In the 1970s, when almost everybody involved in the freedom struggle was in prison or in exile, Biko's was a lone voice of dissent. This richly humorous series of essays quietly exhorts Western middle-class whites to live up to their liberal principles and come out openly against apartheid. The book turned out to be prophetic, both for good - economic sanctions were imposed soon after the essays were published abroad - and for bad. One passage describes the brutalities of police interrogation. The internee, beaten and exhausted, is then told that he will be killed. His only response is a dry 'how long will it take you?' Steve Biko died in 1977 while in police custody. (Kirkus UK)