Page 54 - Waterfall Issue 9_2022

Waterfall Book Reviews

Power Play: Elon Musk, Tesla, and the Bet of the Century
By Tim Higgins

Elon Musk is among the most controversial titans of Silicon Valley. To some, he’s a genius and a
visionary and to others he’s a mercurial huckster. Billions of dollars have been gained and lost
on his tweets and his personal exploits are the stuff of tabloids. But for all his outrageous talk of
mind-uploading and space travel, his most audacious vision is the one closest to the ground:
the electric car.

When Tesla was founded in the 2000s, electric cars were novelties, trotted out and thrown on the
scrap heap by car manufacturers for more than a century. But where most onlookers saw only failure,
a small band of Silicon Valley engineers and entrepreneurs saw potential and they pitted themselves
against the biggest, fiercest business rivals in the world, setting out to make a car that was quicker,
sexier, smoother, and cleaner than the competition.

A story of power, recklessness, struggle, and triumph, Power Play is an exhilarating look at how a team
of eccentrics and innovators beat the odds . . . and changed the future.

Price R265.00

Sabotage: Eskom Under Siege
By Kyle Cowan

After unknown saboteurs toppled a strategic pylon near Lethabo Power Station in the Free State in
November 2021, almost causing the country to plunge into stage 5 load-shedding, Eskom’s Chief
Executive Officer, André de Ruyter, declared: “This was clearly now an act of sabotage and I think we
can call it as such.” Who was behind this, and what is their ultimate goal?

Since his appointment in January 2020, De Ruyter has faced intense opposition from within the
power utility as he attempts to clean up corruption and return the power supply company to a
semblance of its former glory. He is not alone. Chief Operating Officer, Jan Oberholzer and other
trusted allies in Eskom have also come under intense fire. Amid this onslaught, it has become clear
that their enemies will take any measures necessary to have them removed from office.

Based on exclusive interviews with De Ruyter, Oberholzer and other key figures, Sabotage: Eskom
Under Siege is a story of conspiracy and subterfuge at South Africa’s ailing power utility, uncovering
the endless struggles that threaten the country’s very survival.

Price R280.00

Surrounded by Setbacks
By Thomas Erikson

Not everything goes the way we want it to - the world or people around us sometimes just spin out
of control. So how do you handle everything life throws your way when you’d really prefer to tell
everyone to get stuffed?

Thomas Erikson will help you turn adversity into success with the help of the behavioural model
made famous in his previous book, Surrounded by Idiots. Starting by reminding us that life is as it is,
Erikson helps you see that it is in fact useless to try to control everything happening around you.

This book will help you pinpoint the approach that works for you and will entertain and empower
you in equal measure.

Price R240.00

52 Waterfall Issue 9 2022