From the South African Non-Fiction bestsellers chart, we bring you the best non-fiction books of 2025. Tell us how many you’ve read, which are on your to be read lists?
The 2025 Non-Fiction Bestsellers
Disciple: Walking with God
9780796323309 | Lux Verbi | TPB
Rorisang Thandekiso
Rorisang Thandekiso is one of South Africa’s most beloved media personalities. In Disciple Rorisang takes the reader deeper into her relationship with faith, describing her love for the Word of God and for Jesus. Disciple is an open-hearted, humorous, vulnerable look into the life of a young woman whose love for God spills over into the world.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck
9780062641540| HarperCollins | TPB
Mark Manson
In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” Mark Manson says. “Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—”not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.” Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.
There are only so many things we can give a f**k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.
The 48 Laws Of Power
9781861972781 | Profile Books | TPB
Robert Greene
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distils three thousand years of the history of power into forty-eight well-explicated laws. As attention-grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers.
Some laws require prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master”), some stealth (“Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions”), and some the total absence of mercy (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally”), but like it or not, all have applications in real-life situations.
Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissenger, P T Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded – or been victimised by – power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing or defending against ultimate control.
How Did We Get Here?
9781776193868 | Jonathan Ball Publishers | TPB
Mpoomy Ledwaba
‘I share to normalise talking about those shameful, hurtful things
we keep hidden. I share because shame loses its power when we
find safe spaces to share our truth … and when women heal,
generations heal.’
To her thousands of fans, Wisdom & Wellness founder, speaker and influencer Mpoomy Ledwaba is a symbol of strength and women empowerment. But going from university dropout to Forbes magazine’s list of 30 Under 30 wasn’t always easy – it took much courage and a commitment to personal growth.
How Did We Get Here? is her coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self discovery. Behind the Instagram likes and thousands of YouTube subscribers is an ambitious girl who sometimes bit off more than she could chew. This mother of two, who is married to an award winning musician, didn’t always have a plan and rarely fitted the mould of ‘the good wife’.
Mpoomy writes openly about the mistakes she’s made, the hurt she’s experienced and some of the hard truths she’s had to learn about life, but also about how her faith has been a guiding light. As a firm believer in the power of stories, she uses her personal history to show how to live a purposeful life on all levels.
Rich Dad Poor Dad
9781743799796| Plata Publishing | PB
Robert T. Kiyosaki
It’s been nearly 25 years since Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad first made waves in the Personal Finance arena.
It has since become the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, translated into dozens of languages and sold around the world. Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert’s story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.
Unlocked
9781776194940 | Harper Thorsons | TPB
Eben Etzebeth
DON’T MISS THE MUST-READ RUGBY MEMOIR FOR 2025 FROM ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST LOCKS
Eben Etzebeth is the most-capped player in South African Rugby history. A towering lock, whose intelligence, energy and aggression on the pitch is feared, respected and often imitated but never matched, he is the heart and soul of the Springbok team, a key part of their astonishingly successful run that encompasses two consecutive World Cups and a current two-year-stint at the top of the world rankings.
In his first book, Eben will uncover the key driving factors in his extraordinary career, and how he keeps focussed, both on and off the pitch. From his humble beginnings in Goodwood, a Cape Town suburb where nothing came easy, to his place within the South African squad and their inner workings, get ready for a rugby story like no other.
Unforgettable and eye-opening, UNLOCKED is the perfect gift for every rugby fan.that will transform your life. Forever.
The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had To Die
9780624094944 | Tafelberg | PB
Jeff Wicks
On 23 August 2021, a quiet, hardworking single mom was shot down in a hail of bullets as she drove home. Her name was Babita Deokaran, chief accountant at Tembisa Hospital. The izinkabi paid to kill her were caught, but the question remained: who ordered her murder, and why? Crime reporter Jeff Wicks set out to find the answer – a pursuit that would profoundly change, even endanger, his life. This is an explosive investigation into state capture and a moving tribute to the cost of integrity.
Habits of a Godly Woman
9781546017400 | FaithWords | PB
Joyce Meyer
Overcome the issues that affect your heart, mind, and soul with encouraging wisdom and biblical advice from #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer.
In this book — small and portable enough to fit in a purse, suitcase, backpack, briefcase, or even a pocket — Joyce Meyer addresses the many issues that women face today, and encourages them to embrace their unique identity in Christ. Joyce touches on topics like:
- Living beyond feelings
- Overcoming fear and insecurity
- Being wise with words
- Establishing proper priorities
- Defeating negative circumstances
- Overcoming an “I can’t” attitude
- Enjoying the favor of God
Women need inspiration today more than ever, and Habits of a Godly Woman will encourage and motivate you to make it through the day with God at the forefront.
Capitec: Stalking Giants
9780624093138 | Tafelberg | TPB
T.J. Strydom
How do you build a new bank from scratch? What does it require to take on the big four – Absa, Standard Bank, FNB and Nedbank – and to win? In Capitec: Stalking Giants, top-selling business author TJ Strydom tells the gripping tale of a small team of entrepreneurs that in the early 2000’s turned a small microlending network into a challenger bank.
Damn Good Food
9780798184359 | Human & Rousseau | TPB
Fehmz
Ready to become a kitchen hero?
Social media sensation Fehmz explodes onto the cookbook scene with recipes as bold and unapologetic as she is. Whether you’re a kitchen newbie or a seasoned home chef, her flop-proof instructions guarantee results. Her infectious energy jumps off every page, turning everyday cooking into an adventure.
Her debut cookbook Damn Good Food brings the playful, flavour-packed meals she is famous for from screen to page in a collection of over 80 recipes. Bring Fehmz’s magic – loved by hundreds of thousands of followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook – to your kitchen.
Damn Good Food offers not only her family’s tried-and-tested classics – think mutton akhni, mince curry and coconut pudding – but also fun twists such as chilli bite waffles, karak ice cream, kataifi millefeuille, and even gloriously quick meals like sticky jam chops, lemon chicken and peri-peri prawns. In this cookbook, you’ll find enticing recipes that draw you into the kitchen, easy swaps, a great conversion guide, and a whole chapter dedicated to flavour-boosting essentials like her universal magic masala, red dynamite sauce, and an easy (and addictive!) fruit sprinkle.
This is more than a collection of recipes – it’s an invitation to have fun in the kitchen and fall in love with cooking.
Inside these colourful pages you’ll find:
• FLAVOUR BOMBS that transform ordinary meals into extraordinary ones
• FAMILY TREASURES Authentic heritage recipes celebrating Fehmz’s rich cultural roots
• EASY PEASY Quick weeknight wins that taste like you slaved for hours
• FAKEAWAYS Restaurant-style dishes that’ll have you deleting your delivery apps!
• JUST BLEND IT Effortless recipes where your blender does all the work
• RAMADAN SPECIALTIES Nourishing dishes perfect for breaking fast and feeding loved ones
• SWEET CRAVINGS Show-stopping desserts that’ll have them begging for seconds
• CRUNCHY SURPRISES Innovative recipes that add excitement to every bite.
No fuss. No pretence. Just DAMN GOOD FOOD.
