New Zealand Books

Shane Boocock really knows his stuff. If your visiting Auckland or just a bedside traveller, this guide is a must.

Excellent job Shane, Can't wait to get the next one when it's ready.

I purchased this book as a place to start our study of Australia during our series on the continents. (I am a homeschooling mom). I found this to be an excellent resource. It gave us information on many of the basic topics we would need, without being exhaustive and too drawn out. I would consider it quite comprehensive, for a short book. It also had many real photographs. Exactly what we needed. Some of the other series I attempted to purchase when I was was buying books on the continents were much lighter on content and very disappointing, but I was happy with this one. I am using this for my advanced first grader, so I would consider it to be appropriate for first through fourth grades, maybe 5th. I would purchase from this series again for sure.

Want a good, fast easy read to learn about the top wineries and wines from each region in Australia and New Zealand in 140 pages or so? This is the book for you.

Vincent Gasnier is a talented sommelier with a knack for writing about wines in a very interesting and compelling manner, making for great reading. He's written a series of 4 brief, but informative overview books, covering the top wines from France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand, and the United States. All are easy reading, ideal for reading in short bursts of time as well as informative and enjoyable.

This book on Australian and Kiwi wines offers a brief historical overview of wines in both countries. Then, it presents a brief section on each region, including a general description of the region, the winemakers, wineries and top wines.

The top 10 for a region can take the form of multiple top 10 lists such as Top Blockbuster Australian Reds, Top 10 Fruity Australian Wines, Top 10 Fabulous Desert Wines, Top 10 Great Shiraz Producers, Top 10 Magnificent Celebration Wines, Top 10 Australian Wines for Everyday Drinking, Top 10 Outstanding Small Producers, Top 10 Best Kept Secrets in Australian Wines, Top 10 New Zealand Wines for Everyday Drinking, Top 10 Great New Zealand Pinot Noirs, and many others in addition to the Top 10 wines in each region.

It also features brief (2 to 4 page) sections on Wine and Food Matching, Buying and Storing Wine, Wine Tasting, and one on Wines Styles, a popular approach gaining in usage that breaks wines into category profiles. For example, white wines are classified into the following categories: 1). Crisp dry light bodied; aromatic to flowery, dry to medium-sweet; tangy or steely medium bodied; and full-bodied, rich flavored. Grapes typically make wines in one of these categories (although chardonnay grapes, for example, may overlap two categories depending on the winemaking style employed). Generally someone who likes a certain style of wine might appreciate the appeal of other grapes making wines in this same style or category. This section also lists the Australia and New Zealand wines that would apply to each of these categories.

The majority of the book focuses on Australia wines before taking on the topic of New Zealand wines in 27 pages. While Australia produces a vastly greater quantity of wine than New Zealand, the emergence of New Zealand wines could merit a bit more coverage than the author provides. Still, the New Zealand overview is reasonably adequate.

I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a basic overview of Australian and New Zealand wines. The author has a nice ability to explore a topic briefly, yet still provide valuable information. Gasnier is one of my favorite wine authors. If there were an award for adequately conveying a useful overview of Aussie and Kiwi Wines - along with wine information in general - in the least number of pages, Gasnier would surely win it. I am pretty knowledgeable about wine and still found this book very well done and interesting. Highly recommended, as is the entire 4 book series.

Mark Vincent

I highly recommend this book for teaching children about Australia and New Zealand. It is just right, provides good information and isn't long winded. It's actually fun to read. Remember those deadly dull country books we had to read or browse in when we were kids? Hopefully those books are passe!

Leadbeater continues to astonish as he speaks on theosophic issues to the lands down under. A true collector's item!

Dr Strahan's masterly review of changing Australian perceptions of China is nothing short of miraculous. My only comment is that Dr Strahan neglects somewhat the role of the Collingwood Australian Football Club in Australia - China relations in favour of the less important and quite frankly overrated Carlton.

I like this book very much, I am reading it for the second time. It has a well constructed, thematic approach that takes you from pre-European Aboriginal society to late 20th century attempts to be an 'all encompassing' society. It explains how the physical environment shaped the Australian character together with the cultural and historical pull towards Britain and Europe competing with the pull towards America and Asia as it still tries to define itself in the world. One is left feeling that Australia is a rather unique combination of hedonism, tolerance, stability, blandness and infinite possibility.

This is a comprehensive guide of Australian and New Zealand wines, published yearly. Ask for the latest edition. Small size book, approximately 4" X 8" and 3/4" thick; around 300 pages. Wine ratings by author from 2 stars ("basic, agreeable drinking") to 5 gold stars ("among the great wines of the world").

Without doubt the most complete account of Australian venomous and poisonous animals. I am sure it is presented in such a way that it will appeal , not only to the medical proffesion , but to paramedic ambulance staff , or anybody who works in the Australian outdoors , amateur and professional herpitologists, or anybody interested in Australian animal life . Every country in the world should print a book on this subject.

This book is magic for people who, like me, love the Australian "outback" and want to take a little bit of it home. But for all those who have never been, and can perhaps only dream of going, then the next best way of experiencing its mystery,its stark beauty, not to mention the warmth of the locals, is through Bill Bachman's marvellous photos. They capture his love for the country and believe me, the colours are real! Outback Australia truly is this red.