The Future by Us : What I'm Reading
I'm not much of a reader - it takes me ages to read anything, even when I try the speed reading tips encouraged by Tim Ferris in the 4 Hour Work Week.
But I am currently reading The Future by Us: Young Leaders imagine Australia beyond 2020.
Flowing on from last year's 2020 Youth Summit, young writers cover each of the discussion areas:
I'm only a few chapters in and will attempt to give a short overview of each chapter as I go, but at this stage I'd like to warmly encourage you to buy the book or borrow it from a friend. Despite any criticisms I have, I believe it is essential to be informed and to participate in any debate which could shape our future.
I'm not as critical as 'Bob Dumpling' on the New Matilda, who has slammed the authors for having not one decent thought between them. But as I said, I'm only 3 chapters in!
Hugh goes to my church and whilst his presence on this book seems to be on the cover rather than through the content, his introduction does help put it all into context. He also co-chaired the 2020 Youth Summit with Minister for Youth Affairs, Kate Ellis. My concerns with 'Hugh projects' are that young people may be drawn to follow his lead and try to be a 'poverty celebrity', rather than actually taking action to change the world.
Concern #2: The blueprint for (South Eastern) Australia ?
As I read through the list of contributors, I note that there is no authors from Western Australia or South Australia, Tassie or even Queensland. So maybe it's just the blue print for the South Eastern seaboard, who are always over represented in forums and debates.
But I am currently reading The Future by Us: Young Leaders imagine Australia beyond 2020.
Flowing on from last year's 2020 Youth Summit, young writers cover each of the discussion areas:- Building wealth from knowledge - rather than the minerals and the sheep's back
- Climate Change,
- Indigenous Australia
- Health
- Gender Equality
- Our future as a country
- Communities
- Citizenship & multiculturalism and
- the Arts.
I'm only a few chapters in and will attempt to give a short overview of each chapter as I go, but at this stage I'd like to warmly encourage you to buy the book or borrow it from a friend. Despite any criticisms I have, I believe it is essential to be informed and to participate in any debate which could shape our future.
I'm not as critical as 'Bob Dumpling' on the New Matilda, who has slammed the authors for having not one decent thought between them. But as I said, I'm only 3 chapters in!
Tip #2: Fight your reactions
I have been finding that I am constantly fighting the knee-jerk reaction: "That'll never work" as each author lays out their vision for how to make life in Australia more 'just', inclusive and progressive. How is it that I'm 25 and already so cynical of process, procedures and governance?
Hugh goes to my church and whilst his presence on this book seems to be on the cover rather than through the content, his introduction does help put it all into context. He also co-chaired the 2020 Youth Summit with Minister for Youth Affairs, Kate Ellis. My concerns with 'Hugh projects' are that young people may be drawn to follow his lead and try to be a 'poverty celebrity', rather than actually taking action to change the world.
Concern #2: The blueprint for (South Eastern) Australia ?
As I read through the list of contributors, I note that there is no authors from Western Australia or South Australia, Tassie or even Queensland. So maybe it's just the blue print for the South Eastern seaboard, who are always over represented in forums and debates.
2 comments:
Thanks for the debrief Nige. I'll make sure to get my hands on a copy soon.
I like your comment about you becoming cynical and claiming that will never work. I know these types of exercises (Youth 2020 summit) can get swallowed up in a craze of hyperbole and un-finished business. I would love to hear in your following blog posts what you would do first for each chapter to begin making these (sometimes) crazy macro-visions a reality.
I think we sometimes get too caught up in the vision stuff. I'm curious about what we go about installing first :)
Thanks for the comment Steve.
I've almost finished the book - it only takes about 30 minutes per chapter - and will start to compile some thoughts while I'm away.
I think it's important to be a part of the debate and would like to hope that there is more to 'Young Australians' than whats written here.
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