{"product_id":"9781922231703","title":"Australian History in 7 Questions","description":"\u003ci\u003eIf there are genuine questions about Australian history, there is something to puzzle over. The history ceases to be predictable—and dull.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e From the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Shortest History of Europe\u003c\/i\u003e, acclaimed historian John Hirst, comes this fresh and stimulating approach to understanding Australia's past and present.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hirst asks and answers questions that get to the heart of Australia's history: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy did Aborigines not become farmers?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHow did a penal colony change peacefully to a democracy?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy was Australia so prosperous so early?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy did the Australian colonies federate?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhat effect did convict origins have on national character?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy was the postwar migration programme a success?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWhy is Australia not a republic?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e Engaging and enjoyable, and written for the novice and the expert alike, \u003ci\u003eAustralian History in 7 Questions\u003c\/i\u003e explains how we became the nation we are today. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘If you don't always agree with the answers, you will certainly acquire a renewed interest in the questions. This, surely, is the highest hope of good history.’ \u003ci\u003e—Saturday Paper\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘An excellent tool for provoking debate’ \u003ci\u003e—Age\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘An intriguing approach’ \u003ci\u003e—West Weekend Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘With trademark clarity and insight, Hirst manages to touch every cornerstone of Australia’s past … every Australian should read this book.’ —\u003ci\u003eMonthly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘Thought provoking’ \u003ci\u003e—Daily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘Instructively provocative’ \u003ci\u003e—Burnie Advocate\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eAustralian History in 7 Questions\u003c\/i\u003e is a lively and exciting book, showing the skills of a professional historian and social commentator … Anyone would benefit from reading this erudite short book.’ \u003ci\u003e—Australian Journal of Politics and History\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e John Hirst was a member of the History Department at La Trobe University from 1968 to 2007. He has written many books on Australian history, including \u003ci\u003eConvict Society and Its Enemies, The Strange Birth of Colonial Democracy, The Sentimental Nation, Sense and Nonsense in Australian History\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Shortest History of Europe.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Schwartz Publishing Pty. Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47164314616048,"sku":"9781922231703","price":15.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781922231703_p0.jpg?v=1763632454","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781922231703","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}