Australia reimagined: towards a more compassionate, less anxious society

Description

Introduction : compassion changes everything -- pt. I. The way we are -- 1. We need more courage than luck -- A reflection : on everyone's desire to be taken seriously -- 2. The epidemic that affects us all -- A reflection : on the culture of busyness -- 3. Who's afraid of diversity? -- A reflection : on choosing our words carefully -- 4. Beware : overshare! -- A reflection : on empathy and education -- 5. The better world you dream of starts in your street -- pt. II. Fault lines -- 6. Gender wars : a pathway to peace -- 7. Religion's noblest role : promoting compassion -- 8. Politics : is this the best we can do? -- 9. 'Choice' : the big threat to public education -- pt. III. The way we could be -- 10. The real state of the nation -- 11. Big hearts, open minds.;'When it comes to our future, misplaced optimism is as dangerous as blind faith. What is needed is the courage to face the way things are, and the wisdom and imagination to work out how to make things better.' Australia's unprecedented run of economic growth has failed to deliver a more stable or harmonious society. Individualism is rampant. Income inequality is growing. Public education is under-resourced. The gender revolution is stalling. We no longer trust our major institutions or our political leaders. We are more socially fragmented, more anxious, more depressed, more overweight, more medicated, deeper in debt and increasingly addicted - whether to our digital devices, drugs, pornography or 'stuff'. Yet esteemed social researcher Hugh Mackay remains optimistic. Twenty-five years ago, he revolutionised Australian social analysis with the publication of Reinventing Australia. Now he takes another unflinching look at us and offers some compelling proposals for a more compassionate and socially cohesive Australia. You might not agree with everything he suggests, but you'll find it hard to get some of his ideas out of your head. Argued with intelligence and passion, this book is essential reading for everyone who loves Australia enough to want to make it a better place for us all.