Australia Books

Over a million Americans passed through Australia between 1942 and 1945, and the U.S. military distributed this little volume to describe what they would find there. The U.S. Army's Special Service Division did what they could to acclimate the troops:

"Australians eat and drink too."

"The Australian has few equals in the world at swearing."

"Housewives 'down under' are supposed to make coffee with a pinch of salt and a dash of mustard, but that's probably just another Axis propaganda story."

"The worst thing an Australian can say about anyone is: "He let his mates down". A man can be a "dag" (a cutup) or "rough as bags" (a tough guy), but if he sticks with the mob, he's all right."

"Of course, the best thing any Australian can say about you is that you're a "bloody fine barstud"."

"You'll find that the Digger is a rapid, sharp and unsparing kidder, able to hold his own with Americans or anyone else. He doesn't miss a chance to spar back and forth and he enjoys it all the more if the competition is tough."

"Another thing, the Digger is instantaneously sociable. Riding on the same train with American troops, a mob of Aussies are likely to descend on the Yanks, investigate their equipment, ask every kind of personal question, find out if there's any liquor to be had, and within five minutes be showing pictures of their girls and families."

"There's one thing you'll run into - Australian's know as little about our country as we do about theirs. To them, all American soldiers are "Yanks" - and always will be."

This beautifully produced guide includes charts and illustrations. It touches briefly on geography, history and culture, and it emphasizes similarities between Americans and Australians. To promote unity, the guide advises that if one encounters a cultural inconvenience, "There's no use beefing about it - it's their country."

This is a very quick and amusing read, and makes a great present for any Australian friend if you are lucky enough to visit the country.

Robert C. Ross 2008

It is a warm and friendly guide to Australia and the Australians at a critical period in our efforts to build allies. A marvelous gift to send to all your Auzzie friends.

Dr. Clarkson presents a detailed and informative summary of all major aspects of invertebrate evolution. The book is organized in a step-wise fashion that introduces the reader to the main principles of the field of paleontology (including genetics, populations and micro- and macroevolution) and then moves into detailed descriptions of the various invertebrate phyla. Be aware that this is not your typical coffee table book; rather, it is written at a level best appreciated by those with a biological background or by introductory students in this field. Descriptions are appropriately detailed and concise and are accompanied by a wealth of similarly detailed drawings and images. I particularly enjoyed his chapters on molluscs, echinoderms and crinoids. It is a valuable accompaniment to other books that have been written on the Burgess Shale and early forms of non-vertebrate life. Both the armchair paleontologist and the professional will find this to be a most valuable addition to his or her collection of books on this wonderfully diverse group of ancient animals.

This very fine invertebrate paleontology textbook strikes a nice balance between focus on the paleobiology/taxonomy of the organisms and theoretical topics in the science. The well-crafted illustrations help to make the sometimes intricate details of fossil morphology clear. Clarkson has a knack for bringing forth key details that illuminate ancient organisms (e.g., the hysteresis mechanisms that control the liquid in cephalopod chambers), and he writes with a wry sense of humor (see the Lehmann quotation on p. 245). The importance of convergent evolution is apparent throughout the book, and is one of the main lessons to be learned from the science of invertebrate paleontology. The next edition of this book needs to stop calling the Ediacarans a "fauna" (the term "biota" is preferable, as we are not sure that Ediacarans were indeed animals). I also have quibbles with the higher taxonomy presented in this book for other groups. Overall, however, this is an outstanding presentation of invertebrate paleontology.

The photography is awesome.

The is absolutely the best book I've seem on iris. The book is well laid out and very informative. Grosvenor is a leading authority on iris and comprehensively explains each genus as a group as to characteristics, culture and breeding. Then he gives detailed descriptions the best cultivars of each type. The photography throughout the book is fantastic and completes this book as a treasure!

Any fan of mythology will love this book. Brilliantly blends ancient Greek heroes with Arthurian Heroes and a Celtic backdrop. Fast moving story with larger than life characters. I wouldnt spoil the story for anyone but this is a must for any fantasy reader. The only fly in the ointment was Mr Holdstock's chronological displacement of Greek mythological events. The Argonauts came first and then the Trojan War because one of the argonauts was Peleus, Achilles father. In fact it was Peleus' wedding that leads indirectly to the Trojan war. When Eris was not invited to the festivities she cast a gold apple to the guests which was to be given to the fairest. That apple became the prize that Paris later awarded to Aphrodite in exchange for Helen of Sparta. That being said it in no way spoiled the story any more than the changes made to the recent movie Troy. I am eagerly awaiting the third book.

Seven hundred years have passed since Merlin and Jason (see CELTIKA) searched for the Golden Fleece, but now the magician resides in Alba where he receives three warnings including one about a man who wants him dead for betrayal. Also Merlin is warned to beware of a being used by a man and a ship that is more than a ship.

Merlin travels to Ghostland to rescue the children of the warlord Urtha at about the same time that Jason sailing the Argo arrives in Alba still seeking his son Kinos the "Little Dreamer" after failing in his reconciliation with his older boy. Merlin joins Jason on his quest to the Otherworld, where the latter's wife Medea probably has hidden Kinos from him. Jason believes the Mage is assisting him out of guilt because Merlin's first love Medea faked the deaths of the sons she had with Jason. Still the Argo captain wonders if he can trust the magician once they locate Medea who may have Merlin under her spell.

Combining English and Greek mythology, Robert Holdstock provides the audience with a delightful fantasy as the audience will enjoy the exploits of Merlin and Jason as they struggle to find the lost lad. Though some of the early fantasy scenes seem unnecessary, this epic tale is exciting non-stop action especially once Jason arrives on the scene. The second Codex tale is a treat for Camelot fans and Greek mythos readers who will want to hitch a ride on the Argo as the adventures in Otherworld are fun to follow as the two heroes each know that love can blind the purest.

Harriet Klausner

This is a book about the Japan that even Japanese urbanities unfortunately do not know. I recommend it for anybody seriously interested in the anthropology of the different native people of Japan and their heritage. It is easy to read and first hand report. I felt touched by the interviews. However, to have a whole picture, I suggest to read it after you know the stereotypes of Japan that are written in most of introductory books in the market, or better, after you live there for some time. I have read other books about indigenous people of other lands, and many times I finish with sadness, for the loss of their treasures and way of life. Preface of this book mentioned something that I felt very valuable. It said that Mr. Suzuki purported to show that such native people may provide a clue to the future, to our survival. I appreciate your message very much, Mr. Suzuki.

Abe-san's review elsewhere on this page focuses on the treatment of the Ainu in Hokkaido -- Japan's indigenous people -- and indeed, this is one of the issues that Suzuki and Oiwa's work takes up; but it IS only one of the issues. Suzuki, for those of you who don't know, is a Japanese Canadian who, like many others, was forcibly relocated with his family as a child during the Second World War. The Canadian government, in a move they since have apologized and made token reparations for, confiscated the property of all persons of Japanese ancestry on the west coast and sent them into the interior of the province to camps, similar to Manzanar in California. Suzuki, driven to excel by these experiences, to prove himself as a Canadian, grew up to become a political activist and passionate environmentalist (and TV celebrity, university professor, etc). Oiwa, the co-author, believed himself ethnically Japanese until discovering that his father was a Korean -- a revelation, since Koreans are not treated as equals by some Japanese, and there are enduring tensions from the days when Japan occupied Korea. Together, the two writers travelled to Japan to probe into many current political problems, with considerable concern for the environment and aboriginal issues, but also dealing with political problems in Okinawa, the tendancy in some circles in Japan to deny guilt for war atrocities, the treatment of the burakumin, Japan's "untouchable class," and issues that spring up from the Japanese concern for treating "outsiders" differently from "insiders" (Japanese who grew up in South America are interviewed, for example, about being treated like outsiders in their own country). Everything they write is supported by excellent interviews. The emphasis of the book is NOT on criticising the Japanese right or such, however, but rather speaking with people in Japan who are fighting to change things -- including Katsuichi Honda, a controversial author who has written a substantial book on the Nanking Massacre (and who actually visited China for purposes of research). Suzuki's main concern in his work has been the environment, so much attention is given to farmers experimenting with alternative, back-to-nature methods of farming - more than interested me, but environmentalists might feel otherwise. I'd recommend this book for anyone concerned about Japan.

In this gripping and controversial biography, Anne-Maree Whitaker uncovers the role of Joseph Foveaux, a neglected and sometimes unfairly criticised key figure in the colony's development.

The vivid prose plunges the reader into the worlds in which Foveaux moved: the elaborate milieu of parliamentary politics and patronage in London, and the rough and tumble of the colonies of Norfolk Island and New South Wales where he was lieutenant governor.

We meet the irascible William Bligh, the visionary Lachlan Macquarie, leading colonists including John Macarthur and D'Arcy Wentworth and an enormous cast of supporting characters in Britain and the colonies.

"I have never yet met with any Officer...that is more eminently qualified for forming and conducting to maturity and perfection any infant colony committed to his charge," wrote Governor Macquarie in 1810, praising Joseph Foveaux, the man who had presided over the colony of New South Wales since the controversial Governor Bligh was relieved of his duties two years before.

If you saw any of the Sydney during the Olympics, you are sure to find this account of its early years a fascinating revelation. Based on the life of Lieutenant Governor Joseph Foveaux, demonised in Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore, this book reveals the links and patronage networks which held the British empire together. I liked the way the author in each chapter flung the reader into a physical description of the place where the action happens. And I even found myself caring about Foveaux's successes and setbacks. This is a warm, elegantly written and compelling new departure in Australian historical writing.

Do yourself a favour - buy anything by Lily Brett, and buy it today. She is a superb writer. Just Like That is one of my personal favourites, but any of her books (fiction and non fiction alike) will satisfy if you crave for quality literature with a personal (almost confessional) feel. Her characters are wonderful, you really care about them and feel almost as if you know them. Her poetry is amazing as well. I really cannot do justice to Brett's work....so you had better buy this book yourself.

The heroine is a jewish woman, 2nd generation of the holochaust, kind of overanalyzed by herself and her therapists. The story is written from her perspective. Nothing spectacular happens in the everyday life of a New Yorker, emigrated from Australia, but an awsome reflection of the history of the 20th century makes the book thrilling and interesting. The contrast between this ordinary life and the inner world of a woman born one year after her parents escaped Auschwitz is dramatic. Married to a painter, she writes obituaries. She has three children. Her parents emigrated with her to Australia. Her life seems mainly balanced and secure on the outside, but internally this woman is haunted by the past, which is in most parts not hers but her parents'.

The flow of language is easy but the words are amazingly precisely chosen. Though the heroine's biography is in main points the same as the author's, the book to me never seems like a 'confession'. Perhaps that is why the characters are so believable. The perspective is loving but with the distance of someone who can not take the momentary easiness of life as granted. I liked the emotional depth, the humor. The topics are nothing new but amazingly the perspective did not once make it boring for me. ( -And I can be easily bored!)

The inner state of mind of the protagonist is psychologically believable and seems to me very precise described.

A girlfriend of mine gave me the book. She found the psychology as convincing as I do. I think it will be easier to read for women. I would not recommend that book for people who may seek mere entertainment and action in a book. For us other folks, neurotic, insecure, contemplating, 2nd or third generation: highly recommended. Reads like a biography and though giving insight in an historic process and new aspects towards pychology, it is entertaining.

Since I have all of Tony O'Connor's CDs, there are tracks on each that I prefer. On Kakadu, I really enjoy track 3 with the Aboriginal digerdoo. His ability to transport one to the environment about which he is "making music" is amazing.

We have 9 of T.C's CD's, and each one is a favorite for late night relaxation and good listening. Gave 2 to a friend who was in hospital for 5 days. They made her stay very tolerable and she hasn't given them back. My massage lady plays them in her massage rooms and has had many requests from her clients. Very unusual sounds. I highly recommend any of his CD's. He has a new one, "Live at Sydney Opera House". Wish that I had been there. Tony and his wife are two very talented people.

Koalas are one of the most beautiful, gentle and loving animals in the world. Sadly, the population is steadily declining due to the destruction of their natural habitats. This book is a wonderful way to learn about these very intelligent creatures. Full of darling pictures, everyone who picks up this book will instantly fall in love with koalas (who, by the way, are not bears)! Read about their habits, diet and social activities, and you will develop a new appreciation for these fuzzy friends!

This is a wonderful book on many counts. Information isabundant, so you can use it for reports. But the best part is thedelightful photos of koalas at sleep, play, and the dinner table. I left out "work" because it doesn't seem to be in their vocabulary. One or two of the views of relaxing, snoozing koalas are alone worth the price of the book. Instead of reciting a mantra or meditating to relax, all you need do is look at those photos. A book for all ages.

John Alcock's status as the dean of animal behaviour studies is delightfully illustrated by this excellent book. A collection of over two dozen essays on the conduct of various animal [and one plant] species relate the findings of an Australian sabbatical. Using his own and other's research he poses questions arising from a medley of animal antics. How have these behaviours come about? He shows how these queries have adaptive evolutionary roots. The beauty of Darwin's idea, he reminds us, is that it provides us with "an adaptationist foundation" for testing hypotheses, arguments and ideas. Adaptations are subtle, often requiring careful perception and analysis. With careful study and cautious speculation he provides some stimulating ideas about the things he observed.

The examples are chiefly birds and insects. The first is Kookaburra, the "alarm clock" of Australian mornings, is famous for its raucous wake-up call. When other birds may sing, caw or carol throughout the day, why does Kooka limit himself [and it's the males doing the laughter] to this brief, but delightful, period? Put simply, it's an energy saving device! Once the territorial claim has been vocally established, he can go on to feeding or courting. Other birds exhibit the immense variation evolution has produced. The Mallee Fowl, a bush dweller may seem "a dream come true" for some. This turkey-sized bird upsets gender patterns. The male bird spends weeks building a five-metre wide nest, enticing a mate to join him, "allowing" her to deposit thirty eggs, then lets her wander off while he meticulously controls the nest environment ensuring a successful hatch. Further north, Bowerbird building is also the male's role. He constructs complex and gaudy structures, although not to the Mallee Fowl's immensity. Here, however, the bower is merely the conjugal boudoir, with the impregnated female left to wander away for both nest building and chick rearing.

Wasps display contrasting practices. With these insects, nest building is nearly uniformly a female task. Males, however, make contributions to mating and reproduction in many other ways. One wasp will bring nectar to a potential mate, then take her wingless body around from flower to flower as they seek a nest site. Other males are even more energetic. They will grab a moth or other large insect, then hang from a twig using the capture as bait. Wasp nesting behaviours offer yet more varieties in practice. One species employs a "housemaid" to guard and clean a ground nest. Such maintenance allows the food-bearing mother to fly directly into the nest, thereby avoiding predators.

Alcock's easy style in this book keeps you at his side. His text is enhanced by Marilyn Stewart's fine drawings. Good maps provide location reference and ranges of the subjects. His science is presented in a conversational, almost friendly manner. He wants you to share his awe, his interest, and his conclusions. We must be grateful to him for this, since we're all aware that others, who are as earnest and knowledgeable as he, don't manage to impart that with the same verve. He also notes that his findings aren't confined to the wonders of the island continent. The rules of life he outlines for us apply to the biosphere we inhabit. Read this book and find out what sort of world you live in. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Written by American biologist John Alcock (along with excellent illustrations by Marilyn Hoff Stewart), this book chronicles Alcock animal observations throughout the land Down Under. Alcocok observed the intimate details of the birth, breeding habits, feeding habits, and sometimes death of a large variety of Australian birds, insects, and mammals. Each chapter devoted to a particular species, he covers not only well known species such as the kookaburra, flying fox, and platypus, but lesser known ones (at least to Americans), such as the northern logrunner, resin wasp, and silver gull.

Alcock not only covers the life habits of a number of species, but also during the course of the book, using these species as examples, explores many concepts in biology. Why do birds sing so early in the morning? Are marsupials really primitive and not able to compete with placental mamamls (such as dogs and horses)? Particulary interesting are his speculations on adaptations on animals. Do all the features of an animal, from the cooperative efforts by grey-crowned babblers to raise a brood of young to the red tail feathers in the otherwise black red-tailed cockatoo all surve useful purposes in species (and individual) survival and were the results of evoultion, or is it wrong to atttribute every feature and behavior an animal to direct survival of individuals and the production of new offspring?

A highly worthwhile and readable book, I recommend it.