Thrilled and delighted to see four Jacinta di Mase non-fiction creator’s books selected for The Australia Institute Essential Reading List 2024!
The Australia Institute provides intellectual and policy leadership. They conduct research that drives the public debate and secures policy outcomes that make Australia better, and they run Australia’s Biggest Book Club for monthly webinars, and the chance to engage directly with renowned and prize-winning authors.
In this spirit and since 2017, they’ve made a round-up list of Essential Reading from the year that’s been, and for 2024 they included;
‣ Working for the Brand: how corporations are destroying free speech by Josh Bornstein (Scribe). The Institute says of the book; ‘Josh Bornstein asks how our major corporations have come to exercise repressive control over the lives of their employees, and explores what can be done to repair the greatest threat to democracy – the out-of-control corporation … we would not tolerate a government that censored, controlled, and punished us in this way, so why do we meekly accept the growing authoritarianism of the companies that we work for?’
‣ Naku Dharuk: The Bark Petitions: How the people of Yirrkala changed the course of Australian democracy by Clare Wright (Text Publishing). ‘This is the story of a founding document in Australian democracy and the people who made it. It paints a vibrant picture of the profound and ancient culture of Australia’s first peoples, in all its continuing vigour. Clare Wright’s groundbreaking Democracy Trilogy began with The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka (workers’ rights) and continued with You Daughters of Freedom (women’s rights). After a decade of research and community consultation, it concludes, fittingly, with a fascinating and compulsively readable account of a momentous but little-known episode in our shared political history’
‣ Live More With Less: Upgrade your life without costing the Earth! by Kate Luckins (Affirm Press). ‘Live More with Less is a practical and optimistic guide to balancing planet friendly habits with our imperfect reality. It’s filled with entertaining anecdotes from sustainability leaders and everyday eco-heroes, as well as handy tips to reduce consumerism and your mental load. It steps you through elevating your wardrobe, cutting your grocery bills and restoring the joy of Christmas with ease. This book is for anyone wanting to make confident, sustainable choices to upgrade their life – for good.’
‣ Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia: A Groundbreaking Collection of Torres Strait Islander Voices, Past and Present by Samantha Faulkner (Black Inc). Featuring Aaron Fa’Aoso with Michelle Scott Tucker; ‘These and many more storytellers, mentors, traditional owners, doctors and teachers from the Torres Strait share their joy, culture, good eating, lessons learned and love of family, language and Country … A book to treasure and share, this groundbreaking collection provides a unique perspective on the Torres Strait Islander experience.’
Wonderful to see such an eclectic and essential list published by The Australia Institute, and thrilling to see so many of our creators included!
