Step into the extraordinary lives of individuals who’ve shaped our world. These memoirs and biographies span political frontlines, global adventures, rock stardom, survival stories, and groundbreaking innovation. Each narrative reveals the triumphs and challenges that transformed ordinary people into extraordinary figures, offering unique perspectives on history through the eyes of those who lived it.
Notable Memoirs and Biographies
Being There
9781776193813 | Jonathan Ball Publishers | TPB
Tony Leon
Tony Leon, longest serving leader of the opposition in democratic SA and acclaimed columnist and analyst, goes behind the scenes of what happened when history was being made in this country and around the world.
His first-hand account from a front-row seat at critical moments provides frank and informed opinion. He ranges in this book:
- His ringside role in the formation of the recent Government of National Unity following the 2024 elections
- A reappraisal – based on close encounters – of some of the giants who made modern South Africa and the wider world, including FW de Klerk, Nelson Mandela, Harry Oppenheimer Ariel Sharon, Yassir Arafat, Boris Johnson, and the leaders of Argentina.
- He writes of life in modern politics, from the purgatory of social media to the perils of fundraising in tough times and the leaderless world led often by mediocre or populist grifters, far removed from the statesmen and women these times demand.
In Being There, Leon reflects, too, on the nostalgia we often feel, through pain and pride, of childhood, school and the many ‘what ifs’ which inform a well-lived and varied life on the frontlines of South Africa and its history-in-the-making. And how a wrong turn, or too few votes, can change the course of one life.
Written with his customary blend of humour and flair and with an eye on the future and what the present and the past foretell about it, Leon’s new book is both important and highly readable.
The Impossible Journey
9781472149770 | Robinson | TPB
Thor Pedersen
203 countries. A decade of travel. Not a single plane in sight. This is the story of one man”s journey to be the first to visit every country in the world without flight . . .
When Thor Pedersen set out on the adventure of a lifetime, he couldn”t have imagined the people he”d meet and the experiences he”d encounter along the way. But embarking on this epic voyage took him to the brink of his sanity, wiped his funds and tested the relationships he held dear.
Over the years he faced grave danger, from encounters with drunken armed soldiers to life-threatening illness and even traversing the high seas, with wild waves destabilising the cargo ship he”d hitched a ride on. He”d sleep on the street one night and dine in the homes of billionaires the next. He visited countries stricken with war-zones, and once had to take an 11,919 km detour, revisiting seven countries, traversing Baluchistan in Pakistan escorted by armed guards because he was denied a visa while in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Life becomes complicated without the luxury of flying.
Yet after years of challenges and milestones, Thor achieved something no other human ever has. The Impossible Journey is a triumphant memoir as he invites the world to share in this once in a lifetime adventure. He imparts the lessons, stories and unique perspectives on humanity he learned along the way.
Fahrenheit-182
9781408724569 | Sphere | TPB
Thor Pedersen
A smart, funny, anarchic and gripping memoir from Mark Hoppus, the vocalist, bassist, and founding member of pop-punk band blink-182.
This is a story of what happens when an angst-ridden kid who grew up in the desert experiences his parents” bitter divorce, moves around the country, switches identities from dork to goth to skate punk, and eventually meets his best friend who just so happens to be his musical soulmate.
Bassist, songwriter, and vocalist for renowned pop-punk trailblazers blink-182, Mark Hoppus, tells his story in Fahrenheit-182. A memoir that paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up in the 1980s as a latchkey kid hooked on punk rock, skateboards, and MTV; Mark Hoppus shares how he came of age and forms one of the biggest bands of his generation. Threaded through with the very human story of a constant battle with anxiety and Mark”s public battle and triumph over cancer, Fahrenheit-182 is a delight for fans and also a funny, smart, and relatable memoir for anyone who has wanted to quit but kept going.
My Next Breath
9781398539488 | Gallery UK | TPB
Jeremy Renner
‘What a journey to wisdom … a must read’ – Robert Downey Jr
The gripping and inspiring story of acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner’s near-fatal accident, and what he learned about inner strength, endurance and hope as he overcame insurmountable odds to recover, one breath at a time.
Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner was the second most googled person in 2023… and not for his impressive filmography. His searing portrayals on film ranged from an Iraq-based army bomb technician in The Hurt Locker and a Boston bank robber in The Town to a crooked Camden mayor in American Hustle before he became heir to the Jason Bourne franchise (The Bourne Legacy). Amongst other iconic roles, he also captured hearts as fan-favorite comic book marksman Hawkeye in seven Marvel films.
Yet, his otherworldly success on-screen faded to the periphery when a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow crushed him on New Year’s Day 2023. Somehow able to keep breathing for more than half an hour, he was subsequently rushed to the ICU, after which he would face multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation.
In this debut memoir, Jeremy writes in blistering detail about his accident and the aftermath. This retelling is not merely a gruesome account of what happened to him; it’s a call to action and a forged companionship between reader and author as Jeremy recounts his recovery journey and reflects on the impact of his suffering. Ultimately, Jeremy’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit and its capacity to endure, evolve, and find purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity. His writing captures the essence of profound transformation, exploring the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, despair and hope, redemption and renewal.
Elon Musk
9781398527539 | Simon & Schuster UK | BPB
Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk offers the most intimate, complete and revelatory portrait of the most fascinating and controversial innovator in the world.
For two years, Isaacson had unprecedented access to Musk, his workplaces, his family, friends, coworkers and adversaries – nothing was off-limits.
Musk’s journey from humble beginnings to one of the wealthiest people on the planet is a thrilling, mind-bending story and nobody could tell it better. Filled with amazing tales of triumph and turmoil, and lessons about leadership and business, it ultimately addresses the question everyone wants to ask: why is Elon Musk so successful?
This book includes over 100 integrated black and white images.
