You read what?
Significant Australians reflect on their teenage reading
David Thomson
Paperback, 244 pages, $29.95
ISBN: 9781922815989
March 2024 release
Embarking on a mission to ignite a passion for reading among his Year
11 English class, a seasoned teacher returns to his alma mater.
Disheartened by the lack of enthusiasm for leisure reading, he
challenges his students to discover the wisdom in the choices of
successful individuals. What ensues is an inspiring project where
letters are sent to over 250 accomplished Australians, asking a simple
yet profound question: “Which book influenced you most as a teenager and
why?” This anthology reveals over 130 heartfelt responses, accompanied
by brief biographies. A testament to the enduring impact of literature
and the success bred from a love of books.
‘When David Thomson takes on a project, you know it will be a
success. There is a beauty in reading each bio, then having the subject
speak directly to you through his or her intimate letter. It works!’
Michael Thornton (author of Jackaroo)
‘What a fascinating project! Reading through David Thomson’s book, it
was nostalgic, informative and inspiring to hear what some of
Australia’s legendary figures read in their teens – made me ask all my
colleagues, friends and family the same question – would be so
enthralling to recreate the project today; presumably there is such a
prolific array of choices, the answers would be different, but no less
interesting."
Kate Becker (Thesaurus Books)
‘With fascinating and eclectic recommendations from a range of
legendary Australians, You Read What? is an invaluable compendium of the
books which helped shape some of our most prominent and important
public figures. Featuring insightful contributions from names as diverse
as Donald Bradman, Manning Clark, Bob Hawke, Barry Humphries and many
more, this book is a singular resource of the kind you won't find
anywhere else. Unmissable."
Gabriel Bergmoser (author of the Boone Shepard series, The Inheritance and The Caretaker)
Contributors include: Charles Abbott, Phillip Adams, Patsy Adam-Smith, Claudio Alcorso,
Charles Anderson VC, Bob Ansett, Sir Reginald Ansett, Doug Anthony,
Julie Anthony, Sir Robert Askin, Sir Garfield Barwick, Marjorie Barnard,
John Béchervaise, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Geoffrey Blainey, John
Blight, Sir Henry Bolte, Sir Jack Brabham, John Brack, Russell Braddon,
Sir Donald Bradman, John Bray, Niall Brennan, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, Jim
Cairns, Clive Caldwell, Dame Carmen Callil, Sir Roderick Carnegie, Matt
Carroll, Maie Casey, Nancy Cato, Don Charlwood, Manning Clark, Sir
Rupert Clarke, Jon Cleary, H.C. “Nugget” Coombs, Sir Zelman Cowen,
Finlay Crisp, Paul Cronin, Dymphna Cusack, John Beede Cusack, Sir James
Darling, Sir Rohan Delacombe, Viscount De Lisle VC, Stuart Devlin, Brian
Dixon, Rosemary Dobson, Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, Dame Mary Durack,
Geoffrey Dutton, Hughie Edwards VC, Tony Eggleton, Herb Elliott, Sumner
Locke Elliott, Noel Ferrier, Joan Fitzhardinge, Malcolm Fraser, Frank
Galbally, Ken Hall, Rodney Hall, Dame Joan Hammond, Lang Hancock, Sir
Keith Hancock, Pro Hart, Sir Laurence Hartnett, Sir Paul Hasluck,
Stanley Hawes, Bob Hawke, Bishop John Hazlewood, Sir Robert Helpmann,
Angas Holmes, A.D. Hope, Peter Howson, Barry Humphries, Robert Ingpen,
Peter Isaacson, Kenneth Jack, Sir Robert Jackson, Sir Asher Joel, Ian
Johnson, Barry Jones, Marilyn Jones, Louis Kahan, Peter Karmel, Nancy
Keesing, Michael Kirby, Sir Richard Kirby, Leonie Kramer, Stanley
Kurrle, John La Nauze, Don Lane, Clifford Last, Sir Condor Laucke,
Phillip Law, Ray Lawler, Joan Lindsay, Archbishop Sir Frank Little, John
McCallum, Alan McCulloch, F. Margaret McGuire, Sir William McKell, Sir
Charles Mackerras, Ian McLaren, Sir William McMahon, Leonard Mann, Alan
Marshall, Bert Newton, Gerald O’Collins, Andrew Peacock, Stuart Sayers,
Sir Billy Snedden, Peter Sculthorpe, Dame Joan Sutherland, Colin Thiele,
Lindsay Thompson, Archbishop Sir Frank Woods, Sir John Young
DAVID THOMSON was born in Melbourne and educated at Monash, Cambridge
and Harvard Universities. After a compulsory stint of National Service
in the RAAF, he became a teacher, eventually returning to his old school
where he taught English and Legal Studies for 37 years. He has written
for many publications in Australia, the UK and the USA and was awarded
the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for service to education.
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