MARK LILLA Ignorance and Bliss: On wanting not to know. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
In Ignorance and Bliss, political scientist Mark Lilla gives a timely examination of why we can be so keen to avoid the truth. The Enlightenment, aka the Age of Reason, is based on the assumption that we want to acquire knowledge about ourselves and how the world...
CLEM BASTOW and JO CASE (eds) Someone Like Me: An anthology of non-fiction by Autistic writers. Reviewed by Kylie Mason
This diverse anthology challenges stereotypes by bringing together Autistic women and gender-diverse writers to share their experiences. In their introduction to Someone Like Me, editors Clem Bastow and Jo Case say: Spending time with these twenty-five essays, piecing...
DAVID MARR My Country: Stories, essays and speeches. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
In this collection, David Marr presents 50 years of his thinking and writing about Australia. David Marr is one of Australia’s leading journalists, and he has been commenting on things Australian for over fifty years. In his preface he says, ‘Curiosity, mischief and...
LIZ PELLY Mood Machine. Reviewed by Naomi Manuell
Liz Pelly’s analysis of music streaming giant Spotify and its impact on independent artists is both fascinating and disturbing. Since its beginnings in 2006, Spotify has grown into the largest provider of music streaming in the world. For almost the last decade, music...
PAT CUMMINS Tested. Reviewed by Bernard Whimpress
In Tested, Australia’s cricket captain speaks to leaders in diverse fields to discover their motivation and draw lessons from their success. The blurb on the front cover of Tested says ‘Big Decisions. Small Decisions. The remarkable power of resolve’ and this provides...
LECH BLAINE Australian Gospel: A family saga. Reviewed by Mary Garden
Lech Blaine’s memoir recounts the ongoing harassment his family suffered from the parents of his foster siblings. Australian Gospel: A family saga by Lech Blaine is the story of two families whose lives intersect in an extraordinary way. Blaine emphasises that...
MARK RAY Cricket: A portrait of the game. Reviewed by Bernard Whimpress
Mark Ray’s third book of cricket photography captures in black and white the majesty of the game in its quieter moments. Top-level cricket in the modern era is all about crash, dash, flash and colour, all delivered at a fast pace. Twenty20 sets the tone with thrilling...
TODD LEY Smashed: Tennis prodigies, parents, and parasites. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck
Todd Ley’s account of his time as a tennis prodigy may be one of the most important books you will ever read on tennis. Todd Ley was born into a dysfunctional family. His father, who he refers to as ‘Mad Max’, was ‘a traumatised yet charismatic character,...
JONATHAN WATTS The Many Lives of James Lovelock: Science, Secrets and Gaia Theory. Reviewed by Ann Skea
Jonathan Watts relates the extraordinary life of scientist, engineer, Gaia theorist and spy, Englishman James Lovelock. James Lovelock is best known as the ‘father’ of the Gaia theory, which claims that the Earth ‘functioned like an organism to maintain a habitable...
HELEN GARNER The Season. Reviewed by Michael Jongen
Helen Garner’s account of a single season of her grandson’s AFL team is about more than football. Helen Garner may have begun her career as a novelist, but she has long been admired for her non-fiction, which has been defined by its fearless honesty and unflinching...
CHER The Memoir Part 1. Reviewed by Naomi Manuell
Cher is a genuine superstar who has had an extraordinary career across music, film and television. Now her memoir recounts how she got there. Cher prefaces Part 1 of her long-awaited memoir by recalling her reaction to seeing Elvis Presley performing at 1956 concert...
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