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Political Animal: The Making Of Tony Abbott (2012)

by David Marr(Favorite Author)

3.95 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1863955771 (ISBN13: 9781863955775)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Black Inc.

series

Quarterly Essay

review 1: Perhaps I'm one of the few reviewers to read this book from a conservative viewpoint. I didn't really warm to David Marr's writing style to begin with but he definitely has an agenda here. It seems he's trying to say look at this... see... the man's a monster, but I actually only really came away with an understanding that David Marr has an axe to grind. I guess many of us thought the world was black and white when we were at university - and passions boiled? How things have changed since then! It's pretty easy to conform to your value system if you don't really have any values. David Marr has presented a flawed but principled man who above all things is a fighter and a leader, and he's stuck with his guns and won just about every personal and political battle that he's t... moreaken on. Overall this book has given me a better impression of Mr Abbott than when I started.
review 2: David Marr’s book has been expanded from the Quarterly Essay of the same name from which it is based. Marr paints a rather disturbing picture of the man who wants to be the next Prime Minister of Australia. From Abbott’s early days at university where he took opposition against the homosexuals and women’s rights (including the now infamous incidents of losing his temper) to his more recent history as member of the Howard government and the current opposition leader. Marr relies on many who have known Abbott to source his writings, both political allies and opponents. Abbott is certainly not one to shy away from what his opinions are,’ “The argument on climate change is absolute crap”’ (Abbott, as citied in Marr, 2013, p.137). Abbott’s strict and conservative Catholic influences seem to heavily influence his decisions and beliefs even today and Marr is keen to highlight this. Whilst Marr’s distaste for Abbott is evident from the first page and perhaps slightly clouds the book for anyone wanting a balanced opinion, the facts are there. For someone who claims to be a Christian, some of his attitudes are left waning, considerably right-winged, conservative and perhaps even offensive. ‘“Abbott believed people should be able to control their thoughts and emotions; he believed they should exercise free will…. He admitted his own views made it hard for him to understand mental health issues.” (Hickie, as citied in Marr, 2013, p.112). Despite having such strong beliefs, Marr also examines his chameleon persona: “I quite believed him when he said, ‘I’ll do anything to get this job, anything other than sell my arse’.” (Windsor, as cited in Marr, p. 153). less

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