Finalist, 2016 Walkley Award for Long Feature Writing With the politics of rage and resentment dominating many Western nations, including Australia, Laura Tingle's calm, perceptive analysis is more relevant than ever. What has happened to good government? Can Malcolm Turnbull apply the lessons of the past to put things right? When leaders surf the wave of discontentment all the way to power, how do they deal with our great expectations? In her crisp, profound and witty essays, Laura Tingle seeks answers to these questions. In Political Amnesia, she ranges from ancient Rome to the demoralised state of the once-great Australian public service, from the jingoism of the past to the tabloid scandals of the internet age. In Great Expectations, Tingle argues that governments can do less since deregulating the economy, but they still talk like they can do more, and we still expect them to do more – leading to anger, frustration and disengagement. In Search of Good Government also contains a major new essay that analyses Turnbull's leadership and brings the story up to date. 'This is precisely the kind of political journalism we don't get to see often enough.' Sydney Morning Herald
Despite being so close in distance, why do Australia and New Zealand seem to know so little about each other? And is there such a thing as national character? In this wise and illuminating essay, Laura Tingle looks at leadership, economics, history and more. Competitiveness has marked our relationship from its earliest days. In the past half-century, both countries have been compelled to remake themselves amid shifting economic fortunes. New Zealand has been held up as a model for everything from tax reform to the way we conduct our politics. What have been the outcomes? How do they compare to ours? Tingle considers everything from Morrison and Ardern as national leaders to the different ways each country has dealt with its colonial legacy.
Australia and New Zealand are often considered close cousins. But why, despite being so close, do we know so little about each other? And now, in the wake of COVID-19, is it time to change that? In this wise and illuminating essay, Laura Tingle looks at leadership, character and two nations in transition. In the past half-century, both countries have remade themselves amid shifting economic fortunes. New Zealand has been held up as a model for everything from privatisation to the conduct of politics to the response to COVID. Tingle considers how both countries have been governed, and the different way each has dealt with its colonial legacy. What could Australia learn from New Zealand? And New Zealand from Australia? This is a perceptive, often amusing introduction to two countries alike in some ways, but quite different in others. “Jacinda Ardern is not the first reason we have had to look across the Tasman and wonder whether there is another way of doing things . . . New Zealand – perhaps the only place in the world that has suffered isolation and the tyranny of distance more than Australia – has repeatedly jumped out of its comfort zone and changed direction harder, faster and for longer than Australia has done in the past half-century.” —Laura Tingle, The High Road
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 culture of entitlement, Rudd to reconceive the federation. Through all of this, and back to our origins, runs an almost childlike sense of the government as saviour and provider that has remained constant even as the world has changed. Now we are an angry nation, and the Age of Entitlement is coming to an end. What will a different politics look like? And, Tingle asks, even if a leader surfs the wave of anger all the way to power, what answer can be given to our great expectations? “It is wrong to see the anger of the last few years as a ‘one-off,’ which might go away at the next election. The things we are angry about betray the changes that have been taking place over recent decades. Politicians no longer control interest rates, the exchange rate, or wages, prices or industries that were once protected or even owned by government. Voters are confused about what politicians can do for them in such a world.” —Laura Tingle, Great Expectations
What is true political leadership, and how do we get it? What qualities should we wish for in our leaders? And why is it killing season for prime ministers? In this wise and timely essay, Laura Tingle argues that democratic leaders build a consensus for change, rather than bludgeon the system or turn politics into a popularity contest. They mobilise and guide, more than impose a vision. Tingle offers acute portraits – profiles in courage and cunning – of leaders ranging from Merkel and Howard to Macron and Obama. She discusses the rise of the strongman, including Donald Trump, for whom there is no map, only sentiment and power. And she analyses what has gone wrong with politics in Australia, arguing that successful leaders know what they want to do, and create the space and time to do it. After the Liberal Party’s recent episode of political madness, where does this leave the nation’s new prime minister, Scott Morrison? “The Liberal Party has been ripped apart and our polity is the worse off for having one of its major political parties rendered largely ungovernable ... Malcolm Turnbull’s fate came down to a series of judgements made not just by him, but by his colleagues, who spent much of his prime ministership failing to follow the leader and also failing in their own collective responsibility for leadership.” —Laura Tingle, Follow the Leader
Whatever happened to good government? What are the signs of bad government? And can Malcolm Turnbull apply the lessons of the past in a very different world? In this crisp, profound and witty essay, Laura Tingle seeks answers to these questions. She ranges from ancient Rome to the demoralised state of the once-great Australian public service, from the jingoism of the past to the tabloid scandals of the internet age. Drawing on new interviews with key figures, she shows the long-term harm that has come from undermining the public sector as a repository of ideas and experience. She tracks the damage done when responsibility is “contracted out,” and when politicians shut out or abuse their traditional sources of advice. This essay about the art of government is part defence, part lament. In Political Amnesia, Laura Tingle examines what has gone wrong with our politics, and how we might put things right. “There was plenty of speculation about whether Turnbull would repeat his mistakes as Opposition leader in the way he dealt with people. But there has not been quite so much about the more fundamental question of whether the revolving door of the prime ministership has much deeper causes than the personalities in Parliament House. Is the question whether Malcolm Turnbull – and those around him – can learn from history? Or is there a structural reason national politics has become so dysfunctional?” —Laura Tingle, Political Amnesia
With the politics of rage and resentment dominating many Western nations, including Australia, Laura Tingle's calm, perceptive analysis is more relevant than ever. What has happened to good government? Can Malcolm Turnbull apply the lessons of the past to put things right? When leaders surf the wave of discontentment all the way to power, how do they deal with our great expectations? In her crisp, profound and witty essays, Laura Tingle seeks answers to these questions. In Political Amnesia, she ranges from ancient Rome to the demoralised state of the once-great Australian public service, from the jingoism of the past to the tabloid scandals of the internet age. In Great Expectations, Tingle argues that governments can do less since deregulating the economy, but they still talk like they can do more, and we still expect them to do more - leading to anger, frustration and disengagement. In Search of Good Government also contains a major new essay that analyses Turnbull's leadership and brings the story up to date.
Why are Australians are so disenchanted and angry when it comes to politics? Given how well the country is going, by all rights we should be delighted with our political leadership. And yet we're not. In Quarterly Essay 46, Laura Tingle argues that something deep in the culture now amplifies antagonism and complaint. By turns we rail at the prime minister, whinge about minority government, and act as if the mining and carbon taxes will be the end of the world. When we were prosperous in times past, we did things like form a federation. What has changed? What would a different politics look like? And, Tingle asks, can a leader surf the wave of anger all the way to power?
In a world where magic is derived from the process of wine-making, vineart student Jerzy and his companions must find the source of a magic taint plaguing the Lands Vin and, after tragedy strikes, must also seek vengeance for a horrible wrong.
Kidding is the new adulting. Consider this your permission slip to relax, laugh, and finally find happiness. At once hilarious, irreverent, and downright inspiring, Kidding shows you how to connect with your inner child to make your mundane, complicated adult life much simpler (and happier). It's a book about using your imagination and creativity to find joy, and about being happier by being who you are-which is to say, by being a big kid at heart. Author Laura Jane Williams argues that you can be an adult but still embrace childlike (not childish) tendencies: you can own your own home and still want to build a pillow fort when the mood strikes; you can pay your bills on time and still snuggle something soft against your face because you're sad; you can run a business and still take time to play. Divided into 40 short lessons, it's an accessible, fun introduction to the self-help world that anyone can stomach. Laura's experience as a nanny to three young, precocious children has transformed her view on life, and in this book she passes along the lessons she's learned from them. Because kids live in the present. They lose themselves in what they love, they show off, and they like themselves. Kids are curious by default, and they don't have limits because they haven't learned they exist yet. Kids do whatever the f*ck they want, precisely because they want to. To put it simply, kids have the answers, man.
Another Amelia Fang adventure! Read about everyone's favorite vampire before she makes her way on the TV screen! Amelia is going on a trip with her Rainbow Rangers troop (led by unicorns Ricky and Graham) to Sugarplum Island! But while exploring to earn their badges, Amelia and the gang stumble upon an ancient curse - and are shrunk to the size of bugs! How will they make the bloodcurdlingly BIG journey to break the curse when they are all so very TINY?
From a veterinary assistant and exciting rising author comes this past-paced selection of four horror/paranormal stories featuring our beloved canines. In My Sister’s Keeper, a lonely woman worries that her vampire sister will turn her new best friend that just happens to be a dog. Will the vampire sister accept the canine as a pet, or as a source of nourishment? In The Shape of the Shift, a shapeshifter is surprised to learn that the people around him aren’t what they appear to be, including the love of his life. In Jinn or Jinx?, the wishes granted by an ancient Jinn not only come with bizarre consequences but also reveal dark family secrets. In Immortal Me, a woman discovers she is immortal after surviving a brutal beating. While she tries to keep her newfound persona a secret, her attacker learns the truth and comes after her for a second time, but she has a few surprises for him.
David has a problem. His teacher says everyone has a light inside, but he can’t find his. When Grandpa notices David’s tears, they explore things that make David feel good—his own brown eyes and smile, the way the flowers smell, and a cozy bedtime story with his mom. Suddenly, David feels his light. But back at school, his friend Elsie is sad and needs his help. Here, he uncovers the greatest truth of all: the more he shines his light, the more light there is. Little David’s Big Light explores a universally-appealing message of how gratitude can lead to more mindfulness, kindness, and love.
Grace Wilde must use her psychic abilities to track down a pesky primate in the latest Call of the Wilde Mystery. Grace Wilde is excited to head to New Orleans for her first “real” case as an animal telepath. She intends to help a woman find her missing sister, but when she attempts to communicate with her client’s cat, Coco, Grace gets distracted by the presence of a much wilder animal. Coco confirms that a mysterious monkey has been swinging around the Big Easy. Grace thinks she might be able to help corral the cheeky Capuchin in addition to solving her case. But things get complicated when she receives a cryptic warning that her client isn’t what she seems. Now it’s up to Grace to separate the truth from the monkey business...
Have you ever wondered why some video game characters wear trousers and others don’t? Or pondered the connection between a character’s toned, muscular derrière and their level of dexterity? What about the depth of a crack, the jiggle of a cheek? When it comes to video game character designs, one of the most overlooked aspects is the buttocks. Sure, we might appreciate a nice toned butt on a character or giggle at GIFs of farts from time to time, but how often do we stop to really think about the meaning of the butt? In Things I Learned from Mario’s Butt, video game critic Laura Kate Dale brings backsides to the foreground, analysing dozens of posteriors and asking the important questions: Has Mario let himself go? Do Link’s small buttocks hold him back? When he dies, is Pac-Man eaten by his own caboose? Wedged full of original artwork by Zack Flavin, and featuring interviews with game developers and guest butt reviews from gaming favourites such as Jim Sterling, Stuart Ashen, Brentalfloss and more, this book is a deep dive into why butts are downright integral to the games we play. So, crack it open and have a cheeky look inside at some of the most interesting bottoms the world of video games has to offer.
While using the drug Zeal to create a horror-filled dream world where she can act out her depraved fantasies without hurting someone, Carina, a former employee of the corrupt Sudice corporation, receives images of a brutal murder encrypted with data strong enough to take down the Sudice once and for all.
Excuse Me, Your Job Is Waiting approaches job-hunting from Lynn Grabhorn's philosophy of the astonishing power of feelings introduced to more than half a million readers. Laura George applies the powerful Law of Attraction to the life experiences of both losing and getting a job. George captures the style and substance of Excuse Me and helps you identify the qualities you want in a job and then shows you how to flip the negative feelings you may be carrying ("the economy is terrible"; "I can't believe I got laid off"; "I'm too old") so you can stay focused and upbeat to draw that perfect job to you. Experienced in job hunting from both sides of the interview table, George understands all the highs and lows in this emotionally draining process. As a job seeker, she teaches you to stay positive after months of few prospects and little hope. As a human resources manager she also knows that these powerful, positive feelings can land seekers the job of their dreams. By exploring the "power of feelings" on your job search, this new job seeker's guide is unlike any other. George shows you the job market through the employer's eyes and offers insider information on résumés and cover letters, internet job boards and on-line applications, interview and salary negotiation strategies, and much more. Future books in this exciting, new "Excuse Me" series will apply Lynn Grabhorn's power of feelings concept to parenting, family relationships, and personal development.
Magic lurks in the shadows... Get ready to get your spells on with this limited edition collection of magical paranormal romance and urban fantasy tales. Fall under the captivating charms of Witches, Wizards, Shifters, Vampires, Demons, and other supernatural beings in this anthology featuring strong, spunky heroines and swoon-worthy, charismatic heroes you can’t help but find irresistible. These action-packed, alluring stories will have you begging for more from this talented mix of USA Today bestselling and new-to-you authors. Step into the shadows and let this enchanting edition seduce you today!
The story continues where The Simple Wish ends. Simon Hill finds himself lost in a different solar system, but as he looks for clues to the location of Earth, he finds himself the focal point in a much bigger war than the one back on Earth. As he starts out making a living while he searches for the way home, he makes friends that become a family, but as the war heats up. Is it just his imagination or can he sense Janet's hand in the background gently guiding him and his new family during the war.
A river divides Cottonbloom in two: the upscale enclave on the Mississippi side and the rundown, rough and tumble side in Louisiana. They’re worlds apart—but nothing can build a bridge like love... Cade Fournette never had it easy Cottonbloom. He stuck around long enough to raise his orphaned siblings and then hightailed it out West—and never looked back. Even though he’s made a success of himself in Seattle, Cade never lost the toughness and the angry edge that helped him survive down South. His only weak spot: the girl he left behind... Monroe Kirby came from the wealthy side of town, but that didn’t protect her from her mother’s drinking—or her mother’s boyfriend. It was Cade who did that, on a long-ago hot September night, before he disappeared...along with a piece of her heart. Now Monroe is a physical therapist who can fight for herself, and it’s Cade who could use some conditioning when he makes an unexpected return back home. Will he and Monroe pick up where they left off and finally explore their mutual passion—or will the scars and secrets of the past divide them once more?
Sheriff Noah Wheeler of Pritchett County, Arkansas, decided long ago that commitment isn't his style—and there are at least seventeen local women ready to agree with him! But when he finds himself at the side of the highway with Cassie Tremont, a woman about to deliver twins, his whole world shifts. Suddenly all Noah wants is to protect this vulnerable redhead and her new family. But Cassie was badly hurt by a double-dealing husband and she's vowed to raise her twin daughters alone. Now the sheriff has become her guardian angel—and she's no longer so sure about that decision…. Especially when he seems to think the four of them are already a family!
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