Customer Reviews

Asking for Trouble

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In his book, 'Asking For Trouble: The Autobiography of a Banned Journalist', Donald Woods gives the reader a fascinating first person view of the tumultuous era of Apartheid in South Africa. The book takes the form of an autobiographical narrative, rich with anecdotes both humorous and poignant, which details his experiences in a highly readable way. The earlier parts of the book describe his childhood, spent on a Xhosa homeland with his father, a white trader, and his strong identification with the Xhosa people. He then turns to his early days as a journalist on London's famed Fleet Street. Returning to South Africa, Woods began a succesful and controversial career as the editor of the East London Daily Dispatch, in which capacity he openly criticized the Afrikaaner government's racial policies. This later brought him to the attention of the famous activist Steven Biko, with whom Woods became close friends. The death of Biko, the subsequent investigation and cover-up, and Woods' own persecution at the hands of the government occupy the latter portions of the book.

The most intriguing aspects of the book are Woods' own irreverent outlook on society and remarkable breadth of experience. Fluent in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, Woods was at home with all the peoples of South Africa, and his biography is replete with cultural insights and fascinating personalities shedding light on a continent where the streets are dark with people. There are many hilarious anecdotes; this is one major difference between this book and his earlier effort 'Biko'. Where 'Biko' is serious and impassioned, this book is nostalgic and personal, without being overly self-important. All in all, an extremely rewarding book which I commend to anyone interested in South Africa.

brilliant book, it was the first book i have actually read from cover to cover. from his childhood to his escape from the troubled country of south africa it kept me in the book and was very interesting