Take My Advice, I'm Not Using It: Adventures of a true Aussie larrikin

by Rod Halsted

The laugh out loud story of a rollercoaster life from penthouse to the slammer, and how Rod finally found his way back to sanity.

'I caught a bus to my first drug deal. It was the early 1970s, and I lived in Newtown, where you could leave your front door open without fear of being burgled—because so many of Sydney's criminals lived there. I didn't own a car and didn't have enough money for a cab.

My last deal ended abruptly in a country town with a police pistol put to my head after I had collected five kilos of the best grass ever grown in Australia. Well, that's what the courts said.'

Rod Halsted is the classic irrepressible Aussie larrikin. As soon as he could leave school, he headed straight to Kalgoorlie for adventure. Not that he needed to cross the adventure always finds Rod, and he loves to take a risk.

Rod drank with Bob Hawke, did business with drug tsars, was rescued from the nick by Charles Waterstreet, hung with one of the Great Train Robbers, and wrote off endless cars. Then it all caught up with him. He has long abandoned the drugs and conquered his alcohol addiction.

This is his laugh out loud story.

'Phew, I feel like I've been physically assaulted reading that book. But in a good way. It's a red hot read.' – Barrie Cassidy

'A wild country kid who hit the road to find himself and found crime instead ... He took crazy risks with deadly crooks and lived to see the funny side of a reckless life.' - Andrew Rule

368 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty, outrageous and outrageously funny all at the same time from someone obviously with more lives than a cat! He survived everything from a Christian Brothers education through to everything the dark world could throw at him and has come out the other side intact. Definitely worthy of a read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw and entertaining memoir that winds through crime and corruption of Australia in the 70s and 80s. Rod shares his highs and lows with equanimity, not shying away from the difficult moments in what has been an unconventional life.

[Rebecca Emanuelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Rods book it was very raw and honest, I laughed and I cried, I thought it very inspiring in the end. This man has lived a very interesting life.i am glad he now has happiness 🙂

[Chris Hietbrink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy and great read. I couldn’t put Rod Halsted’s new book ‘Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It’ down, reading it in two sittings. At times laughing and at others choked up at the raw sadness it’s a book of a wild life led by a young Aussie guy. I loved the strong love Rod obviously has for his parents and other family; but especially his great friendships which have endured. This is a story of fun, distress and redemption. And I understand it’s all true - or so they say!

[Karen Maccallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining, educational and easy read about the world of drugs, decadence and consequences.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring...

The narrative is painfully slow, and the author’s “larrikin” persona reads more like delusions of grandeur.

Don’t waste your money.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book very easy to read and nostalgic of the era of 1960’s and 1970’s growing up as a teenager when life was much more ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ than todays helicopter/big brother style of living. Loved the short story style chapters with the easy pick up/put down format which I enjoy. A different era many of us winged our way through - not quite as dangerously as the author, but with the same naivety and recklessness which you would be horrified if your grandchildren copied but you secretly loved and delight in the memory of surviving. Some stories are a memory of the occasional near catastrophe of your own youth. Recommend this read to anyone who remembers growing into adulthood in the 60’s and 70’s and can smile at the crazy choices we sometimes made and wonder how we came through it all in one piece.

[Phil Muscatello · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read about a long forgotten time when Australia was still a proper country. Rod Halsted is a true artist, in every sense of the word! I relived a lot of my misspent youth in these pages. A real page turner.

[Craig Halsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Australian story, with plenty of laughs but also plenty of pathos. This is a story which typifies the culture which made Australia - family, friends, country, mateship, of
course some naughtiness and a larrikin sense of humour. A well told tale.

[Chris Oshaughnessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top read , from the heart with no “ poetic license “

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read of an Aussie larikan with a good story and easy to read

[Anne Peedom · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a ripper yarn.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. An adventure through the dark side of Australia's underworld, the dark side of addiction, the strength of love and absolute ability to change through determination. A rare glimpse into a world most of us only see in a movie or TV show. Engaging, slightly crazed, authentic and with a powerful emotional arc.