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Doing Politics: Writing on Public Life
Since the 1980s Judith Brett has been helping to shape Australians’ conversations about politics, bringing a historian’s eye to contemporary issues and probing the psychology of our prime ministers. Her writings about Liberal Party leaders have been widely influential, especially her famous 1984 essay ‘Robert Menzies’ Forgotten People’ and her prize-winning book of the same name, as well as her analysis of John Howard’s nationalism.
She has interrogated some our most perplexing issues: multiculturalism, the politics of rural Australia, the republic, mining and climate change, our electoral traditions, the way ordinary people do politics, the decline of universities. Always she writes as a citizen for her fellow citizens, in her distinctive voice: probing, accessible and wry.
Doing Politics brings together the finest essays by the author of The Enigmatic Mr Deakin, From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage and the Quarterly Essay ‘The Coal Curse’.
She has interrogated some our most perplexing issues: multiculturalism, the politics of rural Australia, the republic, mining and climate change, our electoral traditions, the way ordinary people do politics, the decline of universities. Always she writes as a citizen for her fellow citizens, in her distinctive voice: probing, accessible and wry.
Doing Politics brings together the finest essays by the author of The Enigmatic Mr Deakin, From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage and the Quarterly Essay ‘The Coal Curse’.
336 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2021
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About the author
Judith Brett
22 books23 followersJudith Brett is the author of Quarterly Essay 19, Relaxed and Comfortable: The Liberal Party’s Australia, Robert Menzies’ Forgotten People and Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class: From Alfred Deakin to John Howard and a regular commentator for The Monthly. She is professor of politics at La Trobe University.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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February 8, 2022The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Doing Politics
'Judith Brett brings historical depth to her wise insights into contemporary politics.’
Laura Tingle
‘[Doing Politics explores] how we got into our current political moral morass. Brett is one of the most readable of our public intellectuals…In this timely collection Brett so clearly—and tragically—encapsulates what’s wrong with our politics and our universities today.’
Books+Publishing
'If you’re newly enfranchised, or have an existing interest in politics and history, or still can’t comprehend the exasperating events of this last decade, please read this vital work.’
Readings
‘What distinguishes Brett’s collection of essays is their scholarly depth and habit of enquiry. They prompt thought before they invite agreement…Doing Politics has a broad span, appropriate to its title…[It] is the revelation of a lifetime’s groundwork in understanding our history, the way we interact, what we value, and the particular structures Australia has built to buttress our democracy, our way of life…But more than that, what emerges…is a personal account of intellectual and moral formation and growth…And in case you think she is the earnest swot she confesses to having once been, read her final chapter on “The Chook in the Australian Unconscious”. It’s a bobby-dazzler.’
Morag Fraser, Australian Book Review
‘Judith Brett, emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University, public intellectual extraordinaire, well deserves to be saluted…Doing Politics is a feast…Historical insight, breadth and intellectual rigour.’
Linda Jaivin, Saturday Paper
‘[An] outstanding collection of essays…Judith Brett brings [a] nuanced psychoanalytic lens to much of her work on history and public figures, exploring the “deep sources of political energy” that drive individuals.’
Age/SMH
’A complex, realistic, and optimistic picture of the past, present, and future of our country’s politics...Doing Politics is essential reading for everyone who believes not only in a better future but a better present, and that we have the tools to build them now. It will leave readers nodding in agreement, infused with Brett’s optimism about our country’s political future.’
ArtsHub
‘Doing Politics is a neat collection—that could well have been half as long again—of one of the most searching writers on the politics of the everyday and everyday politics, not merely here but anywhere.’
Guy Rundle, Crikey
'Judith Brett brings historical depth to her wise insights into contemporary politics.’
Laura Tingle
‘[Doing Politics explores] how we got into our current political moral morass. Brett is one of the most readable of our public intellectuals…In this timely collection Brett so clearly—and tragically—encapsulates what’s wrong with our politics and our universities today.’
Books+Publishing
'If you’re newly enfranchised, or have an existing interest in politics and history, or still can’t comprehend the exasperating events of this last decade, please read this vital work.’
Readings
‘What distinguishes Brett’s collection of essays is their scholarly depth and habit of enquiry. They prompt thought before they invite agreement…Doing Politics has a broad span, appropriate to its title…[It] is the revelation of a lifetime’s groundwork in understanding our history, the way we interact, what we value, and the particular structures Australia has built to buttress our democracy, our way of life…But more than that, what emerges…is a personal account of intellectual and moral formation and growth…And in case you think she is the earnest swot she confesses to having once been, read her final chapter on “The Chook in the Australian Unconscious”. It’s a bobby-dazzler.’
Morag Fraser, Australian Book Review
‘Judith Brett, emeritus professor of politics at La Trobe University, public intellectual extraordinaire, well deserves to be saluted…Doing Politics is a feast…Historical insight, breadth and intellectual rigour.’
Linda Jaivin, Saturday Paper
‘[An] outstanding collection of essays…Judith Brett brings [a] nuanced psychoanalytic lens to much of her work on history and public figures, exploring the “deep sources of political energy” that drive individuals.’
Age/SMH
’A complex, realistic, and optimistic picture of the past, present, and future of our country’s politics...Doing Politics is essential reading for everyone who believes not only in a better future but a better present, and that we have the tools to build them now. It will leave readers nodding in agreement, infused with Brett’s optimism about our country’s political future.’
ArtsHub
‘Doing Politics is a neat collection—that could well have been half as long again—of one of the most searching writers on the politics of the everyday and everyday politics, not merely here but anywhere.’
Guy Rundle, Crikey
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March 2, 2022It has taken quite a few weeks to read this important book - so much food for thought. It consists of a series of essays, talks and reviews written by Judith Brett over her career as a historian, biographer and public intellectual. It is a timely publication for all of us entangled with the political machinations leading to a Federal Election. In her Alfred Deakin Oration 'Alfred Deakin and Minority Government' (2015) Brett reminds us that the two-party system was enshrined in the Australian constitution and that several times Deakin successfully led a minority government with the help of one (or other) side of politics, depending on the issue at hand.
Her essays on prime ministers - Menzies (Forgotten People), Howard (the Australian Legend and Howard's Blemish), Rudd (Narcissism), Gillard (that speech), Abbott (Climate Denial), Turnbull (Optimism) and Morrison (Quiet Australians) - open perspectives not previously considered.
In Parts III & IV, Brett turns the spotlight on aspects of Australian society as diverse as multiculturalism, the history of 'the meeting', the decline in trust of parliament, the success of the way elections are conducted in Australia, the city/country divide and the thorny issue of climate change.
Her essay on the bureaucratisation of (academic) writing and even more significantly, ’The Bin Fire of the Humanities’ in which she laments the 'turf wars’ that have sprung up isolating and alienating subjects in the sciences and the humanities, are as fascinating as they are disturbing.
The last essay in the anthology, 'The Chook in the Australian Unconscious' is a delight.
Her essays on prime ministers - Menzies (Forgotten People), Howard (the Australian Legend and Howard's Blemish), Rudd (Narcissism), Gillard (that speech), Abbott (Climate Denial), Turnbull (Optimism) and Morrison (Quiet Australians) - open perspectives not previously considered.
In Parts III & IV, Brett turns the spotlight on aspects of Australian society as diverse as multiculturalism, the history of 'the meeting', the decline in trust of parliament, the success of the way elections are conducted in Australia, the city/country divide and the thorny issue of climate change.
Her essay on the bureaucratisation of (academic) writing and even more significantly, ’The Bin Fire of the Humanities’ in which she laments the 'turf wars’ that have sprung up isolating and alienating subjects in the sciences and the humanities, are as fascinating as they are disturbing.
The last essay in the anthology, 'The Chook in the Australian Unconscious' is a delight.
January 3, 2022
I've reached the point where when I see a book by Judith Brett I don't need to read an explanation or blurb, I can confidently just purchase the book.
In Brett's collection of essays, she covers a large range of political and historical topics - particularly on prime ministers and Australian political issues like the country/city rift and climate change's precarious prioritisation against coal but also on her own past academic work and how she has approached her writing and her preference for psychoanalytic theory although it seems to me her historical expertise means her political takes bring in elements of new historicism as well.
As someone who just wants to read more about Australian pre-50s non-war nation-building, Brett has been terrific and my favourites of hers are Democracy Sausage and Engimatic Mr Deakin. Modern politics is fascinating also, if less inspiring, so I particularly enjoyed those bigger picture parts of this book although all was interesting with another highlight in her lament for the loss of Humanities teaching in universities.
Telling is that this book could have been named On Politics, in a classic philosophical tradition. Instead Brett focuses her intent on what we can learn and use from her analysis, making the title Doing Politics instead.
Well worth a read for anyone interested in a educated take on Australian politics.
In Brett's collection of essays, she covers a large range of political and historical topics - particularly on prime ministers and Australian political issues like the country/city rift and climate change's precarious prioritisation against coal but also on her own past academic work and how she has approached her writing and her preference for psychoanalytic theory although it seems to me her historical expertise means her political takes bring in elements of new historicism as well.
As someone who just wants to read more about Australian pre-50s non-war nation-building, Brett has been terrific and my favourites of hers are Democracy Sausage and Engimatic Mr Deakin. Modern politics is fascinating also, if less inspiring, so I particularly enjoyed those bigger picture parts of this book although all was interesting with another highlight in her lament for the loss of Humanities teaching in universities.
Telling is that this book could have been named On Politics, in a classic philosophical tradition. Instead Brett focuses her intent on what we can learn and use from her analysis, making the title Doing Politics instead.
Well worth a read for anyone interested in a educated take on Australian politics.
February 2, 2025
Judith Brett is a brillant historian and writer. She is truly a public intellectual, contributing a significant and engaging voice to public discourse. As she highlights, this is unfortunately a dwindling space as digital channels and algorithms divide and minimise our spaces for good faith discussion on matters of public interest. Folks who are truly interested in learning and forming ideas would love this series of essays.
June 25, 2022
Rating because the writing was excellent, but a bit of a slog to get through. Some stellar essays included.
June 1, 2023
like all collections, some shine better than others. but brett's the king so who cares.
April 9, 2024
absolutely fantastic, judith brett is one of the best political writers in australia. sharp, insightful, well communicated, it’s always a delight to read her work.
except for the psychoanalysis section at the end, which varies between being frustratingly tedious or being almost incomprehensible in its interpretations. the last chapter of the book almost dropped this a whole star for me. do yourself a favour and don’t bother reading that part. luckily it is only 30 pages
except for the psychoanalysis section at the end, which varies between being frustratingly tedious or being almost incomprehensible in its interpretations. the last chapter of the book almost dropped this a whole star for me. do yourself a favour and don’t bother reading that part. luckily it is only 30 pages
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews