“There’s another section over there, Your Excellency,” I said, pointing towards the Western philosophy enclave within the bookstore. He wasn’t in a hurry and had paused, flipping through the pages of assorted books spanning a symphony of genres. I assumed he probably didn’t know about the other parts of the bookstore. Sometimes he would sit in between reads and then rise to proceed to other sections. Senator Kashim Shettima appeared to have an interest in almost all kinds, except for, by his admission, motivational books, which of course are mostly superficial philosophical projections.
“You should read this book,” he said as I tagged along behind him, and he transferred the tome into my possession. It’s Mariana Mazzucato’s enlightening opus, “The Value of Everything.” “She offers a caricature of capitalism and a penetrating take on the subject.” With gratitude, I accepted the book and maintained stride behind him, observing his methodical traversal through the pages, volumes, and corridors of the Sandton, Johannesburg bookstore.
We are currently in South Africa for the 2023 BRICS summit, where Vice President Shettima is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a crucial global economic alliance. earlier in the day, he participated in a trade fair held prior to the main event and expressed his principal’s strong commitment to innovation, investment and empowering MSMEs to stimulate Nigeria’s economy. He toured the exhibition stands, appreciating the participation of 180 exhibitors from various sectors at the trade fair.
What was poised to be an evening of rest in his hotel ahead of the forthcoming day’s commitments took an unexpected turn. It became an odyssey into literature and knowledge. I had the honour of accompanying him, witnessing his unquenchable thirst for books, profound intellectual curiosity, and insightful perspectives on writers and subjects. These topics spanned domains ranging from economics and philosophy to the intricate realm of politics. Mr Shettima even maintained a personal philosophy regarding acquiring books in the cities he journeyed through.
“You know the most accurate portrayal of a people or culture is found in the books you buy in their communities. Such books are the most credible reflections of their realities and experiences,” and then this turned into a caveat about the misrepresentations of ideas, people, or culture by foreign or detached curators and authors. It was a convincing argument, sparked by the time spent exploring the South African history sub-section of the African history enclave. He spent a significant amount of time analyzing the host country’s foremost thinkers, human rights activists, and politicians whom he knows so well.
It took a while, but I eventually made it through all the books. Although there were many good ones, here are three in addition to Weather for Dummies that I especially recommend:
The Atmosphere, by Frederick K. Lutgens and Edward Tarbuck. This one was first published in 1979 and is now in its 14th edition. (Redina Herman joined as a third author sometime after I got my copy.) Although it’s intended as a textbook for a college-level course, it’s quite accessible for anyone who’s motivated to learn about how the Earth’s climate works. It covers precipitation, air pressure, storms, air pollution, and much more and uses colorful illustrations to explain complex subjects. (Available for rent or purchase from the publisher, Pearson.)
The range of books Vice President Shettima acquired during his book hunts illuminated the reason he appeared to possess a quote for every conceivable occasion, effortlessly at his disposal. His peculiar memory enabled this skill. His reputation for having an exceptionally retentive memory stemmed from his practice of not allowing it to remain idle. He earned a reputation for his capacity to recall details and retain information due to his insatiable reading habit.
by Kimba Kakanda, Aug-Oct 2023.