A Thinking Reed"From Quiz Kid to Australian Minister for Science, from frustrated school teacher to National President of the ALP, from the suburbs of Melbourne to UNESCO in Paris, Barry Jones has had a prodigious public life. Barry Jones first came to public prominence as a Pick-a-Box quiz champion. Since then he has embraced a myrid of passions and causes. A Thinking Reed spans his remarkable life from a lonely childhood in Melbourne of the 1930s and 1940s to the fight he led against the death penalty and his crusade to make science and the future prominent issues on the political agenda. He has worked tirelessly on both a global and local scale to rethink education, to improve and preserve our heritage, to revive the nation's film industry and to build a better Australia. Almost unique among politicians, Barry Jones is held in enormous public affection. And while he reveals many insights into the political process - the problems of office and the atrophy of Opposition - he concentrates above all on the life of the mind; a mind with deep, passionate and witty insights into history, philosophy, music and literature. A Thinking Reed is a generous gift from an extraordinary Australian."--Backcover. |
From inside the book
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Page vii
... became a mild - mannered reporter working for the Daily Planet , famously doubling as Superman . But the 1930's comic strip failed to record the story of the other infant refugee . He became a teacher , a lawyer , a writer , a quiz ...
... became a mild - mannered reporter working for the Daily Planet , famously doubling as Superman . But the 1930's comic strip failed to record the story of the other infant refugee . He became a teacher , a lawyer , a writer , a quiz ...
Page 2
... became accepted as part of the conventional wisdom . My life cut across several boundaries - politician , teacher , media performer , arts administrator , science advocate , writer , heritage consultant , traveller , cultural consumer ...
... became accepted as part of the conventional wisdom . My life cut across several boundaries - politician , teacher , media performer , arts administrator , science advocate , writer , heritage consultant , traveller , cultural consumer ...
Page 10
... became a skilful instrumentalist . She rebelled quietly against the Puritan culture , religion and taste of the previous generation . As a young man , my father had admired Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce , a dapper , largely ...
... became a skilful instrumentalist . She rebelled quietly against the Puritan culture , religion and taste of the previous generation . As a young man , my father had admired Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce , a dapper , largely ...
Page 15
... became generally available . We thought she was going to die . I observed Lorimer's agonised look , complicated by his role as outsider . I felt pain and fear for her - but it would have been inhuman to exclude him . There was clearly a ...
... became generally available . We thought she was going to die . I observed Lorimer's agonised look , complicated by his role as outsider . I felt pain and fear for her - but it would have been inhuman to exclude him . There was clearly a ...
Page 21
... became a dairy farmer , storekeeper and postmaster there , returning to Geelong in 1936 . The only Potter sibling not to live in Geelong was Auntie Mabel Elizabeth ( 1880-1962 ) , not to be confused with my father's sister . She married ...
... became a dairy farmer , storekeeper and postmaster there , returning to Geelong in 1936 . The only Potter sibling not to live in Geelong was Auntie Mabel Elizabeth ( 1880-1962 ) , not to be confused with my father's sister . She married ...
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Common terms and phrases
American argued Arthur asked attack Australian Barry Jones Beazley became Bill Bill Hayden Bob Dyer Bob Hawke Cabinet campaign Canberra Catholic Caucus cent chair Chifley Church Clyde Holding commitment Committee Communist Conference Council death penalty debate deeply defeated democratic economic election Evatt Executive factional Federal film Fraser Geelong Gorton Gough Whitlam Government hanging Hawke's Hayden Henry Bolte House of Representatives industry intellectual interest issues Jesus Jim Cairns John Gorton John Howard Keating Knowledge Nation Koestler Labor Party Lalor later Leader Liberal lived major Malcolm Fraser Melbourne Menzies Nana never organised Parliament Peter Phillip Adams Pick-a-Box political Premier President Prime Minister quiz radio recognised role Science seat Senate Sleepers social South Wales speech Sydney television thought United University Victorian vote wrote
Popular passages
Page 131 - Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
Page 530 - Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
Page 76 - What's that so black agin the sun?' said Files-onParade. 'It's Danny fightin' 'ard for life,' the Colour-Sergeant said. 'What's that that whimpers over'ead?' said Files-onParade. 'It's Danny's soul that's passin' now,
Page 527 - So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
Page 329 - I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
Page 275 - Tell all the Truth but tell it slant— Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise As Lightning to the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind...
Page 154 - God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen: Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: God save the Queen.
Page 528 - I'll never know, in the silence you don't know, you must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on" (Three Novels by Samuel Beckett [New York: Grove Press, 1955], p.
Page 530 - The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know...
Page 155 - Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour; Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice God save the Queen.