100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

Just Saying

Exploring twenty-five remarkable quotations to enlighten, challenge and inspire
Brief Description
Warm, witty, wise - and occasionally challenging - Just Saying is bestselling social psychologist Hugh Mackay's highly personal reflections on twenty-five quotations from some of the world's greatest thinkers and writers, from Confucius and Plato to Susan Sontag and Miles Franklin; from Samuel Johnson and Mary... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Reflections on profound sayings, ancient and modern, by iconic social researcher Hugh Mackay

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Warm, witty, wise - and occasionally challenging - Just Saying is bestselling social psychologist Hugh Mackay's highly personal reflections on twenty-five quotations from some of the world's greatest thinkers and writers, from Confucius and Plato to Susan Sontag and Miles Franklin; from Samuel Johnson and Mary Wollstonecraft to Bertrand Russell and Gloria Steinem.

Interpreting our world and inspiring us to do better, Mackay explores themes ranging from kindness and humility to power and prejudice; from gender equality to ethnic diversity; from coping with change to the damage inflicted on ourselves by revenge, and the great gulf between propriety and virtue.

As Mackay says: 'Writing these reflections has felt a bit like the beginning of a conversation ... now it's over to you.'

'Hugh Mackay is one of this country's most perceptive social commentators.' - Sydney Morning Herald

'Mackay is something of a national treasure.' - Canberra Times

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761473036

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 November 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 238g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Described as 'the man who explains us to ourselves', Hugh Mackay is a social psychologist and the bestselling author of twenty-five books, including The Way We Are and The Kindness Revolution. He had a sixty-year career in social research and was for thirty years a weekly newspaper columnist.

In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by five Australian universities and in 2016 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Also by Hugh Mackay

View all
  • The Therapist
    I loved the chance to peek inside a therapist's office ... told with such intelligence and tenderness. - Debra Oswald, bestselling author of The Family Doctor Smart, empathic and perfectly plotted - The Therapist is a marvellous read. - Jacqueline Maley, bestselling author of The Truth About Her A VIVID PORTRAYAL OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF CONTEMPORARY LIFE Martha Elliott, maverick...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Way We Are
    Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. Yet none of our differencesβ€”whether based on ethnicity, politics, religion, cultural tastes and preferences, or genderβ€”are nearly as significant as the humanity we share. Amidst our epidemics of loneliness, anxiety and depression, and the impacts of entrenched poverty and ubiquitous technology, The Way We Are examines the major trends that are...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • What Makes Us Tick?
    Ever wondered what 'human nature' really means? This new edition of What Makes Us Tick takes us beneath the often overwhelming surface noise of politics, economics, new technology, and social change to explore something that hasn't changed: the ten desires that drive us all and, now in a new prologue, the seven characteristics that define us as a species. From...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Kindness Revolution
    Revolutions never start at the top. If we dare to dream of a more loving country - kinder, more compassionate, more cooperative, more respectful, more inclusive, more egalitarian, more harmonious, less cynical - there's only one way to start turning that dream into a reality: each of us must live as if this is already that country. Following the ravages...
    Hardback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Right and Wrong
    In modern Western societies, we are presented with a huge array of choices and encouraged to believe that having the freedom to choose sets us on the path to happiness. Yet, as renowned social commentator Hugh Mackay shows in Right and Wrong: How to Decide for Yourself, freedom to choose is no freedom at all unless it is accompanied by...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Self-Help & Personal Development

View all
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    "What Were You Thinking!?"
    Everything parents need to know about their baby, child or teen's developing brain to raise resilient, emotional intelligent kids, by globally renowned neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis. 'What were you thinking!?'If you've ever asked this in despair while watching a toddler melt down, a tween push boundaries or a teenager make a truly terrible decision, this book is for you.InΒ "What Were...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Let Them Theory
    New York Times Bestselling Author. Millions of books sold worldwide! A Life-Changing Tool Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words? If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other...
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3200
    (8)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    New Release
    Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. β€˜Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Choose Your Hard
    Every path in life is hard. Being unfit and unhealthy is hard. Choosing to exercise, eat well, face discomfort, and do the difficult things is also hard. The question is: which hard do you choose? In Choose Your Hard, Professor Grant Schofield, one of New Zealand’s most cited health scientists with over 18,000 citations in the scientific literature, argues that...
    Paperback
    $3300
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    New Release
    The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    Powerful ideas for each day of the year from the author of the #1 worldwide bestseller, Atomic Habits. Based on the principles that made Atomic Habits a global phenomenon, this daily calendar turns habit formation into a simple daily practice. Get actionable guidance, motivational insights, and system-building tools that make it easier to get a little bit betterβ€”every day of...
    Calendar
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Now What?
    There are countless self-help books telling you how to get the life you wantβ€”how to find your purpose, make your plan, follow your goals. Yet, too many of us are frozen in life, unfulfilled and stuck with what we have. Too often, we only see our future through a lens of the pastβ€”our past beliefs, experiences, and circumstances. We desire...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • We Can Do Hard Things
    We Can Do Hard Things is a powerful and inspiring guide co-authored by renowned voices Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, and Amanda Doyle. This compelling book offers insights and encouragement to help readers tackle life's toughest challenges. By combining personal stories with practical advice, the authors empower you to embrace resilience and courage. Their collective wisdom sheds light on the strength...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Atua Wahine
    Ancient wisdom of the Māori goddesses to help you navigate the modern world Atua Wahine are the Māori goddesses who make up the world around us: earth, fire, water, the moon, and more. From the earth mother, Papatuanuku, who sustains and nurtures us, to the goddess of peace, Hineputehue, who transformed pain into beauty, and the misunderstood goddess of the...
    Hardback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (3)
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • The Myth of Normal
    A book that changes everything - from the legendary Dr Gabor MatΓ© THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world? Mental illness and chronic disease are on an unstoppable rise. How did we get here? And what lies ahead for us?...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhoodβ€”and all human relationshipsβ€”from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spacesβ€”communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.