Back in 2009 I was lent given a copy of Don Aitkin's What was it all for? The Reshaping of Australia. (Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, 2005). I thought it a remarkably good book, inspiring several posts. Now I see that blogging colleague and fellow New Englander Paul Barratt has discovered it as well.
Just to inspire Paul to extend the discussion, I thought that I should record the posts inspired by the book. 
- 24 November 2009 Train Reading - Don Aitkin's What was it all for? 1
- 28 November 2009 Decline of the professions in Australia
- 29 November 2009 Sunday Essay - What was it all for? part 2
- 4 May 2010 Generational Change and the 1970s
- 18 November 2010 Social Change in New England 1950-2000 2: Don Aitkin's What was it all for?
Another of my history posts, Social Change in New England 1950-2000 3: Church, state and social change in Australia, dealt in part with a second one of Don's book. Don's writing has been quite influential in my own work.
If you are interested, our can find out more about Don - Don Aitkin and here. In the meantime, I encourage Paul to respond.
2 comments:
I hope he responds. Don raised an important question.
I think it is clear that we got the answers wrong. I think the Downshifting phenomenon shows this very clearly - that this phenomenon is so ignored is very significant I think
Hi Evan. Paul has promised to respond, but I don't know what path he might follow in doing so. But that's the fun!
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