"Fantastic at cultivating contacts... [Foster] draws insightful observations from the hundreds of people he interviewed and those he encountered in passing. He proved to be especially good at connecting with young people and drawing on their astute observations about the country they have inherited." "What a pleasant surprise to encounter a book that actually looks beyond the surface of South ... Read moreAfrica's by now well-known story... Douglas Foster, former editor of Mother Jones, has gained a superb understanding of the complexities of South African society... Foster gives us a portrait of a vibrant nation, full of contrasts and contradictions, of wealth and poverty, of diversity and sophistication alongside ingrained attitudes and resistance... He is also fearless in putting his questions to the president, but given the nature of Zuma's evasions and excuses, it is no wonder that, at its conclusion, the book looks beyond the democratically elected leaders to the demos, the people of South Africa, and its essential spirit."
Martin Rubin "Mr. Foster is a dogged reporter, blessed with an uncanny ability to talk himself into places where journalists aren't normally welcome."
Rian Malan Show Less