Nonfiction for people who love a deep dive into an issue
If you have a relative or friend who is thrilled (or thrilled to be appalled) by a political controversy, frequently regales you with analysis of the hot current affairs topics of the day, is a Quarterly Essay subscriber, is at a loss since the US election finished, or just wants to make the world a better place, these books will give them plenty to sink their teeth into and are so readable the recipient may disappear between turkey/nut roast and pudding only to be found ensconced in a chair halfway through their new read.
For the friend who recreationally hypothesises about the lobbying behind the spin
The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out by Joe Aston
With the federal court ruling on 17 December in favour of the 1,820 Qantas ground crew who were illegally sacked in 2020, Joe Aston’s scathing examination of how Qantas, under then-CEO Alan Joyce, handled the Covid crisis could not be more timely.
As a former Qantas employee and Australian Financial Review columnist, Aston offers both an insider’s and an outsider’s perspective on Qantas’s fall from grace, delivered with his signature gloves-off approach. Aston takes the reader back to the arrival of Joyce at the helm of Qantas and picks apart the business relationships and decisions that fundamentally altered Qantas’s internal culture and composition.
This is a biting read of interest to anyone who has ever booked a flight and will be particularly relished by those with an interest in behind-the-scenes negotiations between business and government, not only in the Covid/JobKeeper years but also more broadly. Bonus highlights include entertaining quotes from and commentary on Justice Michael Lee’s courtroom.
Also recommended: Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil by Royce Kurmelovs
For the dinner-party guest desperate to get into the intricacies of diplomatic debacles
Nuked: The Submarine Fiasco that Sank Australia’s Sovereignty by Andrew Fowler
Nuked won the 2024 Walkley Book Award in November and it’s as riveting and outrageous as an episode of Borgen/The West Wing/Yes Prime Minister. It’s for anyone who is still scratching their heads wondering what exactly went down when France’s submarines were abruptly given the flick and the awkwardly named AUKUS was announced, causing an international diplomatic incident even those with no interest in defence strategy are still pondering.
Concise and precise yet bursting with extraordinary facts and moments, if you have a defence buff or foreign policy nut in your circle, this book is a no-brainer. However, it’s also a great read for anyone with an appetite for political intrigue or just to whiz through on the summer break to make sense of a bizarre episode in this country’s history and help a few missing pieces of the Australian political puzzle fall into place.
For those who want to understand what went wrong with the referendum and where to from here
Broken Heart: A True History of the Voice Referendum by Shireen Morris
Broken Heart by Shireen Morris is the book you need if you or your gift recipient want to trace back through the Yes campaign with the benefit of hindsight and expert insight from a constitutional lawyer who has been involved in the campaign for years. Morris calls out those who are now rewriting history and explains what they hope to achieve by doing so, and with her analysis offers salutary lessons for everyone interested in the future of this country.
Always Was, Always Will Be: The Campaign for Justice and Recognition Continues by Thomas Mayo
Always Was, Always Will Be by Thomas Mayo is an energising wake-up call with moving reflections from the esteemed Yes campaigner and accessible, real-life steps laid out so anyone who wants to help advance the cause of Indigenous constitutional recognition can make a difference starting today and heading into the future.
For the free-speech debater or democracy crusader
Working for the Brand: How Corporations are Destroying Free Speech by Josh Bornstein
Working for the Brand is another highly topical book and one particularly suited to those inclined to reflect on the role of social media and how its growth interacts with the expansion of corporate expectations of employees. Josh Bornstein, a Melbourne lawyer with well-known expertise in this area, takes the reader along on a roller coaster journey as his subjects transition from relative anonymity to infamy and/or unemployment, often via an ill-judged Tweet. There are also cases of mistaken identity and mob menacing which serve to illustrate the sheer lack of government oversight or agency in the face of vast change in the digital landscape. Bornstein makes the case that these regulatory inadequacies combined with corporate overreach have real-life consequences in every social realm, from private lives to the fundamentals of democracy. An easy gift choice for corporate sceptics, but also for anyone interested in how humans police each other and social norms shift.
For the current affairs and history reader keen to stash some new research up their sleeve
Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia by Santilla Chingaipe
Surely one of the must-read books for January, Black Convicts is a long overdue revelation. Santilla Chingaipe has ventured far into the archives to piece together and bring to light the stories of the Black convicts who arrived in 1788 on the First Fleet and those who followed, along with others who later arrived as free people. These are stories that have been, incredibly, concealed in plain sight for far too long.
In addition to tracing individual histories, Chingaipe expertly examines wider issues and joins the dots between the slave economy and British colonial expansion, bringing new perspective to the events of the past.
A compelling tale built on impressive scholarship, Black Convicts is an essential consideration of which stories are given space and why, and what these facts tell us all about the country we find ourselves in today. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a better understanding of Australian history.
For those who despair at the fourth estate but will never give up on it
The Men Who Killed the News: The Inside Story of How Media Moguls Abused Their Power, Manipulated the Truth and Distorted Democracy by Eric Beecher
In The Men Who Killed the News, Eric Beecher’s tales of life in the media are colourful and at times shocking, as is his commentary on the machinations between politicians and press. Amply supplied with anecdotes and experience, and not shy with his opinions, Beecher’s writing will entertain any news junkie and especially those with a few thoughts of their own about the Murdoch media empire. For a tantalising preview, read Mark Rubbo’s review here.
Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media by Amy McQuire
For anyone eager to interrogate the iniquities of the status quo and the effects of colonial media on the reporting (and non-reporting) of Indigenous affairs, Amy McQuire’s essay collection Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media is not to be missed. In this tour de force, McQuire offers a comprehensive analysis of the failings of the mainstream media in addressing issues affecting First Nations Australians and proposes bold solutions. Black Witness will make readers sit up and take notice.
For the policy enthusiast or social justice advocate
Mean Streak: A Moral Vacuum & A Multi-Billion Dollar Government Shake Down by Rick Morton
Rick Morton’s Mean Streak: A Moral Vacuum & A Multi-Billion Dollar Government Shake Down is a forensic narrative account of the Robodebt disgrace, the consequences, and the Royal Commission that followed. Absolutely gripping, this is the story of the tragic human cost of a diabolical policy, the people behind it, and those who sought to cover it up.
When Cops Are Criminals edited by Veronica Gorrie
When Cops Are Criminals is also an exposé of what happens when people in positions of trust and responsibility abuse their power to devastating effect. Unlike Mean Streak, this is a collection of essays written by a number of contributors and edited by former police officer Veronica Gorrie. Gorrie is also the author of Black and Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resilience, and in this collection she brings together the perspectives of those who have survived criminal police behaviour, those who campaign against or study it, and the extraordinary challenges facing the brave people who seek to challenge and change it.
For the community-minded grown-up concerned by the mental health crisis
Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health by Dr Billy Garvey
This book is a fantastic, reader-friendly resource for anyone who wants to be an informed and supportive member of the community around the children and young people they know, personally or professionally. Dr Billy Garvey is a local Melbourne dad, a developmental paediatrician at a tertiary children’s hospital and the co-host, with fellow local dad Nick McCormack, of the podcast Pop Culture Parenting, which has grown a devoted following since it launched in December 2021.
The book addresses 10 key areas of mental health, ranging from attachment and emotional development to behaviour, self-esteem, anxiety and caregiver mental health, explaining the underpinning psychological frameworks and offering key lessons and strategies for looking after mental health through the good times and the hard. Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child’s Mental Health is a great gift for anyone with young people in their life.
On a lighter note, a couple of non-current affairs deep dive recommendations (both involving feathers ... )
Enchantment by Birds: A History of Birdwatching in 22 Species by Russell McGregor
Enchantment by Birds: A History of Birdwatching in 22 Species by Russell McGregor, the appeal of which is self-evident, but do read our review here if there’s a natural history or bird fan in your life.
The Place of Tides by James Rebanks
The Place of Tides by James Rebanks, a remarkable tale of an ancient way of life (Eider duck down gathering on a remote Norwegian island) and self-discovery which is receiving rave reviews and is by the author of the beloved memoir The Shepherd’s Life.
