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The Forever War

The Forever War tells the story of how America’s political polarisation is 250 years in the making, and argues that the roots of its modern-day malaise are to be found in its troubled past.

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The Soul

The Soul is a history of the human mind, from the earliest expression of self-consciousness to its unshakeable belief in the great religions and political systems.

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Dive!

Australian submariners at war

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Mike Carlton shares the book that inspired his love of naval history

Mike Carlton shares his favourite historic naval novel, the disgusting meal he learned about while writing The Scrap Iron Flotilla and more.

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Journalist’s haunting encounter at serial killer’s murder scene

When Garry Linnell stumbled across the grisly story of Frederick Deeming, he knew it was the one he wanted to tell.

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‘I could eat a piece of a man’

Port Arthur convicts turned to cannibalism in an attempt to survive in the harsh Australian bush.

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The Freedom Circus photo album

Sue Smethurst on five of the remarkable images she discovered while researching the story of her grandmother-in-law.

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Tall stories

Garry Linnell reveals how a childhood fascination led to his exploration of the life, and love, of an oft-forgotten bushranger.

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Discovering Vida

Jacqueline Kent on the inspiration behind her book about an extraordinary woman, Vida.

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Introducing Vida Goldstein

Advocate for women's rights, campaigner for peace and genuine trailblazer for equality.

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Power grapple

Nick Bryant reveals the unlikely start-point of Donald Trump’s first ‘semi-serious’ presidential bid.

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Classic of the month: Dark Days

In July we explored racism, identity, education and love in James Baldwin’s searing essay collection Dark Days.

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21 Lessons for the 21st Century book club notes

Challenge your reading group to consider the biggest questions of our times.

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History’s spoils

Geoffrey Robertson ponders the rights of nations to hoard the cultural identifiers of others.

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A boot in the door

Advancement of women doctors: one of very few unexpected silver-linings of war.

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A few daring men

Audacity reigned supreme for some skilled Australian infantrymen on the Western Front.

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Extract
The Soul

This is a history of the soul, or what we now call the mind, the mysterious inner voice that wills us to think and act and is unique to each of us.

Extract
Unruly

There was a moment in 1940, the bleakest year of the Second World War with the Wehrmacht carrying all before it, when Winston Churchill made the French government a curious offer.

Extract
The Eagle in the Mirror

Like a lot of people whose lives come to sticky or ignominious ends, Dick Ellis’s time on Earth was ruined by the butterfly effect.