Oceania Books

I first read PACIFIC RISING in 1991, the year of publication and felt it was the absolute best overview of the Pacific I'd ever read. I'm not sure I've changed my mind, despite the intervening years. Mr Winchester, who lived in Hong Kong, connects Peru with Indonesia; Korea with Seattle; Guam with Panama. The book is filled with anecdotes and factoids, all of them interesting and worth knowing, but he never loses an academic focus. This is an absolute must for anyone who wants to understand what "the Pacific" is all about.

It is hard to imagine now how isolated most Pacific islands were on the eve of Pearl Harbor. Sudest in the Coral Sea was a British "colony," but no representative of the government had visited since 1934.
Sudest society had undergone big changes as a result of Western contact, but the war lifted these effects to a much higher level.
Not until 1985, however, did Western scholars begin to consider formally how the islanders reacted to the war. It comes as no surprise to find that it is regarded on most islands as one of the two most significant events in history. (The other was the coming of the missionaries; and if critics of Eurocentrism want to carp, let them imagine whether the arrival of Martians would demote the relative significance of, say, the Civil War in the memories of Americans.)
One thing the anthropologists soon learned is that today, islanders temper their response according to the nationality of the anthropologist. Japanese investigators receive a generally positive impression of Japanese-islander relations, while the same islanders tell an opposite story to Americans.
Nobody has anything good to say about the Australians, however.
By accident, the Americans always did the one thing guaranteed to generate the best response from islanders: They gave food without expecting food in return. They had no idea that food exchange is the central social activity in the Pacific.
The Americans also were perceived as racial egalitarians. Although U.S. servicemen were segregated in those days, it did not appear so to islanders. Black G.I.s wore the same clothes and ate the same food as white G.I.s, which was new to the islanders.
Furthermore, the Americans, whatever their ideological views about blacks and whites back home, tended to treat everyone the same. Editors Geoffrey White and Lamont Lindstrom write that "islanders from many areas still recount their surprise and pleasure when asked to share a meal with servicemen."
Islander responses were far from uniform. Although, overall, America enjoys a high reputation in the South Pacific -- many islanders would like to unite with the U.S.A. -- there were some violent dissents. In the case of a few extreme cargo cults, there was an attempt after the war to murder or expel all the whites.
But for the most part, the enduring effects of the war were not between political groups but between individuals. Sikaiana women inverted the American stereotype of seductive island girls and composed songs rhapsodizing over alluring American boys, and their granddaughters are being taught those songs today.

Business historian Mansel Blackford does a fine job in highlighting several key environmental issues concerning U.S. development in the region known as the "Pacific Rim." As Blackford himself points out in his conclusion, there have been many environmental studies done on particular issues in the Pacific. Many of these have tended to be highly detailed and technical, and therefore not acessible to the general public. One of the positive aspects of this book is that it is highly readable, quite a feat when considering the complex issues Blackford tackles in his book.

I found Blackford's chapter on the island of Guam particularly fascinating. Here, Blackford focuses on three important issues: the controversy over the U.S. Navy's decision in the early 1970s to build an ammunition wharf at Sella Bay, efforts by the Federal Government to establish two national parks during the same period, and the devestating enviromental impact of the brown tree snake. Blackford ultimately argues that the Navy was forced to incorporate political, cultural, and environmental concerns into a compromise package that spared Sella Bay, and which helped spur the development of tourism on Guam.

I also found Blackford's analysis of legislator and Chamorro rights activist Paul Bordallo surprisingly nuanced and incisive. Blackford largely avoids the binary trap of "government" versus "natives" by illustrating the opposition Bordallo faced from Chamorros and local residents, as well as U.S. Navy and Federal officials, in fighting to stop development at Sella Bay. Guam government officials and businessmen saw a good deal in exchanging Sella Bay with the Navy for greater civillian access to port facilities in Apra Harbor. Bordallo disagreed, arguing that Sella Bay's pristine environment must be preserved for future generations of Chamorros, local residents, and tourists to enjoy. Bordallo's vision, with the support of fifteen thousand signatures from local residents, ultimately prevailed, and one of Guam's most scenic locations was spared from becoming an ammunition wharf.

Overall, "Pathways to the Present" is a well-written examination of several cases of U.S. development in the Pacific Rim. Blackford does an excellent job in including both the "big picture" issues and the smaller "pictures" of indigeneous peoples, local residents, and individuals. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone familiar or unfamiliar with U.S.-Pacific history.

Penina Uliulu is a rare and precious black pearl of the Pacific. This book uses its title as metaphor; its aim is to be a "precious, rare, and colourful resource" for the current issues in mental health of Pacific peoples. It is, of course, refreshing to encounter studies of Pacific people written by Pacific people themselves. It is also rare, precious, and colourful to find so many voices unified by their Pacific distinctiveness yet reflective of their own unique cultures and experiences. This edited volume contains nineteen contributions, consisting of mainly essays, but also interviews and poetry. The end of the book includes a substantial categorized bibliography pointing to further resource material in Pasifika mental health. Divided into four sections, the book covers the broad topics of Pacific identities, spirituality, the Pacific unconscious, and trauma and healing.
The subjectivity and attached perspective of the essayists is definitely a major strength of the book. While the contributors are readily equipped to avoid the pitfalls of assumed Western objectivity, their first hand experiences are written down carefully and critically, unafraid to analyse and critique the sometimes negative aspects of their own cultures. This leads to an insightful read not only for Pacific people, but also those interested in learning how Pacific people see themselves.

Initially skeptical that this book would deliver an accurate depiction of life in Perth, as so few books have in the past, I am pleased to say I was completely misguided in my cynicism. As an Aussie expat travelling the world, moving to somewhere new every 2-4 years I was keen to find a coffee table book that would be both interesting, beautiful to look at and above all informative and accurate, this book is all of those things and more! This is the perfect gift but be sure to get one to keep...makes me homesick every time I turn the pages. It has been the perfect way to say thank you and help show people where I am from.

This review refers to the hardcover edition. I read this book shortly after "Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash" By P. Gilbert. See my review for that item. Both books are at the same excellent high standard - informative, detailed, captivating and well-researched.

This book traces the development of the Brisbane (Australia) music scene from the early 70s to late 90s. Detailed histories and interviews are provided with founders of Triple Zed radio station, Saints, Leftovers, Powderfinger, Regurgitator and Savage Garden. Being a punk fan, it's the review of the punk bands that interest me most.

The Saints' early years are discussed, leading up to their three recorded albums and their successful 1977 UK tour. It is interesting to read how the right-wing Bjelke-Petersen Queensland Government created an environment of fear, suscipicion and paranoia. Indirectly, this gave The Saints a reason for being - they could address political themes in their lyrics - and put them ideologically on a par with contemporary UK acts such as The Pistols and The Clash. The author is able to explain The Saints' music extremely well and clearly link it into the broader social and political context of 1970s Queensland.

We understand (after reading this book) why 1970s southern states bands such as ACDC, Cold Chisel and The Angels wrote about typical rock and roll subjects while Queensland bands such as The Saints and Leftovers took on political issues in the manner of their UK contemporaries. The book helps us to see how this was not just a quirk of fate, but that a different political climate in Queensland led to more politicised music there.

I also enjoyed reading about 70s cult act The Leftovers, clearly at the extreme, lunatic end of the punk spectrum. It appears they were anarchistic punks in the mould of The Pistols. The discussion of the history, life and times of The Leftovers is highly entertaining. History seems to have erased them from the memories of most modern music fans outside Queensland but it's interesting to learn of their history and influence.

Overall the book is extremely well researched. The way the author places paragraphs of quotes (usually 4-8 lines long and indented) from key scene identities in at appropriate places of the text narrative is effective. Generally it addes to rather than disrupts the reading experience. Over 100 people were interviewed for the book (see appendix at back) - a huge feat which clearly shows the effort, planning and dedication that went into the creation of this story.

I strongly recommend this book. And I would love to be able to obtain a CD version of The Leftovers' original recordings (2 A sides and 2 B sides).

Expeditions of adventure didn't end with the demise of Captain Cook in 1780: further expeditions were soon dispatched, but too few accounts provide general-interest readers with their specifics. Six of Cook's successors and their Pacific journeys are revealed in Pioneers Of The Pacific: Voyages Of Exploratio, 1787-1810 through the collaborative efforts of Nigel Rigby, Pieter van der Merwe and Lyn Williams. Illustrations in color from a range of international sources accompany biographical and adventure sketches of the six early explorers who continued Cook's legacy and considers their lasting impact, from Arthur Philip, the founder of the first British colony in Australia, to Alejandro Malaspina, whose Spanish expedition's achievements were overshadowed by his later disgrace.

Excellent Book ! Extremely well written, historical accounts documented by locals of Solmon Islands. Thin, little book but one hungrly eats up every word. Factual views from highly educated (academically and non-traditionally) intelligent people who present the realistic and truthful side of a Pacific Island Peoples history. Non-biased by Missionary or "White Man's" views, it is an account of facts rarely found or publlished. One finds so few works of Anthropological status writen and compiled by the local people of Pacific Island Nations. Very Interesting, creatively written, not for the average person but those who are truly interested in factual accounts of the Solomon's, Anthropology students, and travelers who want to "know" more about the people who they are visiting and not just where to eat and stay. FOr true lovers of Melanesia and Pacific Island history. It's rare to find such a jewel amongst the many grains of sand written today. Buy it ! You won't be sorry!

Initially I was worried this book might be a polemic. However, it is not. In fact, despite the title, I found the book to be a reasonably balanced account of Freeport's involvement in Indonesia and a comprehensive history. The book breaks it down into subjects such as business dealings, human rights, development, environment, etc. The author does seem to try to give Freeport credit and the benefit of the doubt when it is due. However, the picture she paints is appropriately depressing.

A must for students of Indonesian studies, development, or corporate social responsibility.

This book was absloutly amazing. It may have been the best book i have ever read. It gave my many great ideas for my trip to fiji next year. I liked fiji so much from reading this book that I feel like I've already been there.