Great books to read - "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation" by John Carlin

Clint Eastwood's new film "Invictus" (in cinemas in South Africa & the US already) about Nelson Mandela's life during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa is actually based on a book written by John Carlin. Carlin is a scotish/spanish journo and author dealing with both sports and politics. He was The Independent's South Africa bureau chief from 1989-1995 and published the book "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation" in 2008.



Book description:
In June 1995, Nelson Mandela conquered the hearts of white South Africa and united his country, black and white, behind their rugby team. This book tells the extraordinary story of the journey to that moment. As the day of the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup dawned, and the Springboks faced New Zealand's all-conquering All Blacks, more was at stake than a sporting trophy. When Nelson Mandela appeared wearing a Springboks jersey and led the all-white Afrikaner-dominated team in singing South Africa's new national anthem, he conquered the hearts of white South Africa. "Playing the Enemy" tells the extraordinary human story of how that moment became possible. It shows how a sport, once the preserve of South Africa's Afrikaans-speaking minority, came to unify the new rainbow nation, and tells of how - just occasionally - something as simple as a game really can help people to rise above themselves and see beyond their differences. [src.: amazon.co.uk]

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