There are many types of self-help books in the world and they mostly hail from America , the land of “the brave”. . Asia is fast growing economically, so we’re seeing them move from spiritual advice to potential advice on getting rich . You as I will refer to you are South African. That’s a conundrum. You’re neither a full blown capitalist country or a socialist one . You’re sandwiched perfectly between beaurocracy and outright lawlessness . You also have an advantage: unlike most African countries , your independence is young , hence there may be many castes and enclaves of wealth but there are holes to get in . You can become filthy rich.

Let’s say you’re male and black and this is your story . You were born sometime in the 70s in the township of New Brighton, the heart of Port Elizabeth . Months before your birth , your mother took up Judo with a sensei who had a buff body and a sweet smile . He was a young man who had grown up in the township and then taken a liking to martial arts. The initial plan had been to learn self-defence against an abusive ex-boyfriend . What she did not know was that she was already carrying you . Later into the training , she and the sensei, who weren’t yet intimate found out she was pregnant. That did not come between their newfound love . You were born on a very cold day in June and a few weeks later , your real father, the abusive ex-boyfriend came to see you . Possessed by something dark, he grabbed you by both legs and threatened to throw you downward , headfirst if your mother didn’t get back with him . The sensei, on his way from work , read the situation quickly . Without announcing his presence, he gestured for your mother to catch you and then tackled your father down . A quick traditional wedding done a few months later , the sensei, you and your mother packed your bags and left for Cape Town .