Unreliable Memoirs by Clive James

$19.99 AUD

Category: Biography | Series: Picador Classic | Reading Level: very good

With an introduction by P. J. O'Rourke 'Do not read this book in public. You will risk severe internal injuries from trying to suppress your laughter.' Sunday Times I was born in 1939. The other big event of that year was the outbreak of the Second World War, but for the moment that did not affect me. I n the first instalment of Clive James's memoirs we follow the young Clive on his journey from boyhood to the cusp of manhood, when his days of wearing short trousers are finally behind him. Battling with school, girls, various relatives and an overwhelming desire to be a superhero, Clive's adventures growing up in the suburbs of post-war Sydney are hair-raising, uproarious and almost too good to be true ...Told with James's unassailable sense of humour and self-effacing charm, Unreliable Memoirs is a hilarious and touching introduction to the story of a national treasure. A million-copy bestseller, this classic memoir is a celebration of life in all its unpredictable glory.   ...Show more

ANOTHER BLOODY RATBAG BOOK by KERRY CUE

$0.00 AUD

Category: Second Hand Biography

Life I Never Thought I Would Have, The by Jeff Sly (Prepared for Publication by)

$39.99 AUD

Category: Biography

Peter Learmonth was an ordinary boy whose life was shaped by a series of extraordinary events.He was chronically burned as a seven year old on Boxing Day, 1939.That could, and probably should, have ended his life.What followed was a number of chance encounters and exceptional happenings that not only al lowed him to survive, but led him towards an extraordinary life.He was among fewer than a handful of child patients in Victoria¿s largest military hospital during World War II. He shared a room with VC recipient Ted Kenna. He was a noted patient of Australia¿s undisputed pioneer of plastic and reconstructive surgery. And he ran at school alongside dual-Olympian John Landy.In the middle of it all his father fought a battle with surgeons to rebuild Peter¿s arms, rather than amputate. It was one of many battles Peter and his family fought and won during his remarkable recovery.He went on to work as a jackeroo, and then had to fight again to enter his desired profession as a stock agent.What followed was a spectacular career during which he became one of the most respected operators in western Victoria.Peter Learmonth¿s story is that of a fighter. It¿s the tale of a man who was told multiple times, ¿You can¿t do that,¿ and went ahead and did it anyway.At 84 he sat down with veteran journalist Jeff Sly to reflect on a truly remarkable life. ...Show more

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

$65.00 AUD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: near fine

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of th e first term of his historic presidency - a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation's highest office. Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorises Operation Neptune Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden. A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective — the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organiser tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of hope and change and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible. This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama's conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.       ...Show more

Bourke Street My View from Here by Jen Hutchison; Tony Brooks (As told by); Nicole Melbourne (Cover Design by); Nikki M Group (Designed by); Lisa Heffernan (Photographer); Journeys to Words Publishing (Produced by); Daniel Chelchowski (Compiled by, Text by)

$30.00 AUD

Category: Biography

Bourke Street, My View from Here follows the untold story of Tony Brooks through a journey that sounds to be more fiction than fact. Jen converses with the man people call 'The Mentor of Bourke Street' about tattoos, leading to his past - alcohol dependency, a stint in prison for a murder he claims he d id not commit and his eventual release. It is a tale fraught with drugs and violence but ultimately one of understanding, change and acceptance.Tony shares the truth about his incarceration, the murder charge, his co-accused, and confession of the murder of Francisca Parquita Rodriguez. Tony talks - about it all.The reader is offered not only insight into the life of Tony, but an analysis of another culture within Melbourne that most people are unaware of. Despite his struggles, Tony remains an uplifting charmer on Bourke Street to hundreds who know him, and a friendly stranger with a cavalier smile to those who don't. ...Show more

Killing Time: Short Stories From the Long Road Home by Jimmy Barnes

$45.00 AUD

Category: Biography

From the rock legend turned master storyteller, this collection of non-fiction short stories is vintage Jimmy. Stories of adventure, misadventure, love and loss from the #1 bestselling author of the critically acclaimed memoirs Working Class Boy and Working Class Man. Outrageous, witty, warm and wise, K illing Time shares more than 40 yarns from an epic life - a dazzling collection of tall tales, out-takes and B-sides from one of Australia's finest storytellers. ...Show more

Lioness by Sue Brierley

$34.99 AUD

Category: Biography

Saroo Brierley's journey home to a small village in India with the help of Google Earth became an internationally bestselling book and inspired the major motion picture LION. But the story of how his adoptive mother, Sue, came into his life half a world away in Tasmania is every bit as riveting. In this uplifting and deeply personal book Sue reveals for the first time her own traumatic childhood. The daughter of a violent alcoholic whose business gambles left her family destitute, she grew up in geographic and emotional isolation. When Sue married and broke free of her father she was determined to also sever the cycle of despair, and made the selfless decision not to have a biological child. Instead, inspired by a vision she'd had as a young girl, she chose to adopt two children in need - Saroo and Mantosh. Little did she imagine that twenty-five years later she would be portrayed on screen by another Australian mother who chose to adopt - Nicole Kidman. Moving and inspiring, Lioness explores the myth of motherhood, how families are formed in many ways, and how love and perseverance can bring us together.   ...Show more

Daniel Mannix: Beyond the Myths by James Griffin

$44.95 AUD

Category: Biography

Not the first to delve into this complex life, Jim Griffin's biography is unique for exposing the Archbishop's human flaws, previously avoided or brushed over by other biographers. Giving Mannix credit for his many achievements, Griffin analyses controversies such as conscription in the Great War, State Aid for Catholic schools and his association with entrepreneur John Wren. The book also examines Mannix's fateful connection with B.A.Santamaria, who formed an undercover organisation, The Movement, to fight communism in the unions. This produced damaging splits in the Church, the Labor Party and even families. It contributed to 17 years of government by the Liberal and Country Parties until the resurgence of Labor under Gough Whitlam in 1972. Beautifully written from an acerbic distance, this biography should appeal to those interested in how this nation was shaped, how its values and institutions were influenced by the life of this extraordinary man whose legacy is described in Paul Ormonde's concluding chapter. ...Show more

Dustin Martin by Dustin Martin

$39.99 AUD

Category: Biography

A stunning illustrated companion to Dustin Martin's stellar career, this book celebrates Australia's most popular football player with never before published photos of his early life and behind-the-scenes moments. As a fully authorised publication, it's the ultimate book for footy fans everywhere, from the most popular player in one of AFL's most popular teams. From his earliest moments as a small child, badgering his dad to get his very own footy; to the shy teenager who went to the draft expecting nothing; to winning the highest accolades; to behind the scenes at the club and out and about, this book is a revealing story of Dustin Martin's rise to the very top of AFL football. Richmond fans as well as fans across the code will discover the true Dustin Martin revealed through stunning pictures. Published to coincide with the end of the AFL season and to celebrate Dusty's amazing career to date, this will be a must have, must give, must read for all footy fans. Dustin 'Dusty' Martin continually awes AFL fans, regardless of club allegiance, and this book will be awe inspiring!   ...Show more

Finding Freedom Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie; Carolyn Durand

$34.99 AUD

Category: Biography

When news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy. But while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to make headlines – from their engagement, wedding, and birth of their son Archie to their unprecedented decision to step back from their royal lives – few know the true story of Harry and Meghan. For the very first time, FINDING FREEDOM goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond. As members of the select group of reporters that cover the British Royal Family and their engagements, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have witnessed the young couple's lives as few outsiders can. With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, FINDING FREEDOM is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world. ...Show more

Just Ignore Him by Alan Davies

$32.99 AUD

Category: Biography | Reading Level: near fine

The story of a life built on sand. In the rain. In this compelling memoir, comedian and actor Alan Davies recalls his boyhood with vivid insight and devastating humour. Shifting between his 1970s upbringing and his life today, Davies moves poignantly from innocence to experience to the clarity of hindsi ght, always with a keen sense of the absurd. From sibling dynamics, to his voiceless, misunderstood progression through school, sexuality and humiliating 'accidents', Davies inhabits his younger mind with spectacular accuracy, sharply evoking an era when Green Shield Stamps, Bob-a-Job week and Whizzer & Chips loomed large, a bus fare was 2p - and children had little power in the face of adult motivation. Here, there are often exquisitely tender recollections of the mother he lost at six years old, of a bereaved family struggling to find its way, and the kicks and confusion of adolescence. Through even the joyous and innocent memories, the pain of Davies's lifelong grief and profound betrayal is unfiltered, searing and beautifully articulated. Just Ignore Him is not only an autobiography, it is a testament to a survivor's resilience and courage.   ...Show more

Paradise Road by Betty Jeffrey

$24.95 AUD

Category: Biography

In 1942, a group of Australian Army nursing sisters was evacuated from Malaya a few days before the fall of Singapore. Two days later their ship was bombed and sunk by the Japanese. This is the autobiography of one of the survivors, Betty Jeffrey, who was imprisoned for three-and-a-half years.