The Physics Of Everyday
Things by James Kakalios
Sub-titled The
Extraordinary
Science Behind An
Ordinary Day, this
book explores the
fascinating minutia
of a more or less
ordinary day (not
quite ordinary, in the sense that not
all of us catch a flight or give a
business presentation every day).
Author James Kakalios is aProfessor of Physics and
Astronomy at the University of
Minnesota, so his explanations of
what happens in each part of his
imagined protagonist’s day are
well-researched. Everything from
the workings of the toaster used
to make breakfast to the remote
control used to open a car; the
engineering used when building
the plane taken to a meeting and
how the USB drive on which your
presentation is stored works. It’s
fascinating stuff, presented in
everyday language, and will make
you look at everything you do
every day in a new way.The Last Elephants
compiled by Don Pinnock
and Colin Bell
A tribute to those
who work to
ensure the survival
and welfare of
elephants and a
stirring piece of
activism on the
creatures’ behalf, The Last
Elephants is a beautifully
published volume that brings
together the work of more than 40
contributors who write eloquently
about a number of facets regarding
elephants: poaching; translocation;the role of reserves and the
communities who live in or
near them; the hunting
conundrum; the connection
between ivory and terrorism
and more.Family Walks In Cape
Town by Tim Lundy
One of Cape
Town’s major
drawcards for
South Africans
needing to live in
a big city for
work purposes
while also wanting to be near
to nature is the range of
outdoor attractions the Mother
City offers. This concise guide
includes all the details needed
to plan and enjoy the walks
included in Tim Lundy’s
compilation. The list extends
from the relatively routine
(Rondebosch Common) to the
more exotic (Scarborough
Beach, which takes some
getting used to), with all of the
options easy to complete, as
suggested by the ‘family’ tag
in the book’s title. It’d be worth
working your way through the
full list, either as a Cape Town
resident or as a visitor.On This Day, edited by
James Owen
Save yourself
the trouble of
tuning into those
radio shows
where smug
hosts fill airtime
with a list of
historical details
tied to a specific date by
becoming that host yourself
with the help of this handy little
hardcover reference book. It’s
nothing more and nothing less
than a short list of single-line
descriptions of events that took
place on each day of the year- politics, art, literature,
medicine, anthropology and
more. Whether you’re
cramming for a potential Trivial
Pursuit marathon or simply
have a healthy interest in what
is and has been going on in the
world, On This Day is a
low-pressure, entertaining way
of learning some facts you may
not have known.
Shadow (PGV)
The first South African original series to be
picked up by Netflix, this series offers a
fresh take on the well-worn police
procedural formula. The titular character is
a disillusioned ex-cop with vigilante
tendencies and – thanks to being struck by
lightning as a kid – an inability to feel pain.
As Shadow, Pallance Dladla is equally adept
at being charismatic and charming and at
physically confronting those who are
threatening his friends and acquaintances.
For South African viewers, Shadow’s actions,
while they can’t necessarily be condoned,
may feel reasonable, given the shortfall
(perceived or otherwise) in delivery from the
non-fictional police force when it comes to
catching criminals.
Khathu Ramabulana, as Max – Shadow’sex-colleague (he’s still with the department)
and best friend – is excellent, adding a good
deal of humour and the sort of old-school
loyalty that has made buddy cop movies
compelling since In The Heat Of The Night.
Screenwriter and director Gareth Crocker is
also a bestselling novelist and, while the
characters in Shadow never get the sort of
space to develop that the protagonists in
his books might enjoy, Crocker does ensure
that the focus of each episode’s script is
different to what might be expected (a
murder or a burglary, perhaps). Instead, he
considers topics such as cyber-bullying and
psychological trauma, which are relatable
and interesting. The production values are
excellent, if not quite as glossy as those of
the monster-budget American equivalents.
Look out for season two.Books
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