AustLit

'If you read Stan Grant's much-publicised new book, Talking to My Country, it is as if the transformation of the indigenous debate and major policy shifts of the past fifteen years had never happened. The strongest impression created by Grant's underwhelming book has been to make me recall my feelings when I first read Noel Pearson's pioneering revisionist account of the nature and causes of entrenched indigenous disadvantage : what a tragedy, but what a relief! There, finally, set out in Pearson's landmark series of essays, lectures and commentary pieces in the early-to-mid 2000s, was an explanation for indigenous disadvantage that enabled those of good faith to discuss the subject openly, honestly and - most importantly - escape any suggestion of indulging in racial stereotyping and victim-blaming.' (Introduction, 20)