Jon Goetzsch wrote Dogtag Memories primarily, he says, as a chronicle for his wife, daughter and her children after a casual conversation with a group of friends in which an army anecdote came up leading to one of the group – a young woman of around 19 – admitting she knew nothing about this slice of South African history. He was astonished, he says, and ultimately the conversation led to him writing this memoir. One that kicks off when he’s 17 and, along with all the other white male school leavers, receives his compulsory military call-up instructions. Nothing in the instructions can prepare him for what he’s in for. Jon notes that his book recreates the way people spoke in the army in the 1970s and 80s … impolite, direct and often extremely obscene. It’s harsh, and real, and raw and massively, darkly humorous. From gruelling training, court marshals, laughable rules, harsh punishment, fatal accidents, it’s a brilliantly written book that will resonate with those who served, and offer up insights for those who knew them or younger readers who missed this bit of our history. Zebra Press
Top Gear. Grand Tour. And twenty years of magic and mayhem. Top Gear made household names of presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May … their unique chemistry and buddy-movie antics proving irresistible to a global audience, earning them the Guinness World Record for the world’s most popular factual TV show. Then, a short while later, it was gone. How did a thoroughly sensible little consumer advice program on cars become a global phenomenon? How did it all go wrong? And how did they rise from the ashes as The Grand Tour? One man has all the answers – co-creator and Jeremy’s oldest friend, Andy Wilman. Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure is a terrific read for Top Gear fans (that’s all of us, right?). Penguin
Created to honour Julio Gonzalez, Don Julio Rosado Tequila is finished in ruby port wine casks from the Douro wine region of northern Portugal. It’s a delicious, delicate pink-hued tequila with notes of creamy strawberry, ripe raspberry, dried plum, roasted caramel and a touch of rich cocoa. Smooth, sweet and luxurious, it’s best you don’t mess with it and simply enjoy on the rocks, but for a lighter, longer drink, add a splash of club soda and a lemon garnish. Around R3489 from Takealot and good bottle stores.
In The Bok Way, PJ Claasen unpacks the principles used to enhance the experience of Bok players, staff and coaches which make the team more than the sum of its parts, and shows how anyone responsible for leading a group, team or organisation can use them to replicate what the Boks have achieved in their own context. Penguin Books
1960s. California. Three women form an unlikely friendship. They look like they lead idyllic lives, but behind the false smiles and glittering pools lies the truth. Their husbands are some of the country’s most notorious serial killers. The Secret Lives of Murderer’s Wives by Elizabeth Arnott sees the women do a little investigation of their own. Penguin Books
In Father of Man – The 5 Ideals to Build Better Men, author Dr Njabulo James Nkosi delivers a reflective exploration of what it truly means to be a man in today’s world. Drawing on faith, lived experience, and moral leadership, the book offers a blueprint for shaping men who lead with integrity, compassion, and accountability. He introduces five core ideals that speak directly to men as fathers, leaders, partners, and members of society, with practical guidance for personal growth, strong families, and healthier communities. Blue Weaver
1835. Cape Colony. South Africa. The Boers are leaving the colony, trying to break free of the chains of a British king who is not their own, searching for their Promised Land. A Matabele regiment rolls across the hinterland of Southern Africa, crushing every obstacle in its path. The two tribes are on a collision course on an unfathomable scale. And in the midst is a 14-year-old orphan who’s on a quest to track down the love of his life. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Great Trek, Migrations Beneath a Baobab is a sweeping South African historical novel that brings the 19th-century frontier vividly to life. Written by debut author and former safari guide Jake Hoddinott, the book explores love, loyalty, and survival as cultures collide in 1835 Southern Africa and will appeal to readers of Wilbur Smith, historical fiction enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the stories that shaped the region. Southern Right Publishers.
In Gregg Hurwitz’s latest Evan Smoak thriller Antihero, the former black ops assassin codenamed Orphan X has his work cut out as he pursues justice for an innocent survivor as well as tries to save the world from a powerful man who’s lost his mind. Penguin
