Reviewed by Wendy Lipke Amy Remeikis is the Chief Political Analysist at The Australian Institute and contributing editor for the New Daily. She was a former political reporter for The Guardian Australia and has been celebrated for her powerful writing on gender, politics and social justice. However, her work has also generated reactions from those
Reviewed by E.B. Heath The profound genetic unity of species underscores the fact that all life is connected by a shared genetic heritage. Not so long ago Adrian Woolfson’s On the Future of Species would be classified as science fiction, but here we are, facing ‘a second Genesis’ in real time. This is essential reading.
Reviewed by Clare Brook In our brave new high tech world things are rarely what they seem to be. In The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI – How to Think About Artificial Intelligence Before It’s Too Late Cory Doctorow sorts the reality from the hype. Doctorow’s title is adapted from automation theory: a
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Whispering death is the name given to Australia’s Beaufighter planes that were crucial to turning back the Japanese invasion of southeast Asia in World War 2. The planes themselves were formidable, but this is the story of the pilots, crew and mechanics who made up the squadrons. Half a century later,
Reviewed by Gayle Williams James Hunt’s Love Needs No Words is a heartfelt memoir capturing the challenges and victories of raising his two non‑verbal autistic sons. Hunt brings readers into the everyday realities of their lives, highlighting what it means to parent children in a society that misunderstands them. Hunt’s memoir also highlights a very
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders Reading other peoples’ letters without their permission is probably a violation of modern privacy laws, but for those of us who enjoy that sort of thing, Postscript permits us to pry without guilt. The National Library of Australia holds millions of letters in its collections….by eminent and everyday Australians, [that] tell
Reviewed by Antonella Townsend My mother said, many times, that she was lucky, furthermore, it was better to be lucky than rich. Thankfully, on the subject of luck, I can now refer to a higher authority than mother, who incidentally would not walk under a ladder if her life depended on it. Nobuko Nakano, a
Reviewed by Norrie Sanders The world, Dom Thurbon tells us, is beset by lies, so how do we make truth happen? This very readable book, falling somewhere between self-improvement and philosophy, is a passionate defence of truth. The book is in two parts. The first explains why truth matters. The second, larger, part focuses on
Reviewed by E B Heath There is no time without the place, and no place without the time. Dr. J. M. Field is a Gamilaraay man, his book The Eagle & The Crow is not an easy read, but it is beautiful. He explains the sophisticated kinship systems of the Gamilaraay, how they are anchored
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Should one feel jaded or disillusioned about the state of Australian politics, the writer – rather the collector – of Dirty Politics claims to have the answer. As with everything political, readers really should accompany the contents with a pinch of NaCl. While being assured by the Macquarie National Dictionary team
Reviewed by Richard Tutin Sport is an integral part of Australian life. Everywhere you look some form of sport at whatever level you enjoy the most is being carried out on just about any day of the week. Sports require appropriate venues so that games can be conducted and both participants and audiences can be
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When a club or organisation is fortunate enough to celebrates its centenary, the usual starting point is the formation story. From there the rest of its story unfolds until it reaches the point or date when the centenary is celebrated. The 100-year period that Australian Football’s 100 Year Club marks is
Reviewed by Ian Lipke “Boobs are celebrated and scrutinised, fetishised and censored, worshipped and weaponised. As the saying goes: ‘Behind every great woman is a pair of boobs trying desperately to stay out of the conversation’.” The mood of this cheeky book, written mostly by Lisa Portolan, is reflected in the quote I have selected
Reviewed by Ian Lipke Debbie O’Shea is an experienced teacher of music who, over a lifetime, has taught students at all levels of exposure. While not necessarily documenting her life experiences, she has nevertheless provided a comprehensive picture of a busy teacher fully involved in her profession. Anecdotal material exists throughout the account to support
Reviewed by Richard Tutin When we watch a sporting event, we mostly see the players or in the case of motor racing the drivers. While they are the stars of the show because they are in the forefront, behind them are many whose talents and efforts keep the show on the road. Formula 1 (F1)