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Wednesdays with Bob

By: Derek Rielly, Bob Hawke
Narrated by: Jim Daly
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Publisher's Summary

"[a] surprisingly endearing book" The Saturday Paper

At 87, beloved former PM Bob Hawke reflects on a colourful life.

On Wednesdays, Robert J. Hawke - Australia's 23rd prime minister - welcomed Derek Rielly into his home to share fine cigars and irreverent conversation. On a sun-soaked balcony, the maverick young writer and the charismatic old master talked life, death, love, sex, religion, politics, sport ... and everything in between.

On other days, to paint his subject's enigma from the outside, Rielly interviewed Hawke's Liberal MP rival John Howard, Labor allies Gareth Evans and Kim Beazley, wife and lover Blanche d'Alpuget, live-in stepson Louis Pratt, and friends - diplomat Richard Woolcott, economist Ross Garnaut, advertising guru John Singleton, and longtime mate Col Cunningham.

The result is an extraordinary portrait of a beloved Australian - a strange, funny, uniquely personal study of Bob Hawke ruminating on his (and our) past, present and future.

"fresh, irreverent and at times very profound... It's like nothing else I've read on Australian politics" Booktopia

"Reading Wednesdays with Bob... is a total joy" Guardian

"a panoramic view of one of Australia's most significant post-war prime ministers." Sydney Morning Herald

2018, ABIA Biography of the Year, Long-listed

©2018 Derek Rielly and Bob Hawke (P)2018 Macmillan Australia Audio
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What listeners say about Wednesdays with Bob

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Great book about and Aussie Icon

Such an interesting story and narrated so well! It was hard to stop listening to this one. A must read!

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A must read

I knew within the first two minutes that this book was going to be an absolute ball-tearer. Narrater was the perfect choice, with the addition of varying accents and tone to illustrate the subject. I grew up reading Derek in surfing magazines, so was particularly drawn to this book for his take on Hawke and politics in general. Having not had decades under his belt as some kind of jaded political correspondent only served to better this story as the story was told on a much more personal level – a beer or two with a mate.

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incredible to listen to

The wisdom and inspiration coming out of this novel has touched me like no other book before it.

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Fabulously entertaining

Fascinating and interesting from start to finish. Sorry it had to end! The narrator does a wonderful job, I loved his voices!

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Highly insightful and entertaining.

As someone who worked for Bob Hawke in the latter years of his Prime Ministership I found so much of this book brought a wry, warm and familiar smile to my face. I had heard Bob tell many of these “stories” in person but the insights of Rielly were still very enlightening and the questions he put to the great man showed both a deep respect of and admiration for his subject. Excellently narrated by Jim Daly who portrays both protagonists perfectly without the “cartoonish” impersonation of Hawke (and others) we have become used to from TV and radio comedians. Very highly recommended.

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Enlightening

An engaging and informative read with interesting antidotes along with researched information.
Thoroughly enjoyable presentation.

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Hawkey is awesome

Great to hear the thoughts of a legend but I found the structure of the book and the narrating less enjoyable.

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A shared heritage reminder of our lucky country!

Loved it all! An available well-being resource for Australia wherein an edifying tail is told!

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Very enjoyable - excellent research

Had trepidation’s coming in, however these were quickly dispelled. Very well done Mr Reilly and I’d recommend this to anyone...

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A must for any true Australian, a joy to listen to

it really makes you proud to be an Australian citizen. Really positive role model for anyone coming up in politics.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.