by Lindsay on May 16th, 2012
In his brand new book, The Second Sexism, David Benatar, head of philosophy at the University of Cape Town, puts forward the controversial idea that men are the new victims of sexism, in an age were discrimination against women is far from obsolete.
Elizabeth Day examines Benatar’s claims, and other tales of persecuted men, in an article for The Guardian:
You might not have realised it, but men are being oppressed. In many walks of life, they are routinely discriminated against in ways women are not. So unrecognised is this phenomenon that the mere mention of it will appear laughable to some.
That, at least, is the premise of a book by a South African philosophy professor which claims that sexism against men is a widespread yet unspoken malaise. In The Second Sexism, shortly to be published in the UK, David Benatar, head of the philosophy department at Cape Town University, argues that “more boys drop out of school, fewer men earn degrees, more men die younger, more are incarcerated” and that the issue is so under-researched it has become the prejudice that dare not speak its name.
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Benatar will deliver a talk on The Second Sexism on 21 May as part of HUMA’s 2012 seminar series. The talk, entitled “Discrimination against men and boys”, will be in held in the Oppenheimer Institute Building on UCT’s Upper Campus from 1 to 2 PM. Don’t miss it!
Event details
- Date: Monday, 21 May 2012
- Time: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
- Venue: Seminar Room
Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA)
Oppenheimer Institute Building
Upper Campus
University of Cape Town | Campus Map
- RSVP: Heather Maytham; 021 650 4592
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by Luso on May 16th, 2012
In February this year, German-based publishing company Brandes & Apsel released Orange-Senqu: Artery of Life: Water and Peace in Southern Africa by award-winning journalist Thomas Kruchem.
Orange-Senqu: Artery of Life attempts to provide a simultaneously historical, contemporary and personal account of the Orange-Senqu River basin, a large water catchment area which serves communities in four southern African countries.
Covering a wide range of issues regarding development and access to water, the book offers a chance for the outsider to see the area with new eyes. Kruchem achieves this by combining personal anecdote with historical detail and, while some of the details may seem unnecessary, he displays a passion for his subject which carries with it a respect for the region and its people. The book is accompanied by a multi-media “Orange-Senqu River Awareness Kit” DVD.
San of the Kalahari; mountain farmers in Lesotho; township activists near Johannesburg; diamond miners at the mouth; scientists and eco-philosophers – these are just a sampling of the scores of people interviewed by Thomas Kruchem to tell the rich and multi-faceted story of this great African river.
It is a story steeped in cultural history, economic opportunity and overwhelming environmental challenge. And the whole thing is told against the backdrop of a global problem – the escalating shortage of potable water.
Water shortage is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. It comes into sharp focus through the real-world issues faced along the river named Orange in South Africa and Senqu in Lesotho. In addressing these issues this compelling and beautifully illustrated book is part travelogue, part in-depth analysis and part a compendium of touching stories. The attached “Orange-Senqu River Awareness Kit” on DVD provides comprehensive multimedia material on water issues in Southern Africa.
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by Lindsay on May 15th, 2012
Bookboon.com is a London-based company that became the first to focus entirely on free ebooks in 2005. They offer a range of over 1500 eBooks in seven languages for download, and have found success in the South African market with over 200 000 books having been downloaded in the past 12 months.
Bookboon.com are able to make their textbooks free by inserting a small number of “employer branding and recruitment adverts” in the books and are thus challenging a market where eBooks are scarcely cheaper than their print counterparts:
While traditional book publishers are still struggling to find a viable business model for eBooks, Bookboon.com is taking a different approach. With its free digital books it offers an alternative for the often unfairly-priced eBooks.
In South Africa, 200,000 books were downloaded in the last 12 months.
The whole market is in transition, and the traditional publishers are being left behind, since they are not adapting quickly enough to the new market. “We do not understand why eBooks are barely cheaper than paper books when the overhead costs are so much lower. How can publishers explain this to their readers?” asked Kristian Madsen, CEO of bookboon.com.
Press release:
With 500 free textbooks and 250.000 downloads in South Africa publisher challenges established publishers of academic books. By downloading their books South African students can save up to R2100 on books per subject.
Bookboon opens up South Africa
The days of the monopoly of traditional academic book publishers on universities across the country are counted. Where they for a long time could force South African students to buy mandatory literature for high prices, now students have found a free and legal alternative. On Bookboon.com students can download more than 500 free textbooks in Information Technology, Engineering and Finance. This is made possible by including a few employer branding and recruitment adverts in the books.
South African students love Bookboon
“Depending on the subject I can save around R2100 on books per subject. If I would buy them second hand I would save around R400.” Says Samuel Desire Mudzengi, a second year economics student from the University of South Africa (UNISA). In the last 12 months 1 million books were downloaded in Africa of which 200.000 in South Africa.
A chance for disadvantaged students
“Seventy percent of the students downloading in South Africa were previously disadvantaged, and they are now studying at top universities across the country. Our textbooks have made each student’s life a little bit easier, and we will continue to offer more help to more students by providing more free textbooks” says Thomas Buus Madsen, COO of Bookboon.com.
Free but not cheap
“That our books are free does not imply that they are cheap. For us it is very important that the quality of our books meet the high academic standards demanded by universities. To guarantee this all our academic books are written by professors from leading universities worldwide”, explains Buus Madsen.
Growth of 300% in 12 months
Bookboon.com has grown in South Africa with 300% over the last 12 months. “We have experienced this tremendous growth primarily because students feel that our concept is worth sharing with fellow students. Currently we have about 250 textbooks under preparation, so there is a lot more help coming the students way”, says Buus Madsen.
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Image courtesy BusinessTech
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by Luso on May 9th, 2012
Verdict: carrot
Revolution is remarkable in itself, so it was easy to pick up this book. It was, however, not easy to put it down. Egyptian journalist and novelist Ahdaf Soueif’s deeply personal account of the 18 days of protest that ended Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule drew me in so much I could almost hear the roar of the crowds on Tahrir Square and feel the tear gas sting my eyes.
“The world has been watching this struggle between a tenacious, brutal and corrupt government, using all the apparatus of the state, and a great and varied body of citizens, armed with nothing but words and music and legitimacy and hope. The support of the world came through to us loud and clear, and what has happened here over the last two weeks will give voice and power to civilian citizens everywhere,” she writes.
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by Lindsay on May 7th, 2012
Greg Mills, a prolific public intellectual and advisor to governments, and Terence McNamee, formerly of the The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, will be talking to David Smith, The Guardian‘s Africa Correspondent, about their book On the Fault Line, at the Troyeville Hotel tomorrow evening.
On the Fault Line is a fascinating collection of essays on the management of fragile states’ many fault lines including chapters on South Africa, Iran, Congo and Canada.
The event forms part of the Troyeville Hotel’s dinner-booze-and-book club and costs R179 per person (including dinner).
See you there!
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, 08 May 2012
- Time: 7:00 PM for 7:30 PM
- Venue: The Troyeville Hotel,
25 Bezuidenhout Street,
Troyeville,
Johannesburg | Map
- Guest Speaker: David Smith
- Cost: R179 (includes dinner, excludes drinks)
- Bookings: Essential – laurence@troyevillehotel.co.za, 011 402 7709
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by Sophy on Apr 17th, 2012
South Africa’s largest academic book chain, Van Schaik, has closed a deal with Ingram Book Company to offer eTextbooks through Ingram’s popular VitalSource platform from July 2012.
Press release:
As more students, educators and institutions adopt digital course materials for study, more booksellers, such as Van Schaik Bookstores, South Africa’s leading supplier of academic, trade and reference textbooks, are adding e-textbook solutions to their offerings, using Ingram’s VitalSource® online platform.
In April 2012, Van Schaik concluded a deal with Ingram to use VitalSource® and aims to launch its e-textbooks offering in July 2012.
“Having served the academic market in Africa for nearly a century, we have a clear understanding of the needs of our unique customer base” said Stephan Erasmus, Managing Director, Van Schaik Bookstores. “We believe that e-textbooks are a growing and important part of the future of education, and working with an international market leader like VitalSource®, we have the resources to enhance learning throughout Africa and meet the digital needs of the academic community today and into the future.”
With an online store, a library division and 55 stores, located on or near academic institutions, Van Schaik is the leading provider of academic resources in South Africa and Namibia. As e-textbook use in higher education continues its dramatic growth worldwide, the Vital Source reseller solution provides Van Schaik with tools to sell and deliver e-textbooks to its widespread customer base without costly infrastructure investments. Through the reseller program, Van Schaik will administer publisher and institutional relationships, content, contracts, orders, and financial management.
“Van Schaik was looking for a robust e-textbook solution that would serve even the most remote of its customers,” said William Chesser, Vice President of Sales, Vital Source Technologies, Inc. “The VitalSource® platform is a true online/offline e-book solution, with robust iOS and Android apps complementing Mac, Windows, and browser-based access. The multiplicity of access options is crucial in an emerging environment like South African higher education.”
Van Schaik easily incorporated its online store and in-store kiosks with the VitalSource® fulfilment engine through industry-standard web integration. Students and educators who purchase e-textbooks from Van Schaik enjoy all the benefits of the VitalSource® platform including integrated download, online and mobile content options, advanced searching, and annotation, note-sharing, and accessibility features.
Becoming a reseller of the VitalSource® solution allows Van Schaik’s stores to consolidate their position as the key content service provider on campus. “They become the go-to local experts in e-content, and are able to help their client campuses solve not just content aggregation and access challenges, but the critical integration, finance, support, and training challenges that come hand-in-hand with migration to a digital education world,” said Chesser.
“As resellers reshape their business and enhance their offering for today’s students, the Vital Source reseller solution is perfectly suited to support those efforts,” said Kent Freeman, Chief Operating Officer, VitalSource® Technologies, Inc. “Using VitalSource®, Van Schaik will connect more students and educators to the newest interactive learning tools and e-textbooks from the leaders in education. We are pleased to support Van Schaik in their efforts to make e-textbooks available to all that want them.”
VitalSource®, with more than 2 million users, is the most used e-textbook platform in education today. With a presence on 6,000 campuses in 180 countries, educators and students have access to tens of thousands of titles from the world’s leading textbook publishers.
About Van Schaik
Van Schaik Bookstore is a leading supplier of academic, trade and reference textbooks in Southern Africa. With 54 stores in South Africa, an online store – www.vanschaik.com, a library division and a store in Namibia, our service is accessible to students, lecturers as well as professionals nationwide. We have more than 97 years of experience, and are the largest specialist academic book chain in South Africa. Van Schaik is part of Avusa Limited – a leading South African media and entertainment company, boasting prominent brands, innovative content, delivered across a variety of channels. Avusa is a public company listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) Limited.
About Ingram
Ingram Content Group Inc. provides a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., VitalSource® Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services. For more information, visit www.ingramcontent.com
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