6 of the best biographies of inspirational Aussies
Ever feel like you’re at rock bottom? Like things can’t possibly get any better? You’re not alone. Chances are everyone you’ve looked up to over the years has gone through just as much hardship, only they’ve learnt from it and come out a better person. Here are six biographies of extraordinary Australians to pick up and remind yourself that even in the darkest times, there is always light.
1. Reckoning by Magda Szubanski
She’s been a fixture of the Australian television industry for decades now, but life wasn’t always smooth sailing for comedienne Magda Szubanski. From dealing with body image issues, sexuality and attempting to reconcile with her family’s wartime past, Reckoning is a witty, intimate and heartbreakingly honest account of one of Australia’s most beloved actresses.
2. Keating by Kerry O’Brien
Paul Keating, Australia’s Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, is often credited as our nation’s greatest reforming Treasurer (despite having no formal economics education) and brought the country through a difficult recession in the early 90s. This biography, written by one of Australia’s greatest political interviewers, Kerry O’Brien, explores just how he rose to the top.
3. Brett Whiteley: Art, Life and the Other Thing by Ashleigh Wilson
Arguably our nation’s most well-known artist, Brett Whiteley was a force of creativity who thrust Australia’s art scene into the international spotlight. This biography explores his career, his friendships with such powerhouses of the arts as Bob Dylan, Francis Bacon and Janis Joplin, and the hundreds of award-winning sculptures and paintings he produced.
4. Everything to Live For by Turia Pitt
Turia Pitt has dealt with more in the last five years than most people have to face in a lifetime. Caught in a bushfire during an ultramarathon in 2011, Pitt sustained burns to 65 per cent and lost four fingers and a thumb in the ordeal. She has since become a motivational speaker, inspiring people around the world with her bravery, optimism and love of life.
5. Never Say Die by Chris O’Brien
For decades, Chris O’Brien made a name for himself as one of Australia’s most esteemed head and neck cancer surgeons at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In a tragic twist of fate, O’Brien himself was diagnosed with a highly deadly brain tumour in 2006 at the age of just 54. In his bestselling autobiography, O’Brien looks back on his incredible life and to the future of cancer research.
6. The Happiest Refugee: My Journey from Tragedy to Comedy by Anh Do
Born in Vietnam, Anh Do’s journey to becoming a household name in Australia wasn’t an easy one. In 1980, when he was just three, Do and his family fled to Australia in a tiny fishing boat with 40 others, surviving at sea for five days, attacked twice by pirates. His story will make you laugh, cry, and be thankful for what you have.
What’s the most inspiring biography you’ve ever read? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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