Hilarious. Worth it for the breadfruit alone.

This book is as insightful and hilarious as the modern political landscape is infuriating and nefarious (ie it is extremely funny).

Brilliant - a great "real" history of Australia.

Good book! I thought I would get sick of the author’s humour after the first few chapters but I was laughing through the whole book.

I think I will need to learn more about Australian history though, because I am dumb and at some points I was like, “is this a real thing that happened or is this another joke?” Either way very entertaining.

★★★★★ | 5 Stars

This is possibly one of the funniest books I've ever read. From Pangea to the Great Emu War of 1932 to the current Turnbull government, nothing and nobody is off limits. This book is overflowing with crazy facts that really make you wonder how on earth Australia has managed to remain in existence in 2018, so long as you take most with a mountain of salt.

As Pobjie introduces the book, "It is said that those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it, and even if this is not true, it is certainly pithy, which is even better under most circumstances. And there can be no doubt that to repeat history would be a ghastly fate, given how often people in the past had severe diarrhoea."

As a greedy reader of Ben Pobjie's Masterchef recaps and with an interest in Australian history (I was fortunate to study it with the late Tom Stannage) I was hanging to read this book. And was not disappointed. I mostly read it in bed shared with a husband and toddler and found myself physically shaking to suppress my laughter at times, particularly the chapter on federation and the descriptions of Peter Dutton and the artwork. The recap style and references to popular culture will possibly date this book, but the essential themes are timeless, such as the ridiculousness of the veneration of bushrangers and soldiers in the Australian psyche. What this and David Hunt's Girt provide is an accessible context for understanding Australia's brief (white) history, leaving us incredulous that such a rabble could ever go on to form a half decent country. Kudos to you both for bringing this history alive.

Sometimes you read a book that speaks so deeply and truly to your secret soul, you feel sure a funnier, more educated and productive you must have written it in your sleep. I wanted to quote some of my favourite bits, but would have ended up typing out the entire book. I loved it all, even the weird chapter. Especially the weird chapter. Special mention for the Breadfruit and 'Malcolm Turnbull, who wept for there were no more worlds to conquer'.