Australia Books

This book is a product of remarkable research by Professor Pybus. In a fascinating unravelling of little known facets of early European settlement of Australia it reveals that history is never as simple as we think, and that White Australia was never as White as some liked to believe. In today's Australia, where Sudanese migrants are being demonized for electoral gain, it reminds us that our true heritage is a mixed one we should embrace, not disown.

This is not the Captain Bligh of the Nordhoff and Hall novels. Nor does it tell of the Captain Bligh of Charles Laughton's characterization in film. This is a look at the real Captain Bligh of history and Gavin Kennedy gives us a man who was significantly flawed but fundamentally a decent, even caring, commander who lost his ship to the villainous madness of Fletcher Christian. This may be one of the better "pro-Bligh" histories and definitely worth the read. Its style is not dense and its breadth is considerable.

This book was fascinating, and very informative. The book gave a detailed account of Lieutent William Bligh's journey to Timor in a small, wooden launch, not more that 23 feet in length. Into this boat went, 19 men, some megar supplies, and some navigational material. The hardships that faced the boat, and men ahead were astounding. It was more astounding that such an overladden boat was able to take a 3,600 mile journey, with the loss of only a singal man.

This trenchant edited volume dissects a series of critical events that, while prominent in the public realm, have yet to receive adequate attention from students of social and political affairs -- the explosive scandals that rocked many nations after public health officials became aware of HIV contamination of domestic and international blood supplies. These events represent not only a fascinating and tragic historical episode in their own right, but also provide a revealing window into the response of national leaders to symbolically and politically potent crises under conditions of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.

The essays in this volume, all written by country experts and notable social scientists, examine the comparative response to the tainted blood crisis in eight advanced industrial democracies: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The questions asked in the case studies, in the fine opening chapter by Bayer and Feldman, and in the excellent concluding chapter by Marmor, Dillon, and Scher include:

* Should national leaders have responded more quickly to the evidence that hemophiliacs and other blood transfusion recipients were becoming infected with HIV?

* What accounts for the differences and similarities among nations in the speed and character of the eventual response?

* Why did the tainted blood crisis become high political scandal in some nations -- such as France -- and not others, especially since the severity of the scandals does not seem to correlate directly with the speed and effectiveness of national leaders' responses?

* What does this historical episode tell us about the influence of political institutions on policy outcomes? And what does it say about the relative performance of different national blood products regimes? Did it matter, for example, whether donors were paid or not, or whether nations were self-sufficient with regard to blood products rather than importing them from abroad?

* What was the process through which hemophiliac groups and other affected parties came to see their greivances as legal and political claims against their governments and, at times, against the very organizations that had once represented them?

* How can such tragedies be prevented in the future?

This is, in short, a vital book for all those interested in this important chapter in the history of the AIDs tragedy, as well as for those who wish to learn more about how nations with very different cultures and political institutions respond to a common medical disaster.

More than "just" a travel guide, this book offers thought-provoking insights into Australian culture through essays that provide an insider's look at the territory for the visitor (or would-be visitor).

I found the section of colorful and quirky Australian dialect especially entertaining and illuminating.

I've never been to Australia but after reading this book I am more anxious to travel there. This book is a comprehensive and useful travel guide PLUS.

What a book! What a beautiful book! What a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book what a book! Whoo boy! Do I LOVE THIS BOOK! BOOK BOOK BOOK BOOK BOOK!

This moving biography held my attention better than any biography I'd read in years. This is not at all a 'white bread' inspirational biography, nor a celbration of a famous hero. I found Joice Loch's story to be profoundly moving and empowering. One person, with commitment and love for people can make a difference to hundreds of others.

A well-documented scholarly translation from the original French of Jean Bodin's masterpiece of political theory. Though of immense influence in its day, divine right sovereignty has certainly gone out of fashion (thank goodness!) unless perhaps you are living in Saudi Arabia or Lesoto. Nonetheless, for college students and the curious this is as nice a translation and abridgement as one is likely to find.

This is another Bony tale that gets better with each reading. And it has enough uprorious battling that it'd make a super movie. Somewhere in the south central hills, two Irish gangs are carrying on bootlegging operations. A govt agent gets murdered as he ventured to close, so Bony is called in. Patiently he learns more and more , bit by bit. As he gets nearer to identifying the villain, he also has to find a way to help the romance along between a gal of one 'gang' and a young man of the other, Along the way, Bony has to take on a mighty leader in a knockdown, bloody brawl - not just once, but twice. If you're ever thinking of going to Australia, this book will force you to go out into those hills and try to find remnants of these colorful settlers! This one is right up there for me with The Battlin' Prophet, The Bone is Pointed and Murder Must Wait. Hey: you don't have to be Irish to love this one"

This slender book can be read in one sitting by those so inclined. However, I think it will take far longer to consider the points Sherman Young makes.

'The book is dead because the book trade is about selling objects not ideas.'

Writing as a consumer, many of us have become caught up in the debate about presentation. Discussion about tradition versus technology is important, but it is surely not the critical issue. For some of us, the joy of owning and reading a printed book will always be important. But generally it is the intrinsic content rather than the physical presentation that is crucial.

Why do some of us value books so highly? As Mr Young points out, if you can't find a book (or get to it) then it ceases to exist.

Why aren't people reading books? If you read this book, you will be presented with a number of well presented and logical possibilities. And yes, technology is both part of the problem and part of the solution.

Highly recommended to all of those with an interest in both the future of books and of reading.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith