hph Publishing: ‘South Africa - The Big Picture.’

There may be those amongst my readers who think I’m opposed to the World Cup. I’m not. I think if we manage it well from here on out, it has the potential to be the best thing that ever could have happened to this country - and even to its neighbours - because even if we don’t see the numbers of fans we were hoping for, we’ll get the kind of publicity that money can’t buy out of it.

But for me personally (and for many like me, I have no doubt), brought up as I was on a diet of cricket, rowing, athletics, and rugby, the World Cup has changed the way I see things, and introduced me to the magic that that simple, round ball brings to so many lives in Africa and beyond.

So when I opened the parcel containing my copy of ‘South Africa - The Big Picture,’ and saw that amazing cover shot of a boy playing with his football on a beach (against a background of waves, cliffs, stormy skies and - get this - a rainbow), you can understand why I came over all goose-bumpy.

You’ll recall that I wrote about hph Publishing’s little book South Africa – a Pocket Memento two weeks ago, and that I said it was definitely worth having - and worth giving (and for those of you who asked, and said they couldn’t find it in their local bookshop, its ISBN is 978-0-620-43699-1 and it retails at R125.00 inclusive. For wholesale orders, contact info@hphpublishing.co.za, or call +27(0)86 171 0327).

This latest work is the Pocket Memento’s big brother, and he’s a handsome brother indeed. Written by Ingrid van den Bergh and Joanne Pohl, with photos by Heinrich, Philip, and Ingrid van den Bergh, ‘South Africa - The Big Picture’ covers the same ground (our nine provinces, our cities, our cultural and natural heritage, the things we do, the way we eat and our national symbols) - but it does so on a much bigger scale.

I’m not always fond of coffee table books - they so often get looked at once, and never again. But I’ve gone through South Africa - The Big Picture so many times since it arrived, and I suspect I’ll be doing so regularly for a long while. So it’s definitely worth its R295.00 (its ISBN is 978-0-620-44168-1 - and, once again, for wholesale orders, please contact info@hphpublishing.co.za, or call +27(0)86 171 0327).

hph Publishing specialises in books for the tourism industry, and will print short orders with your company’s logo on the cover. Find out more at www.hphpublishing.co.za.

And now go away on holiday (thoughtfully, and with care for the people and the environment of the places you visit). It’s in the economy’s best interests…