Such a pity this book is only in Afrikaans. Love him or hate him, Steve Hofmeyr is an interesting character and his long awaited autobiography, 'Mense Van My Asem' (People of my breath), is as much a self-examination as it is a body of facts that gives the reader a peek into the life of this South African icon.

The controversial actor, singer, songwriter, polemicist, presenter, poet, writer, activist and blogger is without doubt one of the most creative artists in the country. In this book the 44-year-old Hofmeyr gives you — in his unique and distinctive style — his account of the events that shaped him into the man who has, just this past year, seen both commercial successes and very public personal disappointments.

But this isn't just a book of excuses — for his extramarital affair and illegitimate children, his numerous public (and sometimes physical) spats with the media, a failed suicide attempt, his marriage and divorce, and a number of surgeries.

Hofmeyr's great-great grandfather was General Louis Botha, South Africa's first Prime Minister. This explains his vociferous attention to heritage issues and his politically contentious deliberations. His iconoclastic religious views have been the bane of the rooted Afrikaans churches (and a few other religious sects), with their rigid, fear-factor doctrines constantly coming under fire. Not surprising then he has been 'banned' from performing at their premises. But you have to read the book to realise how much truth there is in his nonconformist views — as he says, he'd like to ask Jesus "which words were put into his mouth".

A polarising personality, certainly, but one who has managed to sustain a successful acting and singing career in the face of critics. So from his nomadic lifestyle as a child (he was born on 29 August 1964) to his recent 'Waarmaker' ('Truthmaker') tour, Hofmeyr looks back at the stage productions, movies (remember 'Kampus' and 'No Hero'?) and soapies ('Agter Elke Man' and more), as well as the music that saw him win the SAMA award four years ago for the highest sales figures.

The former pin-up turned bad boy turned family man's public appeal is clear — in a 2004 poll he was named the 13th most popular South African — but you don't need to like the man or his work to appreciate this enlightening, nearly 400-page read.