Aged 22, Noel Pearson wrote: ‘[Aboriginal] social problems stem from our inability to recognise how members of our community ... are using “tradition” and “culture” and “kinship” to exploit our own society.’ This gave some indication of the trajectory of Pearson's thinking about the relationship between European and Aboriginal Australians and the nature of responsibility.

Pearson, a great admirer of Keating, is scathing about today's Labor politicians, whose obsession with retaining power blinds them to taking real action. He is equally scathing about the ‘progressive’ left that casts Indigenous people as victims: ‘non-indigenous Australians need to take responsibility for the fact of racism, and work to answer and counter it.’ Indigenous Australians who adopt the mantle of victimhood ultimately abrogate any personal or public responsibility, he says. Pearson, a lawyer, has established himself as one of Australia's most provocative thinkers, especially on race.

This large collection presents his prodigious output; it shows a highly disciplined and powerful intellect and demonstrates why Pearson's influence on Australian politics and society will last for many years. It should be essential reading for anyone concerned about our country's future and its past.