Book Reviews
Online bookshop
Q. Simon
I like your lists of books and recipes. With the books I think it would be very helpful if you could provide us with links to on-line book sellers who have them in stock. This way they would be much easier to purchase especially for us folks who live out in the country areas. Also an indication as to whether the books you feature are recent releases or not.
A.
Many thanks for your feedback Simon. Many people have their favourite bookshop, be it online or in a local shopping strip however, many of the books reviewed on
AboutSeniors can be purchased online at our
AboutSeniors Bookshop which comes with a 10% discount on all book purchases. You can access via the banner on our
book review page or
click here for a direct link. If books are published by Government or are available from certain organisations, then we do try to state this and give a link where possible.
Free audio books
Frequent fliers passing through Brussels, Milan and Rome will soon be able to download free audio books.
The Oneworld alliance, which includes BA, JAL, Qantas and Cathay Pacific, have introduced Oneworld Travel Stations which offers travellers downloadable material and mobile charging stations. Travellers can use these stations to download three free titles from a selection of 40 available and can even have an email sent the day before they travel advising which ones are available.
For more information on downloadable audio books via travel stations, visit Oneworld.
Digital Photography Basics
If you are new to digital cameras and want to understand the basics such as taking the perfect photo, editing it on your computer and sharing it over the internet then we have the book for you!
This is an easy-to-follow book that guides you through a range of subjects in plain English on digital photography. Whether you are looking for information on buying a new digital camera, knowing how to take the perfect photo, how to turn your computer into a digital darkroom or even how to share your photos with your friends online, then Digital photography for Seniors For Dummies is definitely a book you would want to read.
Written by a technology guru and digital photographer, Digital photography for Seniors For Dummies gives the reader the confidence to take great shots, edit the pictures on their home computer and send the pictures all over the world via email!
A picture lasts a lifetime
Mark Hinton
Wiley
RRP $42.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!
Getting started with safety
Your safety is important even when going online as there are dangers lurking around every corner. Distinguishing between safe and dangerous material can be easier than you think.
Helping you avoid being a victim of online crime, Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies guides you though the maze of cyber crimes, identifying the hazards you need to avoid when shopping, investing, share trading, surfing and paying bills online, including many other activities.
There is also a section dedicated to protecting you online from predators, email spam and scams, helping you create strong passwords to avoid identity theft and much more. Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies also guides you through the process of paying bills online, chatting with others, sharing photos and videos with friends, online banking and social networking.
A must have for all beginner computer users
Nancy Muir & Linda Criddle
Wiley
RRP $37.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!
Try a little tenderness
Many will now have worked out that a little love, romance and tenderness goes a long way to having a fulfilling sex life.
This is certainly the message that was given in the original The Joy of Sex and remains so in The New Joy of Sex, spruced up and reissued. The first sex manual of its kind, it shocked and delighted back in 1972 when it was first published. Giving people the answers to the questions they were afraid to ask, this manual was present on many bookshelves across the world.
Psychologist Susan Quillan has taken the groundbreaking work of Dr Alex Comfort and has revised the manual to reflect today’s sexual climate and promises.
Why not dust off the original or buy the new version and have some fun.
Susan Quillan
Mitchell Beazley
RRP: 39.99
Small business bible
Ever had a great idea for a new business? And wondered if you have what it takes to turn it into profit? Wonder no more. John English and Babette Moate’s new book reveals all you need to know about small business startups.
Discovering New Business Opportunities shows you how to uncover new business ideas and how to decide which ones are worth pursuing. This book is the boot camp for new business ideas with scores of tips to help you: look for new business opportunities, identify a viable market, anticipate the risks, build a business model, validate commercial potential and develop a start-up strategy.
John W. English & Babette Moate
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $35
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!
Home based businesses
If you are interested in working on, but on your own terms, then this “kitchen table” manifesto is a handy resource for planning and running your own SOHO (Small Office/Home Office)
How to run a business from your kitchen table, lets you discover everything you need to know about running a business from home with information on legal requirements, pitfalls to avoid, setting budgets, getting and keeping customers and how to profit from networking. What makes this book work, is the simple manner in which the information is presented.
Take advantage of your own special talents and interests today!
Barbara Gabogrecan
Stonnington Books
$27.20
You can purchase it here.
Living the green life
Sometimes inspiration is all it takes to start living a greener life. With 200 tips to choose from, a True Green Life should be enough to get you started.
Living a greener life doesn’t need to be difficult, many of us are making small changes to our lifestyles that are already having a positive impact on our environment;
recycling, using the car less and eating more healthily. Kim McKay & Jenny Bonnin and written many books on how to make the planet a healthier place, understanding that simple communication is the key to getting people to take positive action on green matters.
The most common problem with getting people to “go green” is the belief that one person can’t make a difference. This is completely wrong. Everyone doing a little bit can be more effective than just a few people trying to do it all. If each Australian tries just five of the 200 tips given, Australia will be well on it’s way to reducing it’s carbon footprint.
True green life is proof that you can easily make a difference.
Kim McKay & Jenny Bonnin
ABC Books
RRP: $ 29.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off!
It’s never too late…
Many people think that once they reach a certain age there is little they can do to stop dementia. This is not true, it’s never too late to avoid dementia.
It’s never too late to change your mind: The latest medical thinking on what you can do to avoid dementia, is written by Dr Michael J Valenzuela, a Research fellow at the School of Psychiatry, University of NSW. Awarded the prestigious Eureka prize for his work into the development and expression of dementia in 2006, he simplifies the complex world of how the mind works, making is simpler to understand how to combat dementia.
Dementia takes your memories, then your independence and then finally, it reduces your physical ability. Leaving you dependent on family members and carers. It’s never too late, takes and amusing but never patronising look at how changes in simple lifestyles factors can slow down or stop the onset of dementia.
Importantly, Dr Valenzuela explains exactly what dementia is, how it affects our mind and lives and what we can do to change things.
Whether you or a family member is worried about dementia, this is a worthwhile read.
Dr Michael J Valenzuela
ABC Books
RRP: $ 29.95
Prevention better than cure
As there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, protecting the health of your mind is key to ensuring neurological wellbeing.
The
Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription details simple yet effect changes in lifestyle and diet that can help stave off the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s. With Australians living longer than ever before, the fear of ending our days unaware of what’s going on around is very real. Damage associated with Alzheimer’s occurs decades before symptoms appear so it’s never too early to start taking the health of your mind seriously.
Dr Vincent Fortenesce is the Rehabilitation Director at the Fortanasce Neurology Centre in Arcadia, California and has over 20 years experience in dealing with medical issues. Through
the Anti-Alzheimer’s Prescription, he helps you to identify your risk profile and follow a simple four-step program to brain health. The steps are:
1. The Anti-Alzheimer’s anti-inflammatory diet
2. Brain boosters (smart exercise for brain health)
3. Brain boosters (mental challenges to build cognitive reserves)
4. Rest and recovery (finding your circle of quiet)
Also included in the book are chapters on how to obtain a medical diagnosis and the latest medical treatments available. Living with Alzheimer’s is a terrible way to end a life which has previously been rich in experiences and memories and can destroy family relationships.
If simple steps can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, then surely they’re worth trying.
RRP: $34.95
Dr Vincent Fortenesce
Random House
A story of loss
Neil Barr writes from the heart. He was born to farming parents, grew up on an orchard, and loves and understands country life. He also laments the passing of the small rural community but offers a clear, unsentimental view of the reasons in his new book, The House on the Hill.
Because the author is a social research, this analysis of life on the land is both moving and firmly based on fact. And the facts are sad for those of us who grew up in a farming community, or remember the old days when we all had relatives who lived on a farm and opened the doors wide to city kids just dying to ride a bike or horse, or help collect eggs, or simply play in the barn. Barr maintains that what affects real people on the land affects everybody. And he is right. No other sector has consistently made such gains in productivity over such a long period with so little support or encouragement from successive governments. Many describe farmers as whingers – be it about drought or flooding rains. Well they might whinge, if the picture Barr paints is correct –and based as it is on recent ABS information, we know it to be true. The future for small farming lots and the communities around them is very bleak. There is no silver lining to this cloud.
Read and weep for what we are losing
Neil Barr
Halstead Press
RRP: $37.95
Read more and Buy Now
Wild at heart
Now a committed conservationist living just outside Brisbane, Annette Henderson brush with an orphaned baby gorilla in the African Congo many years ago, changed her life for ever.
Wild spirit, explains the life changing experience that rose from adversity in the remote African jungle. Stranded in Libreville, Gabon in June 1975, Annette and her husband, Win, find themselves penniless after a thief steals everything the have from their Kombivan. Haven driven halfway across Africa, they can neither go back, nor carry on. Fortunately, a chance meeting with a local expat offers them the chance to turn their fortunes around.
They take jobs in a local mining camp, in an area never visited by tourists and battling isolation, culture shock and hard labour, Annette takes solace in the equatorial forest. This is where her truly life changing experience begins, for here she meets Josie, an orphaned gorilla, whom she adopts.
This sets her on a path that she could never have imagined. With a degree in Anthropology, she has written many articles on birds and reptiles and fights to save the forests that are home to many wonderful creatures.
An inspiration to get away from it all.
Annette Henderson
Random House
RRP: 34.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
What the Ebook?
Purchase your books in an online format, save money and trees!
Over the last few years, Ebooks has slowly grown in popularity. This is partly thanks to the introduction of Palm Pilots and e-readers. Such gadgets allow you to download ebooks for less than half the price of a paperback, saving money, and the environment.
You don’t have to be sat in front of your computer to read your books, many new technologies, such as mobile phones, support this technology. However, there is an item on the market that is tailored to this very task. E-readers, which can range from $150 up to $400, are a good investment if you consider that you might pay $10 extra per book on paper. Over the space of a year, even if only you read 12 books, you nearly negate that cost entirely!
Find out more about Ebooks.
Find out more about Ebook Readers.
Grandmas are magic
Everyone loves a grandma, whether it’s their own, or someone else’s. The heart of most families, they are to be cherished and celebrated.
Grandma Magic, is a collection of tales about the love for grandmas, the joy of being a grandma and the sadness at loosing a grandma. Whether they’re called Nanna, Granny, Baba, Nonna or Oma, grandmothers, for the most part are great! Sure, they can be challenging but they hold a wealth of knowledge, love and compassion that they are only too willing to share.
Janet Hutchinson has compiled this anthology of true stories written by 22 women, who dispel the myth of grey haired, cake making, jumper-knitting grandmothers and share the tales of strong, independent women who have shaped each of their lives, or how becoming a grandmother has changed them for the better.
Authors include Jennifer Mills, Julie McCrossin, Caitlin Adams, Gabrielle Lord and many more. These very personal tales range from amusing and irreverent to sad and nostalgic but all make the point that Grandmothers may be a motley lot, capable of so much more than a badly knitted pair of socks or a rock-hard sponge cake!
An indulgent yet thought provoking look at Grannys.
Janet Hutchinson
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $29.95
Love and betrayal
Marriages fall apart, usually when you least expect them to. After 18 years of marriage, Lucy is alone after her husband Jasper walks out. But what exactly is she mourning, the love of her life or the loss of her live in handyman?
Love that LBD
Since the 1920s, the little black dress, or LBD as it is more affectionately known, has been a staple of women’s closets the world over. And it’s no wonder as the perfect LBD, no matter how much it cost, can make you feel a million dollars.
Robyn Johnson has celebrated women’s love affair with fashion, previously covering shoes, bags and hats in her series that has now been devoted to every women’s favourite fashion item. I just love that little black dress showcases some of the most famous, desired and even notorious (think back to Diana’s black cocktail number) dresses that have graced red carpets all over the world.
Since the Victorian age, we have very definite views of when black should be worn, a bride in black is still quite shocking, but in 1926, Coco Chanel designed a simple, flattering dress that could be worn by anyone, and chose to show it in black. The LBD was born and took the fashion world by storm.
In this lovely little book, the history of the LBD and the stars that wore them unfold through now famous images and the witty quotes that accompany the details of each dress keep it light and entertaining. Presented in a gorgeous little box, with ten accompanying note lets, I just love that little black dress will surely be a winner this Mother’s Day.
A perfect gift for the woman who loves her LBD.
Robyn Johnson
Five Mile Press
RRP: 19.95
Save those spills
Have you ever looked under your kitchen sink and been amazed at the number of lotion and potions that lurk there? Many profess to help remove stubborn stains but often the best approach is using a combination of items you already have in your cupboard.
Spotless 2, as the name suggests, is a follow-up to the bestselling book by Shannon Lush and Jennifer Flemming. These domestic goddesses have a host of handy tips, many of them organic, most of them inexpensive, to help combat those budget-busting household disasters.
Tips like how to get nail polish off a wooden floor or how to remove a bleach mark from a dark carpet, have ensured that the second issue of this book is flying off the shelves just as quickly as the first. With many assuming expensive treatments or replacing the soiled item is the only way to solve the problem, the cover price of the book seems like a bargain in comparison.
The authors will help you salvage your favourite linen suit or suede shoes, keep the family silver looking like new and have cleaning tips that will make your bathroom look like its had a full renovation! Often, the key to removing stains is to act fast so keep this priceless book by your side and before long, it will have paid for itself ten times over.
A must for all households.
Shannon Lush & Jennifer Fleming
ABC Books
RRP: $19.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
A POW’s story
Thanks to TV and the internet, we are now able to find plenty of information on WWI and WWII. However, few offer as much detailed and heart-wrenching information as the tales of those who have lived through such experiences themselves.
The Missing Years: a POW’s story from Changi to Hellfire Pass is drawn on the memoirs of ex-planter Captain Hugh Pilkington, who, while on campaign in Mayalsia, was shot by a sniper, survived the Alexandra Hospital Massacre, and that was only the start of his misfortune! Having survived the massacre, Pilkington became a POW and with only one good arm, was packed off to work on the Thai-Burma Death Railway, at the affectionately named Hellfire Pass!
Written by Stu Lloyd, who has 24 years experience as a travel writter, this book describes perfectly the hardship faced by those campaining in Asia during WWII and the descriptive nature of the writing conjures up vivid images that help absorb this details of this historical journey.
A real-life tale of life as a POW.
Stu Lloyd
Rosenberg Publishing
RRP: 32.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
The great divide
Not knowing the underlying theme of this simple tale of two young boys, whose friendship blossoms from either side of a barbed wire fence.
The boy in striped pyjamas was initially written as a work of children’s fiction, to explain the effects that WWII, and in particular, The Holocaust, had on children specifically. With his novel, John Boyne captured the hearts and minds of adults who will never understand how such appalling crimes against humanity were allowed to happen.
Nine year-old Bruno doesn’t understand the atrocities that his country are inflicting on the people of Europe, he only knows that he has been moved from his comfortable home in Berlin and is now living in a house in a desolate area. Lonely and miserable, he strikes up a friendship with Shmuel, a boy how lives on the other side of the wire fence, where everyone wears the same uniform of striped pyjamas.
The friendship blossoms as best it can under very harrowing circumstances, with the revelation of the horror of which Bruno is unwittingly part of, ending his innocence.
A truly moving tale for those young and old.
John Boyne
Random House Australia
RRP: $23.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Travel guides
Whether you like to read your travel guides online, a handy pocket sized version or prefer a well thumbed tome, AboutSeniors has three useful guides for you to choose from.
Travel eguides – Select and download the travel guides you want from this useful website – free. If you’re looking for a standard travel guide that will give you the basic information you need when visiting different countries around the world, these free, downloadable PDF versions are just the thing. Covering the most common travel destination, they will cost you no-more than the paper and ink needed to print them and have all the information you need on emergencies, customs such as tipping, accommodation, places to see, transport food and what to watch out for. To download your free travel guide, visit traveleguides.com.
Pocket guides – Berlitz travel guides have been about for years, the handy pocket size proving popular with travellers the world over. Covering all major destination and some you may not yet have heard of, these handy little guides offer all the information you need, as well as some handy phrases in local languages. If you would like to immerse yourself in the local culture, Berlitz also provide language courses that come in the format of CDs and books. For more information on what Berlitz can offer you as a traveller, visit Berlitz.com.
Comprehensive travel guides – if knowing everything there is to know about a place before your visit is vital to the success of your trip, then Lonely Planet are the guides for you. Offering all the usual travel information, in-depth information about local customs, places to visit off the beaten track and a detailed history of the area you’re planning to visit, there is little missing from these well know and respected guides. Lonely Planet also offers useful information on their website such as travel warnings and travel planning tools. For more information, visit Lonelyplanet.com.
To purchase Berlitz or Lonely Planet guides at a discount, why not visit our online bookstore.
Positive attitude
Research suggests that two out of three cancer survivors and their families consider that something good came from this experience. Sounds improbable? Not really according to a new book which highlights the positives of the cancer journey.
Authored by Sally Collings who lost her mother to breast cancer in 2003, this immensely readable offering is full of first person accounts of diagnosis, treatment, and what they learnt along the way. Cricketer, Simon O’Donnell, describes it as being “in the club” – only others in the club understand, and you don’t want others to “join” as it means they will have to go through the cancer journey as well. Sally’s book is titled Positive as it should be – because nearly every contributor is able to articulate the way their experience of cancer has enable them to transform grief and sorrow into life-affirming qualities such as compassion, empathy and a determination to make every moment count. This small gem of a book is not just for cancer sufferers and their loved ones – it is for everyone who is interested in different life journeys and how ordinary human beings continue to rise magnificently to seemingly impossible challenges.
A really hopeful view of the cancer journey
Harper Collins
RRP: $27.99
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
From fat to fit
You may have watched the hit TV reality show and marvelled at the weight lost by those on The Biggest Loser. Take heart from the success stories of the competitors and advice from the experts.
Losing weight is difficult, changing eating and exercise habits that have been formed over many years takes time and willpower. When people make drastic changes, the emotions this can unleash can be overwhelming.
The Biggest Loser: Secrets of our success, takes a look at how the contestants dealt with not only losing a tremendous amount of weight but doing it in front of television cameras, while a nation watches. Of course, this can be an added incentive, with the idea of failure in front of millions simply too much to contemplate.
Aiding the weight loss success of the participants were a team of trainers, dieticians and counsellors but this shouldn’t detract from their achievements. Stories and tips from the experts will help you to:
• stay focused on your goals
• develop resilience for those difficult days
• keep motivated
• maintain your weight loss
Any help with losing weight is worthwhile and The Biggest Loser is a useful reference and an entertaining read.
There really is no stopping you!
Random House
RRP: $34.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Books to get you travelling
No matter what you plan to undertake in life, someone will have written a book about it, with varying success. Packing up your life and heading off on an adventure warrants a bit of reading before you go so AboutSeniors have five of our best books for Grey Nomads.
1. Nomads’ guidebook
Speaking from experience, Jeremy and Cindy Gough have taken on an adventure in the form of an open-ended trip around Australia that has left them hungry for more.
2. Harvest fayre
Ever thought of the option of travelling whilst earning money? Exploring your nation while meeting great people along the way? This is all possible with The National Harvest Labor Guide 2009.
3. Hidden Australia
The rest of the world may consider Australia a far-off nation that is home to some of the most dangerous creatures alive, but 1015 things to see and do in Australia proves that this great land is rich in diversity and history and has more than enough attractions to keep tourists coming back time and time again.
4&5 See Australia
The internet is convenient for many things but there is no substitute for getting out there enjoying what’s in your own back yard. These two books will give you the ideas andtips you need for making your adventure both safe and satisfying.
Nomads’ guidebook
Speaking from experience, Jeremy and Cindy Gough have taken on an adventure in the form of an open-ended trip around Australia that has left them hungry for more.
In their introduction to The Grey Nomad’s Guidebook, Jeremy and Cindy reflect “We will never forget pulling out of our driveway, savouring the magical moment when our big adventure officially began”. Sound idyllic and got you interested?
Besides more detailed information about making money during your travels, the Guidebook contains just about everything you need to know to succeed in your life on the open road, including a myriad of websites for pursuing information on topics ranging from planning your finances and choosing your rig and your route, to communications and sussing out local health services.
To accompany the Guidebook, there is also a website, www.thegreynomads.com.au, with more recent information, where you can meet fellow travellers and find out about their experiences.
This book should be your first port of call when planning a Grey Nomad trip.
Jeremy & Cindy Gough
Pan Macmillan
RRP: $29.99
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Overheard or ear-wigging?
The juiciest pieces of conversation are often those overheard on buses, trains, offices or restaurants and are one of life’s enjoyable guilty pleasures.
Overheard: Conversations from the buses, boardrooms and bars of Britain, opens up a world of chat that may have otherwise passed you by. You may think you’ve heard it all before but think again with. This hilarious collection of conversations from around Britain, overheard at tourist hotspots, in queues, at work and on public transport is packed full of verbal wit and gags and is guaranteed to get people talking and remember the stupid things that they have overheard. Microcosm - A tired looking mother stands hands on hips in the play park watching her two young children tumble in the dirt. MOTHER: (shouting) Jordan! Syria! Play nice!
Mark Love is a freelance writer, working on TV projects. His wife and co-author, Jacqui Saunders is a lecturer in art. Form their marital home in Befordshire that they share with their two children, they have put together this collection of witticisms that are often heard but seldom remembered.
Easy to read but difficult to put down, Overheard is a great way to spend an hour or two. Look out for some of our favourite “overhears” from this collection, which AboutSeniors will feature over the coming weeks, or purchase via our online bookshop and enjoy these everyday tales for yourself.
Next time you’re at the bus stop, be aware of who may be listening in!
Mark Love & Jacqui Saunders
Harper Collins
RRP: $19.99
Swedish sleuth wins hearts
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is quite simply one of the best “who dunnits” I have read in years. Set in Sweden, the sleuth is a journalist called Mikael Blomkvist, more than ably assisted by Lisbeth Salander a somewhat kooky, antisocial computer hacker with a mean streak when it comes to violent men. Blomkvist is hired to investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger, a wealthy industrialist’s granddaughter who vanished decades earlier during a family celebration. Clues are sparse, but victims a plenty as Blomkvist uncovers years of strange happenings seemingly connected to Harriet’s case. Relationships are also complicated. Blomkvist is quite the ladies man, bedding colleagues, family members, and more, in his spare time. Little wonder that Lisbeth finds him so frustrating, yet fascinating. The action is intense, the dialogue sparse, but witty, and the location of rural Sweden and café culture Stockholm a treat for those tired of the more predictable locations of London and New York. Sadly the author, Stieg Larsson, died of a heart attack not long after he delivered the third volume of this Millennium trilogy to his publisher, and never knew his books would sell many millions of copies worldwide. Fans will want to read the next book in the series The Girl Who Played with Fire which is also available in bookstores. The final book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest is due to be published later this year, whilst a movie of Dragon Tattoo should hit the big screen shortly.
A knockout modern thriller
RRP 22.95
Our price $20.66
Murdoch Books
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Making money
It may be the eighth edition of the bestselling financial bible but Paul Clitheroe’s guide to the keys of financial success has never been more relevant.
Being involved in the financial industry for over 30 years, Paul Clitheroe has seen many markets booms and busts. Making Money : Sound financial advice for tough times, is full of sensible financial advice for all, from the teenager with his first job to the retiree looking to fund their lifestyle. Reissued to take into account the repercussions in Australia of the current global financial crisis, it explains why the keys to financial success are more relevant than ever.
Written in easy-to-understand language, Making Money explains how the key to making money is not how much you earn but how much you save. Each individual chapter addresses a financial issue that we think about often but seldom do anything about, such as:
· How to maximise your tax benefits?
· Should I buy an investment property?
· Do I have adequate life insurance?
· When should I make a will? and
· How do I get back on my feet after divorce?
Whether you’re a novice or experienced investor, make the most of your hard-earned dollars.
Stop procrastinating and take control of your financial future.
Paul Clitheroe
RRP: $35.00
Penguin
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
World’s first chain novel
Remember the stories you used to make up with friends – one would start and you would each take a turn at telling the next line? Now leading authors are getting in on the act.
Best selling author, James Patterson will pen the first and last chapters of his new thirller, AirBorne. The middle of the novel will be told by 28 different authors, each writing a chapter, and who are being selected from a competition run by Borders and Random House. The entries are being evaluated at the moment.
The first chaper of AirBorne will be released online on 20 March 2009, and subsequent chapters will be released one by one, with the final version being printed at the conclusion of the project.
For more information, visit Borders.
Not just blarney
Ireland is the birthplace of some of the greatest literary giants, from the classics to more modern works. AboutSeniors has chosen three novels by Irish writers that are worth taking a look at.
Dubliners – James Joyce
James Joyce was born in Dublin in 1882. As with many Dubliners, his family was faced with financial hardship and through this collection of short stories, he portrays the lives of 15 Dubliners, from low and middle class backgrounds at the turn of the 20th Century. In Joyce’s own words, his intention when writing Dubliners was to portray a chapter of the moral history of his country, and he chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to him the centre of paralysis. He portrays the lives of Dubliners under four of its aspects: childhood, adolescence, maturity and public life.
RRP: $16.95
Penguin Books
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PS, I Love You – Cecelia Ahern
The first novel from Cecelia Ahern, daughter of ex Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, is a witty and touching novel about the loss of a husband and how he remains connected to the wife he left behind. Knowing he has a brain tumour, Gerry puts steps in place to help his wife, Holly, get her life back on track once he’s gone. Through letters passed on by family and friends over a period of months, he gets her back on track. In PS, I Love You, Ahern takes you through the grief process and although sometimes sappy, the interactions between Holly and her friends and family will have you reaching for the hankies one minute and cheering out loud the next. The book is much better than the schmaltzy Hollywood movie version.
RRP: $19.95
Harper Collins
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The Deportees – Roddy Doyle
Fans of Roddy Doyle will be delighted by his newest offering, The Deportees. Ireland may not be well known for its immigrant population, many people choosing to believe it is a land inhabited only by the Irish and of course, leprechauns. The Deportees is a collection of stories written by Doyle for a magazine, Metro Eireann, started for and geared towards immigrants to Ireland. Both funny and moving, his stories discover what its like to arrive in a strange land, the quirkiness of it people and traditions are taken for granted by many but how are they to be understood by a ten year old boy from Africa?
RRP: $32.95
Jonathan Cape
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A Frank account
The remarkable true story of the young Jewish girl who spent two years holed up in the basement of a house with seven others, trying to evade capture by the Nazis would bring tears to those with the hardest hearts.
For years, the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank has been read by schoolchildren as part of their educational curriculum but it is worth so much more than being force fed to a group of sometimes-reluctant readers. The diary, which was kept by Miep Gies, the woman who was part of the Dutch group that protected Anne and her fellow captors, was passed to Anne’s father Otto, the only member of the group to survive Auschwitz.
It has been translated into many languages throughout the world, giving a harrowing but strangely uplifting view of the lift of a young girl during World War II. Though not typical of many people’s stories from this time, Anne documents her feelings for her fellow captor, Peter, her confusion over her blossoming sexuality and her concern for the future of her people and her family, not so different to many teenagers.
What makes this story truly touching is that is it true, no embellishments, no made up tales, just deep feelings and moments recounted through incredibly difficult times. With many books popping up over the years of tales of how people survived World War II and the atrocities that they had to face, this classic is often overlooked.
As relevant today as when Anne herself wrote the journal, the Diary of a Young Girl is a must.
A real tear-jerker.
Anne Frank
Penguin Books
RRP: $16.95
Walk off weight
Walking is something we do every day but it can also be a serious weight-loss tool. In Walk Off Weight, personal trainer, Andrew Cate, has developed an easy, eight-week walking plan, which, coupled with his down-to-earth food suggestions, can simplify and make easier that New Year’s resolution.
This easy to read book includes an entire planning guide to your walking routine, with space allowed to record what and where you’ve walked and what you’ve consumed on each day. The great thing about walking is that you can go somewhere new or re-visit a favourite place, so it’s not just about exercise, it’s about getting out and enjoying the world around you. Walking is a basic and wonderful way to get fit and Andrew Cate’s guide makes it easy. At only $19.95, it’s also cheaper than any gym membership.
Perfect way to start a new year
ABC Books, 2007
RRP $19.95
Available on the YOURLifeChoices Bookshop for only $17.96
Five best cookbooks of 2008
101 One-pot Dishes
The team at Good Food Magazine have put together a book full of their tried and tested recipes to create a fail-safe book full of delicious One-pot wonders, with a full page photo of each recipe so you know what your cooking!
RRP: $16.95
Our Price: $15.26
Read more and Buy Now
501 Low Carb Recipes
Pamela Clark’s new cookbook, 501 Low Carb Recipes has something to suit everyone, no matter if your goal is to maintain your ideal weight or to lose weight fast, these delicious recipes will inspire you to live a healthier life
Author: Pamela Clark
RRP: $24.95
Our Price: $22.46
Read more and Buy Now
Secrets of Slow Cooking
When we think of slow cooking, we think of the phrase “Set it and forget it”. Author Liana Krissoff concentrates on dishes that are best made in a slow cooker, including classics as well as new tastes.
RRP: $29.95
Our Price: $26.96
Read more and Buy Now
The Complete Book of Diabetic Cooking
Living with Diabetes can be complicated at the best of times, but managing your diet is a proven treatment that will help living with this condition. Even if you do not have Diabetes, this book offers a fantastic collection of tempting but healthy recipes.
Author: Bridget Jones
RRP: $45.00
Our Price: $40.50
Read more and Buy Now
Four Ingredient Cookbook
With over 700 recipes using only four ingredients, this book is a steal for anyone who wants a fast and easy way to cook without overcomplicating your tastebuds!
RRP: $14.95
Our Price: $13.46
Read more and Buy Now
Superstitions or science?
Superstitions are like memories from childhood, passed down through generations. Many have religious or cultural origins but in this scientific age, are superstitions just a lot of nonsense?
Xavier Waterkeyn has explored the background to superstitions and how they have evolved through different societies. Cultural beliefs and ritual are common throughout the world and can impact on our day-to-day lives, even in modern times. Superstitions, beliefs, rituals and magic explores the significance of symbolism and rituals in cultures to ensure good health, wealth, luck and of course, ward off bad spirits.
The way people react to superstitions and how they process the threat of bad luck offers an insight into how the human mind functions and reveals its potential. Whether you take superstitions seriously or approach them with a more tongue-in-cheek attitude, Superstitions, beliefs, rituals and magic, is fun to pick up and flick through. The illustrations are colourful and interesting, conveying perfectly the cultural and social background of some of the most popular “old wives tales”.
Explore the “dark” side.
Xavier Waterkeyn
RRP: $45.00
New Holland
Clutter cure
Look around your home just now and you’ll see stuff that you’ve held onto for years, sometimes for sentimental reasons, but sometimes “just in case”. This is clutter and it’s time to get rid of it!
Professional Organiser, Judi Cutherbertson, will take you on a journey of discovery, about yourself and your hoarding habits. The Clutter Cure outlines the “collections” that are OK to keep and highlights the possessions that are holding you back from living life to the full, in a beautifully tidy home.
Letting go of possessions can be difficult, many items have sentimental value or stir memories of happy times, but being realistic about whether you really need to keep them is vital to getting on with life. Jodi Cutherberston will help you realise that it’s OK to say no to things when offered, and to get rid of things you will simply never use.
And if you think buying this book will simply add to the clutter already in your home, you can save paper and space by downloading it and viewing it online.
Declutter and move on.
Jodi Cutherberson
RRP: $29.95 (or download for $30.95 from www.dymocks.com.au
McGraw Hill
School days remembered
They were the happiest days of your life, or so you say, but just how much can you remember about what you learned at school? What is the theory of relativity and how do you calculate an angle of a triangle?
There are things you learned at school that have served you no purpose in life, some you can remember, some are lost forever. Until now that is. Homework for grown-ups is a fun trip back to the not so nice side of school, learning your periodic tables, roman numerals and playing jolly hockey sticks to name but a few.
Written by E Foley and B Coates, who were star pupils, always handing their homework in on time, the pair now mark homework and correct grammar for a living. This clothbound tome of everything you learned at school is a fun way to take a trip down memory lane, even teaching you how to make the perfect paper aeroplane. This book is classically illustrated and covers all subjects from Maths, English and History to Physical Education and the Classics.
For homes which welcome grandchildren, this is a great addition to the bookshelf and will help prove what you’ve been trying to tell your family for years, that you really do know it all!
Reminisce or learn something new.
E Foley and B Coates
RRP: $29.95
Random House
Buy this book now
Pure magic
Twenty-five years ago author Mem Fox partnered with watercolour artist, Julie Vivas, to create what is arguable the best loved picture book in the country – Possum Magic. The story of Hush and Grandma Poss and the love and wisdom which they share has warmed many a heart and home since it first appeared.
Not only has Possum Magic become a classic in Australian children’s literature, it is also the book of choice to send to children overseas keen to learn more about our wide brown land. What has made it such a success? The first draft was a story about mice. This version was rejected by nine publishers over a period of fives years. Persistence often pays off, and persist Fox did, until Omnibus Books agreed to publish, subject to the mice becoming Australian possums. And herein lies the charm and the seeds of Possum Magic’s success. Finally there was a children’s book based upon Australian animals and Australian food! But more than the locale and culture, Mem Fox has written an enduring tale of the love and support a grandparent has to offer.
Best shared at bedtime
Omnibus Books (part of Scholastic Australia)
RRP: $15.99
Mem Fox and Julie Vivas
Buy this book now
Romance with bite
Vampires have enthralled people for centuries, from Bram Stoker’s first novel, to the latest teen offering from Stephanie Meyer. The Twilight Saga comprises of four novels, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn and tracks the romance between Bella and her vampire boyfriend, Edward.
Twilight, the first in the series, has just been released as a Hollywood blockbuster, and is billed and the biggest thing since Harry Potter. Aimed at adolescents, the stories have an edge to them that young adults will appreciate.
Edward tries to protect Bella from his bloodthirsty family, who see her as a tasty snack, and convince Bella that he will never harm her. Bella is coming to terms with a family move and the revelation of her first love’s colourful secret.
Action packed, with the right amount of romance to keep boys and girls interested.
Brown Young Readers
RRP: $17.95 per book
Stephanie Meyer
Buy this book now
Toilet humour
There is no denying that children go through a stage where bottoms, underpants and toilet noises are the funniest thing they can think of. Captain Underpants makes this his superpower, as he tries to save the world of children from talking toilets and wicked wedgie women!
Dav Pilkey is an author and illustrator that has perfectly tuned into the joy that children get from toilet humour. His series of Captain Underpants books are bestsellers the world over and are aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 10, although they may be enjoyed by those a lot older.
Written in cartoon style, the books chart the adventures of the caped crusader as he battles bionic boogers and professor PoopyPants. If you can stand the loud guffaws and increase in toilet chat, then these books will have your grandchildren laughing their heads off.
Leave them to it and don’t ask too many questions!
Scholastic Australia
RRP: $9.99
Dav Pilkey
Buy this book now
Financial fun
Teaching kids the benefit of good financial planning is one of the best gifts you can give. Save the lectures and spreadsheets for grown-ups and invest in this delightful series of financial know hows.
Money makes the world go round is a delightful series of books, three volumes in total. Written by Greg Smith, each volume is aged at a different age group and are a blend of fiction and non-fiction. The books have hands-on activities aimed at teaching financial literacy to young children. Hero of volume one, Primo, takes on the evil Rupakov, saving the world and giving back the money stolen by the villain.
A timely gift for youngsters.
RRP: $19.95
Greg Smith
Buy this book now
Overcoming writer’s block
Anne Lamott’s bestselling writing manual was first published in the USA in September 1995. It is both illuminating and encouraging for those trying to overcome their “block” and start writing
Part reflection on her own writing jouney and part instruction for other would-be authors, Lamott is the iron fist in the velvet glove. Now an Australian edition of Bird by Bird is available from Scribe Publications. This book is particularly useful for those who are keen to get going, but unsure of how and where to start. The answer to this vital question is in the title – and I won’t spoil this “nugget” but suggest you buy the book to find out why working “bird by bird” is really the only way to go. Lamott also uses her own learning and life experiences to address and illustrate the key components of the best story-telling; characters, place, plot and dialogue. The key message is that good writers write – and the others just talk about doing it.
Practical and inspiring
Bird by Bird: some instructions on writing and life
RRP $27.95
Scribe Publications
Who dunnit?
The enduring appeal of who dunnits is testament to the need most of us have for order in our lives. We start with a mystery – normally a body – and work our way back, via the detective’s quest for knowledge about the victim, to gain an understanding, and finally a resolution, of what actually happened. Puzzling clues are explained, loose ends tied up, all is resolved. Kate Atkinson is a master storyteller who, in her third “Jackson Brodie” book, When will there be good news? has hit her stride as one of the best contemporary who dunnit writers around. That her books are set in Scotland – home of murrrrrder with the rolling “r”s – makes this book all the more believable – and fun. Jackson Brodie and DCI Louise Monroe continue to spin out the UST (unresolved sexual tension) even though, or perhaps because, they are both married to other people. A new character, Reggie, adds some working class common sense, and Jackson’s old lovers keep having a point of view. The book opens at a cracking pace with the slaying of three family members, and there are many more bodies along the way before the police (and other interested parties) finally find out the truth behind the killings – or do they? I cannot recommend Ms Atkinson’s books highly enough – but if you are new to her writing, start with Case Histories, then read One Good Turn before tackling this one.
A compulsive page-turner
Kate Atkinson
RRP: $32.95
Random House
India revealed
This year’s Man Booker Prize winner this year is Aravind Adiga – a 33 year old Western-educated Indian doctor’s son who has created an unforgettable character, a chauffeur named Balram Halwai, who reveals the darker side of modern India.
In
White Tiger, Adiga has attempted to represent the 95% of his fellow countrymen and women who are neither rich, nor leading relatively comfortable lives. Adiga believes relatively few Indians are managing to keep the vast majority in servitude – and he is relentless in his chronicle of how India’s “economic miracle” is delivering wealth to so few. Narrated by the newly wealthy Halwai, the underbelly of Delhi is a rich source of anecdote, fable and prophecy. For those interested in Indian society, and the way this new economic power looks after its own citizens Adiga’s book offers a fast-paced feast of insights and action.
A deserving winner
RRP $32.95
Aravind Adiga
Atlantic books
Trip down memory lane
Enjoying tales of a bygone era, when times now seem much simpler, is now as easy as sitting back and listening with this audio book to help you reminisce.
Aniseed balls, billy carts and clothes lines – an ABC of growing up in the thirties, is a collection of memories of a child who grew up in the 1930s. Its author, Roly Chapman, was born in Auchenflower, Brisbane in 1926 and put together this collection of memories for his own, and his family’s enjoyment. In 2002, his daughter had the book published for him, and over a 1000 copies have sold and been enjoyed by many who remember the era.
It has been recognized as a useful tool in therapy session with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients by giving a wealth of topics for remotivation discussions, and to help them reminisce. Understanding the difficulties some older readers have, the book has now been released as an audio book in a set of seven CDs. You can sit back and relax as Col Fraser’s dulcet tones take you back in time with tales of childhood hi-jinx and memories.
As an added bonus, $2 from the sale of each set is donated to the Sunshine Coast branch of Alzheimer’s Australia.
Some of the chapters include topics such as The Flicks, Cracker Night, Jargon and Dunnies and the Dunny Men, ensuring there is much to be remembered and laughed about. This historical memoir also documents everyday aspects of day-to-day life in the 1930s, making it ideal for listening to with children and grandchildren, and a timely reminder to the children of the 21st century how difficult times could be.
Aniseed balls, billy carts and clothes lines is a humourous look back at a time when life was difficult but laughs were many, and very much appreciated.
Copies of the audio book can be purchased by contacting Pamela Van der Kooy, email .
A perfect Christmas gift for those that are difficult to buy for.
RRP: $40 (audio book) $25 (paperback) includes p&h
Roly Chapman
Tracks across Australia
For many years, trains were the only means of travel across Australia. Brought together for the first time is a collection of historical photographs that will delight all train buffs.
Trains and railways of Australia is an exclusive collection of photos by renown railway photographer, Jim Powe. The collection spans from the 1940s to the present day, offering a true representation of how railways have shaped Australia as a nation.
Each state is represented by a collection of photographs from the area and an introduction on how railways have grown, or declined, in and around the state. As a guide to what is being portrayed, each photograph has a details caption, giving a narrative that enhances the pictorial story.
For those who have a detailed knowledge or a keen interest in trains and railways, Trains and railways of Australia, will give a unique perspective into a mode of transport that continues to be a cornerstone of technology in Australia, and a key element of continued growth as a nation. And if you only interest is that you once had an enjoyable day trip by train, then there’s a good chance that you may be able to find an image of that journey in this book.
For train buffs and novices alike.
RRP: $49.95
Jim Powe
New Holland
One man’s junk…
eBaying items you no longer need or want may seem like an easy way to make money but did you know that on 40& of listings actually sell?
Jane Seaholme has made a successful career from selling on eBay and her book, Selling Stuff on eBay, is a useful reference for those wishing to follow in her footsteps. Unable to get a job in her own town, Janeyx, as she’s more commonly known, looked at what she had around her and decided to start selling on eBay. Her sales rate is 80% of what she lists making her an extremely successful eBayer and giving her a career that she doesn’t have to leave the house, or even get out of her pyjamas, to do.
Selling stuff on eBay is not about getting rich quick; it’s how to sustain an income of a couple of hundred dollars each week. The book steers clear of in-depth technical jargon, instead giving practical advice on how to get started, how best to word your listing, when is the best time to post your listing and many more handy tips.
Janeyx also explains payment methods, postage, terms and conditions and which items are prohibited for sale by eBay. There is also some information on tax and licensing if you plan to start a business and link to other useful sites.
You can purchase Selling stuff on eBay via Janeyx’s website, which will up and running on 2 November 2008. Her website will give you a link to eBay, where you can purchase the book. You will need to register for eBay, but you will have completed the first step on your way to becoming a seller.
For more information, you can call Janeyx on 0417 142 478, email her at or visit her website, www.janeyx.com
A handy little guide to get you started.
Jane Seaholme
RRP: $12.95
Self published
Foodie’s guide to Melbourne
For many, Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia, with many of the cafes and restaurants the city now boasts classed as dining institutions.
Thanks to its largely European heritage, Melbourne offers a feast of flavours and dining experiences hard to trump by many of its culinary counterparts. Flavours of Melbourne celebrates the food history of the city, from before the Europeans set foot on the shores of Australia.
Charmaine O’Brien introduces many of the curious characters behind the best-known cafes and restaurants the city has to offer. They provide humourous insights into the ever-changing face of Melbourne’s food society, and the few stubborn institutions that have remained the same for many years.
With the changing cultural history of Australia as a nation comes the influx of new foods, recipes and cooking techniques. Recipes from different cultural backgrounds such as French, Chinese, and of course, Italian pepper this book. The stories of where such recipes came from and how they have been adapted to suit tastes and availability of ingredients are fascinating.
O’Brien was born in Melbourne in the mid 1960s and grew up with the food offerings of Anglo grandparents, and her mother’s explorations into ethnic foods. She trained as a chef and her passion for food has seen her travel the world and undertake many jobs in the food and catering industry.
A real foodie’s delight.
Charmaine O’Brien
RRP: $39.95
Wakefield Press
Celebrating commonsense
It may be common, but it’s often hard to find. Sense, that is. And to locate it in a basic cookbook is such a delight. The Commonsense Cookery Book was first published in 1914 – and has sold over one million copies. It’s now available in a collector’s edition – and offers the best overview of basic cookery any household could want.
Many cookbooks promise to cover the basics, but this one really does. It was published in 1914 by a group of NSW cookery teachers who wished to share their recipes – and more importantly – their skills with those wishing to learn more about food preparation. Some 94 years later this book is astonishingly relevant with measurements, temperatures, the healthy eating pyramid, cuts of meat and all the techniques you need to know to serve healthy, tasty meals for one, two, three or more. Stay tuned to future issues of AboutSeniors enews for some recipes from this great “bible”.
Informative and substantial reference for any kitchen
Home Economics Institute of Australia
RRP $29.99
Harper Collins
Hidden Australia
Australia is a huge land mass which boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes, and much, much more.
The rest of the world may consider Australia a far-off nation that is home to some of the most dangerous creatures alive, but 1015 things to see and do in Australia proves that this great land is rich in diversity and history and has more than enough attractions to keep tourists coming back time and time again.
As with the inhabitants of many countries, Australians may get a little blasé about what is in their own backyard but, as Bruce Elder proves, Australia has plenty to offer its own countrymen. Trying to see all 1015 attractions may prove difficult but, for those with limited time or resources, Elder has compiled a list of 50 items which he considers “must sees” for all Australians, From the fairly predictable Uluru and Sydney Opera House, to the rather more quirky Big Banana and the Bungle Bungles.
As an award-winning journalist, Elder has travelled extensively throughout Australia, covering every nook and cranny to ensure that its people, cultures, places and landscapes are researched thoroughly before being deemed worthy of inclusion in this extensive list.
The book is split into handy sections covering oceans, nature, mountains, people and history, to name a few. This record of images and descriptions of some of the most alluring places in Australia will have you packing your bags and hitting the road in an instant.
A great starting point for any Australian adventure.
Bruce Elder
RRP: $29.95
New Holland
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Australia’s best loved weekly
The Women’s Weekly may now be a monthly publication but for the last 75 years it has captured some of the nation’s greatest moments.
Detailing the memories of a nation through its familiar pages, this Australian institution celebrates its 75th birthday this month with a gift book, 75 years of the Australian Women’s Weekly. With articles from the first edition of the magazine in 1933, this stunning pictorial history offers an engaging journey through the lives, loves, achievements and heartbreaks of household names and ordinary Australians. Delight in the familiar names, places and events, which cover a broad spectrum of Australian life throughout the years, ensuring something for everyone.
With pictures and narrative from some of the most horrific and joyous moments in our lives, this coffee table book will be enjoyed by every generation, male or female. Chapters include Home, Family, Food, Celebrities, the Royals and War, proving that for more than seven decades The Australian Women’s Weekly has been there, every step of the way.
A great trip down memory lane.
A tale of two halves
Sir Richard Attenborough has come up with a new way of telling his life story, you tell your version of a story and get a good friend to tell their version. Helps to keep it interesting and honest.
Entirely up to you, darling is the tale of the unlikely partnership of octogenarian Attenborough, happily married for over 60 years and the 70 year old, twice divorced Diana Hawkins has endured 50 years as friends and colleagues.
Despite their different social background and polar political views, Hawkins has been friend, publicist, business partner and co-producer to Attenborough. They have travelled the world together, meeting some of the best household names, many of whom, such as Steve McQueen, Margaret Thatcher, Noel Coward and Mother Teresa are featured in this two-handed memoir. The pair have been together through career highs and lows as well as personal tragedies closer to home.
Attenborough is frank and open about his life in and out of the public eye, his friendship with Princess Diana, his passion for soccer and politics and how the 2004 tsunami engulfed his family. Hearing these tales from two sides gives this book a chatty, easy to read, and enjoyable quality not always found in autobiographies, without detracting from the impact of such a rich and varied life.
There is little doubt the rich experiences Attenborough has encountered throughout his long life but Diana Hawkins gives a human, down-to-earth depiction of one of cinemas greatest personalities and assets.
A truly enjoyable and surprising life story.
RRP: $34.95
Richard Attenborough & Diana Hawkins
Random House
The original action hero
Those were the days. When Mum turned out the light you were meant to go straight to sleep. But with the aid of a torch under the covers, you read long and late into the night. And what was the irresistible reading matter? The latest Biggles adventure, of course.
For those too young to know, and others who’ve forgotten, Major Bigglesworth was the hero of an extraordinary series of adventures penned by Capt W.E. Johns. It is post WW2 Britain and the Major and his trusty companions, Algy and Ginger, are sent to various parts of the globe to fight crafty criminals in the air and on the ground. First published between 1932 and 1968, these are the original action novels. They may have been written for adolescent boys, but older men and young girls were also captive to W.E. Johns’ storytelling capability. Publishers Allen & Unwin have now created an omnibus of four Biggles’ tales. Priced @ $35.00 this chunky anthology is an excellent gift for adventure lovers of all ages – and particularly for dads and grandfathers on Fathers Day.
A thumping great read for all ages
RRP $35
Captain W.E. Johns
Allen & Unwin
History boys and girls
It seemed like a good idea at the time is probably the defence of many of the decision-makers featured in a new book entitled History’s Worst Decisions. Beginning with Adam and Eve’s decision to eat the apple, this captivating compendium covers major boo boos including the Trojan War, Custer’s Last Stand, the sinking of the “unsinkable’ Titanic to the Y2K disaster.
Those who enjoy history are in for a treat – author Stephen Weir offers 2-3 page summaries of 50 major disasters or catastrophes created by man’s greed, ignorance, sloth or envy with photos, illustrations and maps to bring the text to life. History fans are in for a real treat with Weir’s book. Organised chronologically with an introduction which defines the
“Culprit”, “Damage done” and “Why”, this is a brilliant romp through the world of big decisions and even bigger misjudgments.
A must for all history fans
RRP $34.95
Stephen Weir
Murdoch Books, Pier 9 Imprint
Riveting rivalry
Competition can be healthy – but when it is pushed too far the results are often detrimental for all concerned. Great Rivals in History: When politics gets personal documents those occasions when powerful men and women have destroyed nations, armies and landscapes in their quest for supremacy. This beautifully presented soft cover book tells the stories of 24 famous rivals – from Elizabeth 1 and Mary Queen of Scots to Nixon versus Kennedy - the circumstances of their struggle and the ramifications for victor and vanquished. As with History’s Worst Decisions, this book offers brief synopses of recent and ancient events and encapsulates the vanity of men and their often foolish struggle for supremacy at the expense of the best solution for the many.
An engrossing read from Ancient Greece to modern times
RRP $45.00
Joseph Cummins
Murdoch Books, Pier 9 Imprint
Entertainment book
Save $$$ on entertainment and services in your state by purchasing an Entertainment Book.
Entertainment Books are normally only available through non-profit organisations as a fundraiser and offer savings on movie tickets, restaurants, attractions, dry cleaning, flower delivery and many more services. As the allocation to non-profit organisation has been fulfilled, a limited number of these books are now available for public sale.
At $50-$65 (the price varies depending on state) these books are initially expensive but when purchased between a few friends who enjoy getting out and about, it may soon pay for itself.
For more information or to purchase an Entertainment Book, visit Entertainment.
Online savings
Save even more money when buying your books from our online bookshop if you hold a Seniors’ Card.
Holders of Seniors’ Cards can save 10% on already reduced prices of your favourite books when purchasing online via our bookshop. If you happen to hold a NSW Seniors’ Card, you can save a further 5%.
For details of the large range of books on offer, and recent reviews, visit Bookshelf online.
Asian spice
The beautiful saffron coloured cover of Sri Owen’s Indonesian Food is enough to get your taste buds twitching and wanting more.
Sri Owen was born in Indonesia and moved to Britain in 1964, where she is now on the committee of The Guild of Food Writers. As a renowned author, lecturer and cook, Sri draws on her own experience of producing exotic and varied Indonesian food.
Included in Sri Owen’s Indonesian Food are over 120 easy-to-follow and delicious recipes which cover the classic dishes of Java and Sumatra and other favourites from the area. Everyday staples and festival food are introduced with a regional and cultural background as to where they originated.
Some of the ingredient lists may be a little off-putting, with a few never before heard of herbs and spices but as these are used time and time again in Indonesian cooking, it’s worth the time and effort finding them.
The eye-catching photography by Gus Filgate will capture your imagination and inspire you to incorporate these exotic and mouth-watering dishes in your regular weekly menu.
A ‘spicy’ addition to the bookshelf.
RRP: $60.00
Sri Owen
Harper Collins
Dream drives
If cars and driving are your passion, then the latest offering from BBC’s TopGear is a must.
TopGear Top Drives puts you behind the wheel of some of the most fabulous cars in the world, taking road trips of a lifetime, spanning six continents. From a Mustang in Las Vegas or an Aston Martin in Italy, there are cars and locations that will fit nicely into any motoring fantasy.
Drinving through the locations chosen in the book may have been fun but also hazardous. Imagine having to pack guns in the boot of your Ford saloon so you can drive safely from Warsaw to Moscow or have your little Smart car pulled by huskies to get you across the frozen roads of Norway.
This book is witty, fun and sometimes a little frivilous and will make you green with envy at some of the fabulous locations visited in cars you can only dream of driving.
A must for any motoring enthusiast.
Your life story
Passing on your life’s experiences to the younger members of your family is invaluable but getting them to sit down long enough to listen may be difficult.
Memento: the gift of a lifetime is a clever book by Michael McQueen which prompts you through the milestones in your life, from your first kiss to less favorable deeds of which you may not be so proud. Driven by the unexpected death of his own father at just 51 years of age, Micheal has gathered all the things he would like to have known but never got around to finding out.
Luckily for Michael, it transpired that his father kept a notebook in which he recorded stories of his life and it enthralled Michael to rediscover this man who had been so important in his life.
Memento is split into easy to follow sections, from younger years to family heritage, ensuring all bases are covered and is peppered with witty quotes and sayings, making it a real family treasure.
Life passes us by so very quickly but your life story is timeless for your family so make the effort to write it down.
Leave your family this priceless asset.
RRP: $34.95
Michael McQueen
Park Steel Price
One magic square
The cheapest and tastiest food you’ll ever eat is the food you grow yourself and you don’t need a huge garden to be relatively self-sufficient.
One magic square shows how with a little bit of space and ten minutes of effort you can start producing your own food. If you have ever tried to grow your own fruit and vegetables with little or no success, it may be that you have started too big. Follow some of the simple, small garden designs and once you get into the swing of it, you can increase your production area.
Experiencing wartime famine in her western Holland hometown, has led to the book’s author, Lolo Houbein being preoccupied with food security. The attention to detail and easy to understand tips and instructions will ensure that even novice gardens have a bounty of food to enjoy.
This timely guide will show you how to have your garden flourish in a time of water restrictions and being able to produce your own food when prices of shop bought produce are rising rapidly, will simply fill you with delight.
With handy cooking tips, this little book is all you will need to eat well for years to come.
RRP: $45.00
Lolo Houbein
Wakefield Press
Know your rights
Getting older brings its own set of issues and problems. By knowing your rights, you can make better-informed choices for your future.
First published by Victoria Law Foundation in 1996, Older Residents and the law has been updated and issued in its second edition. This well established and respected publication outlines the legal rights of older residents in Victoria.
Providing a useful reference on topics such as legal capacity, power of attorney, guardianship and elder abuse, the book is a necessity for aged care workers, financial advisors, aged care accommodation owners and families of older Victorians
Robert Phillips is a solicitor and barrister who, for fifteen years, has been the consultant lawyer for the Elder Rights Advocacy. As well as this publication, he is also the author of several of legal publications.
Outlined in Older residents and the law are residents’ legal rights in areas such as aged care homes, retirement villages, supported residential services and home and community care. A section dedicated to enforcing rights and, advising resources and services available is highlighted by real-life examples, which help explain complex areas of the law.
This book is specific to Victorian law however, Lawlink NSW have a similar version, Older people and the law, which can be downloaded from their website. For more information, visit Lawlink NSW.
RRP: $49.95
Robert Phillips
Victoria Law Foundation
Toronto in the 20s
For those who love the combination of history and romance, set in a remarkable location, then Michael Ondaatje’s novel about Toronto in the twenties is the perfect read
Set in Toronto just after the turn of the century, In The Skin Of A Lion follows the story of immigrant workers who helped construct massive engineering marvels including the Bloor Street Viaduct. The “hero”, Patrick Lewis, is a vagabond, a dynamiter, and a man torn by love and longing. But perhaps the true hero of Ondaatje’s book is the city of Toronto, teeming with newcomers, a rough and ready frontier town offering opportunity to the many who find their way east. Fans of Ondaatje’s later, more famous, novel, The English Patient, will enjoy meeting the characters Caravaggio and Hana in this “prequel”.
A compelling historical read
Pan Macmillan
RRP $22.95
A crime of the time
Based on the true story of Grace Marks, incarcerated for 30 years for the murder of her employer and his housekeeper in the 1880s, Alias Grace explores the boundaries between fact, fiction and the human imagination.
A young Irish Immigrant, Grace Marks’ great misfortune was to land in the household of Thomas Kinnear. Here she soon realised her master was having an affair with his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. Relations between the three key characters are problematical and, as things go from bad to worse, Grace can only see one way out. Or can she? This is the strength of Margaret Atwood’s prose. Her meticulous research into the period, and her ability to highlight the shades of grey in witnesses’ stories, including Grace’s own, make for an intriguing read, and unbeatable insight into Canada’s history.
Margaret Atwood
Virago Press
$24.99
Investment know-how
The title The Eureka Way does not do justice to the content of Alan Kohler’s latest book, but the subtitle Navigating the financial advice minefield without blowing your wealth does a far better job of explaining the excellent content within.
Most of us know Alan Kohler as the friendly, avuncular soul on the ABC nightly news. The man who explains in plain English exactly what the “global credit crunch” means for the man or woman on the street. Now Mr Kohler has applied his vast knowledge of all things financial to the subject of investing and his book, The Eureka Way, offers a compact user-friendly guide to understanding how financial planning works, the role and obligations of planners, and what you can do to increase your own nest egg. The great strength of this book is that it is written by someone who is not a planner, and thus the objective and explanatory nature of the content mean you can learn a lot, quickly, about how the system really works.
Highly recommended investing overview
ABC Books
RRP $22.95
Golf – what not to do
In 1925 Sandy Green wrote Don’ts for golfers. Good sense rarely dates, so in 2008 this diminutive guide remains instructive – as well as amusing
One of Sandy’s don’ts is not to wear a necktie that flaps about, nor new braces – older braces being preferable to keep your nether garments “up”. The mind boggles. Organised into short chapters covering iron play, driving, faults, clubs and general maxims, the short snippets do indeed cover the common sense you need to enjoy a calm game of social golf. Priced at $7.95, Don’ts for golfers will make an excellent gift for fathers and grandfathers come the first Sunday in September.
Short and sweet
Allen & Unwin
RRP $7.95
See Australia
The internet is convenient for many things but there is no substitute for getting out there enjoying what’s in your own back yard. These two books will give you the ideas and tips you need for making your adventure both safe and satisfying.
Visit each of the capital cities and 700 towns across Australia before you hit the road. Explore Australia 2009 is an essential travel guide to have at home or in your car. Featuring a 140 page road atlas and details of the best local fishing spots, art galleries, festivals and markets, you will be able to enjoy all that this great country has to offer. On purchasing this excellent guide, you can enter a competition to win a Jayco Discovery Pop Top Caravan, great to get you on the road.
If getting off the beaten track is more your thing, then 4WD Touring Australia may be more suitable. Australia’s rugged terrain, remote wilderness and spectacular landscapes make it ideal for exploring as part of a four wheel drive adventure.
The key to heading off road is making sure you’re prepared. Australia is a vast country, with fuel and respite stops few and far between in some areas. 4WD Touring Australia will help you plan your journey and make sure your vehicle is completely ready for the trip.
Explore Australia 2009
Hardie Grant
RRP: $54.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
4WD Touring Australia
Gregory’s
RRP: $39.95
Read more and Buy Now at 10% off
Quiz your doctor
Doctors can be intimidating, especially when quoting medical gargon at a ferocious speed. Be informed and stay in control.
Ten Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor equips you with the knowledge to get the correct information from your medical practitioner to enable you to make better decisions regarding your health.
Written by internationally recognised health writer Ray Moynihan and Melissa Sweet, on of Australia’s top health journalists, Ten Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor will help you unravel the mysteries of modern medicine. In an age of proclaimed miracle cures and wonder drugs, it pays to be informed of possible side effects, less than scrupulous doctors and most importantly, your rights as a patient.
You should not be afraid to ask questions that can save you time, money and even your life. Written in easy to understand language, Ten Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor will help you quiz your GP, naturopath and even your chiropractor about the level of tests and treatments you really need.
Definitely one for the family bookshelf.
Ray Moynihan and Melissa Sweet
Allen and Unwin
RRP: $24.95
Fire safety advice
Many of us think we are aware of the fire dangers in our own home yet accidents still happen.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) attends over 1,000 home fires each year, some with devastating effects. Your home fire safety brochure is prepared and published by the CFA to ensure everyone is aware of basic fire safety tips and how to address the dangers.
The brochure explains how to check your smoke alarms are working, installing fire safety equipment and even how to prepare a home fire escape plan. Your home fire safety brochure can be downloaded free of charge form the CFA website.
Love and knowledge
Joseph Needham was a married academic who fell passionately in love with a young Chinese science student at Cambridge. His love for Li Yue-se led him to become a scholar of all things Chinese, not to mention some extraordinary adventures in war-torn Chungking and beyond.
Bomb, Book and Compass is written by Simon Winchester who has also authored The Surgeon of Crowthorne and The Map that Changed the World. Winchester’s specialty is telling lively stories of remarkable people and events that history may have overlooked – or under recognised. Joseph Needham is one such man. It may have been his illicit passion for his mistress which made him a Sinophile, but his subsequent contribution to Western understanding of the history and achievements of Chinese is simply unparalleled. Winchester chronicles Needham’s story from his childhood in Wimbledon, his meeting with Li Yue-se, his diplomatic mission to save Chinese academia from the Japanese invasion, and the research which led to his 24-volume history, Science and Civilization in China. There are many books being rushed off the presses to take advantage of the Beijing Olympics. This is not one. As always, Winchester’s work is a well-researched and compelling tale of a truly extraordinary man – and the civilization he came to love.
Penguin Books
RRP $32.95
Beg, borrow or steal it, but don’t miss out
Breathtaking China
Experience a China you could never imagine existed, with this unique collection of illustrations painting a graphic picture of Wild China.
Following on from the hugely successful BBC series of the same name, recently aired on ABC1, Wild China explores the natural wonders of a land many know little about. China has a population of 1.3 billion. This huge population may be difficult to comprehend, yet due to its vast land mass, it is able to sustain more wildlife than anywhere else on the planet.
Wild China is based on expeditions across landscapes as varied as vast desserts where the searing summer temperatures plummet to mind-numbing cold in the winter, gorges carved through some of the world’s highest mountains and shallow seas flowing with underwater life. The habitats of colourful jungle birds, rare giant pandas, tiny monkeys, exotic plants, sea life and even wild elephants are visually explored through this pictorial masterpiece.
The history of one of the world’s oldest nations is explored and the Chinese relationship with nature is explained through memorable stories.
Visually, this book is nothing short of breathtaking, some of the photos are so awe-inspiring that they are almost unbelievable. The narrative that accompanies the collection of images is informative, interesting and engaging. This is a truly gorgeous book, that will delight and enlighten and although slightly expensive for many, it is worth every penny.
Explore China from your own home.
Phil Chapman and the BBC Wild China team
Random House
$59.95
Quick thinking
Your mind naturally slows with age but a few simple tools and exercises will have you keeping pace with the quickest of thinkers.
Ken Hudson brings together 60 practical and effective tools and tips to help you think faster, come up with new ideas and solve problems quickly and easily. The Idea Accelerator is aimed at business executives, those who run their own business or need to unlock creativity with a team, although the majority of the tips given can be applied to most situations.
As a part-time lecturer at the University of Technology in Sydney, Dr Ken Hudson uses deliberate and reflective thought and the value of consciousness to balance the need for immediacy, which is very much a part of today’s society.
The Idea Accelerator examines thought processes, how the brain works in different situations and advises how these can be best used to produce smarter and quicker thinking. Using some of the techniques in the book will help you to unlock ideas and quicken your mental reflexes.
Good thinking 99!
Dr Ken Hudson
Allen and Unwin
RRP: $19.95
Winning streak
With prizes getting bigger and better than ever before, entering competitions, and winning, is becoming big business.
Entering a competition and winning gives you a wonderful boost, no matter the prize. So imagine winning over $50,000 in cash and prizes? Sherry Sjolander, author of How to Win Competitions has done exactly that in the last 18 months, and in her book, she shares the secrets of her success.
How to Win Competitions explains how to find the best competitions in magazines, on the internet, etc, the best time to submit your entry and how to understand those all-important terms and conditions. Highlighting the pitfalls, as well as competitions not to be missed, you can save yourself a fortune by giving expensive phone entries a miss.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, and through her hobby as a comper, Sjolander has developed an understanding of the psychology of entering competitions and doing the best you can to ensure a win.
One of the highlights of the book is Secret Diary of a Comper, where a complete competition novice follows Sjolander’s hints and tips and nets a tidy amount in prizes.
Whether comping for fun or reward, How to Win Competitions is a handy guide to keeping your personal details safe, not being ripped off and how to succeed.
Win your fortune.
Sherry Sjolander
Allen and Unwin
RRP: $19.95
Persistence personified
Years ago I was privileged to hear Elizabeth Jolley speak about the craft of writing. She described it in housekeeping terms – of polishing and repolishing until an atmosphere of warmth and light had been created. This collection of her writing offers warmth, light and personal illumination in spades.
One of the best things about Jolley – and there are many good things – is the fact that she was first published when she was in her 60s, thus giving inspiration to thousands of determined scribblers who long to be published. She refused to rest on her laurels and was prolific in her output (some 15 novels and various other diaries, memoirs and stories) until her demise in 2007. Now comes Learning to Dance: Elizabeth Jolley, Her Life and Work selected and introduced by her former agent, Caroline Lurie. The strength of this collection is the writing. Jolley could write like a dream, and she was unafraid to confront unpleasant truths. She saw the downsides and upsides of life with a clear eye and non-judgmental heart, and reported her reactions truthfully. Jolley lived a rich life. She was an unmarried mother, an émigré, a cleaner, a door-to-door saleswoman. She used these experiences in her writing to express her concern for those who find themselves out of sync with their environment, or out of love with others. Learning to dance is a rich source of her thoughts, her memories and her delights, none as poignant as the celebration of grandparenting in A scattered catalogue of consolation.
Wise words from the doyenne of letters.
Elizabeth Jolley, Caroline Lurie
Penguin Australia
RRP: $26.95
Fond farewells
Edited by 70s wild child, Richard Walsh, Great Australian Eulogies is a compilation of witty, wise and warm words spoken at the funerals of the great – and the not so…
Most of us have probably enjoyed the experience of someone else’s funeral. Enjoyed may seem an unsympathetic, perhaps harsh, term for the solemnity occasion, but it can be appropriate when spirits are lifted by informed and loving, perhaps even naughty, remembrances of lives well lived. Richard Walsh has gathered together such a collection of eulogies, and offers them as examples of ways that lives can be celebrated as well as losses mourned. Two of my favourites are Jackie Weaver on Peter Wherrett, and Barry Humphries on Clyde Packer.
In his introduction, Walsh states he hopes to inspire readers to stay away from “stuffy” eulogies and inject the personal. If ever a book could help with the difficult task ahead of some of us – to create words to encapsulate another’s life and how it has affected our own – this is the one.
Funny, sad, and moving
Ed. Richard Walsh
Allen & Unwin
RRP $24.95
Align your chi
Declutter your home and rearrange your living space by following the simple philosophies of feng shui, and enhance your life.
The Feng Shui Way will give you a sound knowledge of the practices of this traditional Chinese art, to create a clam and rewarding lifestyle through your environment.
Juliana Abram guides you through the teachings and beliefs of feng shui master, Raymond Lo, answering all of your questions in a non-nonsense manner. Find out what feng shui is, where it originated and how a few carefully applied rules can optimise the potential of your home, stimulate wealth and boost your relationship.
Feng shui has been practiced in China for at least 4,000 years, and in more recent years has been developed into a science. Simple changes are all it takes to align yourself with the natural forces of good energy. The Feng Shui Way is a good place to start your life changes, with easy-to-follow instructions, clear definitions and simple tasks to improve your environment.
Harmonise your living space.
Juliana Abram
Feng Shui Shop
RRP: $29.95
Green house
Sustainability is not only the new buzz word in the construction industry, it’s also the best way to ensure your home is one for the future.
Your Home – Design for Lifestyle and the Future, has now been issued in its fourth (2008) edition. This technical manual is a “bible” for anyone interested in environmentally sustainable housing, and it’s Australian! Written by a wide range of local experts from the private and public, both state and federal, sectors.
Although it resembles a coffee table tome, with high production values, 356 pages all in colour, it is intended as a serious but easy-to-follow technical reference work. There are nine sections; Introduction, Sustainable Communities, Design for Life, Passive Design, Material Use, Energy Use, Water Use, Case Studies, Your Home Checklist and, finally, a very thorough nine page Index.
Opening with an excellent full colour page map of Australia’s Climate Zones and the Historical Perspective of our country’s built environment, the text moves to dispelling some current, common myths about such diverse but everyday concepts as passive design, lights, windows, insulation and weatherproofing, heating and cooling, water and landscaping. Even the more complex and contentious issues of carbon neutrality, zero energy and carbon positive houses are clearly explained in layman’s terms.
The entire volume is jam-packed with invaluable information which is complemented with a generous use of floor plans, diagrams, illustrations, charts and graphs. There is also an abundance of case studies ranging from new homes, including medium and high density, to renovations.
Highly recommended for anyone who is concerned with reducing their environmental footprint, whether it’s a specific upgrade to their existing home, or a new dwelling on a green field site.
Environmentally friendly building.
Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney.
RRP $49.50
The future of food
Barbara Kingsolver writes like a dream. Best known for her award-winning African saga, The Poisonwood Bible, she now turns her hand to non-fiction, chronicling her year of eating “seasonally”
Part memoir, part research, part political diatribe, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle combines the observations of the author and her daughter, Camille, as the family returns to her husband’s farm to try to lead a sustainable and fulfilling life. As Kingsolver senior describes the changing of the seasons – something with which many of us city folk have lost touch – she becomes more and more aware of the “crimes” being perpetrated in the name of food production around the globe. Home is the hills of Appalachia in Virginia, but Kingsolver’s research roams far and wide as she considers the politics of food and how it is distributed from plot to table, and how much of the goodness is destroyed along the way. Camille’s younger perspective offers a nice counterpoint to Barbara’s indignation. Thrown into the mix are some fun recipes and a heap of resources for those interested in maintaining a sustainable planet. Eat, read and learn.
Journal with a purpose
Barbara Kingsolver with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver
Harper Collins Inc.
RRP $24.95
Calling all green goddesses
Adopting a green lifestyle need not mean giving up on all of life’s little treats. Gorgeously Green gives eight simple steps to keeping healthy, staying beautiful and being earth-friendly.
Many of us would be happy to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, if only it wasn’t so time consuming! Sophie Uliano proves that going green is not reserved for tree-hugging planet-savers, but is a positive, personally fulfilling choice, even for the most committed of glamour pusses.
Gorgeously Green is a fun, up-beat, yet practical, guide to simple steps that can be taken to update beauty regimes, embark on a healthier lifestyle through diet and fitness, and create an ecological home, without destroying precious natural resources.
Packed with up-to-date information, Sophie Uliano offers you tips on at-home exercises, rethinking how you shop, healthy and tasty organic foods, guilt-free travel and beauty tips.
Written for an American market, the relevance of some of the websites suggested is questionable for an Australian readership, however, they may inspire you to look for alternatives. There are plenty of other sufficiently useful suggestions given to make it a worthwhile read for the busy, modern woman with an environmental conscience.
Go green, stay gorgeous
Sophie Uliano
Harper Collins
RRP $26.99
Keep the tax man happy
The best way to keep in the tax man’s good books is by having all your receipts and records in order. No mean feat in some cases, so just what records should you be keeping and what can be consigned to the recycling bin?
If you are not sure that you are keeping the correct records, then the ATO’s Keeping your tax records guide is a good publication to read. It explains why you need to keep records, what records need to be kept and for how long you need to keep them. Great for all the hoarders out there who keep everything forever.
It also advises on work related expenses, gifts, donations and contributions and medical expenses that can be claimed against your tax return. Available online, Keeping your tax records has handy links to other ATO publications which explain what you can claim and how it should be claimed.
View Keeping your tax records online.
So long rat race
We have all had a great idea at some point, but may have lacked the information to help us achieve it. The 4-hour work week provides a wealth of knowledge on how to escape the 9-5 grind and enjoy life to the maximum.
Making the New York Times best seller list, The 4-hour work week was written by Tim Ferris who gave up the rat race to find a better balance in life and a tidy financial fortune. Working 80 hours per week and earning $40,000(US) per year was just too much for Tim Ferris, who now works four hours per week and earns $40,000(US) per month!
So how did he do it? While it may appear to be a solely business-related book, and may take longer than four hours to read, there is a wealth of useful information on jobs, lifestyle, time management, how to learn a language in three months, and many other interesting ways to achieve your goals, whatever they may be.
The chatty, relaxed style of the author will have you thinking “how simple” and “I could have been doing this for years”. You will be amazed at what this book can teach you about yourself, life, and how to adjust your lifestyle to suit you! Whether you are an overworked employee, or an entrepreneur trapped in your own business, this book is the compass for a new and revolutionary world
A simple guide to business and life you will wish you had years ago!
Tim Ferris
Random House
RRP $39.95
Midlife crisis cars
Maybe you’re approaching your mid-life crisis, or laughing about the one you’ve just had. Does the car you drive say more about you than you are willing to admit?
The kids have flown the coop, you have a few extra dollars in your pocket and you are trying to recapture your youth. Time to ditch the station-wagon and rev up the sports car! Top Gear’s Mid Life Crisis Cars celebrates and ridicules the time honoured tradition of blowing the children’s inheritance on a ridiculously flash car that you can barely get in, never mind drive! Matt Master has compiled over 50 classic cars synonimous with midlife crisis, in this lastest offering in the Top Gear series.
Have a giggle at the most impractical cars ever made, choose the car you’ve always longed for but could never afford and match your friends to the automobile which best defines their personality. This book is fun, frivolous, yet offers an insight into what goes on in a man’s mind as they reach middle age.
Laugh and be laughed at.
Ebury Press
RRP: $29.95
Life or death dilemma
To save the life of a beloved child, or seek vengeance for the murder of a daughter is a dilemma that thankfully most of us will never have to face. On the surface, it seems an easy choice, but grief is a powerful emotion.
In her latest book, Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult carries on the theme of her previous, thought-provoking novels, by making her readers give consideration to situations that on the surface seem black and white. Never shying away from contentious or emotional issues, makes Picoult’s novels hard to resist.
Change of Heart explores the contemporary issues of the death penalty and the role of religion in society. Shay Bourne is an inmate on death row - New Hampshire’s first death row prisoner in 69 years - found guilty of the murder of Kurt Nealon and his step-daughter, Elizabeth. Bourne’s final wish to donate his heart to the daughter of his victim, is hampered by his choice of execution, lethal injection, and her mother’s reluctance to accept.
Claire is just 12 years old and in desperate need of a heart. Her mother June is racked with grief and anger, struggling with the impossible decision; to grant the final wish of the person who has brought her so much pain in life and save her daughter or risk her daughter’s life for the sake of revenge.
When Shay starts performing unexplained miracles in prison and quoting the little known Gospel of Thomas, many people begin to believe him to be the Messiah, this in turn leads to questioning as to whether or not he should be executed.
Change of Heart questions the idea of redemption and justice. Picoult does not disappoint in her most recent novel and there are many twists throughout, which have the power to completely change your opinion, just when you think you have figured everything out!
Be entranced by this story of love and redemption.
Allen & Unwin
RRP: $32.95
Life in film
Deciding to write your autobiography is never a task undertaken lightly. You subject yourself and your life’s work to criticism, whilst your audience wants to be entertained and emotionally engaged.
I peed on Fellini is not the light-hearted, chatty “recollection” of David Stratton’s life in film promised in the sub-title. It reads more like a well-researched tome of cinema, interspersed with amusing anecdotes of the extremely interesting and influential people Stratton has met throughout his life.
Emigrating to Australia as a “ten-pound Pom” in 1963 Stratton has dedicated his life to film, perhaps a little too much. You get the feeling that movies are so important to him, that he has missed out on the excitement and glamour that the world of cinematography has to offer. You quickly get a sense of his compulsive nature through his revelation that he has kept every film review ever written, from the age of nine.
Perhaps best known for his role as co-host with Margaret Pomeranz on the ABC’s At the movies, Stratton has dedicated his life to film. As Director of the Sydney Film Festival for 17 years, he brought many of the best international movies to Australia, and his ardent opposition to film censorship gives the impression there is more to this man than the book reveals.
There are plenty of fascinating and amusing stories to make I peed on Fellini a worthwhile read for film industry buffs. With a little more warmth and a less regimented and monotonous writing style, this could have been a fabulous read for all.
For movie lovers only.
David Stratton
Random House
RRP: $34.95
Saving the children
First published in 2001, Rescued by Angels is Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo’s account of his mission to care for orphaned and traumatized Rwandan children. A refugee three times over, Bishop Bilindabagabo, his wife, Grace, and their children survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994 through what he describes as a series of miracles
This account, told to aid worker, Alan Nichols is a self effacing and confronting account of the good Bishop’s mission to become Father to the fatherless, and create a life for children who had lost their future. Establishing orphanages would have been against the cultural beliefs of Rwandans, so instead he set up Barakabaho foundation, a system of fostering within villages. This slim volume is an inspiring tale and and testimony to the power of one person determined to help others.
Takes “making a difference” to new heights
Bishop Alexis Bilindabagabo with Alan Nichols
Acorn Press
RRP $14.50
Kiss and tell
Some do, some don’t. Judith Pugh, former wife of artist, Clifton, does. Tell, that is. In Unstill Life she shares the inner secrets of a turbulent decade of love, art and politics, largely lived in Melbourne’s outer east community of mud brick houses, open marriages and fervent Labor support.
Those who remember the 60s will enjoy this book. First, however, you need to get over the author’s somewhat awkward writing style, (stiff and annoyingly self referential – “We were to become famous”) and just go with the flow of reminiscences of a time of great change – and creativity – in 60s and 70s Australia. Pugh was a man in his 40s when he met 25-year-old Judith. He bedded and wedded her in quick succession, and they enjoyed a central role in the artistic and political circles of the time. But Camelot did not last – Pugh had left a previous wife before settling with Judith, and within a decade he moved on again. Judith’s account of their years together can only ever offer one perspective of the relationship, and this is clearly a weakness of Unstill Life. But whichever way you slice and dice the scenes from the marriage, the glimpses of a time of great growth and change in Australian society are more than worth the cover price.
Judith Pugh
Allen & Unwin
RRP $32.95
Life after 50
Life on the “other” side of 50 is the topic of some 35 contributions to Growing Old (Dis)gracefully, a new offering from ABC Books. And whilst some of the offerings are a mere ramble on things that might go wrong, others offer excellent insights into the opportunities and fun to be had in the “second” half of life
Edited by Ross Fitzgerald and Lyndal More, and subtitled 35 Australians reflect on life over 50, Growing Old (Disgracefully) is a strangely uneven offering. At no stage do the authors make it clear how the contributors were briefed, indeed what question they were answering, so the diversity of responses may be due to poor commissioning or some respondents just going off-topic. Assuming the invitation was to reflect on life over 50, a disproportionately high number of writers chose to share their life story to date. Too many of the writers are fellow columnists of Ross Fitzgerald at the Australian newspaper, and the proportion of males to females is 2:1.
Many of the contributions are fascinating, but tend to dwell more upon life before 50 rather than after. Some obsess about physical impairment, in particular Lyndal More, and the resulting contribution seems awfully superficial. Others offer a list of things they want to do before they die – a sort of extended Bucket List – which again seems awfully self-indulgent and hardly likely to solve the woes of the world. In fact, if we are all as inward-looking as some of these writers, God help the future of the planet. But just when you think it is all a bit repetitive and pointless, a total gem, such as the offerings from Julie McCrossin, Robyn Lincoln, Ian Mc Fadyen and Jim McElroy shines through, and you become excited once more about the possibilities for older adults in today’s society.
A missed opportunity to explore themes of later life
Ross Fitzgerald & Lyndal More
ABC Books
RRP $35.00
Forever young
Eternal youth may not be within your reach but you can help yourself feel younger.
You staying young helps you understand how your body ages and explains ways to halt the ageing process and stay young. The co-authors of the book, Rozien and Oz, are MDs in the USA, however, their opinions are just that, opinions, and should not be taken on a medical level. Rozien and Oz take a practical, yet fun view to adding years to your life, and life to your years.
Often referred to in the book is your RealAge. This is a formula designed to figure out you biological age, based on lifestyle factors. You can take this simple, free test at http://www.realage.com.
Understanding how we age on a cellular level is the key to understanding how to stay young. By examining and explaining the effects of diet, genes, environment and the natural ageing process has on you body, Rozien and Oz offer simple steps to help you regain your youth.
If you want to help yourself live longer and young, reduce your risk of illness, or reprogram your body to reverse the ageing process, then You staying young is a great place to start.
Live longer, feel younger and have fun.
Michael F Rozien, MD and Mehmet C Oz MD
Harper Collins
$35.00
Live longer
Advances in cardiovascular science and treatment has led to longer lives for many. Simple steps can help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Prof. Ian Hamilton-Craig has a family history of cardiovascular disease. The discovery of this early on, and a treatment plan devised with the help of his doctor, ensured he was alive and well to collect a Nobel Prize in 1996.
Unclog your arteries explains the importance of good cholesterol and the danger to your arteries of bad cholesterol. By examining the risk factors of heart attack and stroke and completing the simple questionnaire in the book, you can accurately analyse the likelihood of you suffering from heart disease. Take advantage of step-by step treatment plans and preventative measures to see you on your way to a long and healthy life.
Using case histories to highlight the various degrees of cardiovascular disease and blood disorders makes the information given easy to digest and relate to. As well as giving ways to prevent heart disease, Unclog your arteries gives advice on how to improve the condition of your arteries after a heart attack or bypass.
By explaining the different types of medication available, and how best to take them, Prof. Hamilton-Craig takes away some of the fear faced by people when confronted by the cocktail of drugs that can be required to treat heart disease.
This book is nicely finished off with a range of low-cholesterol recipes to help make your healthier lifestyle easier.
Take the strain off your heart by following simple steps.
Prof. Ian Hamilton-Clark
Newholland
RRP $29.95
A mother’s diaries
At 27 Zelda is dead, driven to commit suicide and leave behind her two young children, Ruth and Andy, who will never know their mother, until the secrets of her diaries are revealed.
Adopted by her artistic parents’ patron at only six months old, great things were expected from Zelda, the only child of Annie and Ed, famous but self-absorbed artists. Her artistic background and upbringing giving great promise to this privileged young woman.
The Steele Diaries weaves together the lives of three very different women, from very different eras. After the death of her father, Ruth is contacted by a writer, keen to access and transcribe her mother’s diaries, given that there is a history between them. Unaware of the existence of such diaries, Ruth is intrigued enough to travel back to the small town she grew up in, to investigate their whereabouts.
Uncovering the diaries, Ruth learns about the complicated, passionate woman her mother was, rather than the flakey artist people knew her to be. The unconventional life Zelda lived paints an evocative portrait of the Sydney art scene from 1930s to 1970s. The relationship Zelda endured with her mother, Annie, gives Ruth an understanding of what led her to commit suicide, leaving her two young children behind.
Being back in her hometown, Ruther gets some time to reflect on what her life has become, the content of her mother’s diaries and the impact of what they uncover.
Written by Wendy James, The Steele Diaries examines the conflict just about ever woman understands, that between motherhood and career, your family and your own being.
Loose yourself in other people’s lives.
By Wendy James
Random House
$32.95
Magazine subscriptions under $50
Choosing something to give your mum on Mother’s Day is never easy. A subscription to her favourite magazine will always be appreciated.
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In search of answers
Being German in the last century carries a stigma that’s hard to escape but should a nation be held responsible for the ego of one man?
Defense office Hans Georg Klamworth was one of Hitler’s ardent followers, joining the SS in 1933, he was an experienced member of Abwher, the German Intelligence Service. Married to Else, a district leader of the NS-Frauenschaft – the Nazi women’s organization – they had nine children, all of which were of “German-Aryan descent and free of Jewish or coloured blood”, a fact of which they were very proud.
In August 1944, Hans was sentenced to execution for his part in the July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler. It was determined at his trial that although aware of the plot, he did nothing to stop it. Those involved had not turned against Hitler, but had seen the futility of his advance. Trying to secure and honourable end to the war for Germany, Killing Hitler seemed their only choice.
As a six year old when her father died, Wibke Bruhns was seemingly untouched by her father’s death, unaware of the soul that lived within him. A chance viewing of her father in a TV documentary about 20 July plot, later in life, brought her face-to-face with a man she didn’t know but could see herself in him.
Driven to find out more about her father and ancestors, and how her life had been shaped by events of the past and history of her country, she retraces the story of her family from the late 19th century to after World War II. Discovering photos, diaries and letters documenting a unique and epic tale, she uncovers emotions and beliefs she was oblivious to growing up.
This powerful story will both enthrall and appall, as a truly awful time in history is relived through the eyes of a family that worshiped and embraced Hitler’s anti-Semite views.
My Father’s country is a riveting tale of life in Germany through World War I and World War II.
Random House
RRP $35
Holocaust horror
Clara Kramer is 81 years old and every week gives a talk on her experiences during the holocaust. More than 60 years after the ordeal of Nazi Germany, she relives the horror every day.
Clara’s War is the memoir of Clara Kramer, who, as a fifteen year old girl, lived through the atrocities of the invasion of Poland by Hitler’s marauding army, in July 1942. With the aim of occupying Poland to facilitate his assault on the rest of the world, Hitler was responsible for the ethnic cleansing of over six million Jews, a fact that still horrifies even in this desensitised age.
Clara and her family hid precariously in a hand-dug cellar, living hand-to-mouth, while friends and colleagues were either slaughtered or transported to concentration camps. The key to the families success in evading the authorities was their unlikely protector, Mr Beck, a self-professed anti-Semite. Living above the family, Mr beck was a drunkard and a womanizer, yet throughout the war he risked his own life to protect his charges.
As well as fear of discovery and execution, life lived under Mr beck was never predictable. Surviving the house catching fire, dealing with Mr beck’s affair with Clara’s cousin and surviving the nightly SS drinking sessions in the room just above, became a way of life for the family.
In the space of two years, the Jewish community in and around Clara’s home village of Zolkiew, diminished from 5000 to 50. Clara’s respite from the harsh realities of war was writing her diaries. Using her diaries as an aid, Clara Kramer has retold her horrific yet positive story, her tales superbly captured by Stephen Gantz. Her memoir is a story full of love, hope and courage, despite the traumatic times and is both dramatic and tearfully compelling.
A true insight into life in war-torn Polland.
Random House
RRP $34.95
Keeping afloat
Life’s never quite what you expect but your destiny can be in your own hands, you just have to make it happen.
The Swim Club by Anne de Lisle, is the sometimes tearful but ultimately uplifting tale of five everyday women who overcome adversity to turn their lives around. Two years after her husband ran off with his 17-year-old pupil, Charlie is finally coming to terms with the gap left in her life, and those of her two young children. On hearing that her friend Karen’s husband has died in a drowning accident, Charlie realises that there’s always someone worse off.
Laura, the local GP is married to Sam and is Charlie’s aqua-aerobics buddy. In an attempt to get back to some kind of normality, Karen joins them both at their class and brings along her friend, Wendy, another school mum. Making up the five-some is Cate, the younger leggy pool attendant, envied by the others.
Each of the group has a secret or fear to overcome. They decide to focus on something other than lives problems by training for a triathlon. Dealing with death, divorce, dating, unplanned pregnancy and illness, the acquaintances become friends, totally in tune with each others’ lives and woes. With the friendship comes an understanding of what needs to change in their own lives.
As the day of the triathlon looms, there are tears and laughter, fun and sorrow. Enjoy the journey each woman undertakes as she struggles to overcome personal adversity and live the life she wants.
A good book to curl up with.
Random House
RRP: $32.95
Riveting snapshots
"True tales” is the subtitle of Georgia Blain’s book, Births Deaths Marriages and the sincerity of her writing and remembrances does indeed make this a book to treasure. Written as a biography of her family, Births Deaths Marriages highlights the childish desire to appear “normal” in the mistaken belief that other families are living straight forward lives. Set in the 70s, Blain chronicles life as her family faces the major challenges of separation and divorce, violence and mental ill health. Her mother, broadcaster and writer, Anne Deveson, and her father, Ellis Blain, host of radio program “Let’s Find Out” had very successful public lives – and a marriage falling apart at the seams. The children would dread the times when their father was around, yet the author manages to keep her objectivity about his pain and suffering as the family withdrew. The author offers fascinating snapshots of life in the 60s and 70s but the true strength of this gently written memoir is the searing honesty on how and why relationships can fail…
A touching tale of life in the 60’s and 70’s
RRP $$24.95
Vintage books
Family travels
Is there more to life than msn and Facebook? One mother decided a year-long camping trip around Australia would teach her kids there is – and given that she has eight (yes, EIGHT) children, that’s no mean feat
There are many better titles Kelly Denley and her editor could have chosen for her book, Almost Perfect. The reason was possibly a desire to cash in on the success of another Random House title, the best selling Almost French. But Denley’s story is good enough to stand on its own merits, rather than looking like a wannabee. Almost Perfect covers the family’s trials and tribulations from the time they learned of the imminent arrival of the eighth child, Paige. Suffering from post-natal depression, dealing with Cam and Scott’s Asperger’s syndrome, and recurring stressful situations forced the family to attend counselling – and evaluate the potential paths forward. The result was a decision to go back to High School and complete her secondary education. After achieving her HSC, the next big thing is the family trip – a full year on the road, bonding, and creating memories the children would have for a lifetime. I’m not sure if it’s the thought of managing all those children, or Denley’s breathless prose, but the pace of Almost Perfect is sometimes just a little too frenetic – so don’t try to read it in one go. Too many adjectives also get in the way of a good story, but, writing style aside, it’s a brave and engaging first book.
Read and give thanks for your own less pressured existence
RRP $34.95
Random House Australia
Best of Beer
If you appreciate the pleasure of cooking with fresh and local produce, you won’t be disappointed with the latest offering from Maggie Beer.
Even though it’s jam-packed with over 350 recipes, Maggie’s Harvest is more than just another cookbook. The beautifully embroidered cover immediately sets it apart from other books on the shelf and what’s inside is far from disappointing. The recipes themselves are delightful, using only the freshest seasonal produce in the Barossa Valley, and are easily adapted for those living elsewhere. Maggie has a passion for the Barossa Valley and the food produced there, and along with the recipes and the wonderfully warm stories of meals with friends, makes Maggie’s Harvest a great read, rather than just a cookbook.
This book is a little more pricey than your average offering from celebrity chefs and cooks, but it would make a wonderful gift for someone who enjoys cooking and has a flair for adding their own personal touch to a recipe. It’s also worth shopping around online for some great deals on this title.
A real gem of a cookbook
RRP$125
Penguin Australia
Harvest fayre
Ever thought of the option of travelling whilst earning money? Exploring your nation while meeting great people along the way? This is all possible with The National Harvest Labor Guide 2009.
The National Harvest labor Guide 2009 offers a way for eligible workers in Australia at any age group to finance a convenient journey across the nation. With information covering harvest work opportunities, working conditions, transport and accommodation the guide gives travellers a great way to maintain a comfortable yet fit and healthy lifestyle whilst earning money and exploring Australia at their own pace. With many trails to choose from, harvest workers are able to meet people from around Australia and the world whether circling the continent or traveling the sun.
The guide provides great advice and information on the best times to travel where and includes tips on how to stay safe, healthy and most important of all, sane.
Available free of charge from jobsearch.gov.au
The Irish are one of the oldest and most established immigrant communities in Australia, they even have their own magazine, Tintean.
Tintean is a quarterly magazine, published by Australian Irish Heritage Network, to keep the Irish community up-to-date with news, views, events and generally all things Irish. Not only does it deal with current issues but it also carries articles on the history of Ireland and Irish society in Australia.
New to the market, the current issue is only the third one published. Tintean is geared towards providing it’s readers with the information and articles they need and want, and with feedback, should evolve into a much loved and read publication for those interested in the Irish community and Ireland.
For more information, click here.
Published by Australian Irish Heritage Network
$6 per issue
Finding your roots
Most of us can tell our roots from our surname, with perhaps the easiest to deduce being Irish! Once you’ve worked out from where you come, how do you find out from whom you descended?
Tracing Your Ancestors in Ireland is an incredibly useful guide put together by the Failte Ireland, to help make the most of any exploratory trip to search out your family’s genealogy. It advises the basic information you will need to start your search, useful websites so you can start your search before you head overseas, books that will give great advice and help you on your way and sources of information you can search once you reach Ireland.
With details of genealogy centres in each Irish county and useful Irish addresses, tracing your ancestors may not be easy, but this pamphlet gives you a great head start and can only improve your chances.
For more information, click here
Loss and love
As they sat down to dinner one night, Joan Didion’s husband collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. Didion spent the next twelve months wishing he would just come back and fill the shoes she steadfastly refuses to discard.
In The Year of Magical Thinking Didion offers a dialogue about marriage, friendship, loss and coping. John does not, of course, come back. And Didion’s luck is totally out. Their only child, Quintana, is gravely ill and Didion’s struggle with her loss is further complicated by managing Quintana’s treatment at various hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. Somehow she manages to avoid a maudlin account of her loss. Instead she carefully documents the process to returning to the world, of taking one step forward and three back, or wondering “What would I be able to discuss this with John? What would I give to be able to discuss anything at all with John? She also punishes herself for not making the most of her time with him – for not “sufficiently appreciating things” – life lessons we all struggle to learn. Didion’s book has now been performed as a one-woman play in London and New York by Vanessa Redgrave. This role will be filled by Robin Nevin in Sydney later this year
A short book which packs a large punch
RRP $22.95
Harper Perennial
Women rock!
If you thought rock’n’roll was a man’s domain, take a trip through musical history and rediscover the women who rocked the world!
Rock Chicks – the hottest female rocker from the 1960s to now, concisely covers all the great female rockers of the last five decades, from Tina Turner and Blondie to Australia’s very own Nathalie Bassingthwaighte. Telling stories of famous love affairs and sordid secrets, musical triumphs and power struggles, if music is your passion then Rock Chicks will not fail to delight.
Some tales will make your toes curl and some will bring tears to your eyes but there’s no denying that the lives and loves of artists such as Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde and Madonna will enthral and entertain, regardless of your musical tastes.
The accompanying pictorial journey through the rock years is curtesy of leading rock photographer, Tony Mott, and is as much fun and just as entertaining as the biographies themselves. You’ll find yourself transported into an era that good taste clearly passed by, the fashion was just as outrageous as the stars themselves!
Rock Chicks doesn’t give the glossy side of women in rock music, it doesn’t shy away from the evils of drugs and alcohol in excess that these lady rockers were just as susceptible to as their male counterparts but it does prove that women can do anything as well as men, if not better.
Worth it for the pictures alone
Rockpool Publishing
RRP - $39.95
