A Time for Bravery: What happens with Australians are Courageous

by Anna Chang (Editor), Alice Grundy (Editor)

We are living at a critical point in history with the stubborn problems of rising inequality, rising fossil fuel production, and declining faith in democracy. This is a time for individuals, organisations, communities and our elected representatives to find the bravery we need to not just acknowledge, but address, the challenges we face.
There is bravery out there right now, in Australia and around the world. And Australian history is full of acts of individual and collective bravery ranging from the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa to the campaign for equal rights for same sex from the green bans in Sydney's Rocks to South Australia's commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy. We have changed ourselves and the world before; if we are brave, we can do so again.


This book brings together advocates, politicians, campaigners, medical doctors, academics and a firefighter each with their answer to the what does bravery look like in Australia and how might it reshape our future for the better.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2026

Reviews

[William Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australia Institute has put together a wide-ranging cast of essayists from Australia's liberal intelligentsia (I'm not using that in a pejorative sense), and the result is a thought-provoking &, at times, exasperating reading experience.

For me, the stand-out essayists were:
- Yanis Varoufakis
- Rodney Croome
- Tim Costello
- Richard Denniss
- Jim Casey

The book would benefit from the inclusion of some dissenting opinions for balance, but I appreciate that those holding such opinions would be unlikely to participate - I know John Hewson was a Liberal leader, but his essay is strongly aligned with the overall theme of the book.

I also found myself feeling as though the ideas espoused were a bit 'pie-in-the-sky', but soon after reminded myself that that was the intention of the book - setting high standards for our society.

A very minor note (that does not take away from the overall value of this book) - there are a few small errors/misprints e.g. John Hewson's GST cake interview was in 1993, not 1973. I mention this only because potential detractors may use this in an attempt to undermine the arguments presented within the book.

[Robert Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australia Institute does great work advocating and educating for change and this collection of short essays continues their good work. Lots of wisdom from a diverse range of voices giving the reader a more than gentle nudge to stand up and be brave.

[Jennifer Goedde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Maddy,


Like any essay collection some were good some were mid. Really liked a few and have added some authors other works to my TBR. Didn’t realise how niche this was.
Really glad this book exists.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Australia Institute has assembled almost 30 authors, thinkers, policy makers putting forth ideas to fix many of society's problems, from inequality, to the cost of living crisis, to social justice, to problems with our medical system, the environment, gambling, taxation, housing affordability as well war and peace and more with the attempt to push our 'make no waves' government to become 'brave' - to take advantage of the huge lower house majority and a 'working' majority in the Senate with the support of the Greens to make substantial changes in policy that will lift those on the lower half of the economic ladder- to improve the quality of life in Australia. Each of the authors write of their experiences and point out that what others see as bravery, they themselves in their situations thought that they were doing what was logical and right. An inspiring read. Now only if our federal government - a Labor government would take these to heart and stop listening to the handful of billionaires.

[Lottie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Very short but impactful

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

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A bit dull in parts, but some essays are more interesting. Brave people are not necessarily engaging writers. However the first essay about Piero and Bianca was very affecting. I also enjoyed Georgina Longs narrative about cancer treatments and bravery by medical practitioners. I hadn't known before that Australians are the world's biggest losers in terms of gambling losses per capita (Tim Costello essay). The insights by Amy Cootes about acceptance of death were valuable. The several essays mentioning Palestine, reminded me of a phrase "selective outrage" We are horrified by atrocities committed by US and Israel and driven to protest, as we have been fed a line that US and Israel are beacons of human rights, freedom and democracy and it is horrifically jolting to realise this is not so. Meanwhile atrocities committed by regimes in Iran, Congo, Sudan garner less attention