LIBRARY Invaluable insights

New books are coming in all the time, here are some of the new acquisitions.

The Australian Autism Handbook

By Benison O’Reilly and Seana Smith

OFFERS support and guidance to families on their journey, from early signs and symptoms of ASD to diagnosis, intervention programs, schooling, issues such as eating, sleeping and toilet training, and navigating the medical maze.

From the early signs of autism through to diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, therapies and supports, medical theories and schooling, this book covers it all.

It includes the voices of many parents and autistic adults, telling their stories in their own words.

Authors Benison O’Reilly and Seana Smith are professional writers and both have autistic sons.

They know from first-hand experience the essential information parents need to know about raising a child on the autism spectrum.

Gigorou

By Sasha Kutabah Sarago

GIGOROU (jig-goo-roo) means “beauty” or “beautiful” in Jirrbal, the language of Sasha Kutabah Sarago’s grandmother.

Growing up, Sasha didn’t feel gigorou. At a young age, she was told, “You’re too pretty to be Aboriginal”.

Since then, she’s been on a journey to reconcile her conflict with beauty.

In this intimately fierce, funny and reflective book, Sasha retraces her footsteps as a beauty assistant, model and magazine editor to find the answers she’s searching for.

Through conversations with her matriarchs, and the creation stories gifted to her, Sasha unlocks an ancestral wisdom – the key to healing and reclaiming her femininity.

Invasion

by Luke Harding

INVASION is Luke Harding’s compelling chronicle of the war that changed everything.

For this breathtaking work of reportage, he spent months reporting on the ground during the build up to the conflict and afterward; his book tells of the initial days of shock and panic, the grim reality of this ongoing war, and the unheard human stories behind the headlines.

Invasion also offers insightful portraits of the war’s two great personalities.

One, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is an actor-turned-president who rallied support on a global stage.

The other, Vladimir Putin, is a dictator who dwells in a strange and unreachable realm.

Harding examines the ideological, religious and personal reasons behind Putin’s decision to invade.

And he confronts a crucial question: which side will prevail in this terrible war?

This Won’t Hurt

by Dr Marieke Bigg

THIS book is about all the ways medicine is not gender-neutral, from research to treatment to diagnosis.

Throughout history, flawed mindsets have paved the way for sub-par treatment, and the prevailing attitudes that still exist today have had terrible repercussions for women and their bodies.

Blending fascinating examples with historical and cultural context, and reflecting on her own personal experience with healthcare, Dr Marieke Bigg explores how women’s bodies have been ignored, misunderstood and misdiagnosed, while keeping an eye to a better future.

This is a sharp and honest must-read, and an empowering tool for anyone committed to making this world safer to navigate for all.