Australian Catholic priest Paul Collins begins his examination of the Australian Catholic church by recounting two incidents where bishops were dismissive of him, the first because Collins 'obviously hated the Catholic church', the other because Collins was motivated by his 'own inner struggle and insecurity'. This is typical of how the Catholic hierarchy generally deals with its critics: if the critics are within the Church then they are obviously not true Catholics or simply have some personal agenda; if the critics are not Catholics, then they 'just don't, and can never really, understand'.

How different is the approach presented by the then Polish archbishop Karol Wojtyla in his 'The Acting Person', where he argues that opposition is one of the characteristics of authentic human community. Those who disagree with official ideas and policies are not necessarily enemies of the community, but may be motivated by a deep devotion to the common good. This sort of opposition is vital to the community's growth and well-being.

Such thinking from the man who is now, as John Paul II, the head of the international Catholic community would come as a surprise to many. In Collins, however, we find just such a person, very critical of the Australian Catholic community, not out of malice or mischief (though benignly mischievous he frequently is), but clearly because of a deep devotion to his church and with a passionate belief in its potential for making a substantial contribution to the nation.

In his previous book, 'Mixed Blessings' (Penguin, 1986), Collins examined the modern global Catholic church and was rude enough to conclude that 'this small, backwater Church still has a long way to go to stay abreast of the Church Catholic'. He has now set his sights squarely on the Australian scene, gaining a more detailed and nuanced vision. He believes 'that the Catholic tradition has within it enormous resources and an adaptive ability to address the issues being raised by fair-minded people in contemporary A! ustralia.' He deplores the fact that there is little engagement between the Catholic church and Australian society, seeing this as a massive failure of leadership, principally by the bishops. Collins presents his examination of the Australian Catholic church within the framework of the biblical concept of 'kairos' - that now is a time for decision. The chief options he sees before the Church are to retreat into a reassuring Catholic subculture or to take a leadership role in society by reclaiming the spiritual and ethical traditions of Catholicism, especially by applying its principles of social justice.

The ground covered by the book is wide and, on the whole, fallow: where development of a distinctively Australian theology has gone wrong; that belief in the transcendent remains high in Australia, but church attendance is dropping, especially by women; why empowerment of the laity strikes at the self-identity of most priests; how the refusal of the Vatican to ordain women and married men is leading to heresy; that the Catholic school system needs to establish its own agenda and direction independent of government policies (but not unaccountable for funds provided); why Catholic spokesmen (aren't they always) have a poor media record; how large numbers of adults are today choosing to become Catholics, often with no previous church background; why Sunday Mass is generally 'dull, lifeless and boring'.

The two major items on the agenda that Collins proposes for the Church are Aborigines and the environment. In fact he presents little about 'what should be done', only presenting a case for the issues' importance. He reminds us that Aboriginal religious beliefs are diverse and private, requiring sensitivity and respect, and are fundamentally at odds with the simplistic and romantic appropriation that is becoming increasing prevalent in the work of some white religious writers. Drawing on radical authors such as Thomas Berry and Charles Birch, Collins builds a case for the centrality of the environmental cr! isis to Catholic ethics and action, and demonstrates the problem posed by overpopulation. Yet he uncharacteristically avoids raising the relationship between this and official Catholic teaching on contraception.

Collins has produced a very readable and lively book, with a surprising amount of humor, but one based on a wealth of reading and other research. Although sources are footnoted throughout, the book would be improved by the inclusion of a bibliography and a more detailed index.

'No Set Agenda' will dismay reactionaries in the Church, while giving a fresh shot of enthusiasm to those of us struggling for change in the Catholic church. It will serve an excellent purpose if it reaches a non-Catholic readership (with over 25% of Australians being Catholics, the Church's beliefs and practices should be of wide concern), providing them with a rare window into a Catholicism concerned and passionate about much more than the anti-abortion issue, state funding of church schools, and what goes on in bedrooms.

I was aloft one day in the park while a naked indian rubbed my inner thighs as i began to recite a poem by Wilfred Owens. The naked indian or Mr. Anthony as i called him when i was younger, began to cry un controllably as i read verse after verse. I removed my shoes and started to clobber Mr. Anthony to death with them. He died a noble death fightin for his country and making butterscotch with only his short and curlies and left nipple. The End. I love you.

Even if you're not headed down under except via easy chair, you can pick up Aussie slang here, and amusing yarns as well. As the Vietnam War winds down, a Yank ("Tin Tank Hank") heads for the Australian outback where he finds a different sort of life altogether. A combination "fish out of water" and "finding self" story, there's plenty here to keep you traveling along with Hank (reading with map of Australia handy enhances the trip) as he discovers, among other things, how to keep one's head in a "shout," the different degrees of bastardy and the dangers of marrying a crop duster's ex.

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This book won the "Picture Book of the Year" awarded by the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1997. It's easy to see why.

The beautiful water color illustrations accurately portray the area around the scenic seaside village of Lorne, located west of Melbourne Australia.

Elizabeth Honey is responsible for the pictures as well as the words in "Not a Nibble". It's rare to see great authorship and artistic talent so effectively combined. Her story although centred on our little hero Susie, will also have great appeal for boys. After all, the story pivots around that globally popular pastime of fishing.

To the non-Australian reader some of the fish names may seem strange. Overcoming that, is Elizabeth's portrayal of one of childhood's most enjoyable pastimes. The appeal of dangling a line off the end of a pier, must be a universal pleasure.

Susie together with Mum and Dad and three brothers have a seven-day camping holiday at Lorne. Susie is the most determined to catch a fish but she has the least luck. In fact she catches nothing! Getting teased by her brothers doesn't help. But Susie gets a special reward for her patience. While staring out to sea, almost ready to give up, she is the first to see a mother Southern Right Whale and her newborn calf.

This is a very rewarding book and will appeal to boys and girls of all ages.

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I have to declare that I know the author, we are both Vietnam Veterans from the same combat Engineer (RAE) unit.

I only ever knew Ken to be a soldier for many years. His talent as an author was hidden. Here is a text written with rare style and compassion by the first Aborigine to graduate from the Northern Territory University.

Ken has the penmanship of old. He writes a "yarn" that is unputdownable. He lived the life, he tells the story.

Do yourself a favour, own it and read it!

I absolutely loved this book. One of the very few books that I have read over and over and never get tired of. I love the way it flips back and forth between a present day girl and a girl from the past and then connects them at the end. Wonderful story - every young woman should read it and fall in love with it.

Sto cercando persone che si chiamino Lamprati come me Andrea Lamprat

Douglas Oliver's OCEANIA should be the foundation work for any collection on the South Seas. Forget the various short versions of Oliver's work (they have different titles so there is no problem with getting one of them by mistake). You wouldn't want a condensed version of WAR AND PEACE, and you won't want a shortened version of Oliver. This two volume work is the standard ethnography for Oceania. It is thorough, reliable, and has great illustrations. Like all highly inclusive works, it will not satisfy the specialist. If your interest is solely in the Maori, then you will need special works on the Maori. This work is where the collection starts, whether the collection is to be specialized or fairly general. Whether your interest is in Oceania itself, in Pohnpei alone, in ocean cultures anywhere, or in world history or anthropology, this work deserves shelf space. Does that make it sound difficult or boring? It's interesting to the general reader as well.

The book gives an excellent overview of the art in the Oceanic region with special emphasis on New Guinea.

The contributions are organised geographically and then by tribes. The book not only depicts extraordinary and seldom documented works of art from museums and private collections but also provides valuable information on the ethnological and social context of the works displayed.

Photographs and layout are outstanding and the printing is of the highest quality.

It is a must for all those interested in the art of the region or in tribal art in general.

Want to refresh your eyes amongst the visual boredom of thecity landscape? Feel like having a non-occidental approach tofigurative arts and religion? Then read this book and find the amazing collection of photographs along with a concise and effective study on representative arts in Oceania by Anthony J.P. Meyer. This edition could well be recommended as an obligatory visual encyclopedia for anyone who has read studies on art, magic and religion like that of Mircea Eliade on shamanism or J.G. Frazer's Golden Bough. As a visual artist I consider that this carefully selected collection of images is a golden mine until the present day for all creative person, like it was for cubist and surrealists long decades ago. Find a brilliant example of art and tradition that has given European painting and sculpture a new vitality and a wider perspective on Man. Sit back and enjoy a lavish design and a trustworthy source of info on Oceanic art for the demanding reader.