What do you think?
Rate this book
Upturn: A better normal after COVID-19
COVID-19 has resulted in changes none of us could have imagined, but what happens next?
If you had asked most people a year ago, they would have told you there was no way that school children could shift overnight to online learning; that it was impossible for banks to offer mortgage holidays; impossible to double unemployment benefits; impossible to house rough sleepers or put a hold on evictions; impossible to offer wages subsidies and definitely impossible to get Australians to stay home from the beach and the pub. But we did it.
In Upturn Tanya Plibersek brings together some of the country's most interesting thinkers who are ready to imagine a better Australia, and to fight for it. It is a compelling vision for a stronger economy, a fairer society and a more environmentally sustainable future.
If you had asked most people a year ago, they would have told you there was no way that school children could shift overnight to online learning; that it was impossible for banks to offer mortgage holidays; impossible to double unemployment benefits; impossible to house rough sleepers or put a hold on evictions; impossible to offer wages subsidies and definitely impossible to get Australians to stay home from the beach and the pub. But we did it.
In Upturn Tanya Plibersek brings together some of the country's most interesting thinkers who are ready to imagine a better Australia, and to fight for it. It is a compelling vision for a stronger economy, a fairer society and a more environmentally sustainable future.
240 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 15, 2021
An interesting read. Not the kind of book I usually go for, but "unprecedented times" call for unprecedented reading! Plibersek has gathered contributions from some of our most important critical thinkers and researchers. From young apprentices impacted by losing work, to better known figures such as Peter Garrett Gareth Evans, Jenny Mackie and Sally McManus; this book has much to say about the kind of society Australia is, and offers glimpses of the community it could be.
Aspirational and inspirational.
Aspirational and inspirational.
July 25, 2021
Tanya Plibersek has collected a number of pieces from an eclectic mix of authors to write about how they envision life after COVID-19.
The main theme coming out of these contributions is that, when put under pressure, we can be flexible, we can make changes that benefit everyone and we can look out for those most vulnerable in our community - although we could probably have done better.
The big question coming out of this is, once things get back to normal (whatever normal turns out to be) will we continue to allow flexible working arrangements, will there be support for small business, will social payments be set at a level that can allow someone to actually put food on their table?
With these pieces being written around mid 2020 there was possibly still some idealism about how and when we would come out of this. But now we are in the second half of 2021 and there is still no end to lockdowns, inequality, discrimination and a lack of kindness that makes you wonder where has the human spirit gone.
If there was ever a global crisis that gave us the opportunity to act as one, to help those most in need, to bring fairness and equity into the equation and to show kindness, this was it, but sadly as a global population we have failed and those with the most money are the ones that can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The main theme coming out of these contributions is that, when put under pressure, we can be flexible, we can make changes that benefit everyone and we can look out for those most vulnerable in our community - although we could probably have done better.
The big question coming out of this is, once things get back to normal (whatever normal turns out to be) will we continue to allow flexible working arrangements, will there be support for small business, will social payments be set at a level that can allow someone to actually put food on their table?
With these pieces being written around mid 2020 there was possibly still some idealism about how and when we would come out of this. But now we are in the second half of 2021 and there is still no end to lockdowns, inequality, discrimination and a lack of kindness that makes you wonder where has the human spirit gone.
If there was ever a global crisis that gave us the opportunity to act as one, to help those most in need, to bring fairness and equity into the equation and to show kindness, this was it, but sadly as a global population we have failed and those with the most money are the ones that can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
January 13, 2021
I should explain why I am giving this 3 stars (and not 4 as I was tempted to).
Some of the chapters in here are a little vague or obvious - they don’t trace a meaningful vision of post-COVID Australia. These are usually chapters written by politicians, where they become more concerned landing punches on the opposite team (which I found quite tiresome for a book that promised hope).
The best chapters are those written by academics, industry people, and some of the more thoughtful retired pollies (Greg Combet and Gareth Evans’ contributions are particularly good). These are insightful and interesting - and the back half of the book tends to be stronger for that reason.
The other issue is, of course, that any book written about the pandemic in the middle of the pandemic is bound to date *quickly* (Žižek released one around April 2020 and geez that was early in the ride...). This book suffers the same problem: many predictions, issues and ideas are seen through the lens of the current news cycle. The authors who manage to break away from that habit take a longer view of problems and prosperity.
If you’re going to read this, duck into the chapters that interest you and skim first before committing to a deep read. Thankfully most clearly summarise their key ideas or contributions, those that are vague tend not to.
Some of the chapters in here are a little vague or obvious - they don’t trace a meaningful vision of post-COVID Australia. These are usually chapters written by politicians, where they become more concerned landing punches on the opposite team (which I found quite tiresome for a book that promised hope).
The best chapters are those written by academics, industry people, and some of the more thoughtful retired pollies (Greg Combet and Gareth Evans’ contributions are particularly good). These are insightful and interesting - and the back half of the book tends to be stronger for that reason.
The other issue is, of course, that any book written about the pandemic in the middle of the pandemic is bound to date *quickly* (Žižek released one around April 2020 and geez that was early in the ride...). This book suffers the same problem: many predictions, issues and ideas are seen through the lens of the current news cycle. The authors who manage to break away from that habit take a longer view of problems and prosperity.
If you’re going to read this, duck into the chapters that interest you and skim first before committing to a deep read. Thankfully most clearly summarise their key ideas or contributions, those that are vague tend not to.
March 18, 2021
Really interesting to read different points of view for how Australia should focus itself post-COVID. And the authors are well known in their fields of expertise which I think adds weight to their opinions. There were many commonalities too which was good to see. It would be good to see how all the ideas could possibly interweave and work together.
September 11, 2021
Well, this was a hopeful volume of essays published late last year, when Australia thought we had gotten through the worst of the impacts of the pandemic. Seems to almost mock us now, with so many areas where we were patting ourselves on the back then, have been rolled back to dire settings by the current government and cluster management.
Discussions about renewable energy development, science and technology, and education focus. The need for better wage growth and income support for a long term economic outcomes. The pivot to working from home, the new appreciation for one's neighbourhood.
The impacts on women here are powerful, and some of the standout pieces. The superannuation pictures, about the infuriating policy to allow people to access their future safety net in the peak of 2020 lockdowns, rather than eventual financial assistance are disheartening truths.
The farming chapters were where much of my previously unknown new knowledge came from.
Many of these thoughts could be a positive, hopeful platform to launch for the coming election, if the Opposition has the spine to do so.
Sadly, the voices of the disabled, and those of refugees, are missing here, as they are in much of the positive political discourse of Australia.
Discussions about renewable energy development, science and technology, and education focus. The need for better wage growth and income support for a long term economic outcomes. The pivot to working from home, the new appreciation for one's neighbourhood.
The impacts on women here are powerful, and some of the standout pieces. The superannuation pictures, about the infuriating policy to allow people to access their future safety net in the peak of 2020 lockdowns, rather than eventual financial assistance are disheartening truths.
The farming chapters were where much of my previously unknown new knowledge came from.
Many of these thoughts could be a positive, hopeful platform to launch for the coming election, if the Opposition has the spine to do so.
Sadly, the voices of the disabled, and those of refugees, are missing here, as they are in much of the positive political discourse of Australia.
January 5, 2022
Nowhere as deep or analytical as one might hope, but so far one of the better Aussie Covid books I've read.
December 25, 2020
Some interesting perspectives on how progressive Government policy in all areas of life, could assist in moving Australia forward post COVID-19.
December 28, 2021
An interesting collection of 30 short essays by a very wide group of people including politicians journalists, economists, academics, scientists, unionists, activists and celebrities. All discussing their thoughts on how Australia can learn from the covid experience how to improve the quality of life in our country.
I think I would have preferred to have fewer, longer articles. There's not much you can achieve in a four page article. But some of the ideas were interesting and you can always follow them up by reading the books that most of the contributors have written which are often referred to in the introduction to each essay.
I think I would have preferred to have fewer, longer articles. There's not much you can achieve in a four page article. But some of the ideas were interesting and you can always follow them up by reading the books that most of the contributors have written which are often referred to in the introduction to each essay.
February 11, 2022
This was a fascinating read and provided a wide range of refreshing takes on some of the most pressing issues our country is facing.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews