Good reads to ease you into the new year

As holidays end and schools go back, these books will help you plunge into 2024, writes Patricia McCracken.

Think Faster, Talk Smarter by Matt Abrahams (Macmillan Business, R390)

Abrahams’s title might sound as if he’s offering to set you up as a stand-up comic or a rapid-fire auctioneer, but, in fact, his mission is to help us past those ghastly public moments when we’re called on to say something and our minds go blank. Don’t be hard on yourself, urges Abrahams, emphasising that you’re not expected to steal the show and put too much pressure on yourself. Relax, stay alert and you’ll make good use of your resources and experience for what is usually just expected to be a short contribution to the discourse. Part one of his manual discusses “Six steps to better spontaneous speaking”, from calm to “the F-word of spontaneous speaking”, focus. Part two looks at applying the technique in six key moments: small talk, making a toast or doing an introduction, pitching for business, Q&A sessions, feedback and apologising. With his podcast to catch up on and a website with new material, this is certainly good value for money.

Endgame: Inside The Royal Family And The Monarchy’s Fight For Survival by Omid Scobie (HQ, R430)

Scobie’s first best-seller was 2020’s Finding Freedom, the account of Harry and Meghan’s departure from the British royal family.

If you’re anti-royal, love Meghan and Harry and like an inside story, this is your newsy new year reading. As an account of this family’s tedious multigenerational squabble, it’s certainly better than Harry’s whining Spare.

However, Scobie does appear to rely significantly on rumour and innuendo, insider information and unnamed sources allegedly close to the subjects. Nor is he seeking to be a detached observer. He also sees himself as a victim and was labelled “Meghan’s mouthpiece” for Finding

Freedom. He does capture the fascination about how these extremely wealthy and influential people live. Before placing a bet on which side will win, read up on the 18th century’s Frederick, prince of Wales, and Queen Charlotte and the 20th century’s Edward VIII, for instance. The reasonable conclusion is that William will conquer …

The South African Vegan Cookbook 2 by Leozette Roode (Human & Rousseau, R395)

If you know someone whose New Year’s resolution is to go vegan, they definitely need Roode’s combination of practicality, fun, creative flair, and understanding of the South African favourites that you might miss most in a vegan world.

Among the more than 80 recipes published here, she’s included veganised versions of vetkoek with curried (vegan) mince, rusks, bobotie, pumpkin fritters, peppermint crisp tart and malva pudding.

Alongside are other family and international favourites from deep-fried corndogs, beet balls (for meat balls), Mexican bean enchiladas and the elegant couscous roulade to choc-chip cookies and luscious cashew “cheesecake”.

Roode’s first South African vegan cookbook has sold nearly 10 000 copies and this one should be equally successful. Also a great handbook for any vegan off to varsity or moving out of home this year.

Let’s Go Home, Baby Tiger by Carolina Buzio (Nosy Crow, R245)

A well-conceived boardbook is a joy across the generations and perfect for the smallest would-be learners who want to be part of the schools going back.

Bright, colourful and beautifully illustrated, this one is a cross between a game and a book. Each right-hand page has a meandering path or river containing a sliding counter to push the baby tiger, parrot, elephant or croc home through the forest. Manoeuvring the slider helps teach finger coordination, and the busy setting with birds, snakes, fruit, fish, monkeys and butterflies gives an opportunity to make up the story of what’s happening in the forest as the baby animal passes through.

On the left-hand page, the forest sights are individually illustrated and named. Other titles in this series introduce a baby shark, a baby lion and a baby rabbit, so there’s plenty of enjoyable variety in this early-learning opportunity.