{"title":"Russell McGregor","description":"\u003cp\u003eRussell McGregor’s works delve into rich narratives that explore the intersections of nature, culture, and history. From the intricate relationships captured in \u003cem\u003eEnchantment by Birds\u003c\/em\u003e to the profound cultural insights of \u003cem\u003eGugu Badhun People of the Valley of Lagoons\u003c\/em\u003e, his writing invites readers to engage deeply with the landscapes and histories of Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlending detailed research with thoughtful reflection, McGregor’s books often highlight themes of inclusion and heritage, as seen in \u003cem\u003eIndifferent Inclusion\u003c\/em\u003e. His work is an invaluable resource for those interested in science, history, and education, offering perspectives that challenge and enrich understanding across these fields.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"enchantment-by-birds-by-russell-mcgregor-9781761381447","title":"Enchantment by Birds","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fresh appreciation of the magic of birds and how watching them fulfils a human need to connect with nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEnchantment by Birds\u003c\/em\u003e is commonplace. Birdwatchers merely go a step further than others and actively seek to be enchanted. This book tells why they take that extra step. It takes the reader on a series of excursions into birdwatching's past, venturing forward to the present. With an intriguing cast of characters, avian as well as human, its lively narratives explore the emotional and aesthetic impulses behind the pastime as well as its scientific and conservationist components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts stories of 22 Australian birds range widely—from wordy squabbles over bird names to the artistic finessing of field guides; from the Paradise Parrot's tragic fall into extinction to the everyday enjoyment of a Magpie's carol; from the evolution of citizen science to the boom in birding tourism. Interlacing them all is the insight that birdwatching is a means by which modern, urban people reach out to touch the wild. A primal desire to connect with nature lies at the heart of the pastime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEnchantment by Birds\u003c\/em\u003e not only offers a compelling exposition of what makes birders tick; it also tells us, imaginatively and informatively, why birds have a special place in our hearts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRussell McGregor elevates \u003cem\u003eEnchantment by Birds\u003c\/em\u003e above a typical historical narrative ... McGregor's structure seems to recognise the potential tension between academic discipline and a personal passion for the subject matter ... It is a constant reminder of the magic of birds to inspire and delight ... Russell McGregor's writing makes this a most readable book, one that comes close to perfectly balancing academic veracity with a rip-roaring tale.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Sean Dooley, Australian Birdlife\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis lively history of birding nicely captures the contradictions and controversies that have marked the relations between birds and humans since European settlement. It is not a chronological account but one refracted through the stories of particular birds, bird lovers, and the evolution of birdwatching as a pursuit.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Fiona Capp, The Age\/The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Non-Fiction Book of the Week'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis wide-ranging book is probably unique as a source on Australian bird study, its leading proponents, ornithological literature and organisations ... an extremely rewarding and thought-provoking volume.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Kevin Windle, Canberra Bird Notes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHistorian and birdwatcher Russell McGregor has produced a literary equivalent to sighting a Gouldian Finch - a gem that is rarely encountered but greatly enjoyed when it is ... The structure of the book is particularly clever, and when combined with the relaxed writing style, makes for an engaging read.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Peter Menkhorst, Australian Field Ornithology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46342606422252,"sku":"9781761381447","price":44.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3115623482815.jpg?v=1743923925"},{"product_id":"gugu-badhun-people-of-the-valley-of-lagoons-by-russell-mcgregor-9781922102645","title":"Gugu Badhun People of the Valley of Lagoons","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBridging historical scholarship and Aboriginal oral tradition, this innovative book tells the story of the Gugu Badhun people of the Valley of Lagoons in North Queensland. It provides new insights into Aboriginal-European interactions, and new understandings of how Aboriginal people sustained their identities and exercised agency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt lays bare violence and oppression, but also recognises the inter-racial cooperation and friendships which were equally part of Gugu Badhun experience. It tells of a people whose options were limited by state power and public racism but who remained proud and undaunted, making their own decisions for their collective and individual benefit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMuch of the story is told in the words of Gugu Badhun people themselves. Interviews are interspersed with commentary and analysis by the four authors, one of whom, Yvonne Cadet-James, is herself a Gugu Badhun elder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis collaborative approach has produced a timely book for an Australia in which notions of Indigenous autonomy and self-determination are being re-imagined and re-configured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGugu Badhun People of the Valley of Lagoons\u003c\/em\u003e is a profound exploration of history, resilience, and identity, offering a vital perspective on Australia's cultural landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000629706988,"sku":"9781922102645","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/e7557f4509262cb8cc7d3ce78e6d2e16.jpg?v=1763323865"},{"product_id":"indifferent-inclusion-by-russell-mcgregor-9780855757793","title":"Indifferent Inclusion","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIndifferent Inclusion\u003c\/em\u003e offers a holistic interpretation of the complex relationship between Indigenous and settler Australians during the middle four decades of the twentieth century. Combining the perspectives of political, social, and cultural history in a coherent narrative, McGregor provides a cogent analysis of how the relationship changed, and the impediments to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcGregor's focus is on the quest for Aboriginal inclusion in the Australian nation; a task which dominated the Aboriginal agenda at the time. He challenges existing scholarship and assumptions, particularly around assimilation. In doing so, he provides an understanding of why assimilation once held the approval of many reformers, including Indigenous activists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe reveals that the inclusion of Aboriginal people in the Australian nation was not a function of political lobbying and parliamentary decision-making. Rather, it depended at least as much on Aboriginal people's public profile, and the way their demonstrated abilities partially wore down the apathy and indifference of settler Australians.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47424359301356,"sku":"9780855757793","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780855757793.jpg?v=1774768614"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/russell-mcgregor.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}