Bulldozed WINNER AusPolBook 2023
- Author: Niki Savva
- Title: Bulldozed (390 pg) 2022
- Genre: Non-fiction
- Australian TBR List
- #AusReadingMonth23 @ This Reading Life (Brona’s Books)
- CONGRATULATIONS NIKI SAVVA!
- We are thrilled to announce that Niki Savva has won the
- 2023 Australian Political Book of the Year Award for ‘Bulldozed’
- published by
Introduction:
- If you asked me who are renowned American female political commentators,
- authors, and columnists whose books are well worth reading I would say:
- Carole Leonnig
- Susan Glasser
- Jane Mayer
- Now I know NOTHING about Australain politics but after reading
- …a little about Niki Savva and her books I’m sure I’m about to learn a lot.
- Niki Savva is one of the most senior correspondents
- …in the Canberra Press Gallery.
Conclusion:
- Doing my best to stay engaged with the book.
- There is a lot of election backroom dealmaking to decide on
- the best candidate to run in local elections.
- But …ya can’t tell the players without a scorecard!
- I keep Google open so I can at least put a face on a name.
- Ch 1-3 – As I read the first chapters describing Morrison’s political leadership
- …I have to rub my eyes and
- …check if I am not reading about Trump.
- The similarities are mind boggling.
- Morrison and Trump have the same problem:
- …they view everything through
- …the prism of politics, not principle.
- Chapter 6 was particulary interesting:
- Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate vs PM Scott Morrison.
- A wronged woman with a razor-sharp mind and
- meticulous records is a dangerous creature.
- It appears Scott Morrison is deaf to women.
- But that was not the end of the scandals Ms. Savva highlights:
- Brittany Higgins (…see Google for more info)
- Ch 9- 10 – book takes a “dip” b/c there was just
- too much micromanaging details of bills to be passed/or not in parliament.
- For a non-Australian it was too much to absorb
- ….my eyes glazed over.
- Ch 13 – 20 were ALL excellent.
- Finally we read about Anthony Albanese and his campaign strategy,
- ….reporting about election night results and
- …Ms Savva’s first interview with the new PM.
- The BEST chapter was ch 20.
- Just a great summation of the lessons learned throughout
- …the campaign and election.
Last Thoughts:
- Will this book win Australian Poltical Book of the Year?
- It will definitely be shortlisted.
- Win? It has a good chance…
- …but I must read the rest of the longlisted books.
7 Comments
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NancyElin.blog 
Hi Nancy. Miss you onfacebook.
Pat
Patti! OMG…how are you? You can always catch up with me on the blog!
All well in that beautiful state of Florida? No hurricanes in your area of the woods?
I have missed you on Facebook and then finally remembered this site. We are fine here. No storms lately. How are you doing? Is this the best way to stay in touch?
Pat
I do wonder how these political specific books translate to overseas readers.
I have read some of Savva’s earlier books about the Tony Abbott era. She is a great speaker too, very engaging.
That’s a very good question that I never thought about! I always make a bee line to political books/historical in the bookstore…so,I suppose everybody does. Not. Reading books authored by like-minded politicians, public servants, and journalists ( …which I do all the time when it comes to USA books…) reinforces my own beliefs—but reading those authored by people in other countries often let me see similarities as I did in this book Trump vs Morrison. I have a few political books from UK, NL ( …prediction: new Dutch PM after Nov 22 election…Peter Omtzigt, stay tuned) and France on the TBR. The French ones are the most difficult to understand…so, philosophical. What I do see is populist candidates emerging everywhere …( watch out for Mme LePen …she’s coming back!) and unfortunately far-right parties in Europe. Good news: I read The Guardian AU political section with new insights….opens up a new world of Aussie for me.
As readers of history, we both know that this is what happens, especially during times of economic hardship, right-wing populist groups tap into the discontent and thrive on it.
Patti, yes, this is the way to stay in touch! Still reading as many books as I can and hope you have time to browse the “Monthly Planning” link…perhaps you’ll find smth you like! Not walking in the mornings…but have switched to daily 15 km bike rides.