We’ve selected the best new local and international non-fiction releases.
Rusty Young
There’s something captivating about a book that takes you to new lands. Columbiano is no exception.
Rusty Young, author of cult hit Marching Powder, spent seven years in Columbia researching his latest novel. A searching mix of fact and fiction, Columbiano examines the harrowing lives of child soldiers and the ways in which their innocence is compromised.
Rosamund Young
Ever looked out of the window and wondered what the cows are up to? If you’re commuting from the end of the line, you probably have.
The Secret Life of Cows provides the perfect insight into what you may have been pondering on your long rides home. Written by farmer Rosamund Young, this soothing, quirky account of bovine inner-lives will clear the mind after even the most taxing day in the office.
Anthony Brandt and David Eagleman
Why are we instinctively driven to create? A composer and a neuroscientist have set out to answer this in The Runaway Species.
Take a trip through the mind with two world-renowned experts. Exploring everything from Picasso’s abstract tendencies, to the creation of the humble umbrella, this book aims to break down the reasoning behind our inherent creative mentality.
Titus O’Reily
Contrary to what the title may suggest, satirical commentator Titus O’Reily’s debut actually makes for the perfect companion for anyone looking to host the regular office trivia night.
A Thoroughly Unhelpful History of Australian Sport is a witty piece of national commentary, covering everything from the inception of our signature games, to how our country’s sports bring the people of Australia together.
David Gillespie
Need some evidence that your colleague really is a psychopath?
Come into work armed with a little strategy. Gillespie’s practical guide, Taming Toxic People, explores the best practices for identifying and dealing with the most harmful people in your workplace and life.
Peter Greste
For young journos and writers, Peter Greste’s account on the new global war on journalism is a must-read.
After spending two decades reporting from front lines around the world, he recounts his greatest tale: 400 days incarcerated in an Egyptian prison after a sham trial. Greste explores how journalists are no longer witnesses but players in modern war zones, and unearths the first casualty of war: truth.
Jim Chalmers, Mike Quigley.
Worried that your department will soon be overtaken by robots? Luckily, Jim Chalmers and Mike Quigley are here to settle our nerves, with solutions to the questions of jobs, inequality and the future our children will face.
This relevant, vital book discusses the changing face of employment and how to prepare for it – both politically and personally.
Mark Manson
This is a 2016 book, but it’s so good we had to include it.
For decades, we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. Drawing on academic research and a life of breaking the rules, Mark Manson is destroying that myth. Often crass, always hilarious, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is easily readable in a week’s worth of tram rides. Just try not to cry-laugh on a packed commute.
