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Error Australis: The Reality Recap of Australian History
We’re engrossed with reality TV these days, yet we so often neglect the greatest reality of all: the reality of our nation and how it came to be. In Error Australis, TV columnist, comedian and history buff Ben Pobjie recaps the history of Australia from its humble beginnings as a small patch of rapidly cooling rock to its modern-day status as one of the major powers of the sub-Asian super-Antarctic next-to-Africa region. As thrilling as it is to see Delta Goodrem’s chair turn around, there’s an argument that World War Two was even more exciting and, like any good recapper, Pobjie provides an immediate, visceral sense of what it was like to be there in the moment at our nation’s defining events.
It is only by looking at where we have been that we can understand who we are, what we stand for and why nothing seems to work. Error Australis is a scholarly and hilarious account of a young nation that has spent many years seeking its place in the world, and almost as many years not liking what it has found.
It is only by looking at where we have been that we can understand who we are, what we stand for and why nothing seems to work. Error Australis is a scholarly and hilarious account of a young nation that has spent many years seeking its place in the world, and almost as many years not liking what it has found.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2016
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303 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 1, 2024
How an invasion of Emus taught the Australian Army guerilla tactics, and other stories.
This was probably, one of the funniest books I've read. I never knew about the controversy surrounding breadfruit, or the ineptitude of our early explorers, or that we were/are a racist country (you wouldn't know it if you walked down Queens St Mall in Brisbane). We do however, still have an identity crisis.
Loved it.
This was probably, one of the funniest books I've read. I never knew about the controversy surrounding breadfruit, or the ineptitude of our early explorers, or that we were/are a racist country (you wouldn't know it if you walked down Queens St Mall in Brisbane). We do however, still have an identity crisis.
Loved it.
July 7, 2016
I've not yet read the book, but my friend Ben Pobjie says it's pretty good and he usually knows when stuff is funny. 5 stars
November 28, 2017
Ever since I read Ben's other book, I had been watching out for a copy of this one. I'm generally loathe to do orders for books I think I can get locally, and sometimes I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Finally the chase ended at QBD Penrith, and this was one of the first books I read from that trip.
This book is fun and yet informatative, although you can't always take the information as fact. All of the jokes appealed to my Australian sense of laid back humour, and I had the rare treat of laughing aloud more than once. I had to read the funny parts to my boyfriend, who also received this same treat after reading Aussie, Aussie, Aussie last year. He liked it too!
If you want to know more about Australian history and get a laugh doing it, I can't recommend this one highly enough. I'd love more Ben Pobjie books, please!
This book is fun and yet informatative, although you can't always take the information as fact. All of the jokes appealed to my Australian sense of laid back humour, and I had the rare treat of laughing aloud more than once. I had to read the funny parts to my boyfriend, who also received this same treat after reading Aussie, Aussie, Aussie last year. He liked it too!
If you want to know more about Australian history and get a laugh doing it, I can't recommend this one highly enough. I'd love more Ben Pobjie books, please!
July 24, 2021
As a greedy reader of Ben Pobjie's Masterchef recaps and with an interest in Australian history (I was fortunate to study it with the late Tom Stannage) I was hanging to read this book. And was not disappointed. I mostly read it in bed shared with a husband and toddler and found myself physically shaking to suppress my laughter at times, particularly the chapter on federation and the descriptions of Peter Dutton and the artwork. The recap style and references to popular culture will possibly date this book, but the essential themes are timeless, such as the ridiculousness of the veneration of bushrangers and soldiers in the Australian psyche. What this and David Hunt's Girt provide is an accessible context for understanding Australia's brief (white) history, leaving us incredulous that such a rabble could ever go on to form a half decent country. Kudos to you both for bringing this history alive.
August 14, 2016
Error Australis is a humorous historical book that made me laugh out loud, and that is a rarity for me. I wish this book had been around when I was studying Australian Studies at university as it taught me more than many textbooks I read at the time.
The footnotes were brilliant, the callbacks cleverly used, the photo captions perfect.
The only problem with this book is that Australian history is so bizarre that there were times where I started to think made up parts may have really happened.
The footnotes were brilliant, the callbacks cleverly used, the photo captions perfect.
The only problem with this book is that Australian history is so bizarre that there were times where I started to think made up parts may have really happened.
February 12, 2018
A wonderfully irreverent waltz through Australian history. This book is laugh-out loud-funny.
August 30, 2016
We aren't taught much about Australia here in the USA -- well, other than the fact that a place called Australia exists somewhere very far away and many kangaroos live there. After reading this book, however, I now feel as if I know everything worth knowing about the history of my neighbors down under. I strongly suspect that not everything in the book is literally true, but that won't stop me going forward from using it as my handy, go-to reference text for all things Australian. (Granted, this might cause some embarrassing moments in the future, but whatever.) Perhaps my favorite chapter, which I thought was one of the not-so-literally-true bits until I looked it up online -- was the one about the emus. There was actually an Emu War? Really?? Why, that's just about the most amusing thing I've read in a history book, ever. In any case, if a relatively clueless American can be so highly entertained by this book, then I'm sure actual Australians will find it laugh-out-loud funny.
February 27, 2017
A very, very funny read. I actually read this book twice, once in my head and then immediately out loud again to my husband.
I am a MASSIVE fan of David Hunt's books Girt and True Girt. Error Australis has a similar vibe although with more gags and less historical accuracy.
This book is good fun. It's like having an after work drink and gossiping about historically important dead people we've never met.
Four juicy breadfruits out of five.
I am a MASSIVE fan of David Hunt's books Girt and True Girt. Error Australis has a similar vibe although with more gags and less historical accuracy.
This book is good fun. It's like having an after work drink and gossiping about historically important dead people we've never met.
Four juicy breadfruits out of five.
September 2, 2017
Sometimes you read a book that speaks so deeply and truly to your secret soul, you feel sure a funnier, more educated and productive you must have written it in your sleep. I wanted to quote some of my favourite bits, but would have ended up typing out the entire book. I loved it all, even the weird chapter. Especially the weird chapter. Special mention for the Breadfruit and 'Malcolm Turnbull, who wept for there were no more worlds to conquer'.
January 24, 2018
Amazingly, this book actually did manage to raise a snigger a few times which saved it from a one star review. I was almost put off seeing a Peter Fitzsimons endorsement on the cover and only persevered because it was on audio. Overall, this is weak sauce.
August 10, 2016
Hilarious. Worth it for the breadfruit alone.
April 18, 2023
I read this book on the suggestion of a friend, and actually took it from their shelf. So thanks!
I’m not sure what I thought I was going to get from this book other than some laughs, but surprisingly I also learnt a bit. I think it’s a massive shame that hardly any Aboriginal history was included. The fact that the stolen generations weren’t even mentioned is gross. Like that is a massive dark cloud of Australian history and it should have been discussed. The only reason I can fathom into why these topics were omitted is due to them not being humorous in the slightest.
I also think that post the World Wars should have been longer. The book seemed in a mad rush after the 40s to be wrapped up.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the explorers, the gold rush and bush rangers.
Some of my favourite parts of the book include:
“And there can be no doubt that to repeat history would be a ghastly fate, given how often people in the past had severe diarrhoea.”
“It wasn’t that Burke was a man of no talents: it was just that none of his talents involved exploring. Born in Ireland, he had served in the Austrian Army, the Irish Constabulary and the colonial police force, but in his heart he had always harboured a secret desire to one day get a job doing something he had no idea how to do. The committee thought him eminently suitable to lead the inland exploration, not being deterred even when Burke referred to the expedition’s camels as the ‘ugliest dogs I have ever seen’.” all I can say is lol
“He was born Andrew Scott in Ireland and came to Melbourne with a plan to become a priest, but decided to pursue a more respectful profession, so took up bank robbery.”
“Who was telling the truth? Who knows? Probably Fitzgerald was drunk, but this was the 1800s and pretty much everyone was drunk all the time because drinking water gave you diarrhoea.” 😂
“More than 30,000 people had signed a petition to have Kelly’s death sentence commuted, which proves even before the internet, petitions were completely useless.”
“Abbott made way for Malcolm Turnbull, who wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”
I could honestly go on and on and on about everything that made me chuckle at one point. I think one of the funniest takeaways is that apparently Australia won all the wars, except for the Emu War.
I recommend this book, and i cannot wait to read more of Ben Pobjie’s books.
:)
I’m not sure what I thought I was going to get from this book other than some laughs, but surprisingly I also learnt a bit. I think it’s a massive shame that hardly any Aboriginal history was included. The fact that the stolen generations weren’t even mentioned is gross. Like that is a massive dark cloud of Australian history and it should have been discussed. The only reason I can fathom into why these topics were omitted is due to them not being humorous in the slightest.
I also think that post the World Wars should have been longer. The book seemed in a mad rush after the 40s to be wrapped up.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the explorers, the gold rush and bush rangers.
Some of my favourite parts of the book include:
“And there can be no doubt that to repeat history would be a ghastly fate, given how often people in the past had severe diarrhoea.”
“It wasn’t that Burke was a man of no talents: it was just that none of his talents involved exploring. Born in Ireland, he had served in the Austrian Army, the Irish Constabulary and the colonial police force, but in his heart he had always harboured a secret desire to one day get a job doing something he had no idea how to do. The committee thought him eminently suitable to lead the inland exploration, not being deterred even when Burke referred to the expedition’s camels as the ‘ugliest dogs I have ever seen’.” all I can say is lol
“He was born Andrew Scott in Ireland and came to Melbourne with a plan to become a priest, but decided to pursue a more respectful profession, so took up bank robbery.”
“Who was telling the truth? Who knows? Probably Fitzgerald was drunk, but this was the 1800s and pretty much everyone was drunk all the time because drinking water gave you diarrhoea.” 😂
“More than 30,000 people had signed a petition to have Kelly’s death sentence commuted, which proves even before the internet, petitions were completely useless.”
“Abbott made way for Malcolm Turnbull, who wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”
I could honestly go on and on and on about everything that made me chuckle at one point. I think one of the funniest takeaways is that apparently Australia won all the wars, except for the Emu War.
I recommend this book, and i cannot wait to read more of Ben Pobjie’s books.
:)
April 6, 2025
Maybe because I just finished reading Girt, but this wasn’t for me. The pluses—it covers the whole span of Australia up until its publication, while Girt in its first volume ends in the early 1820s. So it gives the reader more coverage. But I also didn’t think it was as funny. Part of the challenge is the humor includes both the kind of sarcastic asides you’d expect, but also by putting things in that aren’t true. There’s a whole section of fake dialogue between a prime minister and a guy who wants his job for example. And also a chapter around one of the world wars like that. There are similar things like that interspersed throughout. The fake things are just not very funny and noticeably weaker than the asides. (The footnotes also generally aren’t very funny).
That’s too bad because there are some genuinely funny moments but when stuff is interspersed with fake items I often found myself going to Wikipedia to see if what I was reading was real or not. For example, the “Night of the Long Prawns” where someone who was supposed to resign was kept Heiden away at a dinner is real and absurd. A former prime minister did bite into a raw onion Iron Chef style. And there was an outlaw back in the day who wore absurd metal armor. But that stuff lands less well when you have to sort through real and fake.
Part of the issue here may be that the audience here really matters. I read this as an American about to visit Australia who wanted to get a sense of history in a reasonable length and saw this book recommended a lot for that. But that means I really didn’t know most of what is in here. Maybe someone who grew up learning the history would appreciate it more. And possibly get more of the jokes.
That’s too bad because there are some genuinely funny moments but when stuff is interspersed with fake items I often found myself going to Wikipedia to see if what I was reading was real or not. For example, the “Night of the Long Prawns” where someone who was supposed to resign was kept Heiden away at a dinner is real and absurd. A former prime minister did bite into a raw onion Iron Chef style. And there was an outlaw back in the day who wore absurd metal armor. But that stuff lands less well when you have to sort through real and fake.
Part of the issue here may be that the audience here really matters. I read this as an American about to visit Australia who wanted to get a sense of history in a reasonable length and saw this book recommended a lot for that. But that means I really didn’t know most of what is in here. Maybe someone who grew up learning the history would appreciate it more. And possibly get more of the jokes.
August 9, 2020
Pobije has done for Australian history that most typically Australian of things: knocked the tall poppies off their perch, taken the p*** out of them and treated them to the irreverent humour they richly deserve. Far too many Australian historians fail to state the bleedingly obvious fact that there really were a lot of incompetent, foolish, bumbling ignoramuses and utter bastards doing Great Things and failing in Australian history. Pobije's history is absolutely hilarious. It is one of the funniest books I have read. But what makes it so funny is that so much of what he says is really quite true. The more you already know about Australian history, the more true and the more funny the book will be, but if this is your introduction, then you will be getting the unvarnished truth from the start.
March 9, 2018
★★★★★ | 5 Stars
This is possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read. From Pangea to the Great Emu War of 1932 to the current Turnbull government, nothing and nobody is off limits. This book is overflowing with crazy facts that really make you wonder how on earth Australia has managed to remain in existence in 2018, so long as you take most with a mountain of salt.
As Pobjie introduces the book, "It is said that those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it, and even if this is not true, it is certainly pithy, which is even better under most circumstances. And there can be no doubt that to repeat history would be a ghastly fate, given how often people in the past had severe diarrhoea."
This is possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read. From Pangea to the Great Emu War of 1932 to the current Turnbull government, nothing and nobody is off limits. This book is overflowing with crazy facts that really make you wonder how on earth Australia has managed to remain in existence in 2018, so long as you take most with a mountain of salt.
As Pobjie introduces the book, "It is said that those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it, and even if this is not true, it is certainly pithy, which is even better under most circumstances. And there can be no doubt that to repeat history would be a ghastly fate, given how often people in the past had severe diarrhoea."
January 8, 2020
I am always searching for more information of Australia's true history, as it was not taught to me at school all those years ago. I knew this book took a bit of a comedic angle to it, but it nonetheless provides poignant information of events we should all be well aware of. The use of footnotes (while mostly very funny) can be a little off-putting at times and interrupt the flow of reading, but I still enjoyed the writer's style and wit brought to some very difficult content. It can be uncomfortable, but it is an important book for those wanting a better idea of our true past.
March 14, 2020
Having taught Australian History to Grade 5 and 6 students for years, I felt that this was a great book to recap the whole past (although the language is probably best for adults). Ben Pobjie captures the characters of Australian history so well and even gives some factual accounts in between. I even learnt about some things that I didn't even know - like the emu wars - which were portrayed with just as much hilarity.
Awesome book and very funny (probably more for Australians)!
Awesome book and very funny (probably more for Australians)!
June 22, 2017
They say if you repeat history you are doomed to failure, but Ben manages to retell history with some humorous and insightful success. Loses a star for the Audiobook reading mispronunciation of Canowindra, and casting Paul Keating as a Vampire. Recommended reading for every student of the past, the present and tomorrow.
May 25, 2018
Good book! I thought I would get sick of the author’s humour after the first few chapters but I was laughing through the whole book.
I think I will need to learn more about Australian history though, because I am dumb and at some points I was like, “is this a real thing that happened or is this another joke?” Either way very entertaining.
I think I will need to learn more about Australian history though, because I am dumb and at some points I was like, “is this a real thing that happened or is this another joke?” Either way very entertaining.
September 4, 2022
In the fashion of this book I want to give it 5 stars for the new words I learnt and 5 stars for the history I knew but didn’t want to believe.
A truly great book. Laughed ALOT! Brilliant use of comedy to tackle colonialism and it’s life changing impact on Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Thanks Ben, a smashing read.
A truly great book. Laughed ALOT! Brilliant use of comedy to tackle colonialism and it’s life changing impact on Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Thanks Ben, a smashing read.
September 16, 2024
Never have I ever laughed out loud so many times while reading a book!
This should be on the reading requirements for all year 12 students studying Australian history. Save time for teachers as they can use the suggested essay questions - h ha ha ha
Thanks so very very much for a fantastic Australian look at our past!
This should be on the reading requirements for all year 12 students studying Australian history. Save time for teachers as they can use the suggested essay questions - h ha ha ha
Thanks so very very much for a fantastic Australian look at our past!
June 20, 2018
This book should come with a warning ... beware reading in public as you are likely to be stared at as you laugh out loud and chuckle at Ben's satirical recap of Australian history. Of course, if you are of a conservative bent you are more likely to be spluttering and shaking with faux rage ...
January 18, 2020
it's kinda funny. but then again, he complains about bigots in government, then turns around and tells the story of the country solely from the perspective of the white english speaking dudes. classic
March 3, 2022
The author is trying too hard to be "funny" throughout the book. One must sift fact from fiction all the time and becomes painful. I would not recommend if you were looking for clear historical facts on Australia’s history.
November 1, 2022
challenging dark funny informative reflective medium-paced
3.25
Funny version of Australian history and doesn't shy way from the dark topics.
Spoiler
Only draw back is the second half is federal government over load so some history is left out.
3.25
Funny version of Australian history and doesn't shy way from the dark topics.
Spoiler
Only draw back is the second half is federal government over load so some history is left out.
December 8, 2017
Most enjoyable. Many very funny moments.
March 27, 2018
The funniest book I've ever read.
May 10, 2018
Brilliant - a great "real" history of Australia.
September 30, 2018
3.75 stars. Entertaining romp through Australian history.
October 20, 2019
A wickedly funny and yet embarrassing romp through Australia's history
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews