Politics, Society, Self

Book excerpt: Since retiring as Premier of Western Australia in 2006, Geoff Gallop has returned to his pre-political career as an academic. In the role of public intellectual, Gallop has focused on matters of the self within: society, contemporary politics, pragmatics, fundamentalism, fairness, and the meaning and importance of well-being for public policy and the person. From the international to the national, and down to the individual, Gallop brings a measured voice to the many debates that are universal, relevant, and personal. Gathered from public speeches and newspaper columns, this book of Gallop's essays is gently provocative and intellectually admirable, yet retains a personal voice.