(Richard Fidler & Peter Hoysted, Random House, $32.95, ISBN 9781741666892, November) ****

‘Taking the piss’ is a deeply Australian idea. It roots lie at the core of larrikinism, that somewhat dated concept first recognised by the likes of Lawson and C J Dennis. It consists of finding humor in our darkest moments, and is allied with a deep disrespect for authority. Latterly, we’ve shunned the idea, seeing it as unsophisticated and old-fashioned, and not clever enough to sustain us in the iPod age. And many attempts at it fall flat. (Think of more recent movies by Paul Hogan.) But this book is an exception. Written under the pseudonym of Jack the Insider, this is a send-up of all aspects of Australian history and society. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny. The text is irreverent, dry, and well researched, and punctuated by great photos. The book is sharp and politically incorrect about many aspects of life in ‘the biggest South Pacific island resort on the market.’ Chapters include ‘How Australia Got Invented’, ‘Local Government’, ‘the Media’, ‘Culture’, ‘The Economy’, ‘Law and Order’, ‘Religion’ and ‘Elections’. It will appeal to current affairs buffs and newspaper junkies looking for lighter reading on the beach over Christmas. Of course, the ultimate act of larrikinism would be to give it to friends and relatives visiting from overseas … and tell them it’s serious.

Brendan Gullifer is the author of the Pocketbook of Aussie Patriotism (Black Inc.)

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2007, Thorpe-Bowker