Best Zimbabwe History Books of 2025

Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook is a must-read for parents who want to help their children develop good habits for a successful life. The book compiles every habit mentioned in Charlotte Mason's writing and provides practical tips for cultivating them. It also includes personal review questions and modern-day examples to help parents apply the principles today. The book is an excellent resource for parents who want to ensure their children have a strong foundation for their future.

Three Sips of Gin is an enthralling account of Rhodesia's Selous Scouts, one of the deadliest and most effective counter-insurgency units in modern history. The book follows author Tim Bax on his missions alongside the elite Special Forces unit as they hunted down terrorists in the unforgiving landscape of the African bush. The Selous Scouts were so successful that they began to dominate Rhodesia's battle space, even conducting external assaults against terrorist camps in neighboring countries. This special 'deluxe' edition is a must-read for anyone interested in military history and the brutal realities of guerrilla warfare.

A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia is a gripping account of Captain Darrell Watt's extraordinary life as a combat-tracker in Rhodesia's long war against Communist-supported forces. Author Hannes Wessels narrates Watt's story with precision and detail, bringing to life the volatile and fluid Rhodesian theater. Watt's record of resilience and valor in the face of daunting odds is unmatched, making him a military maestro and a bush-lore genius. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Africa and the SAS.

Ancient African Kingdoms: A Captivating Guide to Civilizations of Ancient Africa is a comprehensive book that explores the rich history of Africa, particularly the forgotten kingdoms of the continent. This book is a combination of two manuscripts that provide an insight into the smaller kingdoms of ancient Africa, such as the Kingdom of Kush, the Land of Punt, Carthage, the Kingdom of Aksum, and the Mali Empire with its Timbuktu. The book sheds light on the cultural fusion that is unique to the continent and the polarity of Africa that can be traced to ancient times. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring the history of ancient African civilizations.

The Fate of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence by Martin Meredith is a comprehensive account of the African nations after they emerged from colonialism. The book covers key personalities, events, and themes of the independence era, explaining the myriad problems that Africa has faced in the past half-century. Meredith's work is a masterpiece, providing readers with a deep understanding of Africa's past and present. He isn't afraid of expressing his opinion, but he presents basic realities for readers to draw their own conclusions. This book is an important work on Africa that is both informative and captivating.

When Money Destroys Nations by Philip Haslam and Russell Lamberti offers a compelling account of the devastating effects of hyperinflation on Zimbabwe's economy and its people. The book provides a clear and straightforward explanation of the causes and consequences of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation, warning other countries of the dangers of resorting to money printing. The authors' use of inspiring and tragic stories of how ordinary people survived in turbulent circumstances makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in economic history. Overall, When Money Destroys Nations is a well-written and accessible book that provides valuable lessons for all political leaders and countries tempted to take shortcuts to prosperity.

The book "Selous Scouts: Rhodesian Counter-Insurgency Specialists (Africa@War)" tells the story of one of the most effective counterinsurgency units in history, the Selous Scouts. The book highlights the innovative tactics and daring raids that made the Scouts feared and hated by their enemies. The book also sheds light on the cultural and racial barriers that the Scouts overcame to become a brotherhood of men. The book is part of the Africa@War series, which provides informative and entertaining case studies of Africa's conflicts and military players. Overall, the book is a well-documented and researched synopsis of the events surrounding the Selous Scouts, making it an outstanding introduction to this field of operation.

The Bible, the Bullet, and the Ballot: Zimbabwe: The Impact of Christian Protest in Sociopolitical Transformation, ca. 1900-ca. 2000 is a well-researched book that examines the role of Christian organizations, churches, and individuals in Zimbabwe's sociopolitical transformation over the past century. It provides a balanced account of the contributions of prominent African Christian clergy, missionaries, and nationalist politicians with Christian roots in the struggle for independence and the postcolonial era. The book is an essential read for those interested in African Christian history and its impact on sociopolitical transformation.

Bush War Operator is a compelling memoir that follows the journey of Andrew Balaam, a member of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and the Selous Scouts. Balaam's honest and insightful account of his time as a pseudo-operator is both brutal and truthful. It is a story of fighting terror and his conscience, from the blazing heat of the Zambezi Valley to the freezing cold of the Chimanimani Mountains. The book also covers Balaam's involvement in attempted coups in the Ciskei and Lesotho, where he trained terrorists to conduct a war of terror on innocent civilians, something he had spent the last ten years fighting against in Rhodesia. Overall, this book is a fascinating account of Balaam's experiences and the Selous Scouts, told in a raw and unflinching manner.

We Dared to Win: The SAS in Rhodesia is an exceptional account of the Rhodesian War from the perspective of Andre Scheepers, an SAS officer. The book is a vivid and candid reflection of Scheepers' experiences, emotions, and state of mind during the war. It also reveals the stories of other distinguished operators in SAS operations during the conflict. The book is a testament to the immense bravery and sacrifice of soldiers fighting a war they were not allowed to win. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in historical African biographies.