Name: My Story
ISBN: 9780857983909

Julia Gillard

There is much in Julia Gillards life and parliamentary legacy to be admired and debated. In any reckoning of her achievements, both before and after becoming Prime Minister, this book, written by her and told in her own words, will be essential. I most certainly expect it to be one of the most anticipated books of 2014.

My Story

Jamieson

For three years and three days I was prime minister. Three years and three days of resilience. Three years and three days of changing the nation. Three years and three days to give me a unique perspective of our future. Three years and three days for you to judge. 

Political biographies are just not a thing I read. Not because I don't think they aren't or couldn't be good, but just for the fact there aren't many political figures who've interested me enough to convince me to read a book about them. And then Julia Gillard released one and I thought maybe I would like to read a political biography. 

Julia Gillard was Australia's first female Prime Minister and remains the only one we've ever had. I personally found her to be an entertaining and effective political figure, and I was a huge supporter of so many of her policies (lots of which were later repealed, thanks Abbott) But her time in politics and the inner workings of the Labor party at that time seemed to catch not only mine, but Australia's attention as a whole. Gillard's reports of sexism within politics, both before and after she became Prime Minister were also interesting to me, and the female perspective of the political landscape is one we rarely see. 

Overrall I found this really interesting. The first section is about her experiences, how she succeeded Rudd to become Prime Minister and stories of media defamation and sexism she endured whilst being PM. Section two is about her policies, reforms and the work that had to be done to implement them. 

I found the whole thing quite refereshing and engaging. It was insightful and thoughtful, with an honest look into her own decision, the decision of the party and the outside forces at work. I found her wry sense of humour genuinely funny and I didn't feel like it was overly preachy, political or wordy. 

 "my mind was shouting, for fucks sake. After all the shit I have to put up with, now I have to listen to Abbott lecturing ME on sexism. For fucks sake!" 

I found the chapter about sexism the most interesting. The treatment of Gillard by the media, Opposition and public was so vastly different to the treatment of male PM's and this was obvious at the time, and even more so later. After all, Gillard's "Misogyny" speech went on to be infamous. 
  What difference does a male dominance of the media make to the reporting of the work of the government I led and specific reporting about me? I honestly do not know. What I do know is that I was not a graduate of the boys drinking circles involving male editors, male reporters and male politicians. 

I do know when I exhibited anger in a telephone call that the obligations of "off the record" were breached in relation to me and I was described as 'hysterical', the word men facing anger from a women so often choose. 

... Even before becoming Prime Minister I had observed that if you are a women politician, it is impossible to win on the question of family. If you do not have children, then you are characterised as out of touch with 'mainstream lives' and if you do, then heavens! who is looking after them? 

I am a politics major, so I didn't really find the political lingo hard to follow but I'm not sure if it was because it wasn't hard to follow or if I dedicate 5 days a week to this. For me, this was quite engaging - though a patch or two about certain reforms did become a bit of a drag. 

I found Gillard's writing to be personable and friendly - I was struck often by her compliments and commentary on friends and supporters and her sense of gratitude toward friends, family and the opportunities given to her. I thought that she seemed genuine and wrote with integrity and heart. 

I don't know if it's inspired me to read many more political memoirs, but it has been an interesting read to me. I found her writing and her story really interesting and it was a nice close to the chapter of chaotic Labor government I miss so much.

Charlotte 

I listened to this in audiobook form. It was an insight into the inner workings of the labor party, as well as JG herself. I found it particularly interesting because it centred on the politics around the time i was growing up, and was too young to understand properly any further than the vitriol spouted by media outlets.
Much of the book is dedicated to different policies Gillard was instrumental in and the personal and political reasons for those policies. This was rather dry material, but it comes with the nature of the book. 
Although I don't agree with all of her politics, it was still a very interesting read that I'd recommend to everyone regardless of where their political views fall.

My Story

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