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The seed of the idea for Irish author Kevin Barry’s latest novel was planted more than 25 years ago. But it wasn’t until late into the pandemic as he was walking in the countryside and had a vision of a young couple on horseback riding double that he decided to write The Heart in Winter. Set in 1890s Montana, the book is a savagely funny and achingly romantic tale of young lovers on the lam. On this week’s episode Michael chats with Kevin about The Heart in Winter and why these days, glamorous sentences are not the most important thing in his writing. Reading list: City of Bohane, Kevin Barry, 2011 Beatlebone, Kevin Barry, 2015 Night Boat to Tangier, Kevin Barry, 2019 The Heart in Winter, Kevin Barry, 2024 Underworld, Don DeLillo, 1997 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Kevin BarrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian author Dominic Amerena has been a writer for years. Now, finally, comes his dazzling debut novel I Want Everything. The story follows an ambitious young writer who tells a white lie to land a scoop, and explores desire, deception, authenticity, and the costs of creative ambition. This week Michael and Dominic chat about the necessity for, and pitfalls of, ambition, and why a writer should never be satisfied. Reading list: I Want Everything, Dominic Amerena, 2025 Stinkbug, Sinead Stubbins, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Dominic AmerenaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Rankin introduced Detective John Rebus in his 1987 novel Knots and Crosses. Since then, Rankin has published another two dozen books in the series and has sold almost 40 million books to date. Unsurprisingly, he’s now Sir Ian Rankin. This week, Michael sits down with Ian at Sydney Writers’ Festival for discussion about his latest Rebus book, Midnight and Blue. Reading list: Knots and Crosses, Ian Rankin, 1987 Black and Blue, Ian Rankin, 1997 The Hanging Garden, Ian Rankin, 1998 Standing in Another Man's Grave, Ian Rankin, 2012 Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2025 A Killing Kindness, Reginald Hill, 1980 In the Woods, Tana French, 2007 The Broken Shore, Peter Temple, 2005 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Ian RankinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the surface, Kaliane Bradley’s debut is a time-travel novel; it’s speculative fiction meets romance and espionage. But underneath? It's a sharp, satirical exploration of institutional control—of what happens when government red tape meets the impossible. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with Kaliane Bradley to discuss her bestselling book The Ministry of Time. Reading list: The Ministry of Time, Kaliane Bradley, 2024 The Time Traveller’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger ,2003 Life After Life, Kate Atkinson, 2013 Discworld (series), Terry Pratchett, 1983–2015 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Kaliane BradleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Torrey Peters’ debut novel, Detransition, Baby, was an instant sensation. Longlisted for the Women’s Prize in the UK and named one of the New York Times’ best books of the 21st century so far, the book catapulted Torrey into the limelight. Her second and latest book, Stag Dance, is a collection of four stories that are brutal, funny, and brilliant. This week, Michael sits down with Torrey to discuss the genesis of Stag Dance and why she isn’t interested in trans identity. Reading list: Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters, 2021 Stag Dance, Torrey Peters, 2025 The Unquiet Grave, Dervla McTiernan, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Torrey PetersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Wilson writes weird books about weird people — in the best possible way. In 2019’s Nothing to See Here, two children have a condition that means they spontaneously combust. In Now Is Not the Time to Panic, two lonely young artists wreak havoc on their small town, prompting fears of Satanism. This week, Michael sits down with Kevin to discuss how he wrote his latest novel, Run for the Hills, why having children revealed the multitude of ways weirdness can manifest. Reading list: The Family Fang, Kevin Wilson, 2011 Nothing to See Here, Kevin Wilson, 2019 Now Is Not the Time to Panic, Kevin Wilson, 2022 Run for the Hills, Kevin Wilson, 2025 The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, 1938 We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson, 1962 True Grit, Charles Portis, 1968 Member of the Wedding, Carson McCullers, 1946 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Kevin WilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London-based Australian author Jessica Stanley’s second novel, Consider Yourself Kissed, opens with all the beats of a classic romantic comedy – a meet-cute, a grand gesture, instant attraction – but what follows is a book about the next bit, the day to day reality of just living. But Jessica writes it with grace and wit and compassion, finding the romance in what comes next when two people decide to be together. This week, Michael sits down with Jessica for a conversation about life, love, and the importance of what’s on your bookshelf. Reading list: A Great Hope, Jessica Stanley, 2022 Consider Yourself Kissed, Jessica Stanley, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Jessica StanleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josephine Rowe’s writing has been described by the New York Times as “gorgeous” and “precise”. This is particularly evident in her latest novel, Little World, a slender book that offers a deeper, denser exploration of ideas than its modest page count might suggest. This week on the show, Michael sits down with Josephine to discuss the genesis of Little World and why a library card might be her most prized possession. Reading list: Tarcutta Wake, Josephine Rowe, 2012 A Faithful, Loving Animal, Josephine Rowe, 2016 Here Until August, Josephine Rowe, 2019 Little World, Josephine Rowe, 2025 Ritual, Chloe Elisabeth Wilson, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Josephine RoweSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In addition to being an established novelist, James Bradley is also a journalist and writer of non-fiction, much of it concerned with the natural world and the myriad threats it faces. Set in the near future, in a world that is in the grips of climate catastrophe, his latest novel, Landfall, is a crime thriller at its heart. This week, Michael and James discuss what it means to write into a specific genre and why kindness is so important in both this novel and the world. Reading list: Clade, James Bradley, 2015 Ghost Species, James Bradley, 2020 Deep Water, James Bradley, 2024 Landfall, James Bradley, 2025 Highway 13, Fiona McFarlane, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: James BradleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opening scene of Chris Flynn’s fourth and latest novel, Orpheus Nine, came to him in a dream. Not long after, he had the whole story down from start to finish. This week, Chris and Michael sit down for a conversation about the falsity of certitude, how trauma can re-shape a community, and what The Exorcist, the Bible, and Winnie the Pooh all have in common. Reading list: A Tiger in Eden, Chris Flynn, 2012 The Glass Kingdom, Chris Flynn, 2014 Mammoth, Chris Flynn, 2020 Here Be Leviathans, Chris Flynn, 2022 Orpheus Nine, Chris Flynn, 2025 The Cracked Mirror, Christopher Brookmyer, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Chris FlynnSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over four decades Niall Williams has made a name for himself as one of Ireland’s leading novelists. In his latest novel, Time of the Child, Niall returns to the fictional village of Faha, in west Ireland, the setting of his previous book, This Is Happiness. Time of the Child centres on the notion of familial love, and as he explains to Michael in this week’s episode, Niall couldn’t have written it without becoming a grandfather himself. Reading list: Four Letters Of Love, Niall Williams, 1997 As It Is In Heaven, Niall Williams, 1999 History of the Rain, Niall Williams, 2015 This Is Happiness, Niall Williams, 2019 Time of the Child, Niall Williams, 2024 Unsettled, Kate Grenville, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Niall WilliamsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkish-born, Paris-based writer Ayşegül Savaş’s third novel opens with a young, ex-pat couple who are apartment hunting. Both foreigners in the city they live in and unburdened from the usual familial obligations, their days are marked by small pleasures: shopping at a local flea market, drinking coffee together before work, and taking long walks in the park. Like so much of Ayşegül’s writing, The Anthropologists is interested not just in foreignness, but what it means to establish traditions and rituals when you are starting anew. This week, Michael chats with Ayşegül about this latest novel and why she is trying to make foreignness the status quo. Reading list: Walking on the Ceiling, Ayşegül Savaş, 2019 White on White, Ayşegül Savaş, 2021 The Anthropologists, Ayşegül Savaş, 2024 The Wilderness, Ayşegül Savaş 2024 The Confidence Woman, Sophie Quick, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Ayşegül SavaşSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colm Tóibín is regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest authors — and for good reason. With a career spanning 30 years and 11 award-winning novels under his belt, Colm is beloved both at home and abroad. In his latest book, Long Island, Tóibín returns to familiar territory with a sequel to 2009’s best-selling Brooklyn. This week, he and Michael discuss what it means to write a sequel, the importance of James Baldwin’s writing, and, of course, Costco. Reading list: The Heather Blazing, Colm Tóibín, 1992 The Master, Colm Tóibín, 2004 Brooklyn, Colm Tóibín, 2009 Nora Webster, Colm Tóibín, 2014 Long Island, Colm Tóibín, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Colm TóibínSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanzanian-born, London-based author Abdulrazak Gurnah was midway through writing his latest novel, Theft, when he received a call letting him know he’d won the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature. After more than a year of events and literary obligations, he finally returned to Theft, with more enthusiasm than ever. This week, Michael sits down with Abdulrazak to discuss his writing, the phenomenon of tourism and his latest book. Reading list: Paradise, Abdulrazak Gurnah, 1994 By the Sea, Abdulrazak Gurnah, 2001 Desertion, Abdulrazak Gurnah, 2005 Theft, Abdulrazak Gurnah, 2025 Eurotrash, Christian Kracht, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Abdulrazak GurnahSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmanian writer Robert Dessaix is a man of many talents when it comes to the written form – from travel memoir and fiction to biography and philosophy, he’s done it all. He became a household name for many listeners to ABC Radio following a long stint hosting the beloved show Books and Writing. Now, at 81, Robert is back with a new memoir. This week, Michael is joined by Robert for a conversation about memory, dance, and being a chameleon. Reading list: A Mother’s Disgrace, Robert Dessaix, 1994 Corfu, Robert Dessaix, 2001 Twilight of Love, Robert Dessaixt, 2004 Chameleon, Robert Dessaix, 2025 Perfection, Vincenzo Latronico, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Robert DessaixSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Sonia Orchard was in her 40s when a revelation during a therapy session turned her life upside down. Could the relationship she’d had in her teens with a man more than a decade older in fact be abuse? In her new memoir, Groomed, Sonia investigates her own story, sharing her gruelling journey through the justice system, and shines a light on the failures – social, structural, legal – that entrench and prolong the trauma for victim survivors. This week, she speaks with Michael about the power of reclaiming her story. Reading list: The Virtuoso, Sonia Orchard, 2009 Into the Fire, Sonia Orchard, 2019 Groomed, Sonia Orchard, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Sonia OrchardSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Andrea Goldsmith’s ninth and latest novel, The Buried Life, she unpicks the relationships between people and the undercurrents of doubt and faith that define a life. But more than anything else this is a book that is first and foremost concerned with death. It’s a subject that has long fascinated Andrea, something she discusses deeply with Michael on this week’s episode. Reading list: Reunion, Andrea Goldsmith, 2009 The Memory Trap, Andrea Goldsmith, 2013 Invented Lives, Andrea Goldsmith, 2019 The Buried Life, Andrea Goldsmith, 2025 Andrea Goldsmith’s List of Books on Death & Grief You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Andrea GoldsmithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Melbourne-based author Sean Wilson’s new book, You Must Remember This, he tackles the complicated, tragic, and often fraught subject of dementia.. This week, Sean joins Michael for a conversation about loss, family, and how to hang on to one’s humanity as illness strips it away. Reading list: Gemini Falls, Sean Wilson, 2022 You Must Remember This, Sean Wilson, 2025 The Bright Sword, Lev Grossmann, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and X Guest: Sean WilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two time Miles Franklin Award-winning author Alex Miller is 88, but with 17 books under his belt and more writing on the way, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. On this week’s episode, Michael sits down with Alex to discuss his latest book The Deal, which revisits the life of Lang Tzu, a character in his critically acclaimed novel The Ancestor Game. Reading list: The Ancestor Game, Alex Miller, 1992 Journey to the Stone Country Alex Miller, 2003 Autumn Laing Alex Miller, 2011 A Kind of Confession, Alex Miller, 2023 The Deal, Alex Miller, 2024 Joan Lindsay, Brenda Niall, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Alex MillerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, Rachel Khong released her debut novel Goodbye, Vitamin to critical acclaim. In 2024, she followed it with her second novel, a sweeping family saga spanning five decades. Real Americans is a fascinating exploration of what makes us who we are and challenges some of the corrosive myths that underpin America. This week, Michael chats with Rachel about her new book and she shares her thoughts on luck, science, and the ultimate unknowability of each other and sometimes, even ourselves. Reading list: Goodbye, Vitamin, Rachel Khong, 2017 Real Americans, Rachel Khong, 2024 Somebody Down There Likes Me, Robert Lukins, 2025 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rachel KhongSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Miles Franklin Award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has never been afraid of formal experimentation. Her seventh and latest book supports that idea. It is bold and, once again, a heady mix of serious intellectual inquiry with beautifully observed characterisation and formal play. This week on the show, Michael sits down with Michelle for a conversation about Theory & Practice and she reveals why writing it felt so different to all of her other books. Reading list: The Rose Grower, Michelle de Kretser, 1999 The Hamilton Case, Michelle de Kretser, 2003 The Lost Dog, Michelle de Kretser, 2007 Questions of Travel, Michelle de Kretser, 2012 Springtime, Michelle de Kretser, 2014 The Life to Come, Michelle de Kretser, 2017 On Shirley Hazzard, Michelle de Kretser, 2019 Scary Monsters, Michelle de Kretser, 2021 Theory & Practice, Michelle de Kretser, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Michelle de KretserSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lech Blaine’s debut book Car Crash, told the gripping story of his life in the aftermath of a horrendous road accident that killed several of his friends. Since then he’s written political essays and thoughtful journalism: for The Monthly, for the Quarterly Essay and beyond. This week, we’re bringing you Michael’s conversation with Lech at Canberra Writers’ Festival, where they discussed his latest book Australian Gospel: A Family Saga. The book details the outrageous true story of the tangled fates of two couples and the children trapped between them. Reading list: Car Crash, Lech Blaine 2019 Australian Gospel: A Family Saga, Lech Blaine 2024 Gunnawah, Ronni Salt, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Lech BlaineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For so many, Noni Hazlehurst is the patron saint of early childhood nostalgia, known for her magnetic presence on Playschool. But Noni has had a long and storied career on stage and screen in Australia – from hosting Better Homes & Gardens to starring in the award-winning one-woman play Mother. This week on the show Noni chats with Michael about her new memoir, Dropping the Mask, where she reclaims a lifetime in the public eye and shares it back on the page. Reading list: Dropping the Mask, Noni Hazlehurst, 2024 Martyr!, Kaveh Akbar, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Noni HazlehurstSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read This returns next Thursday 16 January! We're kicking off 2025 with Australian icon Noni Hazlehurst, who is on the show to discuss her new memoir Dropping the Mask.Join us for another year of insightful, fascinating, and revealing conversations with some of the best writers from Australia and around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our last show of 2024, Michael heads back to Fitzroy Pool to find out what people are reading as the weather warms up. Plus, some of our previous guests offer book recommendations for the summer holidays. Reading list: Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Simone de Beauvoir, 1958 The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas, 2008 Ritual, Chloe Elizabeth Wilson, 2025 The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 2001 I Could Not Believe It, Sean DeLear, 1979 Unlicensed: Bootlegging as Creative Practice, Ben Schwartz, 2024 Deadly Embrace, Jackie Collins, 2001 Of Love and Other Demons, Gabriel García Márquez, 1993 The Season, Helen Garner, 2024 The Safe Keep, Yael van der Wouden, 2024 All Fours, Miranda July, 2024 Time's Monster, Priya Satia, 2020 The Lovers, Yumna Kassab, 2022 Deep Water, James Bradley, 2024 The Tribe, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, 2014 Edith Trilogy, Frank Moorhouse, 1992-2011 The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse, John Clarke, 1994 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter

For our last episode of 2024, Michael heads back to Fitzroy Pool to find out what people are reading as the weather warms up. Plus, some of our previous guests offer book recommendations for the summer holidays.Reading list:Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Simone de Beauvoir, 1958The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas, 2008Ritual, Chloe Elizabeth Wilson, 2025The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 2001I Could Not Believe It, Sean DeLear, 1979Unlicensed: Bootlegging as Creative Practice, Ben Schwartz, 2024Deadly Embrace, Jackie Collins, 2001Of Love and Other Demons, Gabriel García Márquez, 1993The Season, Helen Garner, 2024The Safe Keep, Yael van der Wouden, 2024All Fours, Miranda July, 2024Time's Monster, Priya Satia, 2020The Lovers, Yumna Kassab, 2022Deep Water, James Bradley, 2024The Tribe, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, 2014Edith Trilogy, Frank Moorhouse, 1992-2011The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse, John Clarke, 1994You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best known for his thought-provoking explorations of sexuality and identity across generations, British author Alan Hollinghurst rose to international stardom after his 2004 novel The Line of Beauty was awarded the Booker Prize. In his seventh novel, Our Evenings, Alan adopts the memoir format, offering a delicate meditation on memory, loss, and the passage of time. On this week's episode, Michael is joined by Alan on Zoom to discuss his life and career and why this book is as close as Alan will get to writing his own memoir. Reading list: The Swimming Pool Library, Alan Hollinghurst, 1988 The Folding Start, Alan Hollinghurst, 1994 The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst, 2004 The Sparsholt Affair, Alan Hollinghurst, 2017 Our Evenings, Alan Hollinghurst, 2024 Theory and Practice, Michelle de Kretser, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Alan Hollinghurst

Best known for his thought-provoking explorations of sexuality and identity across generations, British author Alan Hollinghurst rose to international stardom after his 2004 novel The Line of Beauty was awarded the Booker Prize. In his seventh novel, Our Evenings, Alan adopts the memoir format, offering a delicate meditation on memory, loss, and the passage of time. On this week's episode, Michael is joined by Alan on Zoom to discuss his life and career and why this book is as close as Alan will get to writing his own memoir.Reading list:The Swimming Pool Library, Alan Hollinghurst, 1988The Folding Start, Alan Hollinghurst, 1994The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst, 2004The Sparsholt Affair, Alan Hollinghurst, 2017Our Evenings, Alan Hollinghurst, 2024Theory and Practice, Michelle de Kretser, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Alan HollinghurstSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Safran has been a fixture in Australian media since his breakthrough in 1997 with ABC TV's Race Around the World. After several TV series of his own that explored ideas about faith, race and culture, John made the shift to book-length journalism. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with John about his latest book, Squat, and he reveals the deeper story behind his week living in Kanye West's Malibu mansion. Reading list: Murder in Mississippi, John Safran, 2013 Depends What You Mean By Extremist, John Safran, 2017 Puff Piece, John Safran, 2021 Squat, John Safran, 2024 Glyph, Ali Smith, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: John Safran

John Safran has been a fixture in Australian media since his breakthrough in 1997 with ABC TV's Race Around the World. After several TV series of his own that explored ideas about faith, race and culture, John made the shift to book-length journalism. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with John about his latest book, Squat, and he reveals the deeper story behind his week living in Kanye West's Malibu mansion.Reading list:Murder in Mississippi, John Safran, 2013Depends What You Mean By Extremist, John Safran, 2017Puff Piece, John Safran, 2021Squat, John Safran, 2024Glyph, Ali Smith, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: John SafranSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian and author Professor Clare Wright's award-winning work is about righting the wrongs of Australian history. Across three books she takes a historical artefact and uses it to understand the voices that are too often missing from the historical record: the Eureka flag, the suffragette banner, and now the Bark Petitions. This week, Michael sits down with Clare for a conversation about her new book Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions.Reading list:The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, Clare Wright, 2014You Daughters of Freedom, Clare Wright, 2018Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions, Clare Wright, 2024The Season, Helen Garner, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Clare WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian and author Professor Clare Wright's award-winning work is about righting the wrongs of Australian history. Across three books she takes a historical artefact and uses it to understand the voices that are too often missing from the historical record: the Eureka flag, the suffragette banner, and now the Bark Petitions. This week, Michael sits down with Clare for a conversation about her new book Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions. Reading list: The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, Clare Wright, 2014 You Daughters of Freedom, Clare Wright, 2018 Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions, Clare Wright, 2024 The Season, Helen Garner, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Clare Wright

The Robodobt scheme is considered by many to be one of the Australian government's worst scandals. Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper and Walkley Award-winning journalist Rick Morton followed the case closely and he documents the crisis and its devastating effects in his latest book. This week, we bring you Michael's conversation from Canberra Writers' Festival with Rick as they discuss Mean Streak. Reading list: Mean Streak, Rick Morton, 2024 One Hundred Years of Dirt, Rick Morton, 2023 My Year Of Living Vulnerably, Rick Morton, 2022 Words to Sing the World Alive, Jasmin McGaughey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rick Morton

The Robodebt scheme is considered by many to be one of the Australian government's worst scandals. Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper and Walkley Award-winning journalist Rick Morton followed the case closely and he documents the crisis and its devastating effects in his latest book. This week, we bring you Michael's conversation from Canberra Writers' Festival with Rick as they discuss Mean Streak.Reading list:Mean Streak, Rick Morton, 2024One Hundred Years of Dirt, Rick Morton, 2023My Year Of Living Vulnerably, Rick Morton, 2022Words to Sing the World Alive, Jasmin McGaughey, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Rick MortonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Kushner always seemed destined to become a writer. At just five years old, her unconventional parents had her working in a feminist bookstore. Now, several decades and three award-winning novels later, she is back with a new book that follows a spy-for-hire who infiltrates a commune of eco-activists in rural France. This week, Michael joins Rachel on Zoom for a conversation about Creation Lake, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. Reading list: Telex from Cuba, Rachel Kushner, 2008 The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner, 2013 The Mars Room, Rachel Kushner, 2018 Creation Lake, Rachel Kushner, 2024 Orbital, Samantha Harvey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner always seemed destined to become a writer. At just five years old, her unconventional parents had her working in a feminist bookstore. Now, several decades and three award-winning novels later, she is back with a new book that follows a spy-for-hire who infiltrates a commune of eco-activists in rural France. This week, Michael joins Rachel on Zoom for a conversation about Creation Lake, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize.Reading list:Telex from Cuba, Rachel Kushner, 2008The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner, 2013The Mars Room, Rachel Kushner, 2018Creation Lake, Rachel Kushner, 2024Orbital, Samantha Harvey, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Rachel KushnerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santilla Chingaipe was born to tell stories. The Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author, has spent her career exploring settler colonialism, slavery, and contemporary migration in Australia and she has just released her first book of non-fiction. This week, Michael is joined in studio by Santilla to discuss Black Convicts, which was inspired by the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Our African Roots. In it, she offers a fresh understanding of the ways in which empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped this nation. Reading List: Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Santilla Chingaipe

Santilla Chingaipe was born to tell stories. The Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author, has spent her career exploring settler colonialism, slavery, and contemporary migration in Australia and she has just released her first book of non-fiction. This week, Michael is joined in studio by Santilla to discuss Black Convicts, which was inspired by the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Our African Roots. In it, she offers a fresh understanding of the ways in which empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped this nation.Reading List:Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Santilla ChingaipeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is more or less impossible to imagine Australian literature of the past half century without Tim Winton. From his debut, An Open Swimmer to his epic Cloudstreet, the four-time Miles Franklin Award winner is beloved by generations of readers. This week, Michael sits down with Tim to discuss his latest novel, Juice, a gripping tale of determination, survival, and the limits of the human spirit. Reading list: That Eye, The Sky, Tim Winton, 1986 Lockie Leonard, Tim Winton, 1990–1997 Cloudstreet, Tim Winton, 1991 Dirt Music, Tim Winton, 2001 Breath, Tim Winton, 2008 Juice, Tim Winton, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Tim Winton

It is more or less impossible to imagine Australian literature of the past half century without Tim Winton. From his debut, An Open Swimmer to his epic Cloudstreet, the four-time Miles Franklin Award winner is beloved by generations of readers. This week, Michael sits down with Tim to discuss his latest novel, Juice, a gripping tale of determination, survival, and the limits of the human spirit.Reading list:That Eye, The Sky, Tim Winton, 1986Lockie Leonard, Tim Winton, 1990–1997Cloudstreet, Tim Winton, 1991Dirt Music, Tim Winton, 2001Breath, Tim Winton, 2008Juice, Tim Winton, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Tim WintonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Musician and writer Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay woman from freshwater country in north-west New South Wales. Her debut novel was 2020's critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Song of the Crocodile. Now she is back with her second novel, which explores creation, belonging, and the precious fragility of a life. This week, Michael sits down with Nardi for a wide ranging conversation about her new book, The Belburd. Reading list: Song of the Crocodile, Nardi Simpson, 2024 The Belburd, Nardi Simpson, 2024 Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2024 The Ledge, Christian White, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Nardi Simpson

Musician and writer Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay woman from freshwater country in north-west New South Wales. Her debut novel was 2020's critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Song of the Crocodile. Now she is back with her second novel, which explores creation, belonging, and the precious fragility of a life. This week, Michael sits down with Nardi for a wide ranging conversation about her new book, The Belburd.Reading list:Song of the Crocodile, Nardi Simpson, 2024The Belburd, Nardi Simpson, 2024Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2024The Ledge, Christian White, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Nardi SimpsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just three books Robbie Arnott has established himself as a writer to trust. Flames (2018), The Rain Heron (2022) and Limberlost (2022) were all rapturously reviewed and garnered a hefty swag of award nominations and wins. This week, Michael sits down with Robbie to discuss his new novel, Dusk, which explores loss and redemption and survival in Tasmania's high country.  Reading list: Flames, Robbie Arnott, 2018 The Rain Heron, Robbie Arnott, 2020 Limberlost, Robbie Arnott, 2022 Dusk, Robbie Arnott, 2024 Paris In Ruins, Sebastian Smee, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Robbie Arnott

In just three books Robbie Arnott has established himself as a writer to trust. Flames (2018), The Rain Heron (2022) and Limberlost (2022) were all rapturously reviewed and garnered a hefty swag of award nominations and wins. This week, Michael sits down with Robbie to discuss his new novel, Dusk, which explores loss and redemption and survival in Tasmania's high country. Reading list:Flames, Robbie Arnott, 2018The Rain Heron, Robbie Arnott, 2020Limberlost, Robbie Arnott, 2022Dusk, Robbie Arnott, 2024Paris In Ruins, Sebastian Smee, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Robbie ArnottSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are few people in this country as obsessed with understanding the cultural and social potential of Australian cuisine as New Zealand-born chef Ben Shewry. And there are even fewer who have managed to combine that passion with the highest echelons of success. This week, Michael sits down with Attica's head chef to discuss his new memoir, Uses for Obsession, and Ben share's why he wanted to write a kind of antidote to the macho chef culture we've all come to expect. Reading List: Uses for Obsession, Ben Shewry, 2024 A Bit on the Side, Virginia Trioli, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Ben Shewry

There are few people in this country as obsessed with understanding the cultural and social potential of Australian cuisine as New Zealand-born chef Ben Shewry. And there are even fewer who have managed to combine that passion with the highest echelons of success. This week, Michael sits down with Attica's head chef to discuss his new memoir, Uses for Obsession, and Ben share's why he wanted to write a kind of antidote to the macho chef culture we've all come to expect.Reading List:Uses for Obsession, Ben Shewry, 2024A Bit on the Side, Virginia Trioli, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Ben ShewrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melanie Cheng began her writing career as an author of short stories. Her first collection, Australia Day, was published in 2017 to much acclaim. Her second novel, The Burrow, follows a Melbourne family forced to confront the tragedy of their shared past. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with Melanie about family, connection, and the power of narrative medicine. Reading list: Australia Day, Melanie Cheng, 2017 Room for a Stranger, Melanie Cheng, 2019 The Burrow, Melanie Cheng, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Melanie Cheng

Melanie Cheng began her writing career as an author of short stories. Her first collection, Australia Day, was published in 2017 to much acclaim. Her second novel, The Burrow, follows a Melbourne family forced to confront the tragedy of their shared past. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with Melanie about family, connection, and the power of narrative medicine.Reading list:Australia Day, Melanie Cheng, 2017Room for a Stranger, Melanie Cheng, 2019The Burrow, Melanie Cheng, 2024Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Melanie ChengSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rumaan Alam is the author of four novels. He broke out in 2020 with his New York Times best-selling novel Leave the World Behind. This week Michael sits down with Rumaan for a conversation about his latest novel, Entitlement, and they discuss class, desire, and the influence of Sylvia Plath. Reading list: Rich and Pretty, Rumaan Alam, 2016  That Kind of Mother, Rumaan Alam, 2018 Leave the World Behind, Rumaan Alam, 2020 Entitlement, Rumaan Alam, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rumaan Alam

Rumaan Alam is the author of four novels. He broke out in 2020 with his New York Times best-selling novel Leave the World Behind. This week Michael sits down with Rumaan for a conversation about his latest novel, Entitlement, and they discuss class, desire, and the influence of Sylvia Plath.Reading list:Rich and Pretty, Rumaan Alam, 2016 That Kind of Mother, Rumaan Alam, 2018Leave the World Behind, Rumaan Alam, 2020Entitlement, Rumaan Alam, 2024Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and TwitterGuest: Rumaan AlamSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Osman wears many hats, from television producer to comedian to podcaster. Now, however, he's best known as a bestselling author for his series The Thursday Murder Club. Richard's new series is called We Solve Murders and this week, he sits down with Michael to discuss it and he reveals the piece of advice he gave to Pierce Brosnan. Reading list: The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman, 2020 The Man Who Died Twice, Richard Osman, 2021 The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman, 2022 The Last Devil To Die, Richard Osman, 2023 We Solve Murders, Richard Osman, 2024 Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, Berg, A. Scott,1978 Stone Yard Devotional, Charlotte Wood, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Richard Osman