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On Series (Little Books, Big Ideas)
On Identity
Bestselling author Stan Grant explores how identity is being hijacked to incite hate
Stan Grant asks why when it comes to identity he is asked to choose between black and white. Is identity a myth? A constructed story we tell ourselves? Tribalism, nationalism and sectarianism are dividing the world into us and them. Communities are a tinderbox of anger and resentment. He passionately hopes we are not hard wired for hate. Grant argues that it is time to leave identity behind and to embrace cosmopolitanism. On Identity is a meditation on hope and community.
Stan Grant asks why when it comes to identity he is asked to choose between black and white. Is identity a myth? A constructed story we tell ourselves? Tribalism, nationalism and sectarianism are dividing the world into us and them. Communities are a tinderbox of anger and resentment. He passionately hopes we are not hard wired for hate. Grant argues that it is time to leave identity behind and to embrace cosmopolitanism. On Identity is a meditation on hope and community.
95 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
21 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Stan Grant
30 books196 followersStan Grant is a journalist and the Charles Sturt University Vice- Chancellor’s Chair of Australian/Indigenous Belonging.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 27, 2020
Stan Grant is a television journalist who has worked for both commercial and public broadcasters. His Wikipedia entry is out of date but gives some idea of the range of his experience https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Gr...
Only recently he has left Australia to work in Doha for Al-Jazeera, a move that has received so little publicity that I can only believe he doesn’t want to discuss the reasons. Perhaps this little book helps explain why – there he won’t have to choose from amongst his strands of ancestry as identity label, but can be free in exile.
He is ‘a self-identified Indigenous Australian who counts himself among the Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Dharrawal and Irish. His identities embrace all and exclude none’. In Australia, the colour of your skin has determined where and how you could live, ever since Europeans occupied the continent in 1788, and to achieve what he aims for is systemically almost impossible..
This little book is a deep plea to put aside typical labels ascribing identity. And because of his own experiences the emphasis is on skin colour, used here to define race.
Grant writes, ‘The worst thing that happened to me was being born what was termed ‘black’. It is also the greatest thing to happen to me. The worst is that my fate – at times in history whether someone like me would live or die- could be so arbitrarily decided by others. To be born black meant always having to explain myself, because I wasn't really black at all. If I am the sum of genes, I’m as white as I am black’.
He reflects on whiteness – whiteness is not a colour, but a source of power, a power not accessible to a ‘half-caste’.
The debates in Australia about who can claim Indigenous identity are complicated, heated and often vicious, with extreme pressure exerted on public figures like Grant to take sides, to identify solely with one group – something he rejects in his core.
‘Identity does not liberate; it binds… [it] becomes a prison-house. We are locked in with only those who are deemed our own for company’, by collective memories and, in the case of many indigenous Australians, collective grief. ‘Am I to believe that I am forever on the losing end, mu memories will only be the memories of wounds? This narrative of grief distorts our genes – scientists call this epigenetic inheritance, the collective memory chokes off our biology, some genes cannot express themselves; they are stunted. It ends in mental illness, heart disease
What he wants is space to write [and to live, though he doesn't explicitly say this] free from blackness and whiteness.
He wants to live free of hate, free of the tyrannies that can arise from identity politics, keeping people in their own lanes, in cages, behind walls.
The last section is a call for love – between individuals, across divides of race and colour, for humanity and for freedom. ‘Identity withers under intense gaze; it is hollow at its core. But love endures even when hope has died’.
Throughout he refers to writers whose ideas and lives have influenced his thinking. In this last section he draws on James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Hegel and Alexander Solzhenitsyn. His final image is taken from Solzhenitsyn, of prisoners in a Soviet gulag asking new arrivals not which town or region they were from, but ‘Are you from freedom’?
And that’s where Grant places himself. Outside the cage, outside the walls within which there can be no liberation.
It took me less than an hour to read On Identity but I will come back to it, and to Grant’s more substantial books.
I have already missed him from our television screens. What a loss to Australia. I hope it’s not permanent, and I hope his chosen exile allows him to find the freedom he seeks.
August 19, 2019
Peter Carey describes this book as a "rigorous and generous argument." The latter perhaps, but not really the former. It's more of a poetic meditation on the perils of narrow, exclusive identifications with and/or by others, calling on Grant's remarkable range of literary acquaintances as witnesses.
June 22, 2019
This is a small book but full of punch. I will be coming back to read this again and again, to remember there are different ways of approaching the idea of identity in an age that is seemingly fixated on it.
March 7, 2022
As I write this, Putin is pounding Ukraine because of some mystical Russian "identity", as if the cities and humans being broken were an Other to be destroyed by his anger. So much that is attributed to identity is irrelevant to the humans we are and to those around us. Writing lyrically and with passion, Stan Grant challenges us to set aside our cultural notions of identity and embrace a more cosmopolitan view. He packs a lot of thought-provoking ideas into this short volume.
March 5, 2020
This short read has challenged my understanding of accepted ideas about identity. Great read.
April 11, 2020
Stan Grant’s contribution to the Melbourne University Press Little Books on Big Ideas series is called On Identity. I’ve read a few others in the series: David Malouf’s On Experience; Susan Johnson’s On Beauty; Germaine Greer’s On Rape; Paul Daley’s On Patriotism and On Fairness by Sally McManus. I like these books: one can read them in an hour but they deliver ideas to think about for a lot longer than that.
Not so long ago, Sue at Whispering Gums reported on Mark Kenny in conversation with Stan Grant and that was why I pounced on this book as soon as I saw it in The Bookshop at Queenscliff. (I was in too much bother with a whiplash injury to do a blog post about that: it will have to suffice to say that I had a lovely time at Bloomsday and many thanks to the bookshop for putting it on.)
This is the blurb for On Identity:
Stan Grant asks why when it comes to identity he is asked to choose between black and white. Is identity a myth? A constructed story we tell ourselves? Tribalism, nationalism and sectarianism are dividing the world into us and them. Communities are a tinderbox of anger and resentment. He passionately hopes we are not hard wired for hate. Grant argues that it is time to leave identity behind and to embrace cosmopolitanism. On Identity is a meditation on hope and community.
Grant takes issue with identity politics because it has become a battleground. It holds the battle for power, our politics or ideology, our faith or our atheism, all our love and hate. In that space we become strangers, even strangers to ourselves.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/07/11/o...
Not so long ago, Sue at Whispering Gums reported on Mark Kenny in conversation with Stan Grant and that was why I pounced on this book as soon as I saw it in The Bookshop at Queenscliff. (I was in too much bother with a whiplash injury to do a blog post about that: it will have to suffice to say that I had a lovely time at Bloomsday and many thanks to the bookshop for putting it on.)
This is the blurb for On Identity:
Stan Grant asks why when it comes to identity he is asked to choose between black and white. Is identity a myth? A constructed story we tell ourselves? Tribalism, nationalism and sectarianism are dividing the world into us and them. Communities are a tinderbox of anger and resentment. He passionately hopes we are not hard wired for hate. Grant argues that it is time to leave identity behind and to embrace cosmopolitanism. On Identity is a meditation on hope and community.
Grant takes issue with identity politics because it has become a battleground. It holds the battle for power, our politics or ideology, our faith or our atheism, all our love and hate. In that space we become strangers, even strangers to ourselves.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/07/11/o...
June 23, 2019
Towards the end of this essay Stan Grant lists three privileges in identity; two of which I am. I therefore respond to this essay with caution. Grant’s writing style is beautiful; it’s so vivid and visual and there is a wonderful flow to it. For example, Grant visually articulates how limiting a ‘tick box’ is to one’s whole self and he goes on to use this as a metaphor of identity being imprisonment rather than freedom throughout the essay.
He presents a persuasive argument to challenge the modern day obsession with identity. However, while I agree with his general premise - that identity creates more division than unity, I am not entirely convinced that if we just choose love, and choose a collective memory of strength rather than weakness/victimisation we don’t risk continuing to overlook or disregard persecution and marginalisation of some people/s... because of their identity or an aspect of their identity.
He presents a persuasive argument to challenge the modern day obsession with identity. However, while I agree with his general premise - that identity creates more division than unity, I am not entirely convinced that if we just choose love, and choose a collective memory of strength rather than weakness/victimisation we don’t risk continuing to overlook or disregard persecution and marginalisation of some people/s... because of their identity or an aspect of their identity.
September 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this (book) essay which features in the series from MUP. He lands in quite a profound place - pursuing identity will only divide is; pursuing love as our paradigm will bring us together. He critiques the (well meaning) identity warriors and draws on a myriad of historians and philosophers.
What’s interesting is that he mentions Jesus towards the end but misses the most profound point - when we recognise that we are all united by our being made in the image of God, we find out true identity in the one who is love - Jesus himself. If we were all to come to Jesus as loving King we would find both identity and love.
Nevertheless... A good read.
What’s interesting is that he mentions Jesus towards the end but misses the most profound point - when we recognise that we are all united by our being made in the image of God, we find out true identity in the one who is love - Jesus himself. If we were all to come to Jesus as loving King we would find both identity and love.
Nevertheless... A good read.
February 24, 2021
The OnSeries is a fabulous idea - little books with big ideas. This one by Stan Grant is a great insight in to his mediations on the concept of identity, and how identity is perhaps restricting people rather than allowing them to be themselves.
One of my favourite lines is:
“All the words in the world and what it is to be human are distilled into just those two: freedom and love.” - (p. 92)
Freedom and love; hope and community; self and other. A beautifully written snippet on how our identity, and the ways we identify others, is probably more problematic than we think.
One of my favourite lines is:
“All the words in the world and what it is to be human are distilled into just those two: freedom and love.” - (p. 92)
Freedom and love; hope and community; self and other. A beautifully written snippet on how our identity, and the ways we identify others, is probably more problematic than we think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2019
Stan Grant, journalist and commentator, has dealt with the themes on this ‘On Identity’ essay through his other recent publications as well with Talking to My Country in 2016 and Australia Day in 2019. The biographical outline at the start of the book (which I assume he approved) describes him as a “self-identified Indigenous Australian who counts himself among the Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Dharrawal and Irish.”...
This is a very poetic book, woven through with allusions to various writers and philosophers – none of whom are cited directly or referenced, so you just have to take his word for it. There is certainly the resonance of The Preacher in his writing, which I find rather off-putting....The book reads out loud beautifully (particularly for a spiritually-inclined gathering), but then I found myself wondering “but what does that actually mean?”
For such a small book, I found it rather slippery.
My complete review is at
http://residentjudge.com/2019/07/10/o...
This is a very poetic book, woven through with allusions to various writers and philosophers – none of whom are cited directly or referenced, so you just have to take his word for it. There is certainly the resonance of The Preacher in his writing, which I find rather off-putting....The book reads out loud beautifully (particularly for a spiritually-inclined gathering), but then I found myself wondering “but what does that actually mean?”
For such a small book, I found it rather slippery.
My complete review is at
http://residentjudge.com/2019/07/10/o...
May 27, 2025
I read this book as a companion to Song of Time - also by Stan Grant.
There is some overlap, as the question of identity comes up as Stan (I prefer to use his first name) wrestles with both his indigenous and white ancestry. In trying to acknowledge, even marry the two Stan seems perpetually troubled.
He does not like the word identity and doesn't like to define himself in this regard.
He seems conflicted in ways that, in his mind, deny one side or the other.
He begins by relating his confusion of having to tick a box for his passport - in two minds how to process his indigenous heritage and his white grandmother.
Stan Grant is always well read and articulate, but I sense he is not at peace, nor will he be, while his indigenous brothers and sisters are not at peace.
A quick little book to read - bought after listening to Stan Grant at Adelaide Writers Week 2025.
There is some overlap, as the question of identity comes up as Stan (I prefer to use his first name) wrestles with both his indigenous and white ancestry. In trying to acknowledge, even marry the two Stan seems perpetually troubled.
He does not like the word identity and doesn't like to define himself in this regard.
He seems conflicted in ways that, in his mind, deny one side or the other.
He begins by relating his confusion of having to tick a box for his passport - in two minds how to process his indigenous heritage and his white grandmother.
Stan Grant is always well read and articulate, but I sense he is not at peace, nor will he be, while his indigenous brothers and sisters are not at peace.
A quick little book to read - bought after listening to Stan Grant at Adelaide Writers Week 2025.
May 16, 2022
I really enjoyed Stan Grant’s exposition on identity and collective memories that haunts living people who are chained to a particular identity. It defines us against each other and blocks us from seeing each other as a collection of each person’s lived experience. I found the book quite refreshing in this current political climate of identity politics. However, I think a bit more on Grant’s thinking of the intersectionality of lived experience and culture/nationality/class would have been insightful. How do we hold certain countries to account for historical acts that impact the lived experience of others even today. Does the fact that we don’t see identity mean there are no reparations payable by those who benefit even today from sharing nationhood / race with their ancestors?
October 30, 2019
Stan Grant continuously finds himself at a cross roads having to choose between his multiple Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Irish identities. For Grant they are inseparable, for him the process of choosing allegiance to one sole identity is the catalyst to simplistic/binary thinking and what ultimately divides society; it is the cause for hate, conflict and difference.
Grant shares his utter frustration in having to relentlessly choose between his multiple identities. Throughout the book he draws on the experiences of other philosophers and poets who have shared or similar lived experiences with their own ‘identity crisis’. As always Grant does not disappoint and writes beautifully.
Grant shares his utter frustration in having to relentlessly choose between his multiple identities. Throughout the book he draws on the experiences of other philosophers and poets who have shared or similar lived experiences with their own ‘identity crisis’. As always Grant does not disappoint and writes beautifully.
November 20, 2020
I can't say much to this book because I don't feel as though I have a right to.
But the analysis that Stan Grant takes us through by breaking down his interpretation of Indigenous Writer's work was well developed and thought out. Love is the central topic in this book and what I found was exceptionally important to mention was how can someone completely embrace their identity and not dissociate with their ancestors at the same time. In other words, how can Stan Grant be the person that he is, an Aboriginal Australian, and not hide the fact that one of his parents are white? Truly eye opening and this would absolutely be an amazing book for non Australians to read so that they can understand some of this countries historical context.
But the analysis that Stan Grant takes us through by breaking down his interpretation of Indigenous Writer's work was well developed and thought out. Love is the central topic in this book and what I found was exceptionally important to mention was how can someone completely embrace their identity and not dissociate with their ancestors at the same time. In other words, how can Stan Grant be the person that he is, an Aboriginal Australian, and not hide the fact that one of his parents are white? Truly eye opening and this would absolutely be an amazing book for non Australians to read so that they can understand some of this countries historical context.
January 6, 2020
I read this essay on the same day I finished reading Australia Day, so it was almost a compendium to that bigger book, but it further clarified and expanded the ideas of identity that Stan puts forward. As a white person, I was so interested to read his take on the fact that white people never have to think about identity - I have never had to think about the fact I am white. And it did become somewhat uncomfortable, but that one line made me push through the thoughts of 'enough already'. A highly recommended read.
September 27, 2022
Beautifully written & easy to absorb while inviting you to reflect on your own identity and interactions with others.
Something that stuck out to me in this one:
To the victors history is an inventory, a glorious wall of remembrance - names, dates, times, places. For the victim, history is an autopsy, what remains of the dead. How they died - a violent death, an unjust death - comes to matter more than how they lived. Resentment becomes the iron in the blood of identity loss.
Something that stuck out to me in this one:
To the victors history is an inventory, a glorious wall of remembrance - names, dates, times, places. For the victim, history is an autopsy, what remains of the dead. How they died - a violent death, an unjust death - comes to matter more than how they lived. Resentment becomes the iron in the blood of identity loss.
March 22, 2025
powerful and thought provoking
A thoughtful and passionate dissection of the hatred, divisiveness and moral bankruptcy of identity politics and those who preach its lies.
This powerful and thought provoking essay that argues the antidote is love. Not the romantic love of poets but the hard uncompromising love that ordinary people have for friends, family, community and the freedom to live life without hate.
A thoughtful and passionate dissection of the hatred, divisiveness and moral bankruptcy of identity politics and those who preach its lies.
This powerful and thought provoking essay that argues the antidote is love. Not the romantic love of poets but the hard uncompromising love that ordinary people have for friends, family, community and the freedom to live life without hate.
August 23, 2021
This is a fantastic read, heartbreaking but also thought provoking. I can't do it justice in a review, but here are a few fantastic quotes.
'Being white is a passport to glorious anonymity.'
'We were made to wage war against it, just to exist.'
It is the head of Medusa - to look upon identity turns me to stone.
'Being white is a passport to glorious anonymity.'
'We were made to wage war against it, just to exist.'
It is the head of Medusa - to look upon identity turns me to stone.
July 20, 2023
I love Stan's writing style and learned from insights into the issues with identity, which was new for me and not my usual read. At times i found the book strongly dismissive of people who do claim identities and in which identity is important to them.
August 22, 2019
Concise and thought-provoking.
January 23, 2020
"The soul-eroding, stultifying, expectations of identity. The demand that you will be this and no other. You will only exist in opposites. Differences will define you."
February 25, 2020
What a beautifully written essay Stan Grant has given us. Everyone everywhere should read this
March 1, 2020
This would be an excellent book for the HSC
June 20, 2021
Beautifully written but he lost me in the last third.
June 20, 2021
Great essay.
February 28, 2022
A wonderful and enlightening essay on Identity Politics.
October 17, 2022
Great company on your commute to wherever
November 26, 2023
Grant’s words provide deep moments of reflection. Love and freedom are offered as what matters. I will return to this book again and again.
June 5, 2024
An amazing book! I always learn so much from Stans readings; he probes and provokes so much important ideas around identity. Highly recommend!
July 22, 2020
This little book covers some big ideas in a time when society seems obsessed with identity - in politics, race, nationalism, gender, etc. Grant argues that identity is a construction that creates an us and them mentality - couldn't agree more. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews