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Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs
Part memoir and part authorized biography, this account chronicles the life and governmental record of one of Australia’s most interesting and possibly most misunderstood Prime MinistersMalcolm Fraser. Tracing the story of a shy boy who grew to become one of the most persistent, insistent, and controversial political voices in Australian government, this discussion examines the Vietnam War, the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, and Malcolm Fraser’s own term in office. Through his many disputes with the conservative Howard Government, Fraser emerges as an enduring liberal, constantly reinterpreting core values to meet the needs of changing times.
864 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 6, 2018
It was OK, however, at times felt like it was simply a piece of political/historical revisionism. Also, it gave no reasons for it's criticisms of "neo-conservatives", it simply treated them like old fashioned, stubborn, uneducated people just because they were conservative - not because there was necessarily anything wrong with their beliefs.
While the entire book certainly does not follow the pattern, many of it's arguments are very ad hominem - attacking the personality - or a person's lack of intelligence - rather than their actual ideas.
I did agree (or semi-agree) with many of the policies put forward, however, more time seemed to be spent proving to the reader that Fraser was "liberal" and "left-wing" that proving that the positions he took were the right positions. For example, at one stage in the book, it points out that Fraser started bringing in far more Muslim Lebanese immigrants than Christian Lebanese immigrants.... I mean, really? That's not to say that you shouldn't bring in more Muslim immigrants, but to say that that was automatically a good thing to bring in less Christians and more Muslims without providing any basis for it is a little strange.
All in all, a helpful book (in other word, I didn't waste my time), but could have been a little more backed up at times.
While the entire book certainly does not follow the pattern, many of it's arguments are very ad hominem - attacking the personality - or a person's lack of intelligence - rather than their actual ideas.
I did agree (or semi-agree) with many of the policies put forward, however, more time seemed to be spent proving to the reader that Fraser was "liberal" and "left-wing" that proving that the positions he took were the right positions. For example, at one stage in the book, it points out that Fraser started bringing in far more Muslim Lebanese immigrants than Christian Lebanese immigrants.... I mean, really? That's not to say that you shouldn't bring in more Muslim immigrants, but to say that that was automatically a good thing to bring in less Christians and more Muslims without providing any basis for it is a little strange.
All in all, a helpful book (in other word, I didn't waste my time), but could have been a little more backed up at times.
May 24, 2022
To be honest, I found the sections on his post political life the best part of the book. I felt that a fair bit of this was PR in trying to influence the public record.
Nonetheless, it did give me great insight into the man. Much of his philosophy differs from mine, but I do believe he did what he did for different reasons than I might have had I his influence, intellect and stamina 😅. But he did them nonetheless and for that I admire him greatly.
Nonetheless, it did give me great insight into the man. Much of his philosophy differs from mine, but I do believe he did what he did for different reasons than I might have had I his influence, intellect and stamina 😅. But he did them nonetheless and for that I admire him greatly.
September 21, 2019
An excellent book. Well written. In my opinion, it is definitely worth the read. (I didn't expect this at all)
June 2, 2011
Everybody is entitled to a memoir to set the record straight. This one does Malcolm Fraser no favours.
I approached the book with a fairly open mind on Fraser's life. The Fraser Prime Minstership was during my school years, and Menzies, Gorton, and McMahon and Holt were all before my time. I knew Fraser's work with Care Australia, and his reconcilation with Whitlam. Perhaps there would be a revision of some of his views through eyes made kinder through the passage of time?
The book takes the format of examining each decision made, and rationalising it in terms of the current events and history. At the end Fraser is apparently the only true liberal Liberal left standing. Even without a reason to doubt it, much the reasoning seems to be stretching a long bow. I'm left with a scepticism I didn't start reading with.
If you are hoping for any insight into the dismissal, don't bother opening the cover. The event is covered in a very shallow way, again against the background of constant justification.
The narrative style is just annoying. It is self-reflexive in style, pausing at times to describe the interviews the biographer had with Fraser, and the manner of his responses. I never did get the order of the text. The first half appears chronological, and then it jumps through different subject matter headings. It is just distracting to the continuity and interest.
I know this book has won awards. I don't understand why. I didn't learn anything new. I wasn't convinced by the rationalisations. I didn't particularly enjoy the act of reading it.
I approached the book with a fairly open mind on Fraser's life. The Fraser Prime Minstership was during my school years, and Menzies, Gorton, and McMahon and Holt were all before my time. I knew Fraser's work with Care Australia, and his reconcilation with Whitlam. Perhaps there would be a revision of some of his views through eyes made kinder through the passage of time?
The book takes the format of examining each decision made, and rationalising it in terms of the current events and history. At the end Fraser is apparently the only true liberal Liberal left standing. Even without a reason to doubt it, much the reasoning seems to be stretching a long bow. I'm left with a scepticism I didn't start reading with.
If you are hoping for any insight into the dismissal, don't bother opening the cover. The event is covered in a very shallow way, again against the background of constant justification.
The narrative style is just annoying. It is self-reflexive in style, pausing at times to describe the interviews the biographer had with Fraser, and the manner of his responses. I never did get the order of the text. The first half appears chronological, and then it jumps through different subject matter headings. It is just distracting to the continuity and interest.
I know this book has won awards. I don't understand why. I didn't learn anything new. I wasn't convinced by the rationalisations. I didn't particularly enjoy the act of reading it.
January 24, 2012
111111: It seems a most interesting coincidence that I finally open this book on this date…
While my memories of the Prime Ministership of Malcolm Fraser are somewhat blurred by the ignorance of youth, and the very loud voices around me who were not at all happy about much of what he did, I now consider him to be the only true 'Elder Statesman" of Australia.
Reading these memoirs have helped me gain a better perspective of how politics works. Considering I have studied politics in a couple of different courses, as well as having some low level involvements, I find it astounding how few people seem to know much about the processes involved. Or perhaps they deliberately blur the picture for their own purposes.
The most important lesson to learn from this volume is how dangerous polarisation of issues can be. We seem to lack appropriate venues for decent and comprehensive political discussion in the community. To be able to take part in a non-partisan way, where all involved may be encouraged to develop their own sensibilities and tolerance toward one another seems to me the greatest lack within capitalist democracies. People are far more interested in pushing their own agendas and shutting down the very necessary openness with uncertainty of detail, yet commitment to deep and abiding principles which Malcolm Fraser presents here.
I am humbled to admit that I learnt so much in this reading.
While my memories of the Prime Ministership of Malcolm Fraser are somewhat blurred by the ignorance of youth, and the very loud voices around me who were not at all happy about much of what he did, I now consider him to be the only true 'Elder Statesman" of Australia.
Reading these memoirs have helped me gain a better perspective of how politics works. Considering I have studied politics in a couple of different courses, as well as having some low level involvements, I find it astounding how few people seem to know much about the processes involved. Or perhaps they deliberately blur the picture for their own purposes.
The most important lesson to learn from this volume is how dangerous polarisation of issues can be. We seem to lack appropriate venues for decent and comprehensive political discussion in the community. To be able to take part in a non-partisan way, where all involved may be encouraged to develop their own sensibilities and tolerance toward one another seems to me the greatest lack within capitalist democracies. People are far more interested in pushing their own agendas and shutting down the very necessary openness with uncertainty of detail, yet commitment to deep and abiding principles which Malcolm Fraser presents here.
I am humbled to admit that I learnt so much in this reading.
February 10, 2016
Fraser was obviously before my time and I don't know as much as I'd like to about this period, which was part of the impetus to read this. Obviously I'll have to read more, and from the other side of politics, because one has to assume a certain level of self-serving bias in an autobiography. Nonetheless Fraser is a very interesting figure, and one I actually relate to very well; I think it's safe to say that I have little connection to the present-day Liberal party, but I might have had some connection to the Liberals of the 70s. Certainly his views on immigration and asylum seekers match my own, and always have. It was also nice to get a bit of a feel for the electorate of Wannon and its history; I grew up in Ararat, in one corner of Wannon, and read the first few chapters of the book in Warrnambool, in the opposite corner.
The book itself was great, it takes a thematic approach rather than a strictly chronological one, which does mean it jumps around a bit and it is occasionally slightly difficult to put things into the context of the times (possibly this is harder for me than for someone who lived through the times in question) but Simons broadly does a good job of counteracting this.
Overall an excellent read, and one I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in Australian politics.
The book itself was great, it takes a thematic approach rather than a strictly chronological one, which does mean it jumps around a bit and it is occasionally slightly difficult to put things into the context of the times (possibly this is harder for me than for someone who lived through the times in question) but Simons broadly does a good job of counteracting this.
Overall an excellent read, and one I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in Australian politics.
March 10, 2010
I'm just home from the Book Launch - I'm a sucker for a well-marketed book launch when the author is in conversation with Ray Martin.
Melbourne University Press published this, and they're rarely get it wrong.
Fraser had some interesting things to say, among them: "The first 10 years of Mugabe was reasonably good" (Fraser played a part in getting Mugabe into power)............"The Biggest regret of my PMship was doing nothing to close the gap between aboriginals and the rest of Australia"........when asked whether Mandela was the most remarkable man he had ever met "without a doubt....by a long shot. If there were a few more Nelson Mandela's around the world a lot of the world's problems would be solved but instead he is aging and arthritic".
Meanwhile...where is the cover art for this book?? Hmmm? Good reads /American website? typically uninterested in our Australian Politics.
Melbourne University Press published this, and they're rarely get it wrong.
Fraser had some interesting things to say, among them: "The first 10 years of Mugabe was reasonably good" (Fraser played a part in getting Mugabe into power)............"The Biggest regret of my PMship was doing nothing to close the gap between aboriginals and the rest of Australia"........when asked whether Mandela was the most remarkable man he had ever met "without a doubt....by a long shot. If there were a few more Nelson Mandela's around the world a lot of the world's problems would be solved but instead he is aging and arthritic".
Meanwhile...where is the cover art for this book?? Hmmm? Good reads /American website? typically uninterested in our Australian Politics.
December 18, 2015
Until I read this I didn't know that Fraser was a real small-l liberal and that he'd been that way at least from his Oxford days. Can't forgive him for his role in Gough Whitlam's dismissal but now understand how much of Whitlam's programme he implemented. Read this to find out what a liberal government should be.
May 21, 2017
24 October 2010: a very informative, revealing and frank memoir. Admired the writing style immensely, and felt it humanised Malcolm Fraser. May just have to read John Howard's memoirs next to learn his side of the story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews