Item category 1: Society & Culture

What are the origins of the war in Ukraine? Contrary to popular opinion, the conflict is ultimately not between Russia and Ukraine but between Russia and the West. Neither did it begin with Russia's invasion in 2022, nor the Maidan revolution in 2014. Providing a wealth of documented evidence, Te...

In this thought-provoking, literary chronicle of a small-town murder investigation, the author recounts the brutal killings of four University of Idaho students, exploring our societal fascination with true crime, the media's involvement and the future of homicide investigations as he humanizes t...

The twentieth-century Australian welfare state made the bold promise to care for its citizens. But since the 1990s, social security has become increasingly conditional and punitive in its provision of this so-called care. Who Cares? outlines the perspectives of people affected by two recent welfa...

Curious about the culture around drinking tea? Perfect for travel and history lovers, Why We Love Tea dives into the practice of tea ceremony and meditation in different cultures. From the origins of tea to drinking etiquette in other parts of the world, this guide illuminates tea's important his...

Two survivors, three lost lives. The true story of a long-prepared ambush by religiously motivated conspiracy theorists. Grappling with a dangerous conspiratorial worldview, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train carry out one of Australia's most horrific ambush attacks. Disillusion, paranoia, isolat...

Wolves abound through cultural folklore and through literature, vilified and venerated in equal measure. In Wolfish, Erica Berry examines these depictions, alongside her own research of the wolf for nearly a decade, to get to the heart of what our stories about the wolf reveal about our relations...

From the ghostly black horse of Sutton Forest to the butcher of Adelaide Street, a haunted Brisbane lift to the chilling experiments carried out by Doctor Blood of the North Kapunda Hotel, Australia abounds in spooky stories that are all unnervingly based in fact and tied to real places you can v...

The English language has no specific word for the parent that has lost a child. There exist words for orphan, widow and widower, but there is no word that captures and conveys this tragic type of loss. It has been eleven years since Diane Foley's son, the American journalist James Foley, was kidn...

True tales of crimes so bizarre you won't believe them. True tales of crimes so bizarre you might not believe them. The mysterious disappearance of thousands of false teeth, international travel via the postal system, doughnut delivery heists, clowns terrorising a neighbourhood, the theft of a th...

Trigger never knew what each shift would bring - tragedy, laughter, adventure, danger - sometimes all on the same day. Trigger's personal journey, fuelled by a thirst for adventure and special forces training, led him to the frontline of policing. He faced life-threatening situations and earned c...

Both a translation and critique of an early 20th century seminal French text on the physical effects of corseting, The Bad Corset explores contemporary anti-woman bias to challenge the commonly accepted assertions about corsetry's contribution to disease, disfigurement, and disorders of the femal...

Marcus Aurelius wisely said, "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." Building on that quote and making its wisdom applicable, Jimmy Rex's book Be One, cuts through the noise and provides readers a single roadmap to being a good man and becoming the best possible version of...

"Have you ever considered how mobile media change what we see, hear and pay attention to, or how they alter our movement through the city? Over the last decade, mobile media and communication technologies have become deeply integral to our perception and bodily experience of the world. In Bodies ...

Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating journey through Japan's folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins ...

The inside story of the 2023 Voice Referendum, from Yes to No In late 2023, Australians voted No to recognising Indigenous peoples through a constitutional Voice. Broken Heart unpacks the true complex history of the referendum, illuminating how an alliance with constitutional conservatives fractu...

So many people have felt a shift towards prioritising a more authentic life in recent years, and nowhere exemplifies that life better than the bush. Rural Australians navigate isolation, the weather, and a huge responsibility to the land and their animals, but from these pressures have gleaned po...

A thoroughly researched and deeply personal examination of how women unintentionally condone workplace abuse in a post-#MeToo world—and a guide to changing things for the better. When Reah Bravo began working at the Charlie Rose show, the open secret of Rose’s conduct toward women didn’t deter he...

Dylan Marron's work has racked up millions of views and worldwide support. Yet, according to some strangers on the internet, Marron is a "moron," a "beta male," and a "talentless hack." Rather than running from this online vitriol, Marron began a social experiment in which he invited his detracto...

A close exploration of the vibrant world of cosplay, showing how cosplayers build a strong connection to the characters and stories they treasure, and ultimately how they are constructing their own identities.

Carnaby’s cockatoos are a part of the fabric of Perth. Their loud calls, messy feeding habits and endearing personalities make them easily recognisable to anyone living or visiting the suburbs of Perth. But their numbers are declining as their habitats are lost to development and other threats. T...

In Crimes Against Humanity, Geoffrey Robertson KC explains why we must hold political and military leaders accountable for genocide, torture and mass murder. He shows how human rights standards can be enforced against cruel governments, armies and multi-national corporations. This seminal work co...

HIV and AIDS devastated communities across Australia in the 1980s and 1990s. In the midst of this profound health crisis, nurses were caregivers and activists, both on and off the wards, and played a central role in shaping an innovative public health approach to a virus that was shrouded in fear...

From the bestselling author of Kleptopia comes a true story about Cuckooland - a world where the rich can buy everything - including the truth. Everywhere, the powerful are making a renewed claim to the greatest prize of all: to own the truth. The power to choose what you want reality to be and i...

Elon Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of Twitter, has become a neo-reactionary online troll. What has caused his troubling political transformation? In a captivating essay, Richard Cooke explores Musk's spectacular ambition, and how it has shaped his transition from unorthodox liberal to ...

Beginning in 2018, a powerful app for secure communications, called Anom, began to take root among drug dealers and other criminals. It had extraordinary safeguards to keep out prying eyes -- the power to quickly wipe data, voice-masking technology, and more. It was better than other apps popular...

The twentieth issue of Australian Foreign Affairs examines Australia's momentous decision to form a security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom that includes an ambitious, expensive and risky plan to acquire nuclear-power submarines - a move that will have far-reaching military an...

Welcome back to Clarkson's Farm. The spring crop failed. Just like the oilseed rape. And the durum wheat. Then the oats turned the colour of a hearing aid and the mushrooms went mouldy. Farming sheep, pigs and cows was hardly more lucrative. Jeremy would be better off trying to breed ostriches. B...

As a spiritual icon who continually explores the intersection of cutting-edge science and personal growth, Deepak Chopra, M.D., tackles the little-discussed spiritual benefits of AI and its vast potential to solve the greatest mystery confronting us: consciousness itself. By navigating the intric...

Discover the story of Dr. Martens, from its beginnings in 1901 as a producer of sturdy work boots to its position as a cultural icon synonymous with individuality and self-expression. Packed with photographs and information covering the company's entire history, you'll discover the cushioned desi...

An illustrated collection of folk tale monsters, ghosts, and scary stories from around the world.