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No Silly Questions: The Daily Aus explains how the world works
Understand the news stories that matter. Be part of the important conversations. And feel confident – whether you’ re walking into a date, a work event or a voting booth. From the creators of the phenomenally successful news service The Daily Aus comes your ultimate playbook for how the world works. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the news cycle and a bit lost without the background to everything that’ s going on? You care what’ s happening in the world – but you can’ t help feeling you missed the part where the key stuff got explained. What’ s a budget deficit? How does voting actually work? What’ s the deal with the UN? And what does net zero mean again? Thankfully, No Silly Questions is here to lay out the facts and principles behind the day’ s headlines. Zara Seidler and Sam Koslowski, creators of The Daily Aus – Australia’ s leading social-first news service – are like your super well-informed mates who you can rely on to quickly bring you up to speed.
304 pages, Paperback
Published January 5, 2024
52 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 5, 2023
Love TDA updates on Insta.
This book is a super introduction for those unfamiliar with certain topics..
This book is a super introduction for those unfamiliar with certain topics..
October 17, 2023
As someone not from Australia, I really enjoyed the simplicity of this book and how all the information was broken down - not just in words, but in infographics as well!
Borrowed from the library, but will certainly be heading out to purchase a copy.
Borrowed from the library, but will certainly be heading out to purchase a copy.
Want to read
July 11, 2023I am so keen for this!
I am the BIGGEST TDA fan. I read their emails out to my students every day.
I am the BIGGEST TDA fan. I read their emails out to my students every day.
October 23, 2025
Informative, bite sized accessible pieces of info. Media literacy is important 🤓🤘🏻
February 3, 2025
4.5 rounded up
This should be required reading for highschool and uni media/digital studies students.
This is accessible and digestible and the writers do their very best to be unbiased but fun. This isn't high end knowledge but an excellent foundational base.
Did I already know the things they discussed? Yes. But did they also manage to teach me something? Also yes.
Well done to the authors, especially as the narrators in the audio book version too.
This should be required reading for highschool and uni media/digital studies students.
This is accessible and digestible and the writers do their very best to be unbiased but fun. This isn't high end knowledge but an excellent foundational base.
Did I already know the things they discussed? Yes. But did they also manage to teach me something? Also yes.
Well done to the authors, especially as the narrators in the audio book version too.
October 1, 2024
This book exemplifies everything l stand for in promoting media literacy and accessibility.
Whilst I wonder how it’ll age in years to come, it is so refreshing to read a book that is helping Australians understand so many of the key issues impacting the world.
Whilst I wonder how it’ll age in years to come, it is so refreshing to read a book that is helping Australians understand so many of the key issues impacting the world.
December 25, 2023
if you’ve ever felt a little silly or awkward in important discussions, actually look no further, i finished this book in 3 days and i could not put it down.
so easy to read, such relevant information, interesting graphics and stats. i feel like i literally know everything!
so easy to read, such relevant information, interesting graphics and stats. i feel like i literally know everything!
August 5, 2024
Really informative and accessible breakdown of important news, history, politics and everything in between. Just deducting 1 star for the audiobook format that didn’t suit this style of book and made it a tad difficult to follow at times.
February 24, 2024
So simple. So helpful.
July 15, 2024
HELLO everyone must read/listen to this book! Thank you
June 17, 2024
Great book to keep politics/issues simple, but also give different perspectives on current issues impacting the globe. Useful for people who want to be informed citizens.
January 13, 2024
As a zillennial, reading the news takes such a mental toll. I’ve been following TDA for forever and when they announced they were releasing a book, I knew I had to read it. This book helped me understand so much from how the economy worked to what a blockchain was.
Usually books like this bore me till I’m asleep BUT I couldn’t put it down!! Read the whole thing front to back within a whole day and I’m more educated and informed about what’s going on in Australia and the world around me.
Highly rate this book. Something every young person should pick up!!
Usually books like this bore me till I’m asleep BUT I couldn’t put it down!! Read the whole thing front to back within a whole day and I’m more educated and informed about what’s going on in Australia and the world around me.
Highly rate this book. Something every young person should pick up!!
September 16, 2023
not only was this written superbly, this was broken down into simple facts for everyone to understand. loved the infographics. i have not learnt this much since uni and i loved every minute of it.
September 28, 2024
Everyday topics that are sometimes hard to wrap your head around - politics, economics - laid out in simple terms. Clever and helpful
February 10, 2024
Super general: great for those new to the country & its history + political & news landscape. Love TDA but this felt like middle school revision for me 3📰
October 5, 2023
I wasn't the audience for this, so probably a bit harsh as it is directed at younger people wanting to learn the basics. They attempted to be unbiased but I could still sense a fair bit regarding certain news topics such as climate change.
February 2, 2024
I am probably a bit old to be the target market for this book but it genuinely did remind me of some things I have forgotten over the years.
I treated the book as a bit of a refresher and in that regard I think it is great.
I treated the book as a bit of a refresher and in that regard I think it is great.
October 3, 2023
Really great read - mandatory reading for teens and early 20s.
November 14, 2023
Does it exactly what it sets out to do, which prob should give it more stars, but I’m already a genius and knew 98% of it, but would be great for people not as incredible as me.
January 28, 2024
Read in one sitting. This book feels like a nice shot of an antidote to the hellfire newscape.
I follow TDA on Instagram and I thought this book might reinspire me, as I definitely feel news fatigue.
This is the kind of book I read when I was in my final year of school. Seriously it's ridiculous how little I was taught about tax and GDP etc.
It's such an easy read that totally engaged my ADHD brain. Like the infographics, the concise explanations and the chop and change of topics just worked so well for me.
Yes it is a bit basic but I think a lot of people would be surprised that the basic terms we loosely know we actually don't know them intimately. News + politics especially assumes the reader already has background knowledge but this isn't the case.
TAKEAWAYS:
- On compulsory voting: they talk about how the US where it isn't compulsory spend millions, if not BILLIONS on every election campaign just trying to convince people to vote. What an absolute waste of money IMO. It's also explained that by having non-compulsory voting systems the politicians don't have to appeal to more broad views they can be more extreme. This helped me understand Trump more etc.
- Let's just rehighlight this: Australia is the only commonwealth country that does not have a treaty with its First Nations peoples.
- I didn't know that inside political parties there are 'factions' like I knew people within it didn't all agree on the same stuff, but I had no idea there was a concrete and well-known term, and that its very much a thing. It was interesting to learn about how factions bargain over policies with each other. Like hold up, there's kinda a parliament within the parliament?
- Loved this bit on quotas (talking about diversity quotas in parliament) People argue against quotas because they believe jobs should be based on merit, well how's this sick burn?!
"Proponents of quotas say that as it stands, people aren't getting jobs based on merit anyway. If they were, there would be more women and minority groups in top jobs.
- GDP does not tell us how a countries resources are distributed, so its just one number.
- I learned much about inflation, recessions and how governments and banks orchestrate this. The most common tool to fight inflation is the central bank's interest rates. e.g if RBA increases interest rates it charges banks, banks then increase rates for customers. this means borrowing money is now more expensive for everyone, people then borrow less, they have less to spend, therefore less demand to push up inflation.
- I also enjoyed finally understanding the ways big companies get away with paying less taxes. I had no idea that you could claim losses over multiple years? you can subtract it from a year where you do make a profit.
- I didn't know that GST is both good and bad I guess. Personal income tax is more equal because its based on how much you earn, but everyone pays the same amount of GST. To a poorer person that $10 GST would represent much more money than it would to a richer person.
- The emissions of the richest 1 % of the global population account for more than twice the combined share of the poorest 50% of people.
- The explanations of onshore and offshore processing for asylum seekers was info I needed. Seeking asylum is protected by international law, so not illegal, yet arriving by boat in AUS is, even if you can prove your refugee status. The beginning of 2023 had 1398 in immigration detention in AUS, with an average time served at 2 years per person.
- A blockchain has a never-ending receipt of all the trades. Crypto is so volatile but how cool that in 2022 it was crypto that kept a Ukrainian news org in business before the invasion.
- I didn't know Australia supports the one China policy (claiming Hong Kong and Taiwan) but is also like trying to be friends with Taiwan at the same time? I wonder how Taiwan feels.
- On the bright side, I forgot about the good news that ACT made abortion completely Free in April 2023. And as of 2023 AUSLAN is now included in the curriculum for schools for the first time. That makes me so happy.
- Oh and I want to check out Missing Perspectives, a media company for young woman that was mentioned in here.
I follow TDA on Instagram and I thought this book might reinspire me, as I definitely feel news fatigue.
This is the kind of book I read when I was in my final year of school. Seriously it's ridiculous how little I was taught about tax and GDP etc.
It's such an easy read that totally engaged my ADHD brain. Like the infographics, the concise explanations and the chop and change of topics just worked so well for me.
Yes it is a bit basic but I think a lot of people would be surprised that the basic terms we loosely know we actually don't know them intimately. News + politics especially assumes the reader already has background knowledge but this isn't the case.
TAKEAWAYS:
- On compulsory voting: they talk about how the US where it isn't compulsory spend millions, if not BILLIONS on every election campaign just trying to convince people to vote. What an absolute waste of money IMO. It's also explained that by having non-compulsory voting systems the politicians don't have to appeal to more broad views they can be more extreme. This helped me understand Trump more etc.
- Let's just rehighlight this: Australia is the only commonwealth country that does not have a treaty with its First Nations peoples.
- I didn't know that inside political parties there are 'factions' like I knew people within it didn't all agree on the same stuff, but I had no idea there was a concrete and well-known term, and that its very much a thing. It was interesting to learn about how factions bargain over policies with each other. Like hold up, there's kinda a parliament within the parliament?
- Loved this bit on quotas (talking about diversity quotas in parliament) People argue against quotas because they believe jobs should be based on merit, well how's this sick burn?!
"Proponents of quotas say that as it stands, people aren't getting jobs based on merit anyway. If they were, there would be more women and minority groups in top jobs.
- GDP does not tell us how a countries resources are distributed, so its just one number.
- I learned much about inflation, recessions and how governments and banks orchestrate this. The most common tool to fight inflation is the central bank's interest rates. e.g if RBA increases interest rates it charges banks, banks then increase rates for customers. this means borrowing money is now more expensive for everyone, people then borrow less, they have less to spend, therefore less demand to push up inflation.
- I also enjoyed finally understanding the ways big companies get away with paying less taxes. I had no idea that you could claim losses over multiple years? you can subtract it from a year where you do make a profit.
- I didn't know that GST is both good and bad I guess. Personal income tax is more equal because its based on how much you earn, but everyone pays the same amount of GST. To a poorer person that $10 GST would represent much more money than it would to a richer person.
- The emissions of the richest 1 % of the global population account for more than twice the combined share of the poorest 50% of people.
- The explanations of onshore and offshore processing for asylum seekers was info I needed. Seeking asylum is protected by international law, so not illegal, yet arriving by boat in AUS is, even if you can prove your refugee status. The beginning of 2023 had 1398 in immigration detention in AUS, with an average time served at 2 years per person.
- A blockchain has a never-ending receipt of all the trades. Crypto is so volatile but how cool that in 2022 it was crypto that kept a Ukrainian news org in business before the invasion.
- I didn't know Australia supports the one China policy (claiming Hong Kong and Taiwan) but is also like trying to be friends with Taiwan at the same time? I wonder how Taiwan feels.
- On the bright side, I forgot about the good news that ACT made abortion completely Free in April 2023. And as of 2023 AUSLAN is now included in the curriculum for schools for the first time. That makes me so happy.
- Oh and I want to check out Missing Perspectives, a media company for young woman that was mentioned in here.
November 26, 2023
*For more reviews follow my Insta, @nicolaiscurrentlyreading* ! 😄
I’ve been a fan of TDA for quite some time and applaud their mission to make consuming news accessible, comprehensible, and important to predominantly young people, as people my age interact with news in a new way—social media—and have their voices heard as active, media-literate participants, not passive observers. If you don’t follow their Insta, I highly recommend it as a convenient way to stay on top of current affairs inbetween scrolling seshes. I also adore their daily email newsletter – the only I read! Okay, but about this book. I found it a really great debut and “starter guide toolkit”, and like its platform, it was super easy to digest. Zara & Sam not only explain key topics (from economics to climate change to First Nations matters to reproductive rights) in a clear manner, but importantly, explain why you should care about such topics as a news consumer and how these landscapes affect Australians’ everyday life. I think this is a phenomenal book to have on hand to touch up on topics – more than anything I’d recommend this for high school students as essential reading for the classroom, but it could definitely be useful for young adults too or those new to living, working, playing in Australia. Though I learned some new things, I probably wasn’t the target audience as I was pretty on top of these contexts (journo grad / news nerd over here), but I definitely still saw value and found it was presented cleverly and thoughtfully in both writing style, selection and division of topics and chapters, and layout (we love infographics!). Something to note is that while this book conveys the importance of unbiased media and does present “both sides” on several issues (from abortion to minimum wage), you’ll notice it (and TDA) is quite left-leaning in its messaging – which didn’t bother me much as I’m in the same crowd, but I think it’s important to mention given this is an educational resource on interacting with the Australian political, social, and cultural landscape. Great, easy read, well-written and engaging even when discussing heavy or “dry” topics. The book also delighted with some “bright side” positive news affairs (e.g. improvements around the world in carbon emissions reduction), which gave some optimism in chapters where the real world seemed dire and, frankly, irreversibly screwed. It’s great to invite young people to form their own opinions on such important matters, and I hope this inspires some youngin’s to explore politics and journalism (as did I some years ago!). Looking forward to seeing what TDA has up their sleeve next.
I’ve been a fan of TDA for quite some time and applaud their mission to make consuming news accessible, comprehensible, and important to predominantly young people, as people my age interact with news in a new way—social media—and have their voices heard as active, media-literate participants, not passive observers. If you don’t follow their Insta, I highly recommend it as a convenient way to stay on top of current affairs inbetween scrolling seshes. I also adore their daily email newsletter – the only I read! Okay, but about this book. I found it a really great debut and “starter guide toolkit”, and like its platform, it was super easy to digest. Zara & Sam not only explain key topics (from economics to climate change to First Nations matters to reproductive rights) in a clear manner, but importantly, explain why you should care about such topics as a news consumer and how these landscapes affect Australians’ everyday life. I think this is a phenomenal book to have on hand to touch up on topics – more than anything I’d recommend this for high school students as essential reading for the classroom, but it could definitely be useful for young adults too or those new to living, working, playing in Australia. Though I learned some new things, I probably wasn’t the target audience as I was pretty on top of these contexts (journo grad / news nerd over here), but I definitely still saw value and found it was presented cleverly and thoughtfully in both writing style, selection and division of topics and chapters, and layout (we love infographics!). Something to note is that while this book conveys the importance of unbiased media and does present “both sides” on several issues (from abortion to minimum wage), you’ll notice it (and TDA) is quite left-leaning in its messaging – which didn’t bother me much as I’m in the same crowd, but I think it’s important to mention given this is an educational resource on interacting with the Australian political, social, and cultural landscape. Great, easy read, well-written and engaging even when discussing heavy or “dry” topics. The book also delighted with some “bright side” positive news affairs (e.g. improvements around the world in carbon emissions reduction), which gave some optimism in chapters where the real world seemed dire and, frankly, irreversibly screwed. It’s great to invite young people to form their own opinions on such important matters, and I hope this inspires some youngin’s to explore politics and journalism (as did I some years ago!). Looking forward to seeing what TDA has up their sleeve next.
October 13, 2024
I'm not the intended audience for this book, however I am very interested in media literacy and social engagement. I thought I would give it a read to see what kind of things are being taught to the 'kids' about these particular topics.
In a nutshell, pleasantly surprised. This is a well thought-out book on the background of some of the most commonly discussed (and most commonly misunderstood) topics in the news. There is only a brief summary of some very heavy topics, however it provides enough information for an interested person to go and find more out if they want to.
The only downside of this book is it's bias. The authors do a fairly good job of remaining objective for most topics, however there are certain issues where there bias is clearly visible. I would say that I align close-ish to the authors' ideologies on the majority of topics, but to someone who is not well read and well versed in reading media, it will present a very fleshed out 'left leaning' view on certain topics at the detriment of objectivity.
Having said that, I would recommend this book for any parents of Gen Z or Gen A kids who are showing an interest in news and current affairs but don't know where to start.
In a nutshell, pleasantly surprised. This is a well thought-out book on the background of some of the most commonly discussed (and most commonly misunderstood) topics in the news. There is only a brief summary of some very heavy topics, however it provides enough information for an interested person to go and find more out if they want to.
The only downside of this book is it's bias. The authors do a fairly good job of remaining objective for most topics, however there are certain issues where there bias is clearly visible. I would say that I align close-ish to the authors' ideologies on the majority of topics, but to someone who is not well read and well versed in reading media, it will present a very fleshed out 'left leaning' view on certain topics at the detriment of objectivity.
Having said that, I would recommend this book for any parents of Gen Z or Gen A kids who are showing an interest in news and current affairs but don't know where to start.
September 14, 2023
If you are someone who keeps abreast of current affairs then this book might not have anything to add but if you are a teenager or uni student just starting to pay attention to the news then this book would be super useful.
The creators of The Daily Aus - the massively successful social media news service- have come out with this book for anyone who wants to fill in their knowledge of the biggest news stories.
If you have ever watched the news and thought "but why is that important?" or "what does that term mean?" this is the book for you! It is a news primer to get you up to speed about the stories that affect your life.
From the basics of economics and politics, to technology, science and culture Seidler and Koslowski tell you the facts, without political rhetoric, about the things that are shaping your world.
This would be an awesome book for a high school or uni student who is starting to take an interest in local and global events, or anyone who feels like they want to know more but are afraid of asking "silly" questions.
The layout means you can jump to the topics that interest you or read from cover to cover.
The creators of The Daily Aus - the massively successful social media news service- have come out with this book for anyone who wants to fill in their knowledge of the biggest news stories.
If you have ever watched the news and thought "but why is that important?" or "what does that term mean?" this is the book for you! It is a news primer to get you up to speed about the stories that affect your life.
From the basics of economics and politics, to technology, science and culture Seidler and Koslowski tell you the facts, without political rhetoric, about the things that are shaping your world.
This would be an awesome book for a high school or uni student who is starting to take an interest in local and global events, or anyone who feels like they want to know more but are afraid of asking "silly" questions.
The layout means you can jump to the topics that interest you or read from cover to cover.
January 14, 2025
I think this is a really good introduction to contemporary issues that are appearing in Australia's news cycles for those who don't have prior knowledge. Unfortunately, I didn't finish it, though, because it turns out that as an avid news-reader, I am not the target audience 😅
One word of caution for potential readers- I read it on an e-reader and got the impression that there were meant to be diagrams with some of the information. However, the e-reader version didn't have any. So if you want the full information, get a copy of the physical book
One word of caution for potential readers- I read it on an e-reader and got the impression that there were meant to be diagrams with some of the information. However, the e-reader version didn't have any. So if you want the full information, get a copy of the physical book
October 17, 2023
This a nice book! I like dis book. Some stuff I was quite across but it was a good reminder of how things work and some stuff to me was completely new. Only downside is the emphasis placed on “biased news” and how to look out for it when I found this book to be a liiiiittle left leaning wonky donky tower of Pisa itself but that’s okay cuz that’s where I’m leaning too. Peace out trout
November 2, 2023
Really accessible book explaining civic and global issues. Topics explained include Australian politics, economics, climate change, refugees and indigenous recognition and rights. Should be put into everyone’s hands so we all have a further understanding of the issues which affect us and equally importantly an understanding of what affects others locally and globally.
July 8, 2025
The kind of book I wish had been available when I was younger, that I would give to the school age children in my circle so they can better understand the society and culture around us. Well written and informative. The founders and what they have managed up achieve with their media company is admirable
October 28, 2023
I read the audiobook version, and most of it was 90% of the info was known to me (26 F, engaged with news, mostly ABC and cheek media). This was well read and it really put it succinctly. A great resource for those starting out in news or wondering why it matters ❤️
November 17, 2023
An easy to digest crash course in Australian news and politics, with a bonus media literacy section at the end. There are also QR codes for YouTube videos and audio links related to the chapter topics, which I thought was a cool bonus feature.
December 2, 2023
This explainer book was engaging, easy to follow and also served as a good refresher on things going on in the world and what to be aware of. More content like this helps people to understand where to get their news from.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews