Learning how to be better fathers

Yet my friends in Catholic education told me how they had insisted that principals control what was done and how it was paid for. Much the same occurred in many wealthy schools. These schools got far more for their money than the vast majority of the State schools. I believe the same happened to a large extent in Victoria: other States might have fared better.

Thus in the major two States, at least, the Rudd-Gillard Government has only entrenched the privileges enjoyed by children in wealthy private schools. And as far as I know, there has been a Gonski Review of education funding but we are still stuck with the unfair scheme set up by the Howard Government. So much for a Labor Party which seeks to improve the life chances of working-class people.

These faults in the book are slight; but there are many strengths. It's a well-designed book. I would like to see an index and some photos on the next edition. This book will not be remaindered in a few weeks – as many are these days.

I would recommend this book to any thoughtful person who wants to understand Australia and its recent history. We writers are funny people: we seek to get more control over life by writing apt descriptions of people and events. James is more worth listening to than most. There are many insights and sharp descriptions: too many for me to quote in this short review.

There are many heartfelt passages about family circumstances which might have given James some angst. But he is determined to tell his truth, come what may. It's far better than many autobiographies, which are semi-fictional (entertainingly so, in the case of Barry Humphries). I found it a very good read; a book I want to keep and refer back to again. Clearly James has a bright future, wherever he turns.