Malcolm Knox – författare

One of our finest writers on one of our most dramatic stories. Mining divides the country – development against conservation, north and west against south and east, pro-tax against anti-tax. It''s an important industry, but why do passions run so high? What does mining really mean to us? And how much do we understand about our underground history? Although we favour the romantic vision of Australia riding to prosperity on the sheep''s back, in reality we have always owed as much to the shovel. The gold rush kick-started the nation, populating our cities and building our regional centres, and our fortunes have since risen and fallen according to what we''ve been able to dig from the ground.Boom is not a textbook history of Australian mining, but a narrative of the people behind the facts and figures, from the eccentric loners who staked the first claims to the emergence of the modern mega-magnates. It takes us deep underground with men working in mortal danger by  candlelight, and on the extraordinary journey 25,000 tonnes of the raw Australian landscape makes from the Pilbara to Shanghai. Boom reveals the history of mining as the Australian story, for better or worse. Insightful, compellingly readable and full of extraordinary characters, it shows how mining and miners have shaped our history and gripped our imagination through boom and bust.   ''A shrewd and captivating work of history'' Weekend Australian ''Knox asks questions on awkward topics and sieves a lot of history in the attempt to provide answers. Even those who disagree with some or many of his conclusions, must concede that he vigorously stirs a pot that is crucial'' Geoffrey Blainey, The Sydney Morning Herald ''A must read for understanding the DNA of the nation'' Charter ''Eye-opening detail . . . Knox demonstrates a skilful ability to weave together detail, history and narrative, upholding his reputation as a masterful storyteller'' Readings

The cricket field is a unique stage, where the player at the centre is the most easily overlooked. Yet the wicketkeeper, always at the heart of the action, knows the game better than almost anyone else on the pitch. Wicketkeepers are able to anticipate a bowler, read a batsman, interpret a pitch, advise on a team''s strategy, carry and lift it''s spirit and even change the course of play. And in modern times, wicketkeepers have had to hold their place amongst the top six batsmen. From the revered Jack Blackham to the determined Brad Haddin, wicketkeepers are a unique breed and something of a club. And more than any other aspect of the game wicketkeeping is steeped in its own history, knowledge passed down from keeper to keeper. Each keeper has built upon honed skills, developed techniques and offered something unique to the game. And each keeper has come to represent the spirit of a team, from Marsh''s gruff resilience to Healy''s combative chippiness to Gilchrist''s overabundance of talent. In doing so, our keepers have not only shaped the character of Australian cricket – flinty, determined, world-beating and a little bit larrikin – but have helped shape our national sporting character. Wicketkeepers are the closest eyewitnesses to cricket''s story. In The Keepers, award-winning journalist and writer Malcolm Knox re-examines the history of Australian cricket through the eyes and narratives of the talented, resilient men at the heart of the play. ''One of this country''s best writers and keenest cricket minds.''  Inside Sport  

Longlisted for The Indie Book Awards 2016Longlisted for The Voss Literary Prize 2016This is the story of John Wonder, a man with three families, each one kept secret from the other, each one containing two children, a boy and a girl. As he travels from family to family in different cities, he works as an Authenticator, verifying world records, confirming facts, setting things straight, while his own life is a teetering tower of breathtaking lies and betrayals.'Some books read as if they are touched by magic, so wondrous and astonishing is the experience of immersing yourself in them. That's how I feel about The Wonder Lover. It is written with confidence and daring, with a joyous freedom and a love for story and language that is only possible when an artist has truly mastered their craft. It is a compulsive and thrilling read, a dazzling achievement. There is a word that should be used very rarely but I believe is absolutely right for this book: The Wonder Lover is superb.' -- Christos Tsiolkas, author of The Slap

From the marriage equality debate to the COVID-19 lockdown, ‘free speech’ has become the new battleground in Australian society. What does the furore over one footballer’s social media postings reveal about how it got that way? For a period in 2019, a tweet from rugby player Israel Folau became the biggest story in the nation. His urging of homosexuals to ‘repent’ or face damnation cost him his job and divided the country. Churches and politicians, employers and labour lawyers, sponsors and shock jocks, even people who had never heard of Folau – everyone had an opinion about his right to express his view, and many shouted it from the digital rooftop. Now that the dust has settled, the real question emerges. When celebrities, and sportspeople in particular, are regularly ‘rehabilitated’ after incidents involving drink, drugs and domestic violence, why was it religious belief that got someone fired? In this powerful and insightful work, triple Walkley Award-winning journalist Malcolm Knox explores how freedom of expression has become our national faultline. Truth is Trouble explores the rise of the religious right and its political consequences; the ‘right to be a bigot’ versus ‘cancel culture’; the changing nature of our rights at work and the separation between public and private lives; and above all, the incendiary power of social media. And by interrogating his own experience, Knox offers a convincing and heartfelt argument for the virtues of uncertainty and an open mind.

From the marriage equality debate to the COVID-19 lockdown, ‘free speech’ has become the new battleground in Australian society. What does the furore over one footballer’s social media postings reveal about how it got that way? For a period in 2019, a tweet from rugby player Israel Folau became the biggest story in the nation. His urging of homosexuals to ‘repent’ or face damnation cost him his job and divided the country. Churches and politicians, employers and labour lawyers, sponsors and shock jocks, even people who had never heard of Folau – everyone had an opinion about his right to express his view, and many shouted it from the digital rooftop. Now that the dust has settled, the real question emerges. When celebrities, and sportspeople in particular, are regularly ‘rehabilitated’ after incidents involving drink, drugs and domestic violence, why was it religious belief that got someone fired? In this powerful and insightful work, triple Walkley Award-winning journalist Malcolm Knox explores how freedom of expression has become our national faultline. Truth is Trouble explores the rise of the religious right and its political consequences; the ‘right to be a bigot’ versus ‘cancel culture’; the changing nature of our rights at work and the separation between public and private lives; and above all, the incendiary power of social media. And by interrogating his own experience, Knox offers a convincing and heartfelt argument for the virtues of uncertainty and an open mind.

Down, down …In hardware, petrol, general merchandise and liquor, and above all in groceries, Coles and Woolworths jointly rule Australia’s retail landscape. On average, every man, woman and child in this country spends $100 a week across their many outlets.What does such dominance mean for suppliers? And is it good for consumers?In Supermarket Monsters, journalist and author Malcolm Knox shines a light on Australia’s twin mega-retailers, exploring how they have built and exploited their market power. Knox reveals the unavoidable and often intimidating tactics both companies use to get their way. In return for cheap milk and bread, he argues, we as consumers are risking much more: quality, diversity and community.‘Supermarket Monsters is a valuable primer on the hidden costs of our supermarket duopoly’ —the AgeMalcolm Knox is a former literary editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and has won a Walkley Award for journalism. His books include Jamaica and The Life.