2020: The Year That Changed Us

by Molly Glassey (Editor)

In January 2020, Australia went from battling one of its worst-ever bushfire seasons to preparing for COVID-19 to hit its shores. What ensued was crisis: a pandemic, political upheaval, an international human rights movement, global recession and localised emergencies dwarfed by a world spinning on an axis of turmoil.

These essays from leading thinkers and contributors to The Conversation examine what will be one of the most significant and punishing years in the 21st century. 2020: The Year That Changed Us explores the key lessons from this remarkable year and kickstarts the discussion about what comes next.

Contributors include:
Michelle Grattan
Peter Martin
Raina MacIntyre
Joëlle Gergis
Peter Greste
Thalia Anthony
Shino Konishi
Fiona Stanley

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

Reviews

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving on ….

This book edited by Molly Glassey, includes fifty essays which provide a six part look at 2020 and at what might happen next.

Most of us will remember the bushfires that saw out 2019 and saw in 2020. Many of those who lost their homes are still waiting to have those homes rebuilt. And after the bushfires some of us experienced hailstorms, and then others were flooded. Before we could catch our collective breath, the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Here we are in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continues. There has been a global recession, political turmoil, and several other disasters. Life (for those of us fortunate enough to be alive) has changed. International travel is a distant dream (or a nightmare, depending on your viewpoint), mask-wearing and social distancing are part of life.

These fifty essays, from contributors to ‘The Conversation’ examine 2020 and start discussion about what might happen next.

The contributors include: Michelle Grattan, Peter Martin, Raina MacIntyre, Joëlle Gergis, Peter Greste, Thalia Anthony, Shino Konishi, Fiona Stanley, Benjamin Scheele, Jacinta Koolmatrie, Susan Carland, Geoff Plimmer.

While I found all the essays valuable, I was most interested in Part III ‘The New World’.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Theodora Zourkas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well curated (in themes) and interesting read about the year 2020 reported in Australia.
A selection of articles published (on line) on The Conversation covering a wide range of topics. Insightful writing, especially about how do we go aboiut defining what is the new normal, especially now we are in 2021? The only suggestion I would make is to add the date the article was originally published, given the reporting was based on what we knew at the time, and we are now reading the the book after the fact.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four years since publication, this book falls between two stools - the news items are too old to be current affairs and to recent to be history. They are mostly well-written however and some of them are still of interest. My favourite story was about the long slow decline of the corner stores that were a big part of communities up to the 1970s but virtually disappeared completely and are now re-emerging in new formats.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good retrospective on what was a chaotic year for Australia. Good for picking and choosing articles that seem interesting. Felt a bit like reading the news crossed with reliving covid mania, so not exactly a joy to read

[Philip Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commentary on that memorable year from the diverse expert contributors to The Conversation. Worth having.