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The Making Of Julia Gillard: Prime Minister
Julia Gillard is an exceptional Australian political figure. The first woman to be deputy prime minister, and tipped by many to get the top job in the future, she is admired on both sides of politics as well as by the public. She is not loved by everybody. Her career has been marked by pitched battles with jealous rivals and powerful factions. To conservatives she is still 'red Julia'; to some on the Left she is still a politician too willing to compromise. She is widely perceived to be ambitious, and yet does she want to be prime minister? The Making of Julia Gillard tells Gillard's remarkable story, including her Adelaide childhood, her time as a fiery student activist, her battles to get into Parliament and her relationships with the important men in her political Simon Crean, Kim Beazley, Mark Latham and Kevin Rudd. In this immensely readable book, acclaimed biographer Jacqueline Kent draws on interviews with Gillard's friends and foes - and with Gillard herself - to reveal just how adversarial her environment has been and how she has thrived.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 3, 2012
Pity it didn't include the last two years! Such an amazing woman, definitely a hero of mine, and very well written. At times a bi slow, especially when discussing the workings on factions and union influence in the Labor party, but I learned a lot!
January 28, 2025
Julia Gillard is an inspiration and this book gives you an insight into her life, her personality and her motivation. It was a little heavy going with lots of names, dates and specific details. The book does not cover anything past her position as deputy prime minister which was disappointing (I didn’t check the dates). Overall, I enjoyed learning about Julia Gillard and the Australian Labor Party.
February 23, 2020
Don't know if there was a word limit set on this, but it did seem like it could and should have covered more, in more depth. This edition is up to JG as Deputy PM and there's a lot more to be said after this period. Easy reading style, and it does cover the biographical basics. I think even the author would admit Julia remains a private person.
5 stars for Julia! (3 for the book)
5 stars for Julia! (3 for the book)
December 5, 2010
It was surprisingly very easy read. This topic (politics) is not something I would regularly read but I picked this up for a reading challenge and am quite happy that I read and now has a little bit more understanding of politics. Politics for me is really a concept so abstract that I just could not grasp.
This book shares with the reader of Julia Gillard (currently Prime Minister of Australia) and her past. When the book was published, Julia Gillard was deputy Prime Minister to Kevin Rudd so it didn't include the power struggle not long after that.
Julia was an immigrant herself. She and her family came to Australia from Wales in search of a better life (which include warmer weather for Julia as she was a little bit sickly). Her parents worked very hard to ensure their children's future are given the best of opportunities. The book continued on with her schooling, her student politics days, her legal professional days at Gordon & Slater, all the way to the day she became deputy Prime Minister.
There are a few issues on which the book itself did not delve into. Some scandals which were previously attached to Julia on her journey to become who she is now. Julia herself were previously 'silent' on these issues as they came up so I guess this continued to be her preference. It doesn't really bother me as I supposed, one does what one does at one time either due to stupidity / naivety / one's beliefs at the time and one can / will change in time. Besides I don't think they were very big issues and Gillard did well in not dwelling on them so much so they do not blow up at all.
This book shares with the reader of Julia Gillard (currently Prime Minister of Australia) and her past. When the book was published, Julia Gillard was deputy Prime Minister to Kevin Rudd so it didn't include the power struggle not long after that.
Julia was an immigrant herself. She and her family came to Australia from Wales in search of a better life (which include warmer weather for Julia as she was a little bit sickly). Her parents worked very hard to ensure their children's future are given the best of opportunities. The book continued on with her schooling, her student politics days, her legal professional days at Gordon & Slater, all the way to the day she became deputy Prime Minister.
There are a few issues on which the book itself did not delve into. Some scandals which were previously attached to Julia on her journey to become who she is now. Julia herself were previously 'silent' on these issues as they came up so I guess this continued to be her preference. It doesn't really bother me as I supposed, one does what one does at one time either due to stupidity / naivety / one's beliefs at the time and one can / will change in time. Besides I don't think they were very big issues and Gillard did well in not dwelling on them so much so they do not blow up at all.
January 31, 2010
I do like the occasional political biography, particularly when the subject matter is somebody that is admirable or interesting - regardless of your political persuasion. As far as I'm concerned, regardless of your political persuasion, Julia Gillard's rise to Deputy Prime Minister in Australia - the first woman to take that position (why it has to have taken that long ... well that's another subject), is worthy of at the very least understanding.
A good biography has to tell something about the subject - and give the reader some insight into their life, their achievements, as well as provide some indication of the elements that make that person up, make them do whatever it is that they do, achieve whatever it is that they achieve.
THE MAKING OF JULIA GILLARD is a book that sheds light on Julia Gillard the person - whether or not that is because her personal persona is somewhat lower profile than other politicians, or whether I just haven't been paying attention. There is insight into her background, the thinking that formed her attitudes and perceptions, the way that she has chosen and continues to choose to lead both her life and her politics.
I really enjoyed this book. Learnt something about the person, learnt something about the process. Learnt a lot about the political system.
A good biography has to tell something about the subject - and give the reader some insight into their life, their achievements, as well as provide some indication of the elements that make that person up, make them do whatever it is that they do, achieve whatever it is that they achieve.
THE MAKING OF JULIA GILLARD is a book that sheds light on Julia Gillard the person - whether or not that is because her personal persona is somewhat lower profile than other politicians, or whether I just haven't been paying attention. There is insight into her background, the thinking that formed her attitudes and perceptions, the way that she has chosen and continues to choose to lead both her life and her politics.
I really enjoyed this book. Learnt something about the person, learnt something about the process. Learnt a lot about the political system.
March 28, 2010
While the subject is a fascinating woman this book didn't do her justice. If I wasn't so interested in reading more about Ms Gillard I would have given up after the introduction, which was disjointed and poorly written.
The book as a whole improved the more I read, but it still felt too light on. It didn't really engage with Gillard's beliefs that driver her politically, other than her desire for good education, fir example, what it meant to Gillard to be involved in a socialist faction of the Labor Party.
Overall, an interesting read, but poorly written and with the depth of a Woman's Day article more than a serious political biography.
The book as a whole improved the more I read, but it still felt too light on. It didn't really engage with Gillard's beliefs that driver her politically, other than her desire for good education, fir example, what it meant to Gillard to be involved in a socialist faction of the Labor Party.
Overall, an interesting read, but poorly written and with the depth of a Woman's Day article more than a serious political biography.
December 19, 2010
This edition was written before Julia Gillard became PM (a new edition was released within the past couple of months).
Author Jacqueline Kent has worked as a radio journalist and broadcaster and has written two other biographies. Both of these come together to create the book's readable style.
The book tells a story, rather than analyzing things in-depth. This is not a flaw, only my preference would have been for more of the latter.
It would certainly appeal to your everyday reader who wants to learn the background of the woman who was to make Australian political history.
Author Jacqueline Kent has worked as a radio journalist and broadcaster and has written two other biographies. Both of these come together to create the book's readable style.
The book tells a story, rather than analyzing things in-depth. This is not a flaw, only my preference would have been for more of the latter.
It would certainly appeal to your everyday reader who wants to learn the background of the woman who was to make Australian political history.
November 16, 2015
Though not negatively written, this easy reading biography is a very poor portrait of Gillard.
A person with little knowledge of Australian politics would have difficulty in appreciating the era if this account was the sole guide.
After the stability of the Hawke and Keating leadership, the Australian Labor Party suffered many years of poor performance against the Howard Liberal Party, followed by a poor effort when it did regain office. Then came Gillard, who went on to be the country's first female prime minister, but, in a hung parliament.
A person with little knowledge of Australian politics would have difficulty in appreciating the era if this account was the sole guide.
After the stability of the Hawke and Keating leadership, the Australian Labor Party suffered many years of poor performance against the Howard Liberal Party, followed by a poor effort when it did regain office. Then came Gillard, who went on to be the country's first female prime minister, but, in a hung parliament.
August 23, 2010
Finished this a few days before the election. An interesting read in the end. Was glad I bothered as I learnt quite alot about politics - it would seem that for the entire time Howard was in, I actively turned off the news or turned the page whenever his ugly mug appeared.
August 29, 2011
I started reading this book last term and a little bit through the holidays but as much as i tried to get into it i found it quite boring and not the kind of book that i was really wanting to read.
i am yet to find an alternate non-fiction book to read instead
i am yet to find an alternate non-fiction book to read instead
December 4, 2014
Simplily written but an easy read. While it interesting to find out more about Julia Gillard's life, I didn't learn anything that I couldn't find out on the internet; my attitudes weren't shifted in any way. It kinda reads like a bible for any future political ALP hack or apparatchik.
August 23, 2010
A mildly interesting look into JG's background, particularly uni politics and work in law.
January 5, 2011
Unfortunately dated now as it does not cover her accession to the role of Prime Minister. Good background, but clearly a friendly biography. Her private life stays private. Readable.
May 23, 2011
Read the updated edition since she has become PM. Most interesting parts regarding her university and union days.
May 11, 2013
I found this quite interesting, politics isn't something I am strongly involved in, and I didn't really have much idea about Julia's past before coming into power. A good insight.
September 23, 2013
An interesting read with an insight as to how Ms Gillard approached her early political career.
January 3, 2017
An interesting biography of Australia’s first female PM
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews