Scan barcode
isering's review against another edition
4.0
I'd recommend this if you really want to know Australian history (up to 2001 - I'll need to go look for something more recent now). Looks drier than it is! But if you're not that bothered it's probably too much to wade through.
tanyarobinson's review against another edition
4.0
Phillip Knightley's Australia: A Biography of a Nation is a hard book to categorize. Parts of it read like dry academic text, parts are very anecdotal, a whole chapter sings the praises of Australian sports teams, and in places the author reminisces about his childhood. Sometimes I was bored (1970s political machinations don't interest me much), and other times I was absorbed (yes, explain to me how in 30 years "White Australia" turned into a multicultural society?). Of all the books I've read in preparation for my upcoming trip to Australia, this one did the best job of showing me WHO the people of the great continent really are. I'm really glad I read it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
More...