No blushing violet, Murphy has journeyed by bicycle and foot through some of the most difficult, complicated places on the planet including India, Madagascar and Africa. She's an open-minded, engaged reporter and this account of South Africa and her 6,000-mile journey is an excellent example of her humorous, thoughtful approach to the world. She captures the excitement, contradictions and challenges of South Africa on her travels as the first majority elections were taking place in 1994.  (SAF102, $16.95)

Bicycling