All of It: Notes on public life, private joy and everything in between

by BROOKE BONEY

A collection of witty and heartfelt essays about love, loss and ambition, from journalist and proud Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney.
Brooke Boney has been in the public eye for well over a decade, first as a recognisable voice on triple j, and then as a recognisable face on The Today Show.
All of It draws us into her world, as she writes with honesty, humour and empathy about everything from the downsides of having a public profile to the joys of owning dogs, from the various forms of love that make up a life - romantic, familial, platonic - to how that love has been sustained through generations of colonisation and violence, and from the concerns that are a part of your early thirties - fertility, ageing, career progression - to discovering what's actually worth fighting for.
As a journalist, Brooke knows how to write a story, and these are her most personal stories yet.
'Raw, funny, at times deeply emotional ... Just magnificent.' ALLISON LANGDON
'From journalist and television presenter to columnist and cultural leader, Brooke has carved out a career that not only amplifies Aboriginal voices but also creates space for meaningful change ... Her insight, vision and talent are nothing short of extraordinary.' NAKKIAH LUI
'This book is warm, thoughtful and curious - just like Brooke.' MIRANDA TAPSELL
'A stunningly written meditation on fame, womanhood, Indigenous identity and the intersection of all three. Boney is an outstanding writer— every sentence is imbued with warmth and searing honesty ... I can't recommend it highly enough.'
JESSIE STEPHENS
'All of It made me feel so proud to be Brooke's friend. Powerful and moving writing.' TONY ARMSTRONG
'Open, vulnerable, insightful, funny - All of It is truly all of it - and a brilliant read.' JENNIFER ROBINSON

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't know a lot about Brooke, other than she was the entertainment reporter for Today, and that she'd resigned (I don't watch tv). This was an unexpected read, a series of essays on many subjects, not really related but fitting together in an esoteric and eclectic way.

I'm loving her take on celebrity, the way she describes our obsession with it, and how this obsession feeds the beast. The buying of their products, the playing into treating them like gods, the assumption they are perfect. These celebs want everything, more money, more fame, bigger lips, bigger boobs. This concept feeds into our materialistic views of wanting their products (she bought Beyonce's hair products and owning the irony)/ She talks a lot about boobs, she's refreshing and funny. She's also very smart, self deprecating and upfront.

These essays also touch heavily on her culture, the way Australians are obsessed with sport, ageing, pets and racism. Fans of Brooke's and those who see her on TV will love this. She also enlightened me on the Paris filter (which I need way more than her, but don't know how to use). Again, the use of this contradicts her sentiment while fully owning playing her part in the perpetual use of a little fakeness.

I'd love to hear how Brooke's studies go, making it to Oxford is an impressive and interesting move. This book is content heavy, it's not light, so readers who are in the mood for a decent cultural study will appreciate this. There's honestly a bit of everything here.

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastic and I adored every essay, Brooke's writing is so beautiful and engaging. Huge fan, I loved hearing her life insights.

[Donovan Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and detailed collection of essays from Brooke Boney, her writing makes you feel like you are sitting across from an old friend discussing everything from politics to pets. Brooke does a fantastic job of telling her story while keeping an optimistic view of the future. This is a great read for anyone in a self-reflective moment in their lives.

[Andrew Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly wide-ranging book that thoughtfully addresses each of the areas that it covers: from fame to pets and being raised in regional Australia. I hope that we continue to hear Brooke’s voice in Australian conversations for many years.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Brooke.
I can't wait to see what you do and where your values take you