Michael Winkler

The Mind of the Islamic State by Robert Manne

June-July 2017, no. 392

One of the many contradictions of Islamic State, as exposed in Robert Manne’s latest work, is that a mob seemingly dedicated to deeds rather than words is in fact logocratic. For all of their murderous antipathy towards the People of the Book, Islamic State has relied not on speeches or policy platforms, but on a succession of books.

While some trace the g ...

Losing Streak: How Tasmania was gamed by the gambling industry by James Boyce

by Michael Winkler •

May 2017, no. 391

Michael Winkler reviews 'Losing Streak: How Tasmania was gamed by the gambling industry' by James Boyce

Gambling is part of Australia’s self-definition. The way we like to tell the story, lads at Gallipoli went over the top with a two-up kip in one hand and a rifle in the other, while exchanging tips for the Melbourne Cup ...

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From the Edge: Australia’s lost histories by Mark McKenna

by Michael Winkler •

January–February 2017, no. 388

Michael Winkler reviews 'From the Edge: Australia’s lost histories' by Mark McKenna

There is a well-meaning musician who performs intermittently in Central Australia. When he plays his hit song, he tries to augment the lyrics by chanting the ...

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Position Doubtful: Mapping landscapes and memories by Kim Mahood

by Michael Winkler •

September 2016, no. 384

Michael Winkler reviews 'Position Doubtful: Mapping landscapes and memories' by Kim Mahood

At the bottom of one of Kim Mahood's desert watercolours, she scrawled, 'In the gap between two ways of seeing, the risk is that you see nothing clearly.' A risk for ...

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