January 2012

The Genome Generation - Elizabeth Finkel

‘Finkel writes that her aim is to 'empower the reader to know what to ask' of genomes and in this task she has certainly succeeded. Her wit, knowledge and fascination with the intricacies of genomes is evident, and quite frankly, contagious’ (AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/01/2012) Read full review (0.68MB, pdf)

‘This book is an accomplished work of scientific literacy.’ (COSMOS, 01/01/2012) Read full review (1.43MB, pdf)

‘This is science writing of the highest order’ (THE CANBERRA TIMES, 21/01/2012) Read full review (0.11MB, pdf)

‘As well as making sense of all the science, Finkel deftly captures the excitement behind all the ferment’ (THE AGE, 21/01/2012) Read full review (0.18MB, pdf)

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November 2011

Ray Martin’s Favourites - Ray Martin

‘Favourites is a fascinating read with a number of the interviewees no longer with us. Reading Heath Ledger describe acting as a game, that he is able to “laugh at myself” makes his later story so much sadder.’ (MARGARET LINLEY, GEELONG ADVERTISER, 25/10/2011) Read full review (0.67MB, pdf)

‘After a television career spanning more than 45 years, award-winning journalist Ray Martin is in an ideal position to narrate the stories behind the legends.’ (RAMA GAIND, PS NEWS, 25/11/2011) Read full review (0.14MB, pdf)

‘Martin's book offers insights into some of the people who most impressed him during his career from celebrities to ordinary folks, all with stories to tell.’ (SOUTH COAST REGISTER, 09/11/2011) Read full review (2.96MB, pdf)

‘Ray Martin has been on television for more than 40 years as a journalist and presenter on the ABC and Channel 9 and in that time he has interviewed many stars. The best are here, along with some funny asides that didn't make it on to the screen.’ (SUNDAY TERRITORIAN, 27/11/2011) Read full review (0.85MB, pdf)

‘The book offers an insight into some extraordinary people, from celebrities to ordinary folks, all with stories to tell.’ (TOOWOOMBA’S MAIL, 24/11/2011) Read full review (0.56MB, pdf)

Shannon Bennett's France - Shannon Bennett and Scott Murray

‘This pretty hardback is more than a guide for those fabulous few who summer In the South of France. It's a mouth-watering armchair holiday in itself, complete with gorgeous recipes, expert tips on wine and food, and even advice on clearing with snooty wai’ (LEILA MCKINNON, AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY, 01/12/2011) Read full review (0.27MB, pdf)

‘Shannon Bennett's France…gives you information straight up – if the Vue de Monde chef doesn't like something he'll say so – and this guide features some of his favourite French recipes.’ (QANTAS MAGAZINE, 01/11/2011) Read full review (1.4MB, pdf)

‘Dreaming of a sojourn in the south of France? By reading Shannon Bennett's book, which takes tour of this divine country famous for its food, you'll have plane tickets booked by the end of a gastronomic summer.’ (SUNDAY EXAMINER, 08/01/2012) Read full review (0.24MB, pdf)

Notebooks - Betty Churcher

‘Who could fail to be moved by Betty Churcher's determination to defy her failing eyesight by sketching the great works of art that had mesmerized her since childhood?’ (JANE SULLIVAN, THE SATURDAY AGE, 22/10/2011) Read full review (0.66MB, pdf)

‘In this beautiful publication, Betty Churcher shares her personal journey through some of the most intriguing and important masterpieces of painting in the history of Western art. It is a delight to hold, to read, and, most importantly, to look at.’ (ALAN DODGE, AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW, 01/06/2011) Read full review (0.05MB, pdf)

‘This is a beautiful coffee table book that will appeal to lovers of art, history and travel.’ (ANDRE HANKE, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/03/2011) Read full review (1.53MB, pdf)

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October 2011

Collingwood: A love Story - Paul Daley

‘It's a wonderful and touching Australian story. You don't have to like Collingwood, or even Aussie Rules, to love this book.’ (ILLAWARRA MERCURY, 08/10/2011) Read full review (0.52MB, pdf)

‘Collingwood, A Love Story is a deceptively simple title for a complex, multilayered account that combines local, national and global history with a touch of fiction played out against a backdrop of the early days of a working-class suburb, the depression,’ (GABRIELLE MURPHY, THE AGE, 12/10/2011)

‘Author Paul Daley has woven together family tales, newspaper articles, military records, football club histories and archival records to tell the story of the three friends, the football club and Anzac Day.’ (PITTWATER LIFE, 01/11/2011) Read full review (1.32MB, pdf)

‘It is said that Victorians comprise of two types of people those who barrack for Collingwood and those who do not. However, everyone will love Collingwood: A Love Story’ (BALLARAT COURIER, 13/10/2011) Read full review (0.12MB, pdf)

‘Daley's research into the history has been comprehensive and detailed…Collingwood: A Love Story is a well-written record of a captivating tale from the Australian past.’ (PETER CROSSING, CANBERRA TIMES, 15/10/2011) Read full review (1.11MB, pdf)

Greeniology 2020 - Tanya Ha

‘Greeniology 2020 shows practical ways to make your life greener, and evidence-based reasons to help you understand why those changes matter.’ (G MAGAZINE, 01/10/2011)

Seasons at Home - Holly Kerr Forsyth

‘Seasons at Home features a range of seasonal dishes, as well as practical information on ‘household arts’ such as flower arrangement and table decorations.’ (AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/10/2011)

‘We are loving this book that crosses from the garden to the home to the kitchen, month by month and season by season, with stunning photography to match.’ (ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, 08/04/2011)

‘Her books are an inspiration for anyone wanting to nourish themselves and their family.’ (WOMEN’S DAY, 11/08/2011)

‘Kerr-Forsyth is a popular newspaper garden columnist. She changes direction in this beautifully compiled book, focusing on seasonal cooking and entertaining for family meals and special events…her fans will welcome this new book illustrated with her own p’ (ILLAWARRA MERCURY, 12/11/2011) Read full review (1.85MB, pdf)

The Garden of Ideas - Richard Aitken

‘A] scholarly, well written and eminently readable history of the development of the Australian gardening style and its place in the past, present and future.’ (FRIENDS OF BOTANIC GARDENS, 01/11/2011) Read full review (0.25MB, pdf)

‘A] crisp literary parterre that still admits of a wild profusion of ideas, manifested in a fascinating, example-studded text and spectacular photographs, drawings, paintings, plans, maps and magazine covers drawn from four centuries of Australian style.’ (WEEKEND WEST, 01/10/2011) Read full review (3.27MB, pdf)

‘A beautifully illustrated publication that tells the inspiring story of Australian garden design from the late 18th century to today. It features paintings, drawings, prints, plans and photographs, many of which have never been published.’ (STATE LIBRARY NEWS, 01/10/2011) Read full review (0.14MB, pdf)

The Fog on the Hill - Frank Sartor

‘Sartor's The Fog on the Hill is a sardonic firsthand account of how Labor lost office at the last state election…The real value of Sartor's book is the author's long experience as a Labor heavyweight, first as Sydney mayor, then as a state minister before’ (CANBERRA TIMES, 05/11/2011) Read full review (0.37MB, pdf)

‘[A] brutally honest government insider's account of how the last NSW Labor government became the greatest political train smash Australia has seen.’ (SUNDAY CANBERRA TIMES, 16/10/2011) Read full review (0.99MB, pdf)

Men are Stupid, Women are Crazy - Peter Ruehl

‘He's become, for those who appreciate his wit and humour, an institution and a man we're proud to call our own.’ (BILL SHORTEN, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 07/01/2012) Read full review (0.49MB, pdf)

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September 2011

A Tragedy in Two Acts - Fiona Harari

‘This a riveting book about a high-profile Federal Court judge and the flamboyant, but dead, female academic brought to life by his claim that she was driving his speeding car in Mosman one Sunday afternoon in January 2006.’ (THE CANBERRA TIMES, 08/10/2011) Read full review (0.36MB, pdf)

‘Harari displays all her journalistic talents to produce a psychological report of two Australians whose career—in is case—and life—in hers—were brought abruptly to an end.’ (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, 09/10/2011) Read full review (0.28MB, pdf)

‘Verdict: ****’ (SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 09/10/2011) Read full review (0.18MB, pdf)

Black Dog Daze - Andrew Robb

‘Black Dog Daze provides valuable insight into one man’s experience of depression and how he managed to tame it.’ (THE AGE, 24/09/2011) Read full review (0.87MB, pdf)

‘This is a life-affirming and inspirational read that traces his journey from early childhood as one of nine kids on a sheep property at Flowerdale in the Great Dividing Range, through to his current position.’ (SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 25/09/2011) Read full review (0.41MB, pdf)

A Hostile Beauty - Alistair Dermer and Danielle Wood

‘The solo penguin in unique scrubland, a plateau lake after a night of snow, the sculpted curves of seaweed and a fur seal yawning among a blubbery harem each evokes a longing for this wind-blasted outcrop far south of Tasmania. Verdict: a lesson for the f’ (SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 01/10/2011) Read full review (2.21MB, pdf)

‘Like the fragile Macquarie landscape of shifting beach and ocean, the book is a careful balance between Wood's finely crafted words and Dermer's striking photographs that show not just the island's bird and animal life but its plants and panoramas.’ (SUNDAY TASMANIAN, 11/09/2011) Read full review (0.37MB, pdf)

An Unwinnable War - Karen Middleton

‘Middleton plays it pretty well down the middle, drawing on a wide range of first-hand sources and doing her best to show the historical context of unfolding events.’ (DEREK PARKER, THE SPECTATOR AUSTRALIA, 18/10/2011) Read full review (0.08MB, pdf)

‘It's an important contribution to the history of our involvement in Afghanistan.’ (STEPHEN SMITH, DEFENCE MINISTER, 05/09/2011)

‘Middleton has been studiously professional in balancing the views she presents throughout this sad chronicle of a conflict, which, in retrospect, is unlikely to be seen as worth the human cost.’ (RICHARD THWAITES, CANBERRA TIMES, 01/10/2011) Read full review (2.14MB, pdf)

‘An Unwinnable War is a first-class account of Australia's role in Afghanistan that deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in Australian foreign policy and/or military history.’ (DAVID COOMBES, SUNDAY TASMANIAN, 30/10/2011)

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August 2011

8 Steps to Happiness - Dr Anthony M. Grant and Alison Leigh

‘…The 8 steps program gives you nononsense tools to make real change in your life.’ (SUNDAY EXAMINER, 07/08/2011) Read full review (0.76MB, pdf)

‘Short, sharp and full of practical advice, this is a selfhelp book for those who are time-poor but keen to make long-term sustainable changes for the better.’ (EMMA SCARPELLA, SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 31/07/2011) Read full review (2.13MB, pdf)

Armageddon - Paul Daley & Michael Bowers

‘Part blokey travelogue, part historical snippets and part political musing, Armageddon makes fascinating reading and absorbing viewing.’ (PETER STANLEY, CANBERRA TIMES, 06/08/2011) Read full review (0.3MB, pdf)

Babylon - Stephen Sewell

‘This is a detective story turned on its head... a tightly written literary crime novel.’ (RACHEL EDWARDS, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/07/2011) Read full review (2.65MB, pdf)

Fair Cop - Christine Nixon with Jo Chandler

‘Nixon: a trailblazer for women in policing, a rebel within the force, a high-achieving Australian, public enemy number one.’ (MEGAN NEIL, BALLARAT COURIER, 06/08/2011) Read full review (1.03MB, pdf)

The Liam Jurrah Story - Bruce Hearn Mackinnon

‘Mackinnon's book is more than a story of football it is also a story of the cultural challenges faced by a talented Aboriginal man.’ (FRANK NOLAN, BALLARAT COURIER, 11/08/2011) Read full review (0.53MB, pdf)

‘What emerges is that Liam Jurrah is not just an amazing football talent, he is a remarkable young man. His resilience and determination to succeed, to rise above the heartbreak and ’ (SEAN STEVENSON, HOBART MERCURY, 08/08/2011) Read full review (0.51MB, pdf)

‘It is incumbent on the AFL fraternity and all Australians to ensure we learn from The Liam Jurrah Story.’ (SEAN STEVENSON, HOBART MERCURY, 08/08/2011) Read full review (0.51MB, pdf)

The Spirit of Golf and How It Applies to Life - Richard Allen

‘Allen finds life lessons in the triumphs and the disasters of the great and the not-so-great. From Old Tom Morris to Tiger, he delivers a rich collection of stories.’ (HERALD SUN, 06/08/2011) Read full review (1.71MB, pdf)

‘Recounting stories from the game's 600-year history, this is one for lovers of the game as much as those unfamiliar with it.’ (PAUL DONOUGHUE, SUNDAY MAIL BRISBANE, 03/07/2011) Read full review (0.1MB, pdf)

Movida’s Guide to Barcelona - Frank Camorra and Richard Cornish

‘MoVida’s Guide to Barcelona is a guide to all things delicious in the Spanish city.’ (ANDREA HANKE, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/08/2011) Read full review (1.55MB, pdf)

‘The funky, handbag-sized guide has maps, restaurant recommendations and a list of essential dishes and ingredients, ideal for decoding foreign menus.’ (SHARNEE RAWSON, BRISBANE NEWS, 03/08/2011) Read full review (2.66MB, pdf)

‘…the book is beautifully illustrated with photos of the restaurants, the food, and the city itself. If this doesn't make you want to visit Barcelona, nothing will.’ (MADELINE HEALY, COURIER MAIL, 30/07/2011) Read full review (3.89MB, pdf)

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July 2011

Lost in Transit - David F Dufty

‘It’s the best kind of popular science—a book that doesn’t require any previous knowledge, but leaves you hungry to know more, and wondering at the possibilities that may lie ahead.’ (LACHLAN JOBBINS, BOOKSELLER+PUBLISHER, 01/06/2011) Read full review (0.57MB, pdf)

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June 2011

Understanding Troubled Minds - Sidney Bloch

‘…provides calm and authoritative guidance through the full range of mental illnesses and their treatment …’ (THE AGE, 06/06/2011) Read full review (0.19MB, pdf)

The Afghanistan Conflict and Australia’s Role - Amin Saikal

‘The war goes on and, many argue, it is little understood. This is a thorough, sometimes academic, analysis of the conflict from 11 contributors familiar with varying aspects of the war.’ (STEVEN CARROLL, THE SATURDAY AGE, 23/07/2011) Read full review (4.5MB, pdf)

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May 2011

An Eye for Eternity - Mark McKenna

‘An Eye for Eternity paints a sweeping portrait of the man who gave Australians the signature account of their own history.’ (THE AGE, 11/04/2011) Read full review (1.41MB, pdf)

‘McKenna's biography a [is] remarkable achievement, at every level … McKenna, even after 800 pages, left me yearning for more.’ (MARTIN CROTTY, COURIER MAIL, 02/07/2011) Read full review (0.67MB, pdf)

‘… reveals Clark's strange world with awesome detail and richness.’ (DES HOUGHTON, COURIER MAIL, 30/05/2011) Read full review (1MB, pdf)

‘[McKenna] is a genuine enquirer who wants to guide us rather than aggrandise himself.’ (JOHN HIRST, THE MONTHLY, 12/05/2011) Read full review (1.03MB, pdf)

‘An Eye for Eternity is well paced, offers constant shifts in perspective, and is perceptive in its judgments.’ (JIM DAVIDSON, THE SATURDAY AGE, 30/05/2011) Read full review (1.62MB, pdf)

Feeling the Heat - Jo Chandler

‘Her penetrating, insightful questions create, piece by piece, an objective, evidence driven picture of what we are actually facing: imminent global catastrophe.’ (RICK SULLIVAN, ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, 11/06/2011) Read full review (0.53MB, pdf)

‘Feeling the Heat, is a tour de force of reason and journalistic research and explanation.’ (GOOD READING, 01/06/2011) Read full review (5.09MB, pdf)

‘Writing with head and heart, she neither overloads with dry facts nor slips into misty romanticism. Her tone is measured and elegant, making her conclusions all the more unsettling.’ (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 04/06/2011) Read full review (1.04MB, pdf)

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April 2011

Finding Valentino - Angela Di Sciascio

‘A warm and engaging travelogue’ (SUNDAY AGE, 01/05/2011) Read full review (0.13MB, pdf)

‘… lovely, and ultimately moving, read for those seeking a better understanding of a diverse country, which has shaped our own social and culinary identity.’ (ROSEMARIE MILSOM, SUN HERALD, 08/05/2011) Read full review (0.44MB, pdf)

‘The recipes alone make this book a worthwhile read.’ (MADELINE HEALY, COURIER MAIL, 09/04/2011) Read full review (2.39MB, pdf)

‘… follow Angela Di Sciascio's journey to Abruzzo to discover more about her father and the dishes of his childhood which are lovingly recounted in the pages.’ (DELICIOUS, 01/05/2011) Read full review (3.21MB, pdf)

Illusion of Victory - Ian Bickerton

‘Ian Bickerton persuasively argues that as the rhetoric of victory becomes more hollow all countries must adopt creative new approaches to resolving disputes.’ (CAMPUS REVIEW, 05/04/2011) Read full review (2.38MB, pdf)

‘Facts are marshalled by the legion and well deployed for the argument … This is an interesting polemic that deserves to provoke debate.’ (RICHARD THWAITES, CANBERRA TIMES, 14/05/2011) Read full review (0.74MB, pdf)

‘… a clever and unusual analysis of how we have come to define ‘victory’ … Ian Bickerton marshals a largely convincing argument that the costs of war ultimately outweigh the benefits.’ (PAUL WILLIAMS, COURIER MAIL, 23/04/2011) Read full review (0.76MB, pdf)

Notebooks - Betty Churcher

‘Notebooks is a rewarding memoir: a careful calibration of beautifully reproduced art works … few are equipped to provide such distilled observations.’ (PATRICIA ANDERSON, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 23/04/2011) Read full review (1.94MB, pdf)

‘It will … give you a new perspective on so many aspects of a painting. It is also a beautiful read.’ (LYN MILLS, SUNDAY CANBERRA TIMES, 10/04/2011) Read full review (1.87MB, pdf)

‘Churcher writes with clarity and humility as she leads the reader to discover intimate details of the paintings and experience their exquisite beauty. ’ (FRANK NOLAN, BALLARAT COURIER, 21/04/2011) Read full review (0.48MB, pdf)

‘… a beautifully produced memoir with her own drawings and notes beside the originals.’ (JEAN FERGUSON, ILLAWARRA MERCURY, 30/04/2011) Read full review (0.34MB, pdf)

‘This is a beautiful coffee table book that will appeal to lovers of art, history and travel …’ (ANDREA HANKE, BOOKSELLER + PUBLISHER, 10/03/2011) Read full review (1.53MB, pdf)

‘It is a delight to hold, to read, and, most importantly, to look at.’ (ALAN DODGE, ABR, 01/06/2011) Read full review (0.05MB, pdf)

‘If you enjoyed Betty Churcher's various TV series or laughed with her during her many interviews – or if you admire an articulate person's enthusiasm for art and life - you'll love this book. I did.’ (CLIVE HODGES, GOOD READING, 01/06/2011) Read full review (5.2MB, pdf)

‘… generous and eminently readable book.’ (CATHY PEAKE, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 02/07/2011) Read full review (1.83MB, pdf)

Witnesses to War - Fay Anderson and Richard Trembath

‘Witnesses to War is a valuable new history of Australian journalists in conflict zones, full of anecdotes and personalities.’ (JUDITH IRELAND, CANBERRA TIMES, 30/04/2011) Read full review (0.28MB, pdf)

‘… this book presents a comprehensive account of Aussie reporters who covered conflicts from World War I onwards.’ (ALEXANDER MCROBBIE, COURIER MAIL, 23/04/2011) Read full review (0.82MB, pdf)

‘Richard Trembath and Fay Anderson let the colour and drama, and the vivid personalities, into their text, but keep them at the right critical distance.’ (THE SATURDAY AGE, 14/05/2011) Read full review (1.35MB, pdf)

‘This thoroughly annotated book, complete with black and white plates, notes and index, is a marvellous addition to our understanding of the news media.’ (PAUL WILLIAMS, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 23/04/2011) Read full review (1.94MB, pdf)

‘… a landmark history of Australian war journalism covering the major conflicts of the 20th Century …’ (AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MAGAZINE, 01/06/2011) Read full review (2.53MB, pdf)

‘Witnesses to War isn't only a highly engaging and well-made work of media history … it also gives us a look up-close at the mechanics of nation-building.’ (SATURDAY AGE, 14/05/2011) Read full review (1.35MB, pdf)

Against Remembrance - David Rieff

‘This is an essay of rare intellectual daring, erudition and emotional force.’ (FIONA CAPP, THE AGE , 22/04/2011) Read full review (2.22MB, pdf)

‘Rieff has written one of those books that, whether it frustrates or pleases you, will leave you unable to resist discussing its contents with friends and strangers alike.’ (JOSH ROSNER, CANBERRA TIMES, 07/05/2011) Read full review (0.61MB, pdf)

‘… as a reporter in Bosnia, where he saw grudges half a millennium old turn to genocidal horror. His book is a cry from the heart for not just forgiving, but forgetting.’ (RICK SULLIVAN, ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, 23/04/2011) Read full review (0.63MB, pdf)

The Most Dangerous Man in the World - Andrew Fowler

‘… by far the best book written about WikiLeaks …’ (JOEL DEANE, ABR, 01/05/2011) Read full review (1.06MB, pdf)

‘The Most Dangerous Man in the World is the thrilling, definitive account of WikiLeaks and the man who is as secretive as the organisations he targets.’ (THE AGE, 06/06/2011) Read full review (0.28MB, pdf)

‘This book is the thrilling, definitive account of WikiLeaks and the man behind it.’ (BRISBANE NEWS, 20/04/2011) Read full review (0.95MB, pdf)

‘The one really independent account is that of Andrew Fowler (The Most Dangerous Man in the World), who writes with all the skill, economy and penetration he brings to his ABC TV investigative journalism.’ (SIMON CATERSON, WALKLEY MAGAZINE, 01/05/2011) Read full review (1.67MB, pdf)

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March 2011

Shannon Bennett's New York - Shannon Bennett and Scott Murray

‘“Once again, Bennett and co have delivered a delicious collection of travel tips, restaurant reviews, hotel recommendations and foodie fun, this time in the incredible city of New York.” ’ (HANNAH CARTMEL, AUSTRALIAN PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER, 01/03/2011) Read full review (1.57MB, pdf)

‘“…this book is the best eye candy money can buy. Chef Shannon Bennett from Vue de monde, takes readers to his favourite restaurants, hotels and bars and gives us tips on where to find the best hot dogs, burgers and cocktails. “’ (MADELINE HEALY, COURIER MAIL, 19/02/2011) Read full review (1.67MB, pdf)

‘It's a mouth-watering paean to New York's multifaceted and multicultural culinary character. If you've never been, it'll make you want to book a flight tomorrow; if you have enjoyed a taste of the Big Apple, it'll make you hanker for another bite.’ (MARK IRVING, WEEKEND WEST, 26/03/2011) Read full review (1.05MB, pdf)

‘…a beautiful and comprehensive guide to the city's culinary hot spots.’ (INSIDER, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, 20/02/2011) Read full review (0.94MB, pdf)

‘…provides a fascinating insight into this amazing city's culture. And the recipes sprinkled throughout provides an instant hit of NYC.’ (AMANDA HORSWILL, SUNDAY MAIL BRISBANE, 13/03/2011) Read full review (1.12MB, pdf)

King of Stings - James Morton and Susanna Lobez

‘…more than 50 pages of notes and references, an invaluable research aid to anyone interested in the field.’ (SIMON CATERSON, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 04/02/2011) Read full review (4.65MB, pdf)

‘“…highly entertaining and often shocking new book…”’ (THE TO-DO LIST, SUNDAY EXAMINER, 13/03/2011) Read full review (1MB, pdf)

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February 2011

Infiltration - Colin McLaren

‘“It's a blisteringly intense book that often reads more like a fictional crime thriller than the reallife recollections of the Victorian detective who orchestrated the biggest sting in Australian history.”’ (TERRY OBERG, COURIER MAIL, 12/02/2011) Read full review (1.03MB, pdf)

‘“The real beauty of this book lies in combining the tense excitement of the criminal world with the head-banging frustration of working within the confines of the police force.”’ (JON KAILA, SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 20/02/2011) Read full review (0.87MB, pdf)

Choke - Sian Beilock

‘“In an energetic tour of the latest research, Beilock explains the inescapable links between body and mind, and shows how to succeed brilliantly when it matters most.”’ (SUNDAY EXAMINER, 20/02/2011) Read full review (0.78MB, pdf)

Franklin and Eleanor - Hazel Rowley

‘“Rowley is a biographer of the very first order and this rosy account of the Roosevelts shows no diminution of her skills. This book will provide a new generation with a succinct account of the lives and time of two Americans of unquestionable human worth’ (CARMEN CALLIL, THE MONTHLY, 01/02/2011) Read full review (1.49MB, pdf)

‘“Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage is a deft and hypnotically readable history of the Roosevelt era.”’ (MORAG FRASER, SATURDAY AGE, 05/02/2011) Read full review (1.41MB, pdf)

‘“Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage is that rarest of books: a political biography you just can't leave alone…You’ll be reading into the wee hours.”’ (WEEKENDER, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/03/2011) Read full review (1.41MB, pdf)

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January 2011

The Original Rules of Tennis - Bodleian Library

‘“Tennis fans can track the origins of their favourite ball game back to medieval times in this pocket-size book, perfect for flicking through while watching the Australian Open.”’ (ALEXANDRA NASH, DAILY TELEGRAPH, 08/01/2011) Read full review (1.29MB, pdf)

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December 2010

The Man Who Loved Children - Christina Stead

‘“It has assumed its rightful place as an Australian classic and one of the great novels of the 20th century. “ ’ (JAMES LEY, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 20/11/2010) Read full review (1.17MB, pdf)

‘“…deemed a masterpiece, most recently by Jonathan Franzen, an American master of dysfunctional families.” ’ (SUSAN WYNDHAM, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 01/01/1970) Read full review (3.16MB, pdf)

‘“A dazzling novel of a girl's childhood (one of the best ever written) which transposes harbourside Sydney to Annapolis and Maryland.”’ (PETER CRAVEN, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 04/12/2010) Read full review (1MB, pdf)

So This Is Life - Anne Manne

‘“A beautiful memoir that is sure to have many meandering into the country this summer.”’ (WENDY HALL, COURIER MAIL, 11/01/2011) Read full review (0.94MB, pdf)

On Passion PB - Dorothy Porter

‘“Her essay is a vivid exploration of what inspires one writer, and a warmly energetic addition to the `On' series.”’ (PORTIA LINDSAY, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER, 01/03/2010) Read full review (1.56MB, pdf)

‘“…the 10,000 word essay is a fearless reflection on the subjects that gave her life meaning: poetry, desire, nature, music and most powerfully, her own mortality.”’ (FRANCES ATKINSON, THE AGE, 22/02/2010) Read full review (0.22MB, pdf)

‘“Sprinkled with events from her youth and childhood this is a special little book. A delightful essay. “’ (KAYE BRIEN, LAUNCESTON EXAMINER, 06/03/2010) Read full review (3.09MB, PDF)

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November 2010

Seasons in My House and Garden - Holly Kerr Forsyth

‘Beautifully written and presented, another gardening gem from Holly Kerr Forsyth. The beauty, and success, of her books is the ability to pick them up and instantly access the information you need’ (HERALD SUN, 23/10/2010) Read full review (2.35MB, pdf)

‘The Kerr Forsyth home provides the backdrop for her latest, elegant publication, Seasons in My House and Garden, a book for which the phrase ’ (THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, 13/12/2010) Read full review (2.93MB, pdf)

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger - Archie Thompson and Michael Winkler

‘His fun and modest recount of the night he etched his name in the history book … is one of many tales in this autobiography that stamps him as a class act and a classy Australian sports star. There is no shortage of sports biographies stroking already inf’ (SUNDAY HERALD SUN, 14/11/2010) Read full review (1.21MB, pdf)

Sphere of Influence - Gideon Haigh

‘A superb blow-by-blow guide to the creation of the IPL and the machinations, horse-trading and internecine battles behind it, and is as teeming and convoluted as one could possibly imagine. Haigh's description does well to straighten out threads of order ’ (ADELAIDE REVIEW, 15/11/2010) Read full review (3.85MB, pdf)

‘With his background in both business and cricket journalism, Haigh is ideally placed to produce such a comprehensive, authoritative and readable commentary. The question is not whether you’ll stock the book, but how many copies you should order’ (BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 15/11/2010) Read full review (0.35MB, pdf)

Confessions of a Faceless Man - Paul Howes

‘For us political tragics, this is a great book’ (MARGOT SAVILLE, CRIKEY, 09/11/2010) Read full review (3.45MB, pdf)

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October 2010

Eight Steps to Happiness - Dr Anthony M. Grant and Alison Leigh

‘“Well laid out, easy to understand and serious in it’s approach to it’s subject, with a clear Australian stamp on it.”’ (IAN HALLETT, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER, 01/10/2010) Read full review (1.54MB, pdf)

Man Bites Murdoch - Bruce Guthrie

‘“[A] juicy account of how Guthrie was boned by News and successfully (and rather lucratively) sued for unfair dismissal.”’ (CRIKEY.COM.AU, 14/10/2010) Read full review (3.87MB, pdf)

‘“Man Bites Murdoch contains a treasure trove of titbits that will have media watchers feverishly scanning the index when it hits bookshops”’ (ANDREW COOK, CRIKEY.COM.AU, 11/10/2010) Read full review (1.24MB, pdf)

‘"If you liked Who Killed Channel 9? You will love the appropriately titled Man Bites Murdoch." Click here to read more. ’ (TONI WHITMONT, BOOKTOPIA.COM , 15/10/2010)

‘“A delicious spray.” Click here to read more.’ ( RICHARD ACKLAND, THE JUSTINIAN, 21/10/2010)

‘“Engaging, funny, fascinating and sometimes, hard-to-believe …a rollicking good story, expertly written and edited.” Click here to read more’ (CATHERINE WOODS, LIPMAG.COM, 13/10/2010)

‘“Recommended…It reads like someone who doesn’t expect to edit another newspaper and is therefore free to be frank.”’ (GIDEON HAIGH, THE AGE, 01/01/1970) Read full review (3.6MB, pdf)

‘“A well-crafted story that is part memoir and part reportage.”’ (CORRIE PERKIN, THE WEEKLY REVIEW, 20/10/2010) Read full review (1.97MB, pdf)

‘“A treasure trove of tidbits” Click here to read more.’ (ANDREW CROOK, CRIKEY, 11/10/2010)

‘"Journalists, media junkies, some of the players and politicians will no doubt sink their teeth into Man Bites Murdoch...an insider’s read, sprinkled with tales of bastardry and double-dealing."’ (MALCOLM SCHMIDTKE, THE SPECTATOR, 10/10/2010)

‘Man Bites Murdoch is well written and highly entertaining ... Guthrie certainly knows how to tell a story.’ (GERARD NOONAN, THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 27/11/2010) Read full review (0.12MB, pdf)

‘Guthrie's two-finger salute to News joins Paul Barry's The Rise And Rise Of Kerry Packer, as a must-read title on the bizarre, fascinating and 60s throwback worlds that are the boardrooms of Australian media.’ (DAVID KNIGHT, ADELAIDE REVIEW, 01/11/2010) Read full review (0.09MB, pdf)

Art + Soul - Hetti Perkins

‘“This lavishly illustrated book captures the energy and diversity of Aboriginal Art.”’ (CAMPUS REVIEW, 15/10/2010)

‘“The art featured is inseparable from matters of the soul. Just as compelling as the work are the stories of the artists, their personalities, beliefs and often mischievous take on the world.”’ (AMRUTA SLEE, QANTAS THE AUSTRALIAN WAY, 15/10/2010) Read full review (2.19MB, pdf)

‘“Hetti Perkins guides the audience on not only a discovery of new art, but a path of knowledge into the backgrounds of the artists profiled.”’ (EM, TV WEEK, 02/10/2010) Read full review (0.32MB, pdf)

‘“A visually stunning three-part documentary series that follows Perkins around Australia as she visits the studios and homes of some of Australia's most significant indigenous contemporary artists while paying tribute to those of the past.”’ (WILLIAM YEOMAN, WEST AUSTRALIAN, 15/10/2010)

‘The book is produced to a high level of expertise, with crisp professional illustrations beautifully reproduced and comprehensively documented’ (THE CANBERRA TIMES, 13/11/2010)

The Garden of Ideas: Four Centuries of Australian Style - Richard Aitken

‘“Aitken has analysed worldwide garden trends over the centuries and traced Australian garden design, from the aspirations of the emigrant garden-makers to the climate change and sustainability concerns of 21st century gardeners.”’ (DENISE GADD, THE AGE, 01/09/2010)

‘From seventeenth-century imaginings, to the Australian bush landscape and modern city settings, each place and time is beautifully reviewed by Aitken and supported by evocative images many unearthed by Aitken himself in his tireless research for this book’ (LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, 15/11/2010) Read full review (0.44MB, pdf)

The Party Thieves - Barrie Cassidy

‘“Barrie Cassidy follows the trajectory of Kevin Rudd, from the heady days of Kevin 07 to the bitter reality of Kevin O'Lemon.”’ (SUNDAY CANBERRA TIMES, 17/10/2010) Read full review (1.53MB, pdf)

‘His experience in telling a story that joins the dots in a fast-changing political landscape sets The Party Thieves as the standard text on precisely what happened in 2010’ (THE AGE, 20/11/2010) Read full review (0.76MB, pdf)

‘Barrie Cassidy ruthlessly and compellingly exposes the political cynicism and manipulation of the post-Howard era. Far too experienced to be fooled by the contrivances of media managers and political staffers, Cassidy knows when the emperor has no clothes’ (THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 06/11/2010) Read full review (4.07MB, pdf)

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September 2010

Everfresh: Blackbook - Everfresh Studio

‘“A hip coffee-table book of street art by the Everfresh studio that shows what someone with creativity and a spray-can can achieve.”’ (JO SIMPSON, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER, 01/10/2010) Read full review (1.66MB, pdf)

‘“The book gives an insight into street art around the city - the endless pages of dynamic colours and wacky cartoon characters are but a starting point.”’ (TANIA ALWI, COURIER MAIL, 11/09/2010) Read full review (0.69MB, pdf)

‘“Providing an exclusive insight into the artists behind some of Melbourne’s most dynamic underground art work, this beautifully designed book is a must for anyone interested in the street art scene”’ (HUGH EDWARDS, DESKTOP, 01/10/2010) Read full review (3.27MB, pdf)

‘“Stacked with striking photography of both the artists and their work, 'Blackbook' is sure to be an essential item for anybody interested in street art culture.”’ (MATT SHEA, SCENE MAGAZINE, 01/09/2010) Read full review (3.86MB, pdf)

‘“It's slick, enlightening, and unlike other books in the genre.”’ (DAVID SCOTT, VOICE THE AGE, 11/10/2010) Read full review (0.33MB, pdf)

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August 2010

Badlands: Australia’s 13 Most Intriguing True Murders - Liam Houlihan

‘Houlihan gives every state a look-in with this collection of easy-to-read true but nasty tales of people doing unspeakable things to each other … In most instances the perpetrators are caught, but not all, and those are the most intriguing.’’ (MX, 09/09/2010) Read full review (1.07MB, pdf)

The Spirit of Golf and How it Applies to Life: Inspirational tales from the world’s greatest game - Richard Allen

‘‘The real charm and effectiveness of this book is in the sparse, elegant prose that recalls some of the great moments of the game and casts them in a refreshing new light. It’s very well-written, and easily dipped into given its vignette style.’ ’ (GRAEME SIMS, INSIDE SPORT, 01/08/2010) Read full review (0.38MB, pdf)

‘‘In his latest book, Allen delves into golf’s spirit and its application in life, citing inspirational life stories from golf courses the world over and its participants.’’ (AUSTRALIAN GOLF DIGEST, 01/09/2010) Read full review (0.23MB, pdf)

‘‘A fantastic read that features incredibly detailed research interwoven with Allen’s well-crafted words that leave you without any doubt he knows his subject and has a passion for the game.’’ (GOLF AUSTRALIA, 01/08/2010) Read full review (0.46MB, pdf)

The West and the Map of the World - Matthew Richardson

‘‘Inspired by antique mapmakers and their global vision … this book reaches striking conclusions about the modern success of the West.’’ (THE AGE, 06/09/2010) Read full review (0.09MB, pdf)

The Finger: A Handbook - Angus Trumble

‘‘Trumble writes beautiful, almost Victorian, prose. Some of his sentences are so long and elegantly hinged they could be modelled on the hand's own interlocking phalanges and metacarpals.’’ (THORNTON MCCAMISH, SUNDAY AGE, 15/08/2010)

My Father’s Daughter: Memories of an Australian Childhood - Sheila Fitzpatrick

‘‘An interesting retrospective on the events, relationships and emotions of childhood and simply an engaging story.’’ (LYNDAL MOORE, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/08/2010) Read full review (0.86MB, pdf)

‘‘This thoughtful and thought provoking memoir about the author's fraught relationship with her radical father is a whispered contemplation of an unusual childhood.’’ (GILLIAN BRAMLEY-MOORE, COURIER MAIL, 07/08/2010) Read full review (3.96MB, pdf)

‘‘Memoirs have long been the vehicle of choice for reputation demolition, but rarely has the wrecking ball swung with such a blend of honesty and adoration than in Fitzpatrick's work, My Father's Daughter.’’ (TIM ELLIOTT, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 14/08/2010) Read full review (1.45MB, pdf)

‘‘One of the most unsparing, intelligent and engaging autobiographical voices I have encountered, My Father's Daughter was a pleasure to read.’’ (LORIEN KAYE, BENDIGO ADVERTISER, 04/09/2010) Read full review (0.95MB, pdf)

‘‘What kept me turning the pages was the father daughter relationship, which changed from one of mutual admiration and loyalty in Sheila's childhood to something more painfully ambivalent.’’ (CHRISTINA HOUEN, WEST AUSTRALIAN, 14/08/2010) Read full review (2.25MB, pdf)

Learning to Be a Minister - Patrick Weller and Anne Tiernan

‘“The direct quotations give a fascinating insight direct from the horses' mouths”’ (LORIEN KAYE, THE AGE, 11/09/2010) Read full review (0.49MB, pdf)

‘“Entertaining and accessible through … surprisingly candid opinions from ministers past and present.”’ (MARTIN CROTTY, COURIER MAIL, 02/10/2010) Read full review (1.41MB, pdf)

‘“A must for anybody interested in where the real work of politics occurs.”’ (STEPHEN MATCHETT, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 04/09/2010) Read full review (2.43MB, pdf)

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July 2010

Hawke: The Prime Minister - Blanche d'Alpuget

‘‘d'Alpuget's biography is a genuinely fine read.’’ (ROSS FITZGERALD, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 07/08/2010) Read full review (5.03MB, pdf)

Animal Kingdom - Stephen Sewell

‘‘Sewell has created an intriguing addition to the film. The novel rides high on the screenplay's sharp, suggestive dialogue, and the story tears along at breakneck pace.’’ (CAMERON WOODHEAD, THE AGE, 07/08/2010) Read full review (3.51MB, pdf)

Shitstorm - Lenore Taylor and David Uren

‘‘My view is that unlike a lot of political books that lose their traction when a particular landscape changes, Shitstorm still has enormous relevance.’’ (CORRIE PERKIN, THE WEEKLY REVIEW, 14/07/2010) Read full review (0.66MB, pdf)

‘‘An outstanding book’’ (BRUCE ELDER, BENDIGO ADVERTISER, 04/09/2010) Read full review (0.95MB, pdf)

‘“A well written recent political history of Australia”’ (DAVID CHRISTIE, NEWCASTLE HERALD, 24/07/2010) Read full review (0.84MB, pdf)

‘“A superb piece of long-form political and economic journalism”’ (SHAUN CARNEY, THE AGE, 10/07/2010) Read full review (8.14MB, pdf)

The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris - Peter Beinart

‘‘…an eloquent and deeply knowledgeable account of US foreign policy over the past 100 years and of the ideological trends that have shaped it.’’ (RICHARD KING, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 17/07/2010) Read full review (4.77MB, pdf)

‘The Icarus Syndrome is a book to be read and discussed. Beinart has mastered the art of combining historical analysis with journalistic insights.’’ (DENNIS ALTMAN, THE AGE, 03/07/2010) Read full review (0.95MB, pdf)

Rare and Curious: The Secret History of Governor Macquarie’s Collectors’ Chest - Elizabeth Ellis

‘‘This exquisitely produced book traces the secret history of a “museum in miniature”: a wooden chest containing one of the earliest colonial collections of Australian flora and fauna.’’ (ROSEMARY NEILL, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN, 24/07/2010) Read full review (1.54MB, pdf)

‘‘It is hard to think of a book of the past decade as handsome as this beautifully illustrated and cased “secret history of Governor Macquarie's collector's chest”.’’ (BRUCE ELDER, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 07/08/2010) Read full review (5.09MB, pdf)

‘‘It is a genuine collector's item; a fascinating footnote to early Australian history.’ ’ (BRUCE ELDER, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 07/08/2010) Read full review (5.09MB, pdf)

The Poor Relation: A History of Social Sciences in Australia - Stuart Macintyre

‘‘Stuart Macintyre not only examines the origins of the social sciences and charts their progress in Australia … but argues that it's time for the poor relations to ’ (STEVE CARROLL, THE AGE , 10/07/2010) Read full review (8.14MB, pdf)

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June 2010

Notes For A Young Surfer - Clif Evers

‘‘Evers writes in a way that should resonate with his young male audience … he deserves praise for presenting his own mistakes to help others find themselves and not blindly follow in the wake of others.’’ (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 19/06/2010) Read full review (1.04MB, pdf)

‘‘Notes for a Surfer taps into the beauty of surfing and tells the truth about the ugly side of surf culture where young men come into contact with abuse, misogyny, sexual assault, rape and fear. … Clif hopes the book will encourage young surfers to speak ’ (RUSSELL QUINN, MILTON ULLADULLA TIMES, 23/06/2010)

Possessing The Dead - Helen MacDonald

‘‘MacDonald implicitly examines the costs of advancing medical science in a book ripe with distasteful but fascinating detail.’’ (LORIEN KAYE, THE AGE, 08/07/2010) Read full review (3.51MB, pdf)

‘‘This is no dry bureaucratic history. It seethes with repellent but riveting scenes so vivid that the reader is left wondering whether some of her characters had serviceable olfactory glands or, indeed, human feelings.’’ (HUGH DILLON, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 24/07/2010)

‘‘MacDonald shows a respectful restraint in detailing the maltreatment of bodies, and further resists indulging in the macabre. … MacDonald’s approach is to be conscientious and sympathetic without resorting to plaintiveness or the blustering tones of mora’ (DANIEL VUILLERMIN, AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW, 01/07/2010)

Something To Declare: The Memoirs of Sir James Gobbo - Sir James Gobbo

‘‘In his long and varied life Sir James Gobbo has gathered many memories and amusing experiences and encounters with a rich cross-section of Australian society and he shares many of them in this relaxed and entertaining memoir.’’ (ROBERT WILLSON, CANBERRA TIMES, 07/08/2010) Read full review (3.79MB, pdf)

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