Alec Hogg: GG Alcock’s brilliant SA insights, born from his unique upbringing

The holiday season brought a pause in my long-form biographical podcasts that focus on interesting South Africans with uplifting stories. Today's interview with the uniquely gifted GG Alcock marks the 15th in the series. And is among the very best..Also read: Alec Hogg: Understanding SA's reluctant embrace of Covid-killer ivermectin.The pic above is the perfect illustration. It was taken from the lobby of the building where we're based, a very First World block in the heart of Sandton, with the backdrop a distinctly Third World event – despite the offices being on a straight road, a minibus taxi ramped the curb, ploughed through the garden and had it not been for a well placed wall would have smashed through the glass into the marble-tiled lobby..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.GG uniquely straddles the First And Third Worlds courtesy of being brought up in a mud hut by political activist parents in the dirt-poor Msinga district in rural KZN. Alcock says the single privilege of his upbringing was access to a library of books that were the only luxury his Liberty Party father insisted on retaining..Also read: Alec Hogg: The Reddit Trading Mob are targeting financial pros – and winning big.An interesting parallel, that, with the young Elon Musk, who read so voraciously that he went through the entire Encyclopaedia Brittanica – twice. Like Elon, GG is a wonderful advert for the value of an early bookworm habit. And shares his brilliance with us during his rational perspective on stuff which baffles many South Africans. Have a listen to Episode 15 of the Alec Hogg Show by clicking here..NB FOR YOUR WALL STREET JOURNAL ACCESS….Because of The Wall Street Journal's credential requirements to access its site, your password MUST be at least 8 characters and include at least one letter and one number; and it MAY NOT contain any special characters (ie #, !, @ etc). To maintain access to WSJ.com, you MUST enter our partner's website at least once a month via BizNews Premium.TO LISTEN….Latest audio on BizNews Radio…(click on the link to access).TAHS Ep 15: GG Alcock, SA's common sense optimist Flash Briefing: Mozam president at centre of corruption scandalInside Covid-19: New book – Why world panicked over the virus Taking stock: Steinhoff, Sasol, Reddit traders; Italtile; WooliesHow an accounting teacher transformed thousands of SA lives Clarity on EU Golden Visa – available via LX Living till mid-2021PSG's Piet Mouton: How we're seeking out the next Capitec

Alec Hogg: GG Alcock’s brilliant SA insights, born from his unique upbringing

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