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Recollections of a Bleeding Heart
10th anniversary edition
784 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
75 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Don Watson
69 books67 followersWatson grew up on a farm in Gippsland, took his undergraduate degree at La Trobe University and a Ph.D at Monash University and was for ten years an academic historian. He wrote three books on Australian history before turning his hand to TV and the stage. For several years he combined writing political satire for the actor Max Gillies with political speeches for the former Premier of Victoria, John Cain.
In 1992 he became Prime Minister Paul Keating's speech-writer and adviser and his best-selling account of those years, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart': Paul Keating Prime Minister, won both the The Age Book of the Year and non-fiction Prizes, the Brisbane Courier Mail Book of the Year, the National Biography Award and the Australian Literary Studies Association's Book of the Year.
In addition to regular books, articles and essays, in recent years he has also written feature films, including The Man Who Sued God, starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis. His 2001 Quarterly Essay Rabbit Syndrome: Australia and America won the inaugural Alfred Deakin Prize in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. Death Sentence, his book about the decay of public language, was also a best seller and won the Australian Booksellers Association Book of the Year. Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words was published in 2004 and continued to encourage readers to renounce what he perceives to be meaningless corporate and government jargon that is spreading throughout Australia and embrace meaningful, precise language. More recently Watson contributed the preface to a selection of Mark Twain's writings, The Wayward Tourist.
His latest book, American Journeys is a narrative of modern America from Watson's travels in the United States following Hurricane Katrina. It was published by Knopf in 2008 and won both the The Age Book of the Year non-fiction and Book of the Year awards.[4]. It also won the 2008 Walkley Award for the best non-fiction book.
In 1992 he became Prime Minister Paul Keating's speech-writer and adviser and his best-selling account of those years, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart': Paul Keating Prime Minister, won both the The Age Book of the Year and non-fiction Prizes, the Brisbane Courier Mail Book of the Year, the National Biography Award and the Australian Literary Studies Association's Book of the Year.
In addition to regular books, articles and essays, in recent years he has also written feature films, including The Man Who Sued God, starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis. His 2001 Quarterly Essay Rabbit Syndrome: Australia and America won the inaugural Alfred Deakin Prize in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. Death Sentence, his book about the decay of public language, was also a best seller and won the Australian Booksellers Association Book of the Year. Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words was published in 2004 and continued to encourage readers to renounce what he perceives to be meaningless corporate and government jargon that is spreading throughout Australia and embrace meaningful, precise language. More recently Watson contributed the preface to a selection of Mark Twain's writings, The Wayward Tourist.
His latest book, American Journeys is a narrative of modern America from Watson's travels in the United States following Hurricane Katrina. It was published by Knopf in 2008 and won both the The Age Book of the Year non-fiction and Book of the Year awards.[4]. It also won the 2008 Walkley Award for the best non-fiction book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 28, 2017
In Australia Paul Keating looms in the political landscape, a prime-ministerial colossus with a wit that could strip paint.
First as treasurer, then as PM from 1991-96 Keating floated the dollar, deregulated the banks, pushed engagement with Asia, and dragged the rusting hulk of the Australian economy into position to become the modern success story (we've had more than twenty-five years without recession) that it is today.
Keating was no identikit politician - he was his own man. He collected rare clocks, listened to Mahler and wore expensive Ermenegildo Zegna suits. From the perspective of today, he wasn’t the toady to fashion and public expectation that contemporary politicians so often try to be. You can't imagine the guy skolling a beer or feigning interest in sport to appeal to the masses. This refusal to play the game by its rules, to be a man of the people, hurt him in the end, and I remember my twelve year old self hearing relatives angrily complain about his arrogance. These relatives and millions of others would get together and throw him from office in 1996.
Watson’s book is a magnificent achievement. He was Keating's speechwriter, and he presents a colleague's view of a complex and and thoughtful leader in all his contradictions. Watson reveals a man who was kind to his friends and his staff, but prone to bouts of depression and sullenness, a man whose marriage was unraveling at the same time as he achieved his dream of becoming Australia's leader.
Watson shows us a man who felt he’d had to wait too long to take the leadership, that he had already carried out his most substantial reforms while he was treasurer, an attitude that left him at times seemingly ungrateful to be Prime Minister. This, and his sometime sullen demeanor made some of his colleagues wonder why he'd fought so hard (and toppled one of Australia's most popular leaders- Bob Hawke) to get the top job.
Keating was one of the most savagely witty parliamentary performers Australia has seen. At full throttle he was a fearsome thing to see, flogging his political opponents without mercy. A quick youtube search brings up videos of his verbal scourging of various Aussie politicians, and sitting opposite him in parliament can't have been enjoyable.
Beyond being a hard-nosed political warrior, Keating pushed big visions for what he thought Australia could be- a part of the then rising Asian economies, a modern, multicultural nation at peace with the truth of it's historical crimes against indigenous people. Keating pushed for change, for Australia to become a republic. Not all of his dreams became reality, but he pushed Australia to at least think about its place in the world, and to shake off some it's old-school anglosphere complacency. Recollections of a Bleeding Heart provides you with a ring-side seat for all of this, showing the ups, the downs, the triumphs and the final defeat of Keating and his labour government.
Watson, being a speechwriter and historian, writes well and thoughtfully, painting a fascinating picture of both a PM and the day to day operations of a his office and the cast of dedicated staff toiling in it. I learned more about the reality of the workings of politics reading this than I did in a year of studying political science at university.
In an era when so many political leaders are either incompetent fools or poll-driven milquetoasts it’s genuinely refreshing to read about a driven, intelligent man who governed effectively, in the main justly, and with the greater benefit of his nation (mostly) in mind.
This is a weighty tome, the sort of book you throw at burglars, but don’t let the size put you off. Recollections of a Bleeding Heart is a fantastic read, and if you have any interest in Australian politics you’ll fly though it.
First as treasurer, then as PM from 1991-96 Keating floated the dollar, deregulated the banks, pushed engagement with Asia, and dragged the rusting hulk of the Australian economy into position to become the modern success story (we've had more than twenty-five years without recession) that it is today.
Keating was no identikit politician - he was his own man. He collected rare clocks, listened to Mahler and wore expensive Ermenegildo Zegna suits. From the perspective of today, he wasn’t the toady to fashion and public expectation that contemporary politicians so often try to be. You can't imagine the guy skolling a beer or feigning interest in sport to appeal to the masses. This refusal to play the game by its rules, to be a man of the people, hurt him in the end, and I remember my twelve year old self hearing relatives angrily complain about his arrogance. These relatives and millions of others would get together and throw him from office in 1996.
Watson’s book is a magnificent achievement. He was Keating's speechwriter, and he presents a colleague's view of a complex and and thoughtful leader in all his contradictions. Watson reveals a man who was kind to his friends and his staff, but prone to bouts of depression and sullenness, a man whose marriage was unraveling at the same time as he achieved his dream of becoming Australia's leader.
Watson shows us a man who felt he’d had to wait too long to take the leadership, that he had already carried out his most substantial reforms while he was treasurer, an attitude that left him at times seemingly ungrateful to be Prime Minister. This, and his sometime sullen demeanor made some of his colleagues wonder why he'd fought so hard (and toppled one of Australia's most popular leaders- Bob Hawke) to get the top job.
Keating was one of the most savagely witty parliamentary performers Australia has seen. At full throttle he was a fearsome thing to see, flogging his political opponents without mercy. A quick youtube search brings up videos of his verbal scourging of various Aussie politicians, and sitting opposite him in parliament can't have been enjoyable.
Beyond being a hard-nosed political warrior, Keating pushed big visions for what he thought Australia could be- a part of the then rising Asian economies, a modern, multicultural nation at peace with the truth of it's historical crimes against indigenous people. Keating pushed for change, for Australia to become a republic. Not all of his dreams became reality, but he pushed Australia to at least think about its place in the world, and to shake off some it's old-school anglosphere complacency. Recollections of a Bleeding Heart provides you with a ring-side seat for all of this, showing the ups, the downs, the triumphs and the final defeat of Keating and his labour government.
Watson, being a speechwriter and historian, writes well and thoughtfully, painting a fascinating picture of both a PM and the day to day operations of a his office and the cast of dedicated staff toiling in it. I learned more about the reality of the workings of politics reading this than I did in a year of studying political science at university.
In an era when so many political leaders are either incompetent fools or poll-driven milquetoasts it’s genuinely refreshing to read about a driven, intelligent man who governed effectively, in the main justly, and with the greater benefit of his nation (mostly) in mind.
This is a weighty tome, the sort of book you throw at burglars, but don’t let the size put you off. Recollections of a Bleeding Heart is a fantastic read, and if you have any interest in Australian politics you’ll fly though it.
May 14, 2014
I've read a hundred or more political memoirs and if this is not at the top of the list it would be pretty close to it. Wonderful stuff.
January 10, 2012
At 746 pages it's a wordy tome. But Don Watson is a speechwriter so it has a nice humourous lilt to it in style.
I did not live through the Keating era but he was clearly a man of unimaginable talent.
This book leaves me a little sorry to have missed it all. I am sure I would have found it a fascinating time.
I did not live through the Keating era but he was clearly a man of unimaginable talent.
This book leaves me a little sorry to have missed it all. I am sure I would have found it a fascinating time.
March 18, 2024
can’t stress how much i adored this. utterly obsessed with the vivid, grotesque metaphors watson uses to describe politicians and politics. this one’s up there in Ulrike‘s Favourite Books Ever.
June 3, 2008
Puts a human face on the hard man and gives an insight into his character.
February 7, 2022
Didn't make me cry like the Hawke biography but still an amazing portrait of Keating
January 13, 2019
A truly compelling read, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart is more akin to a Greek tragedy than a political memoir. While there's plenty of fodder for political boffins, what makes this book special is Watson's character study of Australia's Prime Minister from 1991 - 1996, Paul Keating. Armed with a glut of fly-on-the-wall observations from Keating's inner sanctum, Watson, himself an unashamed bleeding heart, writes with flair, humour and passion to provide rare insight into the mercurial inner workings of Keating and his complicated relationships with his friends, adversaries and the Australian public.
Upon reading this it's easy to appreciate why Keating engaged Watson as a scribe. Waton's recollections are laden with memorable anecdotes and an abundance of disparate allusions - reflecting on the strategy for the 1996 election, Watson laments that Keating "was our Achilles and we had sent him out to fight like Paris" - which make for an incredibly engaging account of the challenges of extended political incumbency. While Watson's admiration for Keating is clear, the author avoids hagiography, and often rues the erratic whims of Keating, along with the difficulties Keating faced changing the way he was perceived by the Australian public. This is apparent in Watson's dissection of Keating dedicating the 93 election win to the 'true believers':
The sound bite should have been humble. Instead, only the opening line was remembered... Later it was hard not to think that just as they were going to put the axe back in the woodheap, the people of Australia heard him say on the television, "This is a victory for the true believers", and they decided to leave it at the back door ready for next time.
Despite the considerable size of the book not a page is surplus, and i found myself not wanting it to end as i drew closer to the climax of the 1996 election and Keating's axing. Watson's recount is fascinating to read decades on from that election in light of Australia's current political malaise, presenting the possibilities that Australia spurned with the 1996 election whilst acknowledging Keating's own complicitness in being vanquished by his bitter foe John Howard. It is hard to avoid contrasting the brilliant but often self-sabotaging Keating, a man of principle, to the meek populists dominating the barren political landscapes of Australia decades later. Recollections is a black-box recording of Keating's unfinished symphony for the country Australia could have been, and still has the potential to become.
Upon reading this it's easy to appreciate why Keating engaged Watson as a scribe. Waton's recollections are laden with memorable anecdotes and an abundance of disparate allusions - reflecting on the strategy for the 1996 election, Watson laments that Keating "was our Achilles and we had sent him out to fight like Paris" - which make for an incredibly engaging account of the challenges of extended political incumbency. While Watson's admiration for Keating is clear, the author avoids hagiography, and often rues the erratic whims of Keating, along with the difficulties Keating faced changing the way he was perceived by the Australian public. This is apparent in Watson's dissection of Keating dedicating the 93 election win to the 'true believers':
The sound bite should have been humble. Instead, only the opening line was remembered... Later it was hard not to think that just as they were going to put the axe back in the woodheap, the people of Australia heard him say on the television, "This is a victory for the true believers", and they decided to leave it at the back door ready for next time.
Despite the considerable size of the book not a page is surplus, and i found myself not wanting it to end as i drew closer to the climax of the 1996 election and Keating's axing. Watson's recount is fascinating to read decades on from that election in light of Australia's current political malaise, presenting the possibilities that Australia spurned with the 1996 election whilst acknowledging Keating's own complicitness in being vanquished by his bitter foe John Howard. It is hard to avoid contrasting the brilliant but often self-sabotaging Keating, a man of principle, to the meek populists dominating the barren political landscapes of Australia decades later. Recollections is a black-box recording of Keating's unfinished symphony for the country Australia could have been, and still has the potential to become.
November 12, 2014
A portrait both affectionate and sharp, of Paul Keating, Australia's Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, beautifully written and constructed by his 'bleeding heart' speechwriter. For all his faults, Keating was a remarkable polemicist and his panache, once he had got to grips with a concept, was extraordinary. Best example: turning John Hewson's budget reply charge that Keating would "pull everyone down to the lowest denominator" into the lethal response: "John Hewson says, 'if you reach back for them, they will drag you down.'"
July 2, 2012
This weighty tome focuses a little too much (for my liking) on Don Watson's POV as the writer, which tends to over-qualify rather a few points (though who can blame him given the reputation for hyperbolic vitriol that PJK has?).
None-the-less - it's a fine political biography, providing an authentic insight into the flawed and colourful character of arguably the greatest strategic political visionary this country has yet produced.
Should be required reading in the Australian curriculum.
None-the-less - it's a fine political biography, providing an authentic insight into the flawed and colourful character of arguably the greatest strategic political visionary this country has yet produced.
Should be required reading in the Australian curriculum.
August 27, 2012
The last great man in Australian Politics. A must read for all those who yearn for leadership again at our highest levels of government.
December 22, 2024
I did it 🤩
June 23, 2025
From one of my favourite writers, a tour de force on his time as speechwriter et al in Keating government 1993 -1996. A wonderful evocation of the life in the bubble of the PMO. Oh for a big picture leader such as Keating in today’s low rent politics. I’m now a fully fledged bleeding heart.
January 7, 2015
Paul Keating is a kind, charming and very intelligent man who would risk his own life to save yours or to get an unwanted crease out of his trousers.
A compelling look from the inside during Paul Keating's time as Prime Minister as told by his speechwriter Don Watson.
Beginning from when Keating took the leadership from Bob Hawke, tracking the 1993 election and its success, and the ups and downs of holding Australia's highest office - 'Recollections of a Bleeding Heart' is difficult to put down.
Deep in Keating's mind resided a belief that the worst things happen not because of what the villains do, but what the non-villains fail to do to stop them.
Touching on his Catholic beliefs and his ideallic view of the Australian nation, this book describes: Keating's fight for a republic in Australia; his good relationship with the Indonesian leaders; his construction and build of APEC and his persuasion to Bill Clinton to join; his struggles with the media and his own portrayal as 'aloof' and 'unreachable' and his way of taking down the opposition, wrecking Hewson and Downer and finding a block with Howard.
>
...the British tabloids said Australia was Pom-bashing again. Bashing was the wrong word. We were only trying to ignore them.
Watson delves into Keating's moods, his true beliefs, his thoughts of his opponents and colleagues and his oft use of the word 'mate'.
Political leaders reach a point where even to see the other's point of view as credible, much less concede its worth, threatens their very existence.
This book is also absolutely chock-full of pearlers when it comes to quotes, Keating's way of words in Question Time and in the Press Club cannot be emulated by any leader since. A really ripper read and highly recommended to any True Believer.
A compelling look from the inside during Paul Keating's time as Prime Minister as told by his speechwriter Don Watson.
Beginning from when Keating took the leadership from Bob Hawke, tracking the 1993 election and its success, and the ups and downs of holding Australia's highest office - 'Recollections of a Bleeding Heart' is difficult to put down.
Deep in Keating's mind resided a belief that the worst things happen not because of what the villains do, but what the non-villains fail to do to stop them.
Touching on his Catholic beliefs and his ideallic view of the Australian nation, this book describes: Keating's fight for a republic in Australia; his good relationship with the Indonesian leaders; his construction and build of APEC and his persuasion to Bill Clinton to join; his struggles with the media and his own portrayal as 'aloof' and 'unreachable' and his way of taking down the opposition, wrecking Hewson and Downer and finding a block with Howard.
>
...the British tabloids said Australia was Pom-bashing again. Bashing was the wrong word. We were only trying to ignore them.
Watson delves into Keating's moods, his true beliefs, his thoughts of his opponents and colleagues and his oft use of the word 'mate'.
Political leaders reach a point where even to see the other's point of view as credible, much less concede its worth, threatens their very existence.
This book is also absolutely chock-full of pearlers when it comes to quotes, Keating's way of words in Question Time and in the Press Club cannot be emulated by any leader since. A really ripper read and highly recommended to any True Believer.
April 15, 2015
A well written unauthorized biography by Keating's speech writer.
I am an Australian.
I guess it depends on your politics. I am a floating voter, but I will read anything about Keating. Love him or hate him, he is a very talented self taught man who became a federal politician at just 25 years of age.
He introduced or was heavily involved in the floating of the Australian dollar, Native Title Act., the formation of APEC.
It was a brave but usually foolish person who debated a subject with Keating.
I am an Australian.
I guess it depends on your politics. I am a floating voter, but I will read anything about Keating. Love him or hate him, he is a very talented self taught man who became a federal politician at just 25 years of age.
He introduced or was heavily involved in the floating of the Australian dollar, Native Title Act., the formation of APEC.
It was a brave but usually foolish person who debated a subject with Keating.
July 31, 2014
Breathtaking.
If you like Paul Keating….
A biography written by a man very close to “The Man” that leaves you with a deep melancholy. It gives a dizzying insight into what might have been had the “Kirribilli Pact” been executed. An insight into a Political Warrior wearily summoning the energy to rail against the dying light. And despite his Napoleonic tendencies towards the end…….
I miss him. (Did you know his Cabinet colleagues christened him Captain Wacky??)
If you like Paul Keating….
A biography written by a man very close to “The Man” that leaves you with a deep melancholy. It gives a dizzying insight into what might have been had the “Kirribilli Pact” been executed. An insight into a Political Warrior wearily summoning the energy to rail against the dying light. And despite his Napoleonic tendencies towards the end…….
I miss him. (Did you know his Cabinet colleagues christened him Captain Wacky??)
Currently reading
May 17, 2012I think I have a massive crush on Paul Keating so I wish it was more about Paul and less about Don. I think I really want to be reading his speeches. However there are some great political insights and some clanger quotes. Just need time to finish this door stop.
July 19, 2013
Absolutely outstanding. Captures the period and the man incredibly well. Genuine depth. It is a shame that modern politics lacks a Keating like figure. This is a 'must read' for anyone interested in Australian politics.
July 8, 2024
I was given this for my 40th birthday in 2002 and whilst I professed heartfelt thanks, I immediately parked it on the bookshelf.
The question is, does a book age well? I suspect if I had read it at the time I would have given this 4 or 5 stars. My main issue with it is that it certainly relies on the reader having knowledge of the period and all the players.
It is amazing how certain facts are recalled though. My recollection is that one of the turning points of the 93 campaign was Hewson's disasterous interview on A Current Affair and how much would a birthday cake cost with GST. Watson gives this two lines and doesn't think it was significant. Go figure, as I would bet most people my age would disagree.
For political nerds only, but for a greater sense of the man I think I will turn to Kerry O'Brien's 2015 biography.
The question is, does a book age well? I suspect if I had read it at the time I would have given this 4 or 5 stars. My main issue with it is that it certainly relies on the reader having knowledge of the period and all the players.
It is amazing how certain facts are recalled though. My recollection is that one of the turning points of the 93 campaign was Hewson's disasterous interview on A Current Affair and how much would a birthday cake cost with GST. Watson gives this two lines and doesn't think it was significant. Go figure, as I would bet most people my age would disagree.
For political nerds only, but for a greater sense of the man I think I will turn to Kerry O'Brien's 2015 biography.
May 14, 2022
Keating was a great labor leader. I was so excited to read a book about his time in government, and to find it was over 700 pages made me really want to read this book. Unfortunately this book is far too long. It needed an editor to cut at least 400 pages of the book. The author goes on and on and on without ever considering that the information in the book is irrelevant. The author focuses on such minor issues, Keatings wife not curtsying the queen???? Keating have the correct take about Australia should be a republic??? This book is such a waste of time, yes the author is a die hard conservative but these issues suck. Please don’t waste your time reading this you won’t get much out of understanding Keating or his policies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
There’s not much I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said, it’s absolutely brilliant and probably one of the best books i’ve ever read.
Rightfully, Keating is remembered for his economic reforms. Maybe this makes me a bleeding heart, but it is Keating’s ‘big-picture’ vision which draws me to him. Keating’s commitment to the Native Title Act in the face of relentless opposition, the vision for Australia to find security “in Asia, not from Asia”, and the dream of Australia being a modern multicultural republic are all things I admire.
I’m grateful for Don Watson to give this amazing insight to this period - it really is a ‘portrait’ of Paul Keating as the title suggests.
Rightfully, Keating is remembered for his economic reforms. Maybe this makes me a bleeding heart, but it is Keating’s ‘big-picture’ vision which draws me to him. Keating’s commitment to the Native Title Act in the face of relentless opposition, the vision for Australia to find security “in Asia, not from Asia”, and the dream of Australia being a modern multicultural republic are all things I admire.
I’m grateful for Don Watson to give this amazing insight to this period - it really is a ‘portrait’ of Paul Keating as the title suggests.
March 26, 2019
As with all of Watson's books the lack of an editor means that the book is 400 pages too long.
However, leave the book aside; wouldn't Australia be a far better country if Keating had seen off Howard in '96?
However, leave the book aside; wouldn't Australia be a far better country if Keating had seen off Howard in '96?
February 18, 2024
I love this book. I read it about 10 years ago, but found it hard going and skimmed bits of it. I really leant into this time and got into the rhythm of it - very detailed, but with the flavour & colour of a great writer. Really enjoyed it and felt so many lessons from the time apply equally now.
December 17, 2018
Boring but informative on the decay of Australia.
November 2, 2019
A masterful and compelling account of politics at its’ highest level. I struggle to think of a better political biography.
July 31, 2020
Don Watson is a beautiful writer. His lexicon is outstanding. At times it makes the book challenging to digest but the narrative is outstanding and the recount of the Keating years is fantastic.
October 26, 2025
best biography / recollection I've read yet
November 7, 2014
I'm finding it better to read out aloud as if to another person savoring the words and the ideas he expresses. Perhaps it is because Don Watson was a speechwriter during the period he is writing about.
... Two years on and I've yet to finish it. I keep losing my place, but it doesn't seem to matter. The way it is written with not clear compartmentalising of it timewise lends it to being opened at any page and read until the Train or bus you're on arrives at its destination.
... Two years on and I've yet to finish it. I keep losing my place, but it doesn't seem to matter. The way it is written with not clear compartmentalising of it timewise lends it to being opened at any page and read until the Train or bus you're on arrives at its destination.
October 14, 2012
Frustrating the way politics are played and the media with all their little games. I did sometimes feel that Watson put a little too much emphasis on himself and his sway in government, but I suppose this makes sense after years of writing the speeches and remaining behind the scenes. Still, great read with fascinating insights.
March 2, 2019
Watson's lucid prose kept me closely engaged in this long rewarding read and, as he confesses, he is the bleeding heart of the title, his observations of Australian politics are even more fascinating because they are so personal. His triumph as a writer is to combine the personal and the political to give unique insight into the dramas of that period.
July 5, 2015
finally finished
pretty dry stuff and sometimes borders on uninteresting but mostly interesting to read an insider's account that doesn't withhold too little, reveal too much or trashtalk all others involved.
pretty dry stuff and sometimes borders on uninteresting but mostly interesting to read an insider's account that doesn't withhold too little, reveal too much or trashtalk all others involved.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews