Two Bookstorm Titles have been longlisted for the Sunday Times non-fiction literary award.

It Always Seems Impossible: My Fight To Build And Save Education Africa By James Urdang

James Urdang said, “To have my memoir Longlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Non-Fiction Literary Award is something I never expected, and I am deeply humbled by. This journey was never mine alone, it belongs to the many people who stood beside me in my fight to protect Education Africa and create opportunities for disadvantage African children, even when odds felt impossibly stacked against me.”

James Urdang’s memoir, released to critical acclaim, includes a foreword by the Nelson Mandela Foundation — which independently verified the factual accuracy of his account — and a cover endorsement from Sir Bob Geldof, who calls it: “A powerful account from a genuine African hero, inspiring, urgent, and true.”

The most shocking part of this book is the ongoing battle with HSBC Bank. The Right Honourable Lord Hain of Neath has issued another powerful open letter to HSBC Group CEO Georges Elhedery, urging the bank to finally address the unresolved harm suffered by Education Africa staff members following the organisation’s protracted dispute with HSBC.

Men & Mental Health: Shattering The Silence By Marion Scher

Marion Scher said, “I’m so thrilled that a book on such a topic has been recognised in this way. To be nominated alongside the foremost non-fiction authors in South Africa is a genuine honour.”

This book describes the anguish of men battling with mental health issues and reflections from the people who treat them. Marion Scher weaves together the stories of South African men who have confronted their mental health issues with the stories the doctors who treat them have to tell. It gives practical guidance on where men (and their friends and families) can turn for help in overcoming the ever-increasing scourge of mental illness in our society.

Marion Scher, award-winning journalist, author and media consultant, has written much about mental health over the last 30 years. As media consultant to SADAG, she is honoured to have been part of the movement to reach out through the South African media to enhance Rosalynn Carter’s dream of helping to break the stigma of mental health.