Thank goodness for voices like Naomi. In her first book, The Beauty Myth, she attacked what she characterised as the exploitation of women by the fashion and beauty industries. Here, Naomi has again identified and attacked the problem, broken the causes into steps and then targeted those that she believes can change the situation. She appeals to young people to take up their right to change the situation. She fears apathy and ignorance, in the end, will rule. This is Naomi at her most accessible and at her most angry. She uses examples from history; from Hitler and beyond, to show that there are certain steps that dictators take to mock constitutional freedoms. Naomi Wolf argues that George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all. This is not easy to digest because the similarities between Australia and America are frightening.

Similar to Sam Harris in Letter to a Christian Nation, the despair that Naomi feels about her country is clear and her request for action is urgent. We are living in times of great change and we need to ensure that the changes benefit everyone in our society. Thank you Naomi for reminding us that freedom is not a given state.

Chris Gordon is Readings Events Coordinator