Michael Kirby
Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Book of the day: The Menzies Era by John Howard.
The Menzies Era by John Howard and The Wit of Whitlam by James Carleton
We have definitely not had enough politics in Australia this year. So I am going to take a break from the politics of North Korea and immerse myself in reading books on the two of the most influential politicians of my youth.
Book of the day: The Wit of Whitlam, edited by James Carleton.
These two men were the competing poles of the values of the Australia in which I grew up. Menzies was unapologetically British. He was witty, brilliant and ran an amazingly enduring government. He also did a lot of very good things: like implementing the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme that made university education a possibility for me.
Gough Whitlam was an internationalist who was also witty and a great achiever. By reading these new books about them, I hope to recapture the essential elements that made these two men so influential and admired.
Australians are lucky to have Christmas in the summer: a happy season with friends and books. And reflective memories of the giants of times past.