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Best Wishes
Making the world a better, less annoying place one wish at a time.
Do you hate gambling ads, pre-ripped jeans and pedestrians who walk five abreast? Do you also have a problem with plastic-wrapped fruit, climate-change deniers and take-away sandwiches priced at $14. 95? And, most of all, do you think the world would be a better place if people got back their sense of humour? Here's proof you are not alone. Heartfelt and hilarious, serious but sly, Best Wishes is the Encyclopedia of 'Can Do Better'. It's a plea for a better world - one wish at a time.
Do you hate gambling ads, pre-ripped jeans and pedestrians who walk five abreast? Do you also have a problem with plastic-wrapped fruit, climate-change deniers and take-away sandwiches priced at $14. 95? And, most of all, do you think the world would be a better place if people got back their sense of humour? Here's proof you are not alone. Heartfelt and hilarious, serious but sly, Best Wishes is the Encyclopedia of 'Can Do Better'. It's a plea for a better world - one wish at a time.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2023
64 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Richard Glover
94 books111 followersRichard is a newsprint journalist and a Sydney radio broadcaster for the ABC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
February 17, 2024
In Best Wishes, Australian journalist and radio presenter, Richard Glover lists, explains and expands on, his wishes for making the world a better, less annoying place. There are 365 of them, one for each day of the year.
Many of his wishes are quite general such as “1. I wish rich people would pay more tax”, while others are more personal, but will, nonetheless, strike a chord with many readers.
His wishes involve self-service checkouts, management consultants, shrinkflation, trendy kitchen appliances, odd socks, the pleasure of high-pressure hosing, and flat pack furniture. He muses on packaging woes, product placement and kale: “the most recent arrival… Surely, dear future, you can do better.”
Glover wishes for dads, birth and stand-in, to be appreciated, and for the love they are expressing in Fatherlish to be understood. Boating, skiing, golf, skydiving and camping are all examined. The overabundance of choice, travel breaks, use of the pedestrian traffic light button, the demand for apologies, and ringtones all attract comment.
Glover opines on work emails, fast fashion and seasonal availability of clothing, online ordering and product reviews, handwriting, school excursions, swearing, the vagaries of the English language, the nuances involved in speaking Australian, fad words and expressions, increased credit limits, and the scarcity of face-to-face banking.
Many wishes are devoted to advertising: honesty; children targeted; the ubiquitous presence of it. The revival of cassette tapes, technology in general, and smart appliances all get a serve. He touches on our wonderful Australian voting system, packing the car boot, BMI, and gender stereotypes. The pronunciation police and the overuse of perfume come under scrutiny.
Many of Glover’s wishes will have readers nodding their heads, exclaiming “Yes!” and at least one and likely many more will resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds. In the weaknesses he reveals in certain personal wishes some readers will fondly recognise themselves. There’s something here for everyone.
Glover might have included a warning about reading this work in public where chuckles, snickers, mad grins and laughing out loud may draw attention. This especially applies to the pieces on camping, bin night, getting enough sleep, and solar power, pieces which those with continence issues, and those eating or drinking, may want to read with caution. Glover never fails to entertain!
Many of his wishes are quite general such as “1. I wish rich people would pay more tax”, while others are more personal, but will, nonetheless, strike a chord with many readers.
His wishes involve self-service checkouts, management consultants, shrinkflation, trendy kitchen appliances, odd socks, the pleasure of high-pressure hosing, and flat pack furniture. He muses on packaging woes, product placement and kale: “the most recent arrival… Surely, dear future, you can do better.”
Glover wishes for dads, birth and stand-in, to be appreciated, and for the love they are expressing in Fatherlish to be understood. Boating, skiing, golf, skydiving and camping are all examined. The overabundance of choice, travel breaks, use of the pedestrian traffic light button, the demand for apologies, and ringtones all attract comment.
Glover opines on work emails, fast fashion and seasonal availability of clothing, online ordering and product reviews, handwriting, school excursions, swearing, the vagaries of the English language, the nuances involved in speaking Australian, fad words and expressions, increased credit limits, and the scarcity of face-to-face banking.
Many wishes are devoted to advertising: honesty; children targeted; the ubiquitous presence of it. The revival of cassette tapes, technology in general, and smart appliances all get a serve. He touches on our wonderful Australian voting system, packing the car boot, BMI, and gender stereotypes. The pronunciation police and the overuse of perfume come under scrutiny.
Many of Glover’s wishes will have readers nodding their heads, exclaiming “Yes!” and at least one and likely many more will resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds. In the weaknesses he reveals in certain personal wishes some readers will fondly recognise themselves. There’s something here for everyone.
Glover might have included a warning about reading this work in public where chuckles, snickers, mad grins and laughing out loud may draw attention. This especially applies to the pieces on camping, bin night, getting enough sleep, and solar power, pieces which those with continence issues, and those eating or drinking, may want to read with caution. Glover never fails to entertain!
January 22, 2024
Absolutely hilarious- very annoying for those around the reader due to frequent, very frequent chuckling! Loved it 😊
February 17, 2024
In Best Wishes, Australian journalist and radio presenter, Richard Glover lists, explains and expands on, his wishes for making the world a better, less annoying place. There are 365 of them, one for each day of the year.
Many of his wishes are quite general such as “1. I wish rich people would pay more tax”, while others are more personal, but will, nonetheless, strike a chord with many readers.
His wishes involve self-service checkouts, management consultants, shrinkflation, trendy kitchen appliances, odd socks, the pleasure of high-pressure hosing, and flat pack furniture. He muses on packaging woes, product placement and kale: “the most recent arrival… Surely, dear future, you can do better.”
Glover wishes for dads, birth and stand-in, to be appreciated, and for the love they are expressing in Fatherlish to be understood. Boating, skiing, golf, skydiving and camping are all examined. The overabundance of choice, travel breaks, use of the pedestrian traffic light button, the demand for apologies, and ringtones all attract comment.
Glover opines on work emails, fast fashion and seasonal availability of clothing, online ordering and product reviews, handwriting, school excursions, swearing, the vagaries of the English language, the nuances involved in speaking Australian, fad words and expressions, increased credit limits, and the scarcity of face-to-face banking.
Many wishes are devoted to advertising: honesty; children targeted; the ubiquitous presence of it. The revival of cassette tapes, technology in general, and smart appliances all get a serve. He touches on our wonderful Australian voting system, packing the car boot, BMI, and gender stereotypes. The pronunciation police and the overuse of perfume come under scrutiny.
Many of Glover’s wishes will have readers nodding their heads, exclaiming “Yes!” and at least one and likely many more will resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds. In the weaknesses he reveals in certain personal wishes some readers will fondly recognise themselves. There’s something here for everyone.
Glover might have included a warning about reading this work in public where chuckles, snickers, mad grins and laughing out loud may draw attention. This especially applies to the pieces on camping, bin night, getting enough sleep, and solar power, pieces which those with continence issues, and those eating or drinking, may want to read with caution. Glover never fails to entertain!
Many of his wishes are quite general such as “1. I wish rich people would pay more tax”, while others are more personal, but will, nonetheless, strike a chord with many readers.
His wishes involve self-service checkouts, management consultants, shrinkflation, trendy kitchen appliances, odd socks, the pleasure of high-pressure hosing, and flat pack furniture. He muses on packaging woes, product placement and kale: “the most recent arrival… Surely, dear future, you can do better.”
Glover wishes for dads, birth and stand-in, to be appreciated, and for the love they are expressing in Fatherlish to be understood. Boating, skiing, golf, skydiving and camping are all examined. The overabundance of choice, travel breaks, use of the pedestrian traffic light button, the demand for apologies, and ringtones all attract comment.
Glover opines on work emails, fast fashion and seasonal availability of clothing, online ordering and product reviews, handwriting, school excursions, swearing, the vagaries of the English language, the nuances involved in speaking Australian, fad words and expressions, increased credit limits, and the scarcity of face-to-face banking.
Many wishes are devoted to advertising: honesty; children targeted; the ubiquitous presence of it. The revival of cassette tapes, technology in general, and smart appliances all get a serve. He touches on our wonderful Australian voting system, packing the car boot, BMI, and gender stereotypes. The pronunciation police and the overuse of perfume come under scrutiny.
Many of Glover’s wishes will have readers nodding their heads, exclaiming “Yes!” and at least one and likely many more will resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds. In the weaknesses he reveals in certain personal wishes some readers will fondly recognise themselves. There’s something here for everyone.
Glover might have included a warning about reading this work in public where chuckles, snickers, mad grins and laughing out loud may draw attention. This especially applies to the pieces on camping, bin night, getting enough sleep, and solar power, pieces which those with continence issues, and those eating or drinking, may want to read with caution. Glover never fails to entertain!
April 6, 2024
Richard Glover writing what we’re all thinking - wishes in life to remove the little, and big, irritants to us.
Missed the obvious - the ability to remove from society those who still say ATM machine and NBN network. But amusing nonetheless.
Missed the obvious - the ability to remove from society those who still say ATM machine and NBN network. But amusing nonetheless.
September 13, 2024
Great! Very funny. We are like minded in so many ways. Yes Richard I agree... I wish they would ban perfume, the handshake (bring back Covid!), social kissing, ripped jeans made in poor countries and people who use their mobile phones in public. I kept the book by my bedside and dipped into and out of it for light reliesf as I read The Warsaw Orphan. So easy to read. Much laughter. 4 stars.
May 4, 2024
A series of wry observations and wisecracks, delivered with varying degrees of sincerity and seriousness. Take the section on the superiority of tea:
It's the drink offered at moments of life-changing crisis. When there is a death in the family you don't go over and offer to make your aunt a coffee. Or a Kahlua and milk. You don't say 'Your husband of 40 years has died; do you fancy a Carlton Dry?'
No, you say, 'How about I make a pot of tea?' And in that one phrase lies a whole world of consolation and care.
It's the drink offered at moments of life-changing crisis. When there is a death in the family you don't go over and offer to make your aunt a coffee. Or a Kahlua and milk. You don't say 'Your husband of 40 years has died; do you fancy a Carlton Dry?'
No, you say, 'How about I make a pot of tea?' And in that one phrase lies a whole world of consolation and care.
March 10, 2024
This book probably deserves more stars if you read it in small doses. However I got it from the library and so had to read it all at once . I found it a bit much. Although the wishes were entertaining, sometimes heartfelt and definitely on the mark I think you need to read it gradually over a couple of months to fully appreciate it.
February 4, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
This was great! I listened to the audio book read by the author, which only added to the experience. The expression Glover uses in his reading is gold. I laughed repeatedly and had some YES moments where I totally felt those wishes.
I'm looking forward to a re-read.
This was great! I listened to the audio book read by the author, which only added to the experience. The expression Glover uses in his reading is gold. I laughed repeatedly and had some YES moments where I totally felt those wishes.
I'm looking forward to a re-read.
December 18, 2023
Such a pleasure to read a book which is genuinely funny and enjoyable.
June 17, 2024
A fun read, Best Wishes reminded me a lot of Kitty Flanagan’s Rules for Life books but this was a little less cranky and had me laughing out loud in a few spots. A delightful read from someone who seems to be a bit of a national treasure. I largely read this because I saw Richard at this year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week and I found him hilarious, and I’m glad I gave this a go. I’m reading some intense books at the moment and it was nice to be able to dip into something light in between.
March 28, 2024
Richard Glover never disappoints - wise, witty and sometimes wicked. Thoroughly enjoyable!
November 9, 2023
A perfect read for all boomers!
January 30, 2024
Absolutely, hilariously true!!
October 20, 2023
Entertaining collection of musings on life by Richard. Spent much of the book chuckling. Style and humour very like Kitty Flanagan’s rules book.
February 24, 2024
Delightful.
February 17, 2024
Really good craic!
December 4, 2023
Rather like the Rules of life book from a few years back, this title has come out in time for Christmas gift giving. It’s the sort of book you can read snippets aloud to others and have a giggle but much of it was familiar as the ideas were published earlier in newspapers.
November 23, 2023
If you loved Richard Glover's previous works like 'Land Before Avocado" or 'Love, Clancy' or if you enjoyed Kitty Flanagan's '488 Rules for Life' Best Wishes will be the book for you!
Best Wishes are Richard's hopes for the next 365 days. Hopes of change, of reminiscences, or end to little niggling doubts and annoyances. This is a book that will make you think about the little joys in life and what is really important to you and the world.
Having said that I did have moments when I was reading of thinking "Ok, boomer quit complaining" then I had moments of "Yes, totally agree!" quickly followed by "Wait, am I officially old now?!". I would say the target audience is definitely on the 40++ end of the age spectrum.
Best Wishes are Richard's hopes for the next 365 days. Hopes of change, of reminiscences, or end to little niggling doubts and annoyances. This is a book that will make you think about the little joys in life and what is really important to you and the world.
Having said that I did have moments when I was reading of thinking "Ok, boomer quit complaining" then I had moments of "Yes, totally agree!" quickly followed by "Wait, am I officially old now?!". I would say the target audience is definitely on the 40++ end of the age spectrum.
October 26, 2023
Good for a chuckle and a few big yes shouts! If Richard could read it for me, I would Would have given it 5 stars as he was so funny in real life at the author talk in Tamworth last Wednesday!
January 9, 2024
It started very funny and engaging, but it was very repetitive. Definitely an easy light hearted.
December 17, 2025
This book made me nostalgic for the time before I started reading it.
Best Wishes is, unfortunately, a masterclass in self-indulgent navel-gazing dressed up as wisdom. What reads as “wry observations” is mostly a man standing on a soapbox, waving his opinions around and assuming we’re all nodding along in admiration. I wasn’t enlightened; I was trapped. The tone leans heavily into “thoughts everyone has” territory, except these thoughts were very much meant to stay inside someone’s head... or at least inside a private group chat.
The book drifts from mild annoyance into full existential despair, with each anecdote somehow less compelling than the last. When we arrived at the lament about mismatched Tupperware lids, I realised this was not charming relatability, it was the literary equivalent of being cornered by someone at a dinner party who won’t stop talking about their pantry. At that point, I tapped out for self-preservation.
Some books make you reflect on life. This one made me reflect on my reading choices and vow to do better. 📚😑
Best Wishes is, unfortunately, a masterclass in self-indulgent navel-gazing dressed up as wisdom. What reads as “wry observations” is mostly a man standing on a soapbox, waving his opinions around and assuming we’re all nodding along in admiration. I wasn’t enlightened; I was trapped. The tone leans heavily into “thoughts everyone has” territory, except these thoughts were very much meant to stay inside someone’s head... or at least inside a private group chat.
The book drifts from mild annoyance into full existential despair, with each anecdote somehow less compelling than the last. When we arrived at the lament about mismatched Tupperware lids, I realised this was not charming relatability, it was the literary equivalent of being cornered by someone at a dinner party who won’t stop talking about their pantry. At that point, I tapped out for self-preservation.
Some books make you reflect on life. This one made me reflect on my reading choices and vow to do better. 📚😑
December 8, 2023
This is such a relatable read! I had several laugh out loud moments and read these bits to my husband. Richard Glover has a terrific view on life and conveys this through his 365 wishes for things to be different or better than they are. Some are serious, most include some level of common sense and the majority of them are humorous. Wishes like giving medals to Maggie Beer, Rick Stein and Yotam Ottolenghi, never having to go camping again and for councils to provide adult sized playgrounds all seem perfectly reasonable. He wishes the debate about climate change would stop as it’s no longer debatable. There's something for everyone in this book and I'm just going to change my rating from four to five stars as almost everyone I know would also get a lot from this book (regardless of age) and yell out 'yes' every few minutes in total agreement!
January 7, 2024
This book is a list of “wishes” from the author. It’s more of an opinion piece with plenty of nostalgia of the world we grew up in and how not all changes are good. It is made up of 365 wishes (like 365 days a year) points on politics, shopping, technology, and other social fabs. If you enjoyed his other books, or listen to his radio program on ABC, then this book is a summary of everything he’s discussed. It’s started with the obvious points, but delved deeper into certain issues, after one third of the book was with some thought provoking points.
I listened to the audiobook version read by the author. There was plenty of laugher in certain parts - in particular the wishes on retail and fashion. This book will appeal to older Australian but it’s a good guide for younger Australians on what is important in life.
I listened to the audiobook version read by the author. There was plenty of laugher in certain parts - in particular the wishes on retail and fashion. This book will appeal to older Australian but it’s a good guide for younger Australians on what is important in life.
November 26, 2024
Journalist and media presenter Richard Glover presents brief musings on a laundry list of things he wishes were different or better. It’s in the same style as Kitty Flanagan’s entertaining ‘488 Rules of Life’, i.e. very short segments that need to be read in short bursts to appreciate each spray and alleviate the sameness and repetition. I’m a Boomer and Richard is only a couple of years older than me so I could relate to a lot of what he says but I still found this a bit of a “grumpy old Boomer ranting” read. I’m guessing Gen X-Z and Millenials won’t warm to some the generational comparisons and the “life was better when” sentiments. 🎧 Richard narrates the audiobook himself and I found his delivery a little over-acted. I’ve listened to three other books by Richard and enjoyed them a lot more than this one.
December 29, 2023
Best Wishes was a very well written and funny book, showcasing Richard Glover's wishes to make the world (as Glover said) " a better, less annoying place." The book covered a range of topics the world could improve on, including but not limited to: Fair politics, A happy family and A less avaricious corporate Australia.
Best Wishes was another great read from the funny, relatable and 'eternally hopeful' Richard Glover. This deserves a rating of five stars.
Richard Glover
Best Wishes was another great read from the funny, relatable and 'eternally hopeful' Richard Glover. This deserves a rating of five stars.
Richard Glover
February 27, 2024
A humorous look at life's little (and sometimes big) annoyances.
I actually "read" this as an audiobook with Richard reading his own book. I enjoyed it so much I went out and bought myself a copy to amuse myself again in the future.
Making the world a better, less annoying place one wish at a time. Do you hate gambling ads, pre-ripped jeans and pedestrians who walk five abreast? Do you also have a problem with plastic-wrapped fruit, climate-change deniers and take-away sandwiches priced at $14. 95? And, most of all, do you think the world would be a better place if people got back their sense of humour? Here's proof you are not alone. Heartfelt and hilarious, serious but sly, Best Wishes is the Encyclopedia of 'Can Do Better'. It's a plea for a better world - one wish at a time.
I actually "read" this as an audiobook with Richard reading his own book. I enjoyed it so much I went out and bought myself a copy to amuse myself again in the future.
Making the world a better, less annoying place one wish at a time. Do you hate gambling ads, pre-ripped jeans and pedestrians who walk five abreast? Do you also have a problem with plastic-wrapped fruit, climate-change deniers and take-away sandwiches priced at $14. 95? And, most of all, do you think the world would be a better place if people got back their sense of humour? Here's proof you are not alone. Heartfelt and hilarious, serious but sly, Best Wishes is the Encyclopedia of 'Can Do Better'. It's a plea for a better world - one wish at a time.
May 14, 2024
Read by the author and an enjoyable listen. I agreed with his thoughts about socks, and also agreed with many of his other wishes, like this one: "I wish we didn't pay male footballers so much money. We all know the truth; we're doing them no favours." And this: "I wish to forego the free donuts. And the ping-pong table. And the employee-of-the-month certificates. All employees want the same things; a measure of respect, autonomy over what they do, a pay packet that reflects their utility, and some flexibility over the location and timing of their work. Those free donuts? In the absence of everything else, it feels like there's something missing in the middle." Just a couple of examples from the 365 wishes in this book.
March 23, 2024
365 wishes, starting with "I wish rich people would pay more tax" and finishing with "I wish to live a long life". Some wishes are funny, some more serious, lots make good sense. Many provoked interesting discussion with my husband, including 312 "I wish young men could give the macho a rest", included under section 26: Masculinity as a smorgasbord not a straightjacket. Mind you as a someone who grew up in an all female household 317 "I wish I learned how to shave" lead to a question I had not even considered.
I think we all wish the world was a better place, but its nice to consider all the 'what ifs' of Richard's wishes.
I think we all wish the world was a better place, but its nice to consider all the 'what ifs' of Richard's wishes.
December 11, 2023
A gem of a book!
Richard Glover has provided 365 wishes and some of them had me laughing out loud (with the odd snort). A few of my faves:
- a ban on leaf blowers
- that friends could understand the pleasure of high-pressure hosing
- a ban on the sale of pre-ripped jeans
- that we were more questioning about Big Tech
- for the human race to be given back its sense of humour
- that more of the pleasures of childhood were available to adults
- a wish for world peace
A delightful read that will get you thinking while bringing you joy.
Richard Glover has provided 365 wishes and some of them had me laughing out loud (with the odd snort). A few of my faves:
- a ban on leaf blowers
- that friends could understand the pleasure of high-pressure hosing
- a ban on the sale of pre-ripped jeans
- that we were more questioning about Big Tech
- for the human race to be given back its sense of humour
- that more of the pleasures of childhood were available to adults
- a wish for world peace
A delightful read that will get you thinking while bringing you joy.
January 10, 2024
I have an admission to make: I haven't finished this book. But I couldn't review it without saying I had. It was a Christmas present so I persevered and got halfway through it.
Glover has found 365 things that annoy him and has written pieces, varying in length, on how the world would be a better place without them. He's usually right, and he's funny. But it just got repetitive and tiring, that's all. Maybe it's the kind of book you just leave lying around, and pick up from time to time to read a page or two at random.
Glover has found 365 things that annoy him and has written pieces, varying in length, on how the world would be a better place without them. He's usually right, and he's funny. But it just got repetitive and tiring, that's all. Maybe it's the kind of book you just leave lying around, and pick up from time to time to read a page or two at random.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews