Australian Books
But does it pass the breath, er, pub test?
Anne Summers in 2011 was named by Vogue magazine as ‘one of the world’s wisest women’. After reading her memoir…
Long march, short book
Rarely does one have the opportunity to understand the complexities of modern political problems through the lens of an artist.…
Rollicking Ruddick?
I first saw John Ruddick speak about party reform in 2011 as part of his quixotic run for NSW State…
Disturbing
‘There was no body. There was no wrench. There was no evidence.’ The first two statements are undoubtedly true. Lawyers…
Misplaced nostalgia
Michelle Grattan has been a part of the political landscape for nearly a half-century, so when she says that there…
Mysterious ways
This is Greg Sheridan’s best book because it is his bravest. He tackles an important subject in a challenging way…
Leaving Mangoland
When Donald Trump was elected President in 2016, irascible US comedian Lewis Black declared angrily that, thanks to that event,…
Oddballs and lefties
Ah, populism: is it a fulsome democratic expression of giving people what they want or merely join-the-dots fear-mongering? Bit of…
Sober liberal
Australia has a rich heritage of nineteenth century classical liberalism. But that history has been almost completely lost in the…
Wilder still and wilder
Hello! Hello! Hello! What have we here? What we have is the new Plant – the sixth – from Michael…
The Fighting Kangaroo
Jim Eames, an established and respected aviation writer, whose previous credits include The Flying Kangaroo, a history of Qantas, has…
Classic whodunnit
How many readers know the answer to the question, ‘After the Bible and Shakespeare, who is the biggest selling author…
Year of Ferrari
2017 was of course the year of Ferrari, as one of the most recognised luxury brands on the planet celebrated…
Books of 2017 – reviewed
When we look back at 2017 we will probably remember it as a year of minor issues that turned into…
Fame of Hall
Anne Watson’s book underlines the truth that in order to praise Jørn Utzon, whose architectural vision created the concept of…
A revolutionary act
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. Whilst this quote is often attributed to…
Warriors for liberty
It is sobering if not downright depressing to be reviewing two new books whose authors can be described as warriors…
Re-discovering Cook
Despite an unpleasant resurgence of anti-British, anti-European political correctness, Captain James Cook (1728-1779) remains one of the world’s greatest explorers.…
Ruck ‘n roll
As every Speccie reader certainly will be aware and no doubt heartily applaud, the game of rugby league was born…
Art of diplomacy
The language of diplomacy often requires nuance and subtlety. Not infrequently, it needs to be opaque, to enable differing interpretations;…
Diagnosing diversity
Our Constitution and the debates leading to it make clear our founders assumed citizens would enjoy five great liberal democratic…
Who needs jihad?
Citizens of New World nations – North and South America, Australia and New Zealand – invariably assume that anyone settling…
Class observation
A hoicked-up small boy sits astride a yoked-up heavy horse, while three sun-stained men smile at posterity. Hairy hooves press…
Revolving doors
There is a curious twist in the montage on the cover of Rodney Tiffen’s Disposable Leaders; a detailed treatise on…
Conspiracy theory
The death of Princess Diana twenty years ago has been the subject of a wealth of conspiracy theories. James Murray’s…
