I bought this book to help with coverage of NSW HSC Science courses that cover the Aboriginal usage of the land. It is not a textbook/reference in the conventional sense, but contains a lot of useful information, is mainly well written and has some compelling arguments. I am not sure that the author has a complete grasp of Charles Darwin's work or how it was accepted by the British community when it came out. However, well worth a read to get a fresh viewpoint on how the Australian environment was managed - and perhaps should be in future.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book is an absolute MUST for every person living in Australia in particular and for the wider world. I see it as a follow on from Bill Gammage's "The Biggest Estate On Earth" in explaining how the Aboriginal people of Australia farmed and managed the land in a sustainable way for tens of thousands of year - there is no way they could have survived as 'hunters, gathers' for so long as we were told once or twice in our pathetic education of history at school. This book and others on a similar topic MUST be made part of the national curriculum from grade 1 in our schools. For too long we have had Gov/mt control of what we should know about our country, all based on British Empire lies. Read this book and lend it to every one you know, we must learn how to look after our country from those that truly know!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This book transformed my thinking about the technical sophistication of aboriginal culture prior to the occupation of the country by settlers. The book is an easy read and presents plenty of evidence for the case that Bruce puts forward. This would be a great book to get onto the school curriculum.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Well worth a read if you're interested in Australian, Indigenous or Ancient history. It's a total shame the Australian curriculum doesn't embed this knowledge in the history syllabus so the young people of Australia know more about their own continent. Australia has so much to be proud of - it makes no sense that we turn a blind eye to the history and archaeology presented in this book. This is ancient Australian history told in an accessible manner. Pascoe explains artifacts and early English writings in a way that shines a light on everything which has been largely ignored in contemporary history. This knowledge fills the gaps of our understanding of Indigenous technology and land management. Every Australian should read this.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Very informative content. Factually based on early Australian explorer and settler written reports. This book has collated information all in one book that you would take you a very long time to find on the internet. Want to learn more about growing and catching indigenous foods then this book is for you.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Bruce Pascoe has written a book that provides the information that should have been taught in schools from the first.It's a book filled with references to reliable sources, and acknowledges the current teams who are investigating and documenting the vast sum of information, sites, evidence of a complex people. I particularly love that he also points to opportunities that could benefit both the land and economy. It's a book that made me angry, because in this age of information Bruce Pascoe rightly points out that there's still a prevailing mindset that dismisses the evidence and refuses to look deeper into our collective Australian history. Having read "The Memory Code" by Lynne Kelly, it's clear that the oral traditions contained the collective knowledge of medicinal plants, land and animal management, methods of construction, astronomy, etc for initiates to maintain a stable society. Bruce Pascoe draws this same conclusion from the available evidence. A "must-read".Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
After reading Bill Gammage's book 'The Greatest Estate on Earth', I was glad to find a similar book with a bit more of an indigenous feel to it, even though most of the references are the same. Easy to read, well presented text. I am encouraged to further research the misrepresented history of our indigenous brothers and sisters with whom we share this ancient continent. But, more specifically, to use and develop more indigenous food sources and storage methods.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
True exploration of an overlooked history of Australia. The writer presents it with evidence from early explorers' journals as well as from recent scientific discoveries that support these fragments of documentation. The writer also elaborates on some of the indigenous knowledge that has survived through generations.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Research excellent - wakes one up to our country far and wide and splendour of it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Excellent research and writing on an eon clearly dismissed from Australian history. Why can't we be as proud of our country and its long term lineage as we are of the relatively short term colonialists? Wake up Australia, this is the truth of a long gone past that may even be a step for our renewal into the future.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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