Reviews

Lies, Damned Lies: A personal exploration of the impact of colonisation by Claire G. Coleman

rhiannem's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

Chapters are individual essays and articles. There's lots of repetition but it's important.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation and Racism

numbat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This book is about the colonisation of Australia and all the lies that support it. It highlights the propaganda and miss-information in the education system and deconstructs why. I remember getting into trouble at school in the 80s for questioning the assertion that James Cook was a part of the first fleet. This is an important area of study and this book adds to it greatly.

alanaw's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

vezreads's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is such a damn good book! I enjoyed it immensely, I learnt so much about Australia's history. Fantastic!

thebrashbookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. This is a deeply moving book with a great deal of truth that was at times surprising, and at others horrifying. My only criticism is that I felt at times the author talked in circles a little and I found myself feeling a little lost here and there. I commend the calling out of lies, and found this is a valuable addition to the discussion on Treaty and an Aboriginal voice.

rochelle_p's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

theunrealerin's review against another edition

5.0

Claire G. Coleman is a phenomenal and essential blak voice. She challenges, engages and gifts us with insight and a call to action. 

madamegeneva's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Wow. This book made me realise my knowledge of Australian history is SEVERELY lacking. I knew we are (shamefully) the only commonwealth nation to not have a treaty with the indigenous population, but the NT intervention??? The fucking banning of Aboriginals in Perth after sunset??? Honestly, the author wields her words against colonisation and white supremacy so candidly, it’s impossible to not hungrily devour this book and then immediately question everything. Highly recommend, particularly if you’re a non-indigenous Australian

justine_the_wandering_reader's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.0

gabrielavmarques's review against another edition

4.0

A thought-provoking and passionate non-fiction book about the effects of the colonial construction of Australia, its myths, its truths, and its still very real and present effects.

Very well-written and with clear and engaging prose, I enjoyed reading and educating myself on Aboriginal culture, care for Country and their true roles, struggles and victories.

It is really hard to rate and review such a deeply personal book, with such an important subject matter, which I was completely ignorant about. I did feel that some sentences and things claimed as absolute truth don't have a source, and that can hinder the argumentation and weaken the book.
However, it was a great experience, intense, emotional, and instructive.