"The Road to Success and Happiness is Never Walked Alone."—Dr. Wayne SwanThis Book is the Road Map to the Kind of Life You DeserveMost people want to accomplish great things—improve their own lives and make the world better in some way. You might be thinking, But why does it have to be so hard?Life can seem like a constant battle—helping a loved one who just won't listen, paying the light bill when there's not enough money to go around, finding happiness when everyon...

Bruce Springsteen might be the quintessential American rock musician but his songs have resonated with fans from all walks of life and from all over the world. This unique collection features reflections from a diverse array of writers who explain what Springsteen means to them and describe how they have been moved, shaped, and challenged by his music.Contributors to Long Walk Home include novelists like Richard Russo, rock critics like Greil Marcus and Gillian Gaar, and o...

Praise for Swan's handling of the economy'One of the most impressive economic policies I have seen, ever.' - Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate'Wayne Swan's judgment and decisiveness, in international terms, must rank a high distinction.' - Paul KeatingA very personal account of an extraordinary period in Australian politics.Despite the divisions within the Labor Party as the Rudd government fell into disunity and as Julia Gillard was undermined by disloyalty f...

The controversial legacy of the Rudd-Gillard governments, along with Labor's 2013 election defeat, looms large over the party. Labor risks years in the political wilderness unless it can reinvent itself. What did it get right, where did it go wrong, and how can it regain the trust of voters?Troy Bramston uses new in-depth interviews with Kevin Rudd and Bill Shorten, the advice of Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, and insights from Julia Gillard's inner circle to look at La...

A fascinating insight into one of Australia's most powerful and effective political figures.Tony Windsor's understanding of the issues facing his rural and regional constituency motivated him to become a representative for those who love the land, from farmers to environmentalists, from rich to poor.Though the former National Party member's decision to support a minority Labor government created a firestorm of abuse, he managed to maintain his focus on the big picture, gain...

The leading Catholic in the nation and spiritual adviser to Tony Abbott, Cardinal George Pell has played a key role in the greatest challenge to face his church for centuries: the scandal of child sex abuse by priests.In The Prince, David Marr investigates the man and his career: how did he rise through the ranks? What does he stand for? How does he wield his authority? How much has he shaped his church and Australia? How has he handled the scandal?

We were a motley mob, we sans-culottes of Canberra …In this vastly entertaining book, Mungo MacCallum captures the spirit of a nation-changing time. He portrays the Whitlam government’s key figures – from Gough and Margaret to Lionel Murphy, Bill Hayden and Jim Cairns – as well as “the other mob” in opposition – Billy McMahon, John Gorton, Malcolm Fraser and many more.The Whitlam Mob addresses some crucial questions: What was the night of the long prawns? ...

Power Trip shows the making of Kevin Rudd, prime minister. In Eumundi, where Rudd was born, David Marr investigates the formative tragedy of his life: the death of his father and what came after. He tracks the transformation of a dreamy kid into an implacably determined youth, already set on the prime ministership. He examines Rudd's years as Wayne Goss's right-hand man in Queensland, his relentless work in federal Opposition – from Sunrise to AWB – and finally his record...

Rather than relaxed and comfortable, Australians are disenchanted with politics and politicians. In Quarterly Essay 46 Laura Tingle shows that the reason for this goes to something deep in Australian culture: our great expectations of government. Since the deregulation era of the 1980s, Tingle finds, governments can do less, but we wish they could do more. From Hawke to Gillard, each prime minister has grappled with this dilemma. Keating sought to change expectations, Howard to feed a cult...

'I was prime minister for three years and three days. Three years and three days of resilience. Three years and three days of changing the nation. Three years and three days for you to judge.'On Wednesday 23 June 2010, with the government in turmoil, Julia Gillard asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for a leadership ballot.The next day, Julia Gillard became Australia's 27th prime minister, and our first female leader. Australia was alive to the histo...

What does Malcolm Turnbull stand for? In Stop at Nothing Annabel Crabb tells the story of the man who would be prime minister.Based on extensive interviews with Turnbull as well as those who have worked with him, this is an essay full of revelations. Crabb delves into young Malcolm's university exploits - which included co-authoring a musical with Bob Ellis - and his remarkable relationship with Kerry Packer, the man for whom he was at first a prized attack dog, and then...

How Labor lost the race -- how Bill Shorten could save the party - and why it matters.In the 2007 election, led by Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard they smashed the Howard government and made the country look fresh and optimistic again. But under the sunny exterior lurked unchecked tensions, corrupt members, factional warlords, leadership woes. Now, Labor's pains have become the Abbott-led Coalition's gain. For journalist and former Young Laborite, Aaron Patrick, Labor at its best is a ...