", read almost 300 pages in five days, so intrigued was I .......

In passing, I mentioned it to my Security Manager, who got blown up in his buffel back in the war..... He asked, "You know Ol. Sakkie, ?", to which I replied, "Sure, he bought my late father;s parkhome from the family" ...... "Well he was Koevoet, when you finish the book, go speak to him....."

As chance would have it, I just spoke to Sakkie, "Hey! Sakkie, were you in Koevoet?", I blurted out on the shop floor, He turned, glared at me above his facemask, "Hoekom wil jy weet?"

I realised I might have asked the question in the wrong place.......

He came to see me as he was leaving the store, turns out he is in two books about the border war, has personal inscriptions in his books from both Hooper and Stiff......

So now, once I have completed the book I will be able to ask more questions straight from the horses mouth....