Marcia Langton: Welcome to Country 2nd edition: Fully Revised & Expanded, A Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia

by Marcia Langton

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Australia

240 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2023

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who lives in Australia and is not First Nations should read this.

[AFP · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Sash · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference guide / starting point for everyone but just scratches the surface of a wider, more complex landscape/conversation I’m looking to wrap my head around.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Welcome to Country Handbook will be an excellent source for those people such as myself wishing to educate themselves about the past history and the present day lives of the indigneous, First People of Australia.

[Christine Collyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I’ve finished reading this book just doesn’t seem right. It is a book that will remain open, a book that I can go to when I need reminding or clarification, a book that needs to be read, get dog-eared pages, and have paragraphs, words, whole chapters, highlighted. Discussed and shared. Not just sat on a bookshelf or on a pile of TBRs.
Thank you Marcia Langton. Such an illuminating and thoughtful curation which covered so much, so many aspects of Indigenous Australia. This handbook is described on the cover as a Guide. It does that and offers so much more.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really helps my white friends understand. Marcia is an invaluable, irreplaceable Australian.

[Lolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
A look at Australian history, culture, and future, through the eyes of its traditional: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is a broad look at Aboriginal culture, making sure to convey just how diverse, and rich in heritage, it is.

Review:
It is a deep shame that Australians are taught so little of the wonderful cultures that thrived here for 65,000 years before the brutal colonization.
But this book does a beautiful job of introducing the reader to these often overlooked aspects of Australian culture.
As well as dispelling mistruths and shining light on the real truths of our history.

Through this book, you get a broad understanding of many aspects of what it means to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
As well as some really interesting and thought-provoking facts about various aspects of culture within these groups.
And at the end of it, you feel enlightened to a truth often swept under the rug, but also uplifted as Langton paints a future of inclusion and healing (with information on how to be a part of this).

Reading this post The Voice to Parliament outcome, is a bit depressing.
But it's okay - this is just a bump in the road.
Progress can be slow but it is inevitable.

This is a must-read for every Australian.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's writing style is very engaging and informative. I have a few more readings to do to fully understand everything that was covered here. Luckily, she has given a fair few recommendations, which I appreciated.

[Johanna Sunnyhill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone should know about the background of Australias First Nation. Unfortunately this book is not very well written. I could not finish it because the writing style is very messy there is no clear line.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an European who moved to Australia, I'm endlessly grateful for this book. An incredible introduction to Australian history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and current issues faced by Indigenous people. Thank you Marcia.