CTB Sport

Fireside Springbok

When the Springboks smashed the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town in 2021 to celebrate their emergence from Covid-19 lockdown, it was exactly 130 years since they had played their first match, also against the British Lions. There has never been a dull moment in between as the Boks have taken South Africans on a roller coaster ride of success and setback but, more importantly, there has always been rich entertainment. Springbok history boasts a treasure trove of tales about colourful characters and riveting dramas and seasoned rugby scribe Mike Greenaway has brought a host of them back to life in his meticulously researched book. The tales in this collection begin in the 1890s and cover every era of Springbok history right up to the present day. The Fireside Springbok is a hardcover coffee table book. Richly illustrated, there are cartoons by the much-loved Dr Jack while rare black-and-white photographs capture the mood of the historical chapters and award-winning photographers supplement the modern inclusions. This book is a collection of heart-warming stories that will bring a smile to a reader who is perhaps ensconced in an easy chair, maybe next to a glowing fire and enjoying a favorite tipple. The book will hit the shelves two months before the Springboks leave for France to defend their World Cup title in September this year.

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Mike Greenaway

R 665.00
Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die: Golf Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

There’s an incredible similarity between the mechanics of a fly cast and the swing of a golf club. Perhaps that’s why Chris Santella, author of Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die, can be found on the links when he’s not on the stream. With Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die, Santella gives voice to his other sporting passion, interviewing 50 people intimately connected to the sport about some of their favorite courses around the world.For both passionate golfers and armchair travelers, this gorgeous full-color book presents the world’s greatest golf venues, the personal favorites of renowned players, course architects, and other experts in the sport. From Ballyliffin, Ireland’s northernmost course, whose rumpled fairways wander along the North Sea in the shadows of Glashedy Rock, to New Zealand’s Cape Kidnappers, perched atop dramatic cliffs some 500 feet above the ocean, the book’s beautiful photographs capture the architecture, noteworthy holes, location, and ambiance that make these courses standouts for ardent golfers. A brief history of each course, an experiential account—filled with local color—from the person recommending the venue, and trip-planning advice provide adventurous readers with all the information they need to chip and putt their way around the globe.A close-up look at golf’s top courses around the world, recommended by such experts as Nick Faldo and Christie Kerr (pro golfers), Pete Dye and Tom Doak (course architects), Brian McCallen (editor and author), and Donald TrumpWith breathtaking color photographs of each site, this is a great gift for avid golfers and armchair travelers alike

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Chris Santella

R 690.00
Remarkable Golf Courses

Remarkable Golf Courses encompasses the extremes of the sport – from the highest golf course in La Paz, Bolivia, to the lowest, in Death Valley, USA; from the most northerly in the Arctic Circle to the most southerly in Tierra del Fuego. The many quirks of the golfing world are covered, such as the 18th green the other side of the River Lea which is serviced by an electric ferry, or the LA golf course that has its own funicular railway, or the floating golf hole in Idaho, where it’s not just the pin position that’s changed every day, it’s the distance from the shore!Golf courses that feature neolithic standing stones (Scotland), Roman roads (England), and ruined medieval castles (Wales) take their place alongside the old temples of Delhi or a UNESCO World Heritage bridge that is used to link the 9th and 10th at Angkor Wat.There are the beloved classic courses of St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal St. George and Westward Ho!. There are spectacular golf courses hewn out of the Nevada and Arizona desert, green oases in a cactus-strewn, rocky landscape, along with Hawaiian courses fringed by barren black lava flows. But nothing can beat the thrill in Guatemala of lining up your drive on an active volcano at the Fuego Maya course.In comparison there are the traditional wind-blown Scottish links, such as the Machrie Hotel on the island of Islay which has the most blind greens on any course, or the remote Isle of Barra where greens are only accessible via a kissing gate.Fancy swapping countries mid-round? You can at the Llanmymynech club in Wales. At the fourth hole golfers tee off in Wales and putt out on the green in England. Remarkable Golf Courses brings together some astonishing stories with some extraordinary photography.

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Iain T. Spragg

R 755.00
Complete Golf Manual

Covering every aspect of the game, this is the ultimate self-improvement guide for every player - from the novice to the experienced club golfer. Showing readers exactly what it takes to achieve an effective - and repeatable - golf swing, this book works systematically through every type of shot, from tee shots, iron play, pitching, and chipping, to coping with bunkers and putting. Each section includes a test to establish your level of ability and provides a series of progressive exercises designed to develop your technique. A section on the ten most common faults that can creep into your game shows you how to fix them quickly and efficiently.The Complete Golf Manual also shows you routines to help you think more decisively on the course and deal with high-pressure situations. An invaluable reference section advises you on buying equipment, including custom fitting, guides you through all-important golf etiquette, clearly explains golf's most important rules, and defines all the key golfing terms.

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Steve Newell

R 655.00

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Funny and Relatable

Hilarious! 😂 Marian Keyes' Grown Ups had me laughing out loud, and I loved seeing bits of myself in the diverse cast. The family tree at the start is a genius move, which is super helpful for keeping track of who's who! My one gripe is some storylines felt a bit... open-ended. Still, totally recommend for a laugh-out-loud, relatable read.

This is a book that I keep going back to!

One thing we can all agree on, is that the past two and a half years have not been a walk in the park. Not for most of us. Like a meme I saw on social media the other day which stated, “I am a little tired of living through historic events”. Another thing that we can also be sure of, is that this will be our way of life for goodness knows how long. I’d also like to believe that we are more aware of our mental health, more than we’ve ever been. And one thing we do know is that it is a precious commodity.

After hearing about the sensation that is Dr Julie Smith, I simply had to get my hands on her book, “Why has Nobody Told Me This Before”?

So, a bit of background information. Dr Smith is a clinical psychologist on a mission. Her goal is to make the life skills and copy skills we need on a daily basis, while dealing with mental health issues, as well as just ‘real life’ struggles, more accessible and digestible. She started her YouTube channel at the end of 2019, offering short ‘lessons’ and practical tips as how to deal with anxiety, stress, grief, etc. When the global pandemic hit in early 2020, her sensible and meaningful clips on social media were much needed and devoured by her followers world-wide.

Getting back to the book, this is exactly what you can expect. No complicated terminology and diagnoses, just informal, informative guidance and tools to help you cope.

It is not necessarily a ‘read from cover to cover’ book (but you can if you are so inclined), but you can dip in and out for pearls of wisdom and tried-and-proven advice as you see fit. The book is divided in the following chapters (I am highlighting just a some of the details covered):

On Dark Places (including low mood, mood pitfalls to watch out for, how to turn bad days into better days)

On Motivation (including How do you make yourself do something when you really don’t feel like it?)

On Emotional Pain (including Make it all go away! How to support someone)

On Grief (including Understanding Grief, The tasks of mourning)

On Self-Doubt (You are not your mistakes, Being enough)

On Fear (Things we do that makes anxiety worse, What to do with anxious thoughts)

On Stress (Is stress different from anxiety? Making stress work for you)

On a Meaningful Life (Working out what matters, How to create a life with meaning)

You will also find practical tools, ideas to try, etc within each topic.

This is a book that I keep going back to, and on a personal level, the chapters on ‘self-doubt’ and ‘fear’ will probably be dog-eared soon. It also makes a wonderful gift!

A beautifully crafted debut

The Correspondent is a thoughtful and quietly powerful novel told entirely through letters and emails. At its centre is Sybil, a woman in her seventies whose life unfolds through the correspondence she sends to family, friends and the occasional public figure. The format gives the story a sense of closeness, allowing the reader to see her humour, her frustrations and the private worries she rarely voices aloud.

Sybil is a wonderfully complex character. She can be sharp, funny, stubborn and unexpectedly vulnerable, often within the same letter. Through her writing the novel explores ageing, grief, adoption, strained family relationships and the long‑term consequences of choices made decades earlier. There is also a subtle thread of tension linked to her past work in the courts, which adds another layer without overshadowing the emotional core.

The number of characters can feel a little overwhelming at first, but once the rhythm settles the structure becomes one of the book’s strengths. Each exchange reveals something new about Sybil and the people who have shaped her life. The writing is warm, observant and full of small insights.

A beautifully crafted debut that will appeal to readers who enjoy reflective, character‑driven stories.

Worth reading if you enjoy stories that blend philosophy with emotional introspection!

Re‑reading Veronika Decides to Die after so many years turned out to be a very different experience for me. I remembered it as dark and philosophical, but this time I found it far less bleak than the title suggests. It is thought provoking, occasionally uncomfortable, and definitely dated in its approach to mental health, yet still full of those signature Coelho moments that make you pause and reflect.

The story follows Veronika, a young woman in Slovenia who attempts to end her life and wakes up in Villete, a mental institution, where she is told she has only days left to live. Through her interactions with other patients, including Mari with severe anxiety and Eduard who lives with schizophrenia, Coelho explores what it means to be “sane” and how society often punishes anyone who does not fit the mould.

Some of these characters struck me more deeply this time around. There were moments that made me uncomfortable, especially the twist involving the doctor, and I wished the ending had been more layered. Still, the final quarter of the book landed beautifully. The writing is fluid, the themes are bold, and the message about appreciating life is powerful.

Not my favourite Coelho, but definitely worth reading if you enjoy stories that blend philosophy with emotional introspection.

Stephen King's masterpiece?

I finally picked up The Stand again and I completely understand why so many readers call this King’s masterpiece.

For a book written in the late 1970s, it feels shockingly current. The “superflu” premise hits differently after the past few years, and King’s exploration of what happens when 99.4% of humanity is wiped out is both fascinating and unsettling. The sociological and moral questions were some of the most interesting parts for me.

But it’s the characters that truly make this book unforgettable. Stu, Frannie, Nick, Larry, Glen, Tom, Kojak, Lloyd, Trashcan Man… they’re still living rent free in my head. King gives each of them such depth and humanity that closing the book felt like saying goodbye to people I’d travelled with for months. Even the villains are complicated in ways that make them strangely relatable.

Despite its intimidating length, I never found it slow or dull. Almost every chapter feels purposeful, and the atmosphere (cosy one moment, deeply unsettling the next) kept me hooked. There’s always that sense of something lurking just out of sight.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction, character driven epics, or stories that dig into the messy nature of good and evil, this is absolutely worth the journey.

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Fireside Springbok

Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die: Golf Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

Remarkable Golf Courses

Complete Golf Manual

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