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Paul Keating: The Biography
'In the end, the key ingredient for public life is imagination. You imagine something better, you try to bring people with you.'
Paul Keating
Leaving school at fourteen, and challenged by reading difficulties, Paul Keating was not expected to do well. Yet he was elected to parliament at the age of just twenty-five and went on to become one of Australia's most important political figures.
Prize-winning biographer David Day has written an extraordinary story of the single-minded ambition that drove Keating to the top, revealing how he turned his reading difficulty to advantage, becoming a devastating debater in parliament and eventually toppling Australia's most popular prime minister, Bob Hawke.
By then, Keating had been treasurer for nearly nine years, during which time he had transformed the Australian economy, making it much more open and outward looking and setting it up for the prosperity of the late 1990s.
But it was the position of prime minister that Keating particularly coveted. Only then would he get the chance to make the really big changes to Australia and to the way that Australians thought of themselves and their place in the world.
Keating became prime minister in 1991, twenty-two years after he first entered parliament. The cost of his single-minded ambition was eating away at his marriage and threatening the relationships that he held most dear. Although fearful that power had come to him too late, he was impelled to push on.
There were big issues confronting the country—from reconciliation to the republic and relations with Asia—and Keating was determined not to shrink from the challenge of finding progressive solutions. His chance to carve out a place in history had come, and Australia would be the better for the political courage and vision that he brought to the office of prime minister.
However, rather than being lauded for his efforts, Keating was tossed from office at the 1996 election by voters who had become tired of change. Spurned by his own party, and with his marriage in tatters, Keating was left lonely and embittered as he watched some of his milestone achievements being dismantled by the new government.
This landmark biography of Australia's 24th prime minister from eminent political historian David Day provides a long-awaited appraisal of one of this country's most fascinating and divisive public figures.
Paul Keating
Leaving school at fourteen, and challenged by reading difficulties, Paul Keating was not expected to do well. Yet he was elected to parliament at the age of just twenty-five and went on to become one of Australia's most important political figures.
Prize-winning biographer David Day has written an extraordinary story of the single-minded ambition that drove Keating to the top, revealing how he turned his reading difficulty to advantage, becoming a devastating debater in parliament and eventually toppling Australia's most popular prime minister, Bob Hawke.
By then, Keating had been treasurer for nearly nine years, during which time he had transformed the Australian economy, making it much more open and outward looking and setting it up for the prosperity of the late 1990s.
But it was the position of prime minister that Keating particularly coveted. Only then would he get the chance to make the really big changes to Australia and to the way that Australians thought of themselves and their place in the world.
Keating became prime minister in 1991, twenty-two years after he first entered parliament. The cost of his single-minded ambition was eating away at his marriage and threatening the relationships that he held most dear. Although fearful that power had come to him too late, he was impelled to push on.
There were big issues confronting the country—from reconciliation to the republic and relations with Asia—and Keating was determined not to shrink from the challenge of finding progressive solutions. His chance to carve out a place in history had come, and Australia would be the better for the political courage and vision that he brought to the office of prime minister.
However, rather than being lauded for his efforts, Keating was tossed from office at the 1996 election by voters who had become tired of change. Spurned by his own party, and with his marriage in tatters, Keating was left lonely and embittered as he watched some of his milestone achievements being dismantled by the new government.
This landmark biography of Australia's 24th prime minister from eminent political historian David Day provides a long-awaited appraisal of one of this country's most fascinating and divisive public figures.
557 pages, Hardcover
Published January 27, 2015
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About the author
David Day
21 books9 followersDavid Day has written widely on Australian history and the history of World War II. His biography of John Curtin won the 2000 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for History and was shortlisted for the 2000 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction, while his biography of Ben Chifley was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Award for History in 2002. David Day is currently an Honorary Associate with the History Program at La Trobe University and a visiting professor at the University of Aberdeen. He lives in Eltham, Victoria.
1986: Menzies and Churchill at War
1988: The Great Betrayal: Britain, Australia and the Onset of the Pacific War, 1939-42
1992: Reluctant Nation: Australia and the Allied Defeat of Japan, 1942-45
1992: Smugglers and Sailors: The Customs History of Australia, 1788-1901
1996: Contraband and Controversy: The Customs History of Australia from 1901
1996: Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia
1999: John Curtin: A Life
2001: Chifley
2003: The Politics of War
2005: Conquest: A New History of the Modern World - ISBN 0732277655
2007: The Weather Watchers - ISBN 9780522852752
2008: Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia
1986: Menzies and Churchill at War
1988: The Great Betrayal: Britain, Australia and the Onset of the Pacific War, 1939-42
1992: Reluctant Nation: Australia and the Allied Defeat of Japan, 1942-45
1992: Smugglers and Sailors: The Customs History of Australia, 1788-1901
1996: Contraband and Controversy: The Customs History of Australia from 1901
1996: Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia
1999: John Curtin: A Life
2001: Chifley
2003: The Politics of War
2005: Conquest: A New History of the Modern World - ISBN 0732277655
2007: The Weather Watchers - ISBN 9780522852752
2008: Andrew Fisher: Prime Minister of Australia
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 7, 2024
rated 4/5 simply because i had sooo much fun reading this, not for accuracy or biases or morality or anything. what they don't tell you about political biographies is that they are so much fucking fun. i love it when they call one another cunts in the corridors of power.
February 11, 2015
Insightful journey into the world of an ambitious politician. Well written with the biographer portraying the facts and allowing the reader to deduce. Politicians are required to read a lot. Keating's strategies for coping with his dyslexic challenges by oral tutorials with older experts, speaking rather than reading his speeches and being briefed by advisors made a liability into an asset. A hard worker driven by wanting the role of Prime Minister, his sharp tongued ,colourful language didn't work so well once he became PM and was expected to be more statesmanlike. This biography creates the economic and social context for those maybe unfamiliar with the period.Highly recommended, even for non economists.And especially on the dangers of ego -driven ambition overcoming altruism, it is recommended for anyone contemplating politics.
April 23, 2020
I was prepared to give this book a strong review until it became clear the author fabricated his claim that Keating is an incompetent reader suffering from undiagnosed dyslexia. To make such a claim on the back of no reliable sources, insist that it made Keating excessively reliant on advisers, and then have this revealed to be false, puts an irrevocable stain on Day's competence as an historian.
This aside, the prose is well-constructed and the general information provided is insightful, particularly on the inner workings of the Hawke-Keating governments. The only way I would recommend this book, with a note of caution regarding its reliability, would be for the purpose of broad reading on such an important period of Australian history.
This aside, the prose is well-constructed and the general information provided is insightful, particularly on the inner workings of the Hawke-Keating governments. The only way I would recommend this book, with a note of caution regarding its reliability, would be for the purpose of broad reading on such an important period of Australian history.
June 22, 2022
Fascinating and an enjoyable reading experience
May 13, 2024
Once again an outstanding political biography, I read Fisher and Chifley which were also excellent, now I have to find the one about Curtin.
I just wonder if he will ever tackle Hawke and Whitlam
I just wonder if he will ever tackle Hawke and Whitlam
October 29, 2016
A biography of the most debated post war Australian politician. The book is easy reading but naturally after Keating’s acceptance into the House of Representatives at 25 years of age, it is his life in politics. The author appears honest in that several times he provides evidence of Keating’s statements not being correct. An example of this is Keating’s apparent overstatement of education on his application form for party pre-selection. This is one of the amazing facts of the man, he left school at 14, obviously no qualification to speak of and then went on to be self-educated, becoming arguably the most effective Australian politician ever, with the ability to debate an incredible array of topics. He also went on to win the world’s best treasurer award given by European banking and finance magazine Euromoney. He covered quite a bit in economic reforms including floating the Australian dollar.
Keating was in politics all of his adult working life, parliament for 26 years, government for 13 years and prime minister for four and one quarter years. This period covered five general elections. His view in all that time was not how to share the cake more fairly, but how to bake a larger cake.
The book deals with little of Keating’s private life but covers his dedication to politics (but not necessarily party politics) with his commencement as a small boy helping his father with letterbox drops, then onto the springboard opportunity of the Youth Council. His entry to parliament was quickly noticed for his colour. He dressed well and spoke well. Because of a reading difficulty he could not read his numerous speeches which meant he needed a good memory and he was therefore able to hold eye contact. He was there for the good of the people- and also Paul Keating, who desperately wanted to be Prime Minister. His verbal attacks to the people on the other side of the bench was his way of demoralizing them but at the same time enhancing his own position. It worked well for many years but was eventually considered as downgrading parliament.
While his opposition branded him as a brutally hard man, he had a soft side, this was seen on the Kokoda track and again in his efforts in achieving the Native Title Act. High unemployment figures appeared to upset him for reasons other than the effect in opinion polls.
Keating was in politics all of his adult working life, parliament for 26 years, government for 13 years and prime minister for four and one quarter years. This period covered five general elections. His view in all that time was not how to share the cake more fairly, but how to bake a larger cake.
The book deals with little of Keating’s private life but covers his dedication to politics (but not necessarily party politics) with his commencement as a small boy helping his father with letterbox drops, then onto the springboard opportunity of the Youth Council. His entry to parliament was quickly noticed for his colour. He dressed well and spoke well. Because of a reading difficulty he could not read his numerous speeches which meant he needed a good memory and he was therefore able to hold eye contact. He was there for the good of the people- and also Paul Keating, who desperately wanted to be Prime Minister. His verbal attacks to the people on the other side of the bench was his way of demoralizing them but at the same time enhancing his own position. It worked well for many years but was eventually considered as downgrading parliament.
While his opposition branded him as a brutally hard man, he had a soft side, this was seen on the Kokoda track and again in his efforts in achieving the Native Title Act. High unemployment figures appeared to upset him for reasons other than the effect in opinion polls.
June 1, 2015
Unfortunately the book has been withdrawn as the author admitted he had no proof that Keating suffered from dyslexia - careless editing? Hopefully it will be corrected/reissued as it is an interesting coverage of recent Australian politics. The difficult relationship between Keating and Hawke is well summed up when one is described as an egomaniac and the other as a megalomaniac.
September 1, 2016
A fantastic biography that is well-written and captivating. Despite it’s earlier dramas (the original edition had claims that Keating was dyslexic which subsequently resulted in the book being pulped and re-printed), the newer edition provides a fascinating insight into the life of Paul of Keating.
February 26, 2015
Another masterful political biography from David Day. A fascinating insight into one of Australia's most divisive and influential politicians.
May 10, 2015
This book is testament to the fact that politicians, even really interesting politicians, are incredibly dull. I loved Paul Keating, but three chapters of this book was all I could manage.
January 10, 2017
Disappointed with this book
December 30, 2023
Look, sometimes it’s just not worth dragging yourself through a book. Keating is a fascinating person but this biography’s both tedious and uninspiring. I just could not finish it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews