World Book Day: Best new book releases to add to your reading list
There's a new book waiting for you!
This World Book Day, with the theme 'Read Your Way,' readers are invited not only to pick up a new book but also to open their minds in the process.
As highlighted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this theme encourages individuals, especially children, to embrace the joy of reading by choosing books that resonate with them.
Whether you're curious about how the brain works, looking for business inspiration, or seeking a recipe that brings comfort, there's a new book waiting for you. These fresh reads have something for everyone.
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Best new book releases to add to your reading list
The Ideological Brain by Dr Leor Zmigrod
This book delves into the neuroscience of belief systems and radicalisation. Dr Leor Zmigrod, a Cambridge-trained academic dubbed a trailblazer in 'political neuroscience', uses her research to explore how ideologies shape not just opinions, but our very brain structures.
Based on over 30 peer-reviewed studies, Dr Zmigrod shows how rigid thinking contributes to extreme ideologies. She encourages readers to avoid fixed beliefs and be open-minded in today's divided world. This book urges readers to think carefully about how beliefs are formed and how they can be changed.
Entrepreneurship is Not for Everyone! Is It for You? by Lerato Bodibe
Serial entrepreneur and tech innovator, Lerato Bodibe, will release his first book, Entrepreneurship is Not for Everyone!, this May. The book offers a candid look at what it really takes to build a business in today's world.
Drawing from his own experiences, from growing up in QwaQwa to starting ROCVEST and the fintech platform ScheduPay, Bodibe shares valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey. The book also reflects his passion for helping South African youth. His foundation recently supported a young golfer from Welkom, covering school fees and providing equipment, showing his belief that with the right help, anything is possible.
Food Trail South Africa by Warren Mendes
In Food Trail South Africa, chef Warren Mendes takes readers on a tasty journey across the country. The cookbook, based on his travel series, features a mix of traditional recipes and new twists, gathered from markets, kitchens, and communities.
With training from Le Cordon Bleu and experience co-producing the Australian TV series, Mendes encourages home cooks to explore South African food and proudly recreate these dishes at home.
I Am Lovely and Dark by Ntombi Meso
On World Book Day, 23 April 2025, multi-award-winning broadcaster and DJ Ntombi Meso makes her debut as an author with I Am Lovely and Dark, a children's book about self-love and identity.
The story follows Kayise, a young girl learning to embrace her dark skin. Through Kayise's journey, Meso shares an empowering message about self-worth in a world where diverse representation in children's books is still limited.
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