Life As We Knew It: the extraordinary story of Australia’s pandemic

by Aisha Dow, Melissa Cunningham

The gripping inside account of Australia’s extraordinary pandemic story. It was never part of the plan that Australia would be locked down and shut off from the world for two years. But when the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020, and the bodies began piling up overseas, Australians took unprecedented steps to avoid a catastrophe heading their way. The country’s near-elimination of the deadly virus in the first phase of the pandemic saw it avoid tens of thousands of deaths. But not all Australians were sheltered from disaster, and the strategy came with heavy costs. Many said goodbye to life as they knew it. With unmatched access to Australia’s top politicians and pandemic officials, Life As We Knew It is a gripping investigation into the nation’s Covid-19 response and its incredible untold human stories. It delves into the worst days of the pandemic and its terrible disasters. But it also shows Australians at their best, the weird and the wonderful, and a public spirit of collectivism over individualism that set the country apart. The authors travel across the nation shedding new light on the disruptive outbreaks that plunged Victoria and New South Wales into lockdowns. Based on more than 150 interviews, it also examines the unique experience of Australia’s Covid-zero Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory — places where it sometimes felt like the pandemic didn’t exist. Many of the most significant moments in Australia’s pandemic happened behind closed doors. Life As We Knew It unlocks the doors and looks inside.

Genres: Nonfiction

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Claire Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fair treatment of the pandemic response in Australia - the mistakes made, difficult decisions and the human toll. It was interesting hearing stories from people we didn't hear from at the time (like morticians), kind of funny remembering things I'd forgotten (like the toilet paper wars) and also at times heartbreaking and anxiety-inducing.
Perhaps the worst of those is the recap at the end of the lessons we've failed to learn and the realisation that increasing global conflict means global cooperation on things like pandemic preparation, prevention and disease monitoring feels further away now than it did in 2019.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite finished… I had to return it to the library. Worth reading.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Incredibly engaging and well written book.

[Beau Frigault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful look back at how the pandemic unfolded in Australia, including interviews with the politicians and health professionals who made critical decisions about how it was handled, as well as every day Australians who were impacted by those decisions. Really enjoyed it.

[Mr Harry J Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

very readable account of Australia’s pandemic experience

easy, engaging read. pretty thorough account of Australia’s pandemic experience, based on interviews with many of the decision makers at the State and Commonwealth level, as well as in academia. the discussion focuses more on the health and social impacts than the economic consequences of lockdowns and border controls. and perhaps it captures more of the State-level or National Cabinet action than Commonwealth decision making. but these are minor quibbles. if you’re interested in getting a thorough overview of the pandemic in Australia, this is a great account.

[Henrietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging and impeccably researched book tells the story of Australia's unique response to the pandemic. The authors have gained the trust of some of the country's most senior politicians, scientists and everyday people to make sense of the weird, extraordinary and often harrowing years that we collectively experienced. I found this a cathartic and illuminating read and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn from the pandemic and reflect on what we did well, and not so well. A must-read book: my favourite non-fiction book for 2023.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really insightful book about the Covid pandemic in Australia. So many back stories from politicians, epidemiologists, hospital staff but also every day Australians at checkouts, in nursing homes, schools, sport commentators and those at the front line of Australia’s Covid response.
It really holds the reader and encourages much reflection on what we did well, could have done better and how to prepare for the next pandemic which seems inevitable.

[Alastair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely the most comprehensive book written on the pandemic with unmatched access to the prime minister, premiers, scientists and everyday people. If you lived through the pandemic you will relate to this book. It covers the highs and lows, every state, the disasters and the triumphs. Pacy and easy to read.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived through it, I was impressed with this book. It was detailed, but very readable. It gave context and insights to so much that we experienced here in Australia. The human element, through interviews, especially well handled, Highly recommend.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing and informative.

[Jayne Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Covered the pandemic from all sorts of angles. Too many flash backs for comfort, from a Victorian nurse, with children doing VCE, and elderly parents dying during this time.

[Suzanne Paschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a readable book. Didn't feel pretentious at all, didn't feel like I was being talked down to as a reader with no knowledge about Covid19. I really appreciated how much it just showed how human the politicians, medical personnel etc all were and how many hours they put in and the effects it had on their families that I as a member of the public either never really considered, or if I did, never really saw.
The one thing that I do want to point out, and this is not so specifically in regards to the book itself, but was raised several times over by various people throughout the text was that schools should have been the last to close and the first to reopen. Sounds great in theory. I much prefer to have my students in the classroom learning than attempting to learn online at home. But when over half the staff are out sick or in quarantine themselves...it just wasn't that simple.