The Best Australian Essays 2017

The Best Australian Essays

by Anna Goldsworthy (Editor), Shannon Burns (Contributor), Barry Humphries (Contributor)

‘When a group of essays get together in a room they start talking to each other, often in surprising ways … The existence of these voices – stylish, vital frequently wise – is a source of hope.’ —Anna Goldsworthy

The Best Australian Essays showcases the nation’s most eloquent, insightful and urgent non-fiction writing. In her debut as editor of the anthology, award-winning author Anna Goldsworthy chooses brilliant pieces that provoke, unveil, engage and enlighten. From the election of Donald Trump to digital disruption, from the passing of rock gods to the wonders of Australian slang, these essays get to the heart of what’s happening in Australia and the world.

Contributors include Shannon Burns, Barry Humphries, Stan Grant, Keane Shum, Richard Cooke, Nick Feik, Michael Adams, Micheline Lee, Mandy Sayer, Tim Flannery, Sonya Hartnett, Harriet Riley, John Clarke, Jennifer Rutherford, Amanda Niehaus, Sam Vincent, Lech Blaine, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Moreno Giovannoni, Janine Mikosza, Melissa Howard, Helen Garner, James Wood, J.M. Coetzee, Robert Skinner, Sebastian Smee and Anwen Crawford.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2017

About the author

Anna Goldsworthy is an Australian classical pianist and writer. In October 2009 her memoir Piano Lessons was released in Australia by publisher Black Inc. In November 2010 it will be published in the US by St Martin's Press (Macmillian). From 2010 she will be Artistic Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. Anna is also a Board Member of the Australian Book Review, Artist-in-Residence at Janet Clarke Hall at the University of Melbourne, and a founding member of the Seraphim Trio.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stay pretty comfortable inside my bubble, but reading through all the essays of this book really took me on a trip throughout hell's geography via sightseeing into what has to be some of the most dark and terrifying issues in the world. It wasn't easy going whatsoever, in fact many left me feeling quite defeated before the complexity of the issue, such as the people forced from tyrannical government to seek asylum in countries that are disgusted by them, or the massive social media institutions data harvesting and manipulation in elections across the world. On the other hand there are many very personal essays in the mix of this book, ones that feel very healing and intimate: unique writing that comes from truly beautiful souls.

To be honest I'm incredibly surprised at how great so many of these essays were, even how genre breaking they were, and how they were made so intimate and personal to the point where I felt myself falling in love! These essays were on another level and definitely my favourites:

Hello, Stranger
Endlings
In Defence of the Bad White Working Class

My other favs were:

Bad Writer
Pluripotent
A Makaratta Declaration: A Declaration of our Country
Art Walks a Tightrope
Lessons from Camels

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of essays. Do not look for the long, rambling discourses on books & people you have never read or even heard of, littered with meaningless references that interrupt the flow & read like a high school assignment because you will not find them here. Instead you will be transported, to a tragic murder case, a day in the life of someone on the NDIS , the better side of public housing & a search for someone who might have lost their dog that even now brings me to tears. These essays are to be savored, like great short stories they teach you something more about life than you could ever have found out alone & are better absorbed singly or in pairs. I will say there are a couple of clunkers but not as many as I have come to expect from this series, though I haven't read 2015's yet either, I think the last one I read was 2013. Perhaps my reading tastes have matured as I get older but I've always been a sucker for a well told animal or nature story & i don't remember too many of those previously. These essays have been well chosen to make an important statement about Australia in 2017 & I hope the selection continues to be in this vein.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expect a proper in depth review probably later in January when I re-read certain essays. But for now my 4 stars should articulate enough.

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Helen Garner piece is brilliant

[Stephen Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

the essay from Stan Grant is so poignant, so moving.
Salt Blood essay is a rare find.
helen garner again is strong

love this book if even for the handful of treasures

[Aly Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last 50 or so pages felt rushed and imprecise. Favourites were The Tamarind Is Always Sour and Hello, Stranger.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good pieces, particularly Shum’s.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

global pandemic aside, 2017 feels like yesterday and so many of these essays touched on the panic i still internalise every day.