Australia Books

While most American schoolchildren in the U.S. are taught of the American Revolution as a glorious struggle of backwoods colonials fighting for their freedom and independence against the world's most powerful empire, few, if any, are taught of the great tragedy experienced by African-Americans, many of them former slaves, who fought with or sided with the British in the hopes that they would secure their individual freedoms. I was one of those many schoolchildren inculcated in the myth of the Revolution, but I have since expanded my knowledge of the Revolution beyond the history texts. Despite this, I was not aware of the globe-circling stories of former slaves of the American Revolution as carefully documented and researched by Cassandra Pybus in "Epic Journeys of Freedom". But now that I am, I hope these stories become more widely known as examples of not only the failure of the American Revolution to live up to its ideals, but more important, as examples of the unquenchable human desire for freedom and the extent to which brave men and women will go to find it.

I cannot do justice to any of the individual stories in "Epic Journeys of Freedom" in this or any review, and much of the immediacy and drama of the stories come from the first-hand sources of the era that Pybus has collected and orchestrated into compelling narratives. By retelling the history of individual lives set within the context of the American Revolution and its aftermath, Pybus reduces a mythic, seminal event in America's founding to a personal level. The eyes through which we see the Revolution, however, belong not to the victors, but to the disenfranchised and dehumanized; America's victory meant their enslavement, so they fled the land of liberty to seek their own freedom across distant borders and oceans.

Some may ask why bring up more stories of America's past injustices when we have come so far in addressing them. We read these stories and remember their lives because they remind us why men and women have risked all and died for their freedom. They remind us of both our worse and better natures, and offer hope for a more just and free world.

The first three "official" reviews of this book fail to convey the sheer original, revealing, even emotional nature of this book. Many Americans now accept that their patriotic Revolutionary ancestors--including the Founding Fathers--owned slaves. Some Americans are aware that many of these slaves fled to the British controlled areas and cities under the promise of gaining freedom. A few Americans may then know of what happened to these former slaves--how many were take off to Nova Scotia with thousands of white Loyalists. What Cassandra Pybus reveals in this book opens all this up into dimensions undreamed of by all but perhaps a literal handful of historians. And in fact, what she presents is more like a nightmare than a dream. In an impeccably researched and footnoted narrative, she first investigates those three relatively "knowns" that I referred to above, providing details that will astound most of us. And when she goes onto present the story of what happenened to most of these former slaves as they movd on not only to Nova Scotia and London but then on to Sierra Leone and Australia--well, it is history as revelation. Although Pybus stays rooted in the strictest procedures of the historian, the end effect is to feel you are reading a novel. But a novel describing events of such unnmitigated misery, of human suffering, of human cruelty, that no novelist would dare invent these happenings. I defy any reader to put the book down saying (a) "Oh, I had suspected all this might have happened" and (b) "In any case I can't see getting especially worked up over it." The end result is a book that both charges far more human beings than we have imagined with being cruel to African-Americans and at the same time informs us of how many of these same African-Americans endured these cruelties and utimately prevailed. In a word, I found it spellbinding!

There are several reasons why I strongly recommend this book to adults and younger readers. First is the simplicity and clarity (maybe authenticity is a better word) of the writing. I felt as if Mary Bryant were talking rather than being talked for. The Hausmans allow her spirit and courage to come through in a way that keeps the sadness or difficulty of the events of Mary's life from overwhelming the story. The story rings true historically, especially with the conditions on the "death" ships and life in the colonies. Knowing that the story is true brings not only Mary alive, but also the richness and complexity of life in the late 1700's. I am in awe of the Hausmans' research, their skill, perseverance and creativity.

If someone were to say that the content of the story (imprisonment, cruelty, death) is too "heavy" for juvenile readers, I would respond that the handling of Mary's character lifts the story out of the realm of defeat and disaster. Children look for stories that are honest about the scariness of the world but also show them how they and/or the spirit can triumph. Importantly in this story, the triumph or survival comes from who Mary is, not from some external magic potion. The fact that Mary is a true historical person and not fictional is also important, especially since the story itself is so very readable--it lets kids see that real people and real life are interesting and exciting, that history is made of real people just trying to get back home.
Adolescent girls need (yearn) to read about real heroines like Mary, not the psuedo-women who are really just macho men with breasts who are passed off as heroines in movies and TV. There is just a real need for stories like Mary's to be told with the love and quality with which the Hausmans told Mary Bryant's story. As Boswell worked hard to free the real Mary, so the authors have freed the historical Mary.

In 1786 19-year-old Mary has been sentenced to hang for stealing a lady's bonnet - but instead finds herself on a prison ship bound for Botany Bay in Australia. Told in the first person, this tells of her struggles on the ship, her new life on land, and her journey into adulthood and family life.

I knew for some time how close I got to having a vaccine-caused catastrophe with my oldest child. When I read his account, I was even more sure. And I cried for hours as I read his book. A tragedy came close to me and my life. But thousands and thousands of others have already been touched by the tragedy of childhood vaccines and I believe that millions more will need to be sacrificed before the big money making pharmacies are controlled and no longer permitted to continue to kill our children and continue to create a generation of neurologically damaged children. ADD is running at 1 in 5. Autism is running at 1 in 150. Why isn't everyone startled at a striking percentage of an entire generation being neurologically damaged?

My impulse when I don't know what is happening medically is to give vitamin C. This is a legitimate medical response promoted by some wholistically oriented medical doctors. So when my child was reacting SEVERLY right after each vaccine and my physician said that it was NOTHING, I gave vitamin C. And I gave more and more as she went back on a dramatic downward slide with each new vaccine. As I read the book, I saw that the same thing that almost killed my child was the same thing that killed thousands of children referrenced in this book: vaccines. And I saw that the same thing that saved my child is the same thing that saved many children under the care of the author Archie Kalokerinos: vitamin C. I find myself crying even now as I recall my experiences and recall reading this book. It is an eye-opener.

By the way, my daughter is fine now. She had a very rough start to put it mildly. It took years of wholistic remedies to detox her, always including vitamin C. She is towards the top of her class academically, a wonderful piano player and by far the very best athlete in the school, boys included.

This book MUST be made into a movie -- a major movie with big stars which people will pay attention to. Because the vaccination paradigm lies at the very core of allopathic medicine an understanding of its profound weaknesses by enough people could revolutionize modern medicine.

Dr. Kalokerinos, a medical GP working in the Australian outback with the Aborigines, discovered that vitamin C prevents sudden infant deaths (SIDS) brought on by malnutrition and by the introduction of immunization shots. Infants near death were revived by vitamin C injections, and the 50% death rate (hence the title) in the region dropped to near zero during his 8-year practice. Deaths rose to former levels after he was drummed out by the Australian health authorities.

Dr. K found his clinical observations and conclusions ridiculed & ignored by the authorities, and still suffers hostility, persecution and shunning by the medical establishment.

His work is deservedly praised by other medical heretics including Pauling, Klenner, Cathcart and others who challenge the myths that shots are health-giving and that vitamin C is good only for preventing scurvy.

A great book by a great doctor, it should be read by every caring current or future parent. Pediatricians and MDs in general too.

This is one of the best books on conflict resolution I have seen. It is practical, easy to read, makes conflict understandable and laughable, and covers the key underlying problems inherent in most conflict scenarios. Most people view conflict as an out and out battle. Clues and levels of conflict are discussed and tools anyone can use are included. I had used their earlier version for an under-graduate (college level) course I taught from 1992-1998 and the book always received rave reviews. Delightful book for a difficult topic!

This excellent workbook for handling interpersonal conflict has been reprinted over thirteen times since it was originally published in 1989, and enjoys international recognition as one of the most practical "tool-kits" for achieving win/win resolutions. There are twelve "tools" in the kit. Just as a tool has many uses, so these skills can be transferred across diverse spheres of activity. The skills you teach a young child are basically the same ones needed by an international diplomat. One morning at 7:00 a.m. you'll pull out a "tool" for a problem in the kitchen, and find yourself needing it again in a difficult meeting at 11:00 a.m. The book presents everyday examples and stories that reflect the variety of contexts and the transferability of skills. Issues dealt with include: creative response, empathy, assertiveness, co-operative power, managing emotions, mapping conflict, negotiation/mediation, and broadening perspectives. There is also a helpful Conflict Checklist in the Appendices to analyze a problem in detail or to decide which tool is most needed in a situation. This is an indispensable reference for leaders who must frequently deal with conflict.

I was a young child in Primary School when baby Azaria got taken by the Dingo, but even now 25 years on, I still remember the debates on whether Lindy Chamberlain was innocent or guilty.
Comments such as "she looks too emotionally cold for a woman who has just lost her baby" and the speculation that because Azaria had a black dress in her wardrobe, her parents must have been invoved in sacrificial rituals, because who would dress a baby in black?
What occurred at the time was a media sensation that used peoples fear of the uncommon (ie. a little known religion "the seventh day adventists) and used it to sell their magazines, newspapers or boost their television ratings. The media have a lot to answer for, as do the Northern Territory Police whose shoddy investigative methods and conclusions led to a Nation wide hate crime against a family who were going through one of the most difficult experiences a family can face, the loss of a child.
Evil Angels is a factual and non-biased account (despite my afore mentioned feeling on the matter) about the events leading up to the dissapearance of Azaria Chamberlain and the investigation, media frenzy and court trial that occurred afterwards.
It is a long book, but very interesting and tragic.
I highly recommend this book.

This is a classic in not only telling the story of the Chamberlains, particularly Lindy, the mother whose baby was taken by a dingo 20 years ago, but also about how people can be caught up in a maelstrom of media scrutiny.

I remember the events so well, and, like the rest of Australia, watched them unfold year by year.

The Northern territory government and the media have a lot to answer for. The NT remains a backwater of injustice to this day - most often directed towards Aborigines, but also, as demonstrated here, with invective directed towards another group outside the conventional mainstream.

The media reported in the most outrageously biased and one-sided fashion, and actually whipped up the populous into a frenzy of finger-pointing, gossiping hatred toward Mrs Chamberlain.

I am not at all religious, but to my mind Seventh Day Adventism doesn't even sit far outside the mainstream Christian tradition, yet we were encouraged to believe it was some sort of devil-worshipping Jim Jones type sect.

Eventually the government was forced to recognise the veracity of the Chamberlain's story. ironically, another person died on The Rock for the essential clue to be discovered - a tourist fell off and his body was found near the baby's matinee jacket. It is almost beyond belief the lengths the authorities went to to balme the parents, when most of the people closest to the event on that night verified or supported the Chamberlain's case. Yet those voices were drowned out for years.

Bryson did a wonderful job of bringing this story to public atttention,and some of the most important parts were effectively translated to the screen in the Meryl Streep movie (Cry In The Dark).

Bookbag...
A writer and photographer who splits his life between his native California and his adopted homeland of French Polynesia, Winston Conrad has put together a sampler of Pacific paradises. The title - Fabled Isles of the South Seas (dist. by ACCESS Publishers, $49.95) - says it all, or nearly, and Conrad's selection is hard to quarrel with, including as it does Tahiti and its Society Island neighbors, Pitcairn, the Cooks, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, and Easter Island. Conrad clearly knows the territory, and each of his essays conveys a personal take amplified by extended quotes from eminent literary visitors (Jack London to James Michener). The illustrations include both Conrad's own color photographs and a nice melange of drawings, historical charts, and old prints. It's the grand Pacific tour with an informed guide.

This handsome coffee-table book, which covers roughly the sweep from Tahiti to Easter Island, is the work of the photographer son of the writer/painter Barnaby Conrad. The brief text skillfully introduces the islands, incorporating quotations from famous earlier visitors such as Melville, Gauguin, and Robert Louis Stevenson. The photographs are well chosen and provocatively juxtaposed with historical images, including old postcards, portions of maps, and even postage stamps. Unlike many books of this genre, there is an emphasis on portraying the local people in their everyday activities, as well as views of stunning sunsets. Primarily a gift book for those planning a tour and a souvenir to remember it by, this book may be priced beyond the budgets of many libraries.- Harold M. Otness

My mother read this to me when I was a little girl from when I was four to eight years old, trying to encourage me to always do my best. I remember that at the time, my only conscious opinion regarding the book was that I wanted to have wings just like the title character in Pixie O'Harris's breathtaking illustrations. Rereading it, I've realized just how brilliant and sweet the story is. The artwork, of course, is incredible. But what makes this book truly wonderful is the story of the little fairy, who never used her wings until she was forced to go to a strange wood, along with all the other creatures that never tried to use their special gifts. While a description of the plot may sound saccharin to jaded adults, the tone of the story is that of a proper fairy tale (no pun intended), with a quietly reassuring message and naturally happy ending. The quality of the artwork of the book is enough to make it a treasured family possession, but the story that guides it will make children of all ages adore it.

My mother read this to me when I was a little girl from when I was four to eight years old, trying to encourage me to always do my best. I remember that at the time, my only conscious opinion regarding the book was that I wanted to have wings just like the title character in Pixie O'Hara's breathtaking illustrations. Rereading it, I've realized just how brilliant and sweet the story is. The artwork, of course, is incredible. But what makes this book truly wonderful is the story of the little fairy, who never used her wings until she was forced to go to a strange wood, along with all the other creatures that never tried to use their special gifts. While a description of the plot may sound saccharin to jaded adults, the tone of the story is that of a proper fairy tale (no pun intended), with a quietly reassuring message and naturally happy ending. The quality of the artwork of the book is enough to make it a treasured family possession, but the story that guides it will make children of all ages adore it.

This book is undoubtedly one of the best exposures to Shakespeare for children. My eight year old daughter loved it so much she brought it to school and shared it with the class. Her teacher found a copy and made it part of his curriculum. Parents were delighted and tried to find their own copies. I must say this was back in 1978! I have recommended this book over the years to numerous young parents who cannot find this wonderful book. Very sad. To not have this book would be like missing "Pat The Bunny" or "Good Night Moon".

This book and its amazing illustrations will expose your children (and yourself) to the wonderful world of Shakespeare. Several of Shakespeares best known plays are retold as stories, without the complicated language. Bernard Miles is able to weave these tales so well that you get completely drawn into the characters and the time. Reading these as a kid (the stories are long, probably best for 12 and up) gave me an interest in Shakespeare and help me to understand them when I read or saw them as plays. Don't miss an opportunity to get a copy of this book!

There are quite a number of Australian Bird field guides these days. they all have merit. This one is right up there with the best and is an indispensible, easy to use essential. The Family summaries and short summary of classifications are succinct and informative - they certainly whet the appetite to learn more if the user is so inclined.
I have used Pizzey extensively ever since the first edition in 1981 (illustrations were then done by Roy Doyle). I actually preferred that first edition but it is now long out of print and this seventh edition is a worthy successor. The illustrations are sound and do help identification. The book is too large to fit in a pocket for a field trip but is certainly packable and although I do not use it in the field, it seems robust enough in construction to handle that if the user wished it.

As with any bird watcher, I have all the field guides to the birds of Australia. There are many and they are all good. However, my favourite (for the last few years...it does change with different editions, etc), is this, the "Pizzey and Knight". As a biology and wildlife based guide and educator in Australia, I travel all over the continent with school groups, tours and for my own recreation, so I 'road test" a lot of different field guides. I have found the illustrations in this book to consistently be the best, especially with the waders and shorebirds where it is most important. It also covers the family groups very well at the end of the book, which is important to gain a wider perspective on our bird fauna.
Damon Ramsey
Author, "Ecosystem Guides Rainforest of tropical Australia"
www.educational-tours.com.au

I love this book! The pictures are wonderful. The authors have taken a very complex ecosystem and presented it in such a way that anyone with an interest in ecology will enjoy this book and find it easy to understand.
I like the way the book is broken down in to large categories. For example, there is a chapter on the sponges common to the fiords, the brachiopods, the echinoderms, the fishes, the mammals and so on. I found the glossary to be helpful when my memory needed a bit of refreshing, and the index is nice because they have listed common and scientific names.
The photographs are amazing. Very high quality and professional. The captions that accompany the pictures are also very well written and informative. As good as they are, however, they almost don't do the beauty of New Zealand justice. The scenery is breath taking and the fiords are a must see should you happen to have the opprotunity to visit New Zealand.

This is a fabulous book to buy if you are interested in learning about the unique ecosystems of the fiords. The pictures are beautiful and the information explaining how this unique enviornemnt exists is easy to read and understand. If you have visited New Zealand and want a book that shows the beauty under the sea, this is a winner.