February 2003 Volume 84 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Edited by John Ballantyne

Martin Fido, A History of British Serial Killings
Pan Macmillan Australia. RRP: $30.00

Beginning with the 1888 Whitechapel Murders of “Jack the Ripper” in the East End of London, this study goes on to record eight other cases of British multiple killers, bringing us to the present day with the continuing police investigations into the cases of Dr Harold Shipman and Alun Kyte, “The Midlands Ripper”. As well as documenting the crimes and the criminal investigations that led to the capture of these British multiple murderers, the book explores development of forensic science and offender profiling. It looks at the motivation and madness behind the actions of the serial killer and provides a unique insight into the minds of these murderers and those who attempt to stop them.

Michael Burleigh, Death and Deliverance
Pan Macmillan Australia. RRP: $30.00

From the author of the bestselling The Third Reich: A New History. Between 1939 and 1945 the Nazis systematically murdered as many as 200,000 mentally ill or physically disabled people whom they stigmatized as “unworthy of life”. This book is the first full-scale study in English of this complex and covert series of operations known as the “euthanasia” programme. Using a wealth of original archive material, Michael Burleigh considers the role of all those involved in the programme: bureaucrats, doctors, nurses, health officials, lawyers, clerics, and also parents, relatives and the patients themselves.

Mungo MacCullum, How to be a Megalomaniac: Advice to a Young Politician
Cartoons by Patrick Cook
Duffy and Snellgrove. RRP: $30.00

Renowned journalist and author, Mungo MacCullum (Mungo: The Man Who Laughs and Girt by Sea) draws on his vast experience to explain how the political process really works. Having spent most of his working life observing what Ambrose Bierce defined as a “strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles… the conduct of public affairs for private advantage”, Mungo is uniquely positioned to advise political aspirants. In this book, he advises a (fictitious) nephew embarking on a political career. From the choice of party to preselection, parliament, the ministry and into the Lodge, he explains everything a politician needs to know from baby-kissing and blackmail to tooth-capping and treachery. Helpfully illustrated with amusing cartoons from another political insider, Patrick Cook.

Peter Dawkins and Paul Kelly (eds), Hard Heads, Soft Hearts: A new reform agenda for Australia
Allen & Unwin. RRP: $24.95

The last decade has seen an increasing movement towards market-based economic reform, but does “the market” produce widespread benefits for the whole of society? Based on contributions from a wide range of Australia’s leading thinkers, this bold book considers major policy issues such as unemployment, education, tax reform, health policy and the environment and predicts their future given current policy direction.

Bill Bryson, Troublesome Words
Penguin Books. RRP: $23.00

This lively and entertaining book is essential for anybody who cares about clear communication. You can open this book at almost any page and wince as you recognize “troublesome words” which you have no doubt tripped over yourself. Bryson reminds us that “to flaunt” means to show off, but “to flout” means to treat with contempt. He explains the difference between “imply” and “infer”, between egoism and egotism. He distinguishes between “its” and “it’s”, between “I lay down the law” and “I lie down to sleep”. Is it pompous and pedantic to insist on correct English? Not at all, because we need to understand each other. Bestselling travel writer and former sub-editor of the London Times, Bill Bryson, has brought out this revised and greatly enlarged edition of a book which first came out 20 years ago.

Peter F. Alexander, Les Murray: A Life in Progress
Oxford University Press.

Les Murray is one of Australia’s finest poets and also a controversial political commentator. This biography reveals how this complex man endured the harshest and most anti-intellectual of childhoods to develop into one of the most famous poets writing in English today. The author gives intimate details of his poverty-stricken childhood, his wild times at Sydney University, his mental breakdown that led to Murray’s discovery of the interior of his country. The book climaxes with Murray’s near-death experience that at last brought him to escape from depression. A riveting story, with the pace of a good novel, it places Murray at the centre of Australia’s literary life for the last half of the twentieth century.

Samantha Koch & David Koch, The Teenager’s Guide to Part-Time Jobs: Tips for Earning a Dollar
Allen & Unwin. RRP: $17.95

Following on from the hugely successful The Teenager’s Guide to Money, Samantha Koch (with help from Dad!) has produced an easy-to-read guide for teenagers. Aimed at teenagers who’d like to earn some extra cash while studying, and with 101 job ideas to get you started, The Teenager’s Guide to Part-Time Jobs covers the process of choosing a job that’s right for you, applying and finally landing the position and understanding your rights as an employee.

Samantha Koch & David Koch, Leaving Home: The Ultimate Guide
Allen & Unwin. RRP: $17.95

Packed full of practical tips for making a stress-free transition from living at home to living on your own, this guide will help first-time home-leavers on how to avoid some of the common pitfalls of moving out. From dealing with flatmates, landlords and real estate agents, to learning how to budget for bills, bonds and rent, this guide is packed full of information to help you start on the right foot.

Brad Collis, Fields of Discovery: Australia’s CSIRO
Allen & Unwin. RRP: $49.95

The Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been at the forefront of some of the most extraordinary technological and scientific advances in the world during the second half of the twentieth century. Fields of Discovery tells the many stories of achievements and successes of the CSIRO and the people who contributed to them.

PASAweb   Index & Search   Top of Page   Comments   Email to Editor

The Police Journal Online is an official publication of the Police Association of South Australia and is published monthly. Editors of kindred publications can seek permission from the Editor to re-publish any Police Journal Online article. Copyright 2001  The Police Association of South Australia sustance