Australia's First University Press
Melbourne University Publishing

Your Father's Day Reading Guide

For the Discerning Dad
At MUP we know that the right book can be more than a gift—it can be a moment shared, a story remembered, or a new idea sparked. This Father’s Day, explore our collection of expert non-fiction and scholarly works across politics, culture, science, history and more. There’s a book for every Dad. 
 
 
The Ultimate Keepsake 
 
  • This Limited Edition of Nolan's Africa features a bespoke cover and premium, linen case. With only 200 copies in existence, each numbered by hand and signed by the author, this is the ultimate Father’s Day keepsake. 
 
    Orders are by email enquiry only. Please contact us to purchase your Limited Edition here: mup-contact [at] unimelb.edu.au. 
 
 
Uncover Australia’s Deep Histories  
 
  • First Tasmanians by Shayne Breen traces the 40,000 years of Aboriginal exploration, land settlement, hunting practices and controlled burning on the island. It is a story of courage, continuity and an unwavering commitment to revitalising connections between country, culture and community. 
  • Explore Australia's Antarctic obsession in The Southern Frontier. Rohan Howitt traces the continent’s history from the nineteenth-century exploration to the creation of the Australian Antarctic Territory and a permanent national Antarctic program in the 1930s and 1940s. 
 
 
Insights into Resilience, Emotion and the Psychology of Strength 
 
  • Discover high-pressure performance tactics for any sport or discipline in Nerves of Steel by Ger Post. With examples from athletes like Christiano Ronaldo and Mackenzie Arnold, learn about thriving when the heat is on.  
  • Uncover tools for creating a life of health, joy, satisfaction, resilience and wellbeing. This updated edition of Coping in Good Times and Bad by Erica Frydenberg also explores how to deal with cost of living pressure. 
 
 
Questioning Power and Politics 
 
  • The Big Fix by Albert Palazzo proposes a defence policy centred on the strategic defensive, which presents the best military fit for Australia given its geography and the current state of military technology. 
  • In this updated edition of The Most Dangerous Man in the World, Andrew Fowler explores the negotiations between Julian Assange and the White House, revealing a startling story of false hope, courage, resolve and extraordinary resilience.  
 
 
Stories that Shaped Our World 
 
  • Fathering by Alistair Thomson, John Murphy, Kate Murphy and Johnny Bell, with Jill Barnard transforms our understanding of men's experience of parenthood, showing how fathers from diverse backgrounds, including migrant and Indigenous dads, have negotiated their role in changing circumstances.
  • The Last Tour by Ann Curthoys explores why Paul and Eslanda Robeson’s trip to Australia was such a success and how it exerted a profound influence both at the time and over future generations. 
 
 
Thinking Critically about Our Planet 
 
  • Join Chris Hammer on a journey through Australia's largest river system, the Murray–Darling Basin. This updated edition of The River includes a new introduction from the author. 
  • Beyond Green by Lesley Head interrogates the ways the cultures of nature have operated in Australia across time, and how these ways of thinking and being limit our capacity to deal with the challenges of the climate change and biodiversity crises. 
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  • Posted On 19 Aug 2025