Oceania Books

Howard's War is a book about Australian politics and how it works behind the scenes. It's goals, objectives and strategies. It fits nicely into world politics by providing facts about our relationships with other countries and our place in the world.

The book's approach is to question, show supporting facts and then to analyse and consider the implications. A standout theme throughout the book is "blowback".

It outlines Australia's reasons for involvement in the Iraq war and takes the reader on a journey behind the scenes, providing a level of coverage and detail that they may not have received at the time. By relating to history, politics, decision making, culture, reported facts and implications, Alison Broinowski provides a wake up call for Australians.

The title undersells the content but over delivers on fact. A methodical journey of insights, facts and questions. Structured into four main sections, an introduction to the topic and a chapter allocated to Australia's involvement, America's involvement and the "blowback"

I found the book easy to read and intriguing. The books message had a new and timely meaning when one currently watches the news headlines around the world (July 2006). First time readers of the book would now enjoy the benefit of a second read.

This book has some great vintage pics in it. My only complaint is that some of these photos are racey and caution must be adheared before laying this book on the coffee table. It would of showed the hula customs even without all the bare-breasted shot that are very unsuitable for many folks ,young and old alike. Besides that this book captures a lot of old (pre WWII)shots that you arn't going to find elseware.

"ENJOY" Joe Kopeck

Professor Good has written a timely and brave book. It is honest, clear and full of the detached passion of Orwell's incisive wit. It is indeed readable and concise in its just over 100 pages of careful prose. The mumbo-jumbo that has pervaded English departments in North America in the guise of so-called literary theory is the bane of clarity, intellectual growth and analytical rigour. It is, as Professor Good claims, anathema to the freedom of the individual and independent thought: precisely what a good liberal humanist education should aim for. What we have is ideology masked as education where seminar rooms have been turned into indoctrination sessions in which any attempt to be different through providing an argument against a vacuous idea by Derrida, a mystically misplaced one by Focault, or the Geertzean-induced glaze of Greenblatt is deemed 'reactionary' etc. In other words conform, or you're out. It is time for all clear thinking people to take a stand and fight for the right to be different as a responsible individual in society. Professor Good's book, though polemical, provides arguments in a systematic manner as to why that time is now. My only caveat to an otherwise excellent book, is at one point a slightly simplified portrayal of Nietzsche's ideas occurs. True, Nietzsche could be read as being misogynist, or anti-democratic etc, but he did say a lot of things to upset people: that was his style and part of his radical individualism. For in his inconsistencies and contradictions (deliberate or otherwise) Nietzsche provided an original view of the individual who could be strong by defying the norm, and those norms would include those set up as sacrosanct by the high priests of Theory today. But one can see why the simpler version of Nietzsche's thought was used in this instance, as it is an antinomy probably used as a rhetorical device to make more effective the stance against the Theorists' misappropriation of Nietzsche as defender of ideologically driven 'oppressed' people, genders and those of differing sexual orientation of the world, some of whom (I stress, some) have decided to again reinvent and misuse Nietzsche's dictum "the world is the will to power and nothing besides". The last group of people with a grievance who did the same thing were the Nazis.

I found this book eminently readable. It shows that the author has a good grasp of the subject which she has analysed in an inteligent manner. Unlike the majority of books that try to put across a view that contradicts the prevelent thinking of the day, this book has convinced me to change many of my beliefs concerning the area of history covered.I would love to have the oppertunity to discuss the book further with the author.

I have the big name guides like Lonely Planet, and they are very informative, but they seem to be pointing me toward where to find every other American tourist in the country. This book is different- It tells me how to get around- breaks it down into method of travel: car rental, rail, fairy, public transportation and backpacking (tramping). This book has schedules and routs for excursions which I have confirmed are current, and even includes walking route tours around towns. I find lots of information in each of the guide books I have picked. I am feeling well prepared for my trip and once I get back I can tell you for sure which guide was most helpful, but based on the information I have gotten from this book I am sure it will be something I rely on to live out my dream for this trip to New Zealand! If not your ONLY guide, it's a great compliment to any guide.

This is a splendid book that I would love to use as the core text in a new course on the Indian Ocean. To paraphrase Alfred Doolittle, "I'm willing to use it, I'm wanting to use it, I'm waiting to use it." But I will not ask my students to pay $100 for it: in the absence of expensive color plates or other kinds of graphics, I have a hard time seeing why a 300-plus page book costs so much. I have been hoping for a paperback issue but see no indications that such might be forthcoming.

Rob Wilson and Vilsoni Hereniko are the editors of a book that provides probing insight to the politics of identity and creativity across the Pacific. Highly theoretical but more than worth it, the sometimes post-modernist essays elucidate the complex realm of contradictions which are the meat of Pacific consciousness and literature. With a chapter by Hawaiian soveriegnty leader Haunani-Kay Trask and an insightful interview with acclaimed author Albert Wendt (of Samoa), this book will open your mind to the depth and humanity of Pacific issues. Especially stimulating is the chapter on Gaugain's NuaNua, in which Gilbertese/African American poet Teresia Teaiwa critically analyzes the role of his work in "shaping...the Polynesian body." All of the contributors to this groundbreaking work offer a fresh re-thinking of even the most ingrained Pacific archetypes, while openly challenging the reader to engage new modes of analysis with respect to post-colonial (and in many cases, neo-colonial) art and literature. More penetratingly, the contributors look to the dynamic between this body of work and the Pacific "self"--how art and literature have shaped, and been shaped by indigenous and settler Pacific peoples' perceptions of themselves. This book, like the Field Symposia's "Poet's Reading", is an anthology of anthologies. A dense read with a lot of knowledge therein, and not for the faint of heart. Truly the "inside" story on the politics of identity in Pacific art and literature.

Very well organized anbd beautifully illustrated, this guide provides information on just about anything you wish to see in southwestern Australia. Maps ar a big plus!

Although I own and sell this book*, I've only browsed it quickly, but since there were no reviews up thought I'd at least tell you this much: this is a beautiful book, chock full of really great photos and the info seems totally up to date. I got a bunch by accident and thus can offer such a great deal.
Enjoy mate!
*(see "More Buying Choices" i.e. the used/new section from nonAmazon sellers for "such a deal"--truly perfect condition for less)

I purchased several Melbourne tour guides. Including Lonely Planet, Fodor's guide. Insight Guide Melbourne is the best of them. It is full of pictures, good categorized information. Of course other books have advantages too, but the best is definitely the Insight Guide.