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Aussie Aussie Aussie
If you think you know all about Australia's heroes (and villains), think again. In Aussie Aussie Aussie, Ben Pobjie burrows beneath the mythology to provide an intimate look at the Australians who helped make our nation great - as well as the ones who stopped us from being as great as we could have been but who have ended up with their own Wikipedia pages anyway. Meet pioneers such as Charles Kingsford Smith, whose groundbreaking efforts moved the country forward; artists and entertainers such as Joan Sutherland, who shaped our national cultural identity; captains of industry such as Rupert Murdoch, who inspired Australia's love affair with people who amass phenomenal quantities of personal wealth; and humanitarians such as Mary MacKillop, who found fame by dedicating their lives to others and guilt-tripping the rest of us. Aussie Aussie Aussie is the book for any proud Australian seeking to learn more about the national heroes that make our own pathetic lives seem so insignificant.
296 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 26, 2017
A million stars if I could. Who knew that you could ever laugh at a history book, especially one about 'notable' Australians? But I did, in public no less. I probably sounded mad on the bus, but whatever.
Basically this is set up as profiles on famous Australians, but as the author freely admits, he doesn't always fact check. That makes for some hilarious dialogue by the author, as he races off in totally unexpected directions and comparisons. The closest I've ever seen to this was a bloke I knew in High School, who forgot to study Nelson Mandela and instead wrote his essay by starting with two sentences about him, and digressing into 'Another cool person I know about was Vlad the Impaler.." and proceeded a two page essay about him. As a class, we had the delight of listening to this read aloud, as an example of what not to do in your own essays. This book was a far more informative read.
You will either 'get' this author's sense of humor, or you won't and remain forever slightly offended. It's a mix of poking at things we'd rather forget about our horribly racist past, plays on words and just general idiocy that was just fun to read. If you find the idea of the definition of an Ironmonger as one who mongs iron, then this is the book for you.
I adored every second, I can't recommend this one highly enough. Five stars! Oh, and OI OI OI!
Basically this is set up as profiles on famous Australians, but as the author freely admits, he doesn't always fact check. That makes for some hilarious dialogue by the author, as he races off in totally unexpected directions and comparisons. The closest I've ever seen to this was a bloke I knew in High School, who forgot to study Nelson Mandela and instead wrote his essay by starting with two sentences about him, and digressing into 'Another cool person I know about was Vlad the Impaler.." and proceeded a two page essay about him. As a class, we had the delight of listening to this read aloud, as an example of what not to do in your own essays. This book was a far more informative read.
You will either 'get' this author's sense of humor, or you won't and remain forever slightly offended. It's a mix of poking at things we'd rather forget about our horribly racist past, plays on words and just general idiocy that was just fun to read. If you find the idea of the definition of an Ironmonger as one who mongs iron, then this is the book for you.
I adored every second, I can't recommend this one highly enough. Five stars! Oh, and OI OI OI!
January 19, 2018
Outstanding, quite funny, love the comedic style, sorry I can't help with the whereabouts of Malcolm Turnbull
July 3, 2018
Absolutely hysterical (and only slightly true).
July 19, 2019
This book is brilliant. I am listening to the audio version and the guy who reads it is fantastic, if you can listen to it, I think it is well worth it, his timing is spot on.
The book is so funny and irreverent, I have been recommending it to friends and family and know I will listen to it again. I have laughed out loud a lot of times. I've learnt a lot along the way too.
A great gift if you are stuck for ideas.
Can someone please turn it into a tv series?
The book is so funny and irreverent, I have been recommending it to friends and family and know I will listen to it again. I have laughed out loud a lot of times. I've learnt a lot along the way too.
A great gift if you are stuck for ideas.
Can someone please turn it into a tv series?
August 17, 2023
It's definitely not a book for searching statistics data on a particular number of syfilis pimps on privates of notable celebrities but a work providing sarcastically a paramount of meticulously collated less-heralded information about the Great Australians since European settlement till 2016, worth shelves filled with biographic academic editions .
One could say, the closer histories to nowadays are the lesser author's poof seemingly is. 😌
One could say, the closer histories to nowadays are the lesser author's poof seemingly is. 😌
April 7, 2021
If you want to learn or be entertained or even if you want a good laugh- do anything but read this book... an enema would be more fun.
I couldn't tell if this pile of woke nonsense was trying to be funny or facetious. It ends up being neither.
This guy obviously studied history through reading WHO weekly.
Avoid at all costs.
I couldn't tell if this pile of woke nonsense was trying to be funny or facetious. It ends up being neither.
This guy obviously studied history through reading WHO weekly.
Avoid at all costs.
February 16, 2020
This was a fun history book that I picked up after reading quite a heavy history (Sven Beckert's Empire of Cotton), which made it a nice one to unwind to. Ben Pobjie's humour keeps it light and he introduced me to some characters I'd never heard of before, including Charles Tait, who directed the first ever feature film (the one about Ned Kelly). As well as some characters I felt bad for not having heard of before - Vincent Lingiari who lead a amazing nine year strike for better pay and working conditions for aboriginal people (embarrassingly I thought he was an Italian migrant). It also provided some new details about people I had heard of, like Caroline Chisholm and Alan Bond. So I do recommend it for anyone looking for a good introduction into these people but my one criticism is that the research is light and sometimes the humour gets in the way of the history. Sometimes I just wanted to know a bit more but instead I read a joke. It is a book that's worth a read, especially if (like me) you are no expert on the people in it.
August 8, 2021
Who knew that you could ever laugh at a history book, especially one about 'notable' Australians? I did, in public no less. I probably sounded crazy on the bus, but whatever.
Great light hearted book that can teach you a thing or two about people who shaped Australia.
Great light hearted book that can teach you a thing or two about people who shaped Australia.
September 1, 2020
Funny.
Does what it says on the box.
Best read using Shaun Micallef’s voice. Unsure if this is deliberate or not.
Does what it says on the box.
Best read using Shaun Micallef’s voice. Unsure if this is deliberate or not.
May 20, 2018
Haiku Review:
Turns out we were taught
Only half of the story.
Now the truth comes out.
Turns out we were taught
Only half of the story.
Now the truth comes out.
March 13, 2018
If you've never read a Ben Pobje novel NOW IS YOUR TIME. This is the second book of his I have read, and both are laugh out loud, strange looks on the bus, can't stop talking about it to your significant other - FUNNY.
I was amazed and delighted by the wit and effortless writing style in this book, and actually found myself very well educated on a number of important historical figures by the time I had finished.
I feel this should be required reading for all Australian students and those who have ever been Australian students - and even those who aren't Australian but who appreciate really funny writing.
PS- the audiobook is WONDERFUL.
I was amazed and delighted by the wit and effortless writing style in this book, and actually found myself very well educated on a number of important historical figures by the time I had finished.
I feel this should be required reading for all Australian students and those who have ever been Australian students - and even those who aren't Australian but who appreciate really funny writing.
PS- the audiobook is WONDERFUL.
June 18, 2019
A very fun and educational book that left me feeling very proud to be able to call myself ‘Australian’, though a little bewildered as to why I felt that way because I had very little to do with the achievements of the Australians written about in the book and some of them were actually quite terrible people.
This book also put my mind at ease regarding former Prime Minister Harold Holt — he’s actually more alive than ever and is doing very well.
Four stars.
This book also put my mind at ease regarding former Prime Minister Harold Holt — he’s actually more alive than ever and is doing very well.
Four stars.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews