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Reviews
"Rael Levitt’s story as told in It Takes a Tsunami, is incredibly entertaining and engaging.

This maverick tells a tale through an autobiography which begins by recounting how he survived the tsunami in Phuket, Thailand and how this became a reminder to him that he could overcome any challenge, be it an attack on his business or personal life, or a mix of the two." Property Flash
"Not every business book comes from the heart, but 'It takes a tsunami' is different. It gives an excellent insight into the life and lifestyle of a truly charismatic South African businessman." Bizcommunity
“Self-taught businessman and auctioneer Rael Levitt recently launched a book titled "It Takes a Tsunami". In this book, Levitt shares a personal story of facing adversity and coming out better on the other side, carrying the message "people develop most during rough times". This book was launched at Exclusive Books in the Waterfront on Tuesday and has already gone on to become the store’s best-seller. More than 10 000 copies are expected to be sold over the holiday season.” – Zolani Sinxo, Weekend Argus
“Rael Levitt’s story as told in It Takes a Tsunami, is incredibly entertaining and engaging. This maverick tells a tale through an autobiography which begins by recounting how he survived the tsunami in Phuket, Thailand and how this became a reminder to him that he could overcome any challenge, be it an attack on his business or personal life, or a mix of the two. He explains that: “No matter how rough the sea is, refuse to drown,” became a life code, or perhaps even a mantra, after he was lucky enough not to be swept away in Thailand.” Property Flash
“Rael writes with characteristic humour and searing honesty about his journey from a single-minded teen into one of real estate’s most charismatic market disruptors.” Property Wheel
“It’s a masterpiece. I lapped up every page. Hugely inspiring” – Jon Kantey
“A refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. It’s a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice. Here Levitt opens up in a way few CEOs are willing to do. I don’t think Levitt sets out to teach the reader anything. Instead, he accomplishes something better. He tells his story as honestly as he can. It’s an amazing tale.”— Alistair Anderson.
"Loaded with hard-earned wisdom...Want a simple recommendation? Get a copy." — George Van Zyl
"An excellent insight into the life and lifestyle of a truly charismatic South African businessman. Rael writes with characteristic humour and searing honesty about his journey from a single-minded teen to the CEO and sole shareholder of the most formidable auction business on the African continent before a series of fateful mistakes brought it all down. The story is told against the backdrop of Jewish immigration to the continent and South Africa’s fight for freedom and is dusted with corporate intrigue, media scandal and the ventilation of sometimes decade-old vendettas. And, in the end, it’s an old-fashioned, gritty comeback story, after all, the best revenge is success." – Darryl Bernstein

Popular Highlights

This book shares an entrepreneurial journey of overcoming challenges and using adversity as my greatest teacher.

I can’t say I have all the answers, but I have always thought that personal fulfilment is about learning when and how to traverse the challenges we face.

One of my biggest mistakes had been building a business indelibly linked to me.

The career and the business I’d spent two decades building had been wiped out in weeks.

After everything that has happened – the good, the bad, the amazing and the disastrous – I have learnt that none of us can stop the waves.

Unexpected crises and failures had forced me to recognise how fragile success – and life – really is.

It was said that my story cleaned up the auction industry. But it operates today exactly as it did then.

Even though I was not in Cape Town that day and my house manager, Awek Mkweta, was the person who answered the door, Carte Blanche went to town on this fabrication.

We don’t get what we want or what we believe we deserve, and invariably we don’t land up living the lives that we planned or that we pictured we would.

My new business was grown on good luck, good people and an instinct to survive. By mid-2022, Inospace had grown to a market value of more than R3-billion.

When I first became the focus of the perceived ills in the industry, it was difficult to discern if the intention was to right wrongs in the marketplace or to castigate me personally.

I was unaware that a series of mishaps, blunders and bungles had triggered a train of killer waves that were heading towards Auction Alliance and me

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