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The Robodobt scheme is considered by many to be one of the Australian government’s worst scandals. Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper and Walkley Award-winning journalist Rick Morton followed the case closely and he documents the crisis and its devastating effects in his latest book. This week, we bring you Michael’s conversation from Canberra Writers’ Festival with Rick as they discuss Mean Streak. Reading list: Mean Streak, Rick Morton, 2024 One Hundred Years of Dirt, Rick Morton, 2023 My Year Of Living Vulnerably, Rick Morton, 2022 Words to Sing the World Alive, Jasmin McGaughey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rick Morton

Rachel Kushner always seemed destined to become a writer. At just five years old, her unconventional parents had her working in a feminist bookstore. Now, several decades and three award-winning novels later, she is back with a new book that follows a spy-for-hire who infiltrates a commune of eco-activists in rural France. This week, Michael joins Rachel on Zoom for a conversation about Creation Lake, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. Reading list: Telex from Cuba, Rachel Kushner, 2008 The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner, 2013 The Mars Room, Rachel Kushner, 2018 Creation Lake, Rachel Kushner, 2024 Orbital, Samantha Harvey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rachel Kushner

Santilla Chingaipe was born to tell stories. The Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author, has spent her career exploring settler colonialism, slavery, and contemporary migration in Australia and she has just released her first book of non-fiction. This week, Michael is joined in studio by Santilla to discuss Black Convicts, which was inspired by the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Our African Roots. In it, she offers a fresh understanding of the ways in which empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped this nation. Reading List: Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Santilla Chingaipe

It is more or less impossible to imagine Australian literature of the past half century without Tim Winton. From his debut, An Open Swimmer to his epic Cloudstreet, the four-time Miles Franklin Award winner is beloved by generations of readers. This week, Michael sits down with Tim to discuss his latest novel, Juice, a gripping tale of determination, survival, and the limits of the human spirit. Reading list: That Eye, The Sky, Tim Winton, 1986 Lockie Leonard, Tim Winton, 1990–1997 Cloudstreet, Tim Winton, 1991 Dirt Music, Tim Winton, 2001 Breath, Tim Winton, 2008 Juice, Tim Winton, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Tim Winton

Musician and writer Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay woman from freshwater country in north-west New South Wales. Her debut novel was 2020’s critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Song of the Crocodile. Now she is back with her second novel, which explores creation, belonging, and the precious fragility of a life. This week, Michael sits down with Nardi for a wide ranging conversation about her new book, The Belburd. Reading list: Song of the Crocodile, Nardi Simpson, 2024 The Belburd, Nardi Simpson, 2024 Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2024 The Ledge, Christian White, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Nardi Simpson

In just three books Robbie Arnott has established himself as a writer to trust. Flames (2018), The Rain Heron (2022) and Limberlost (2022) were all rapturously reviewed and garnered a hefty swag of award nominations and wins. This week, Michael sits down with Robbie to discuss his new novel, Dusk, which explores loss and redemption and survival in Tasmania’s high country.  Reading list: Flames, Robbie Arnott, 2018 The Rain Heron, Robbie Arnott, 2020 Limberlost, Robbie Arnott, 2022 Dusk, Robbie Arnott, 2024 Paris In Ruins, Sebastian Smee, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Robbie Arnott

There are few people in this country as obsessed with understanding the cultural and social potential of Australian cuisine as New Zealand-born chef Ben Shewry. And there are even fewer who have managed to combine that passion with the highest echelons of success. This week, Michael sits down with Attica’s head chef to discuss his new memoir, Uses for Obsession, and Ben share’s why he wanted to write a kind of antidote to the macho chef culture we’ve all come to expect. Reading List: Uses for Obsession, Ben Shewry, 2024 A Bit on the Side, Virginia Trioli, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Ben Shewry

Melanie Cheng began her writing career as an author of short stories. Her first collection, Australia Day, was published in 2017 to much acclaim. Her second novel, The Burrow, follows a Melbourne family forced to confront the tragedy of their shared past. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with Melanie about family, connection, and the power of narrative medicine. Reading list: Australia Day, Melanie Cheng, 2017 Room for a Stranger, Melanie Cheng, 2019 The Burrow, Melanie Cheng, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Melanie Cheng

Rumaan Alam is the author of four novels. He broke out in 2020 with his New York Times best-selling novel Leave the World Behind. This week Michael sits down with Rumaan for a conversation about his latest novel, Entitlement, and they discuss class, desire, and the influence of Sylvia Plath. Reading list: Rich and Pretty, Rumaan Alam, 2016  That Kind of Mother, Rumaan Alam, 2018 Leave the World Behind, Rumaan Alam, 2020 Entitlement, Rumaan Alam, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rumaan Alam

Richard Osman wears many hats, from television producer to comedian to podcaster. Now, however, he’s best known as a bestselling author for his series The Thursday Murder Club. Richard’s new series is called We Solve Murders and this week, he sits down with Michael to discuss it and he reveals the piece of advice he gave to Pierce Brosnan. Reading list: The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman, 2020 The Man Who Died Twice, Richard Osman, 2021 The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman, 2022 The Last Devil To Die, Richard Osman, 2023 We Solve Murders, Richard Osman, 2024 Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, Berg, A. Scott,1978 Stone Yard Devotional, Charlotte Wood, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Richard Osman

Malcolm Knox began his career as a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald, back in the 90s. His breakout was in 2004 when, as literary editor, he broke the story of the fake Jordanian memoirist, Norma Khouri for which he won a Walkley Award. Since then he has written more than a dozen books of nonfiction and has been publishing fiction since 2000. The First Friend is his seventh novel. Reading list: The Wonder Lover, Malcolm Knox, 2015 Bluebird, Malcolm Knox, 2020 The First Friend, Malcolm Knox, 2024 The Temperature, Katerina Gibson, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Malcolm Knox

Caoilinn Hughes is an Irish poet and writer whose debut novel Orchid And The Wasp was published in 2018 to rave reviews. Her third and latest novel, The Alternatives, might be her best yet, and this week she sits down with Michael to discuss it.  Reading list: Gathering Evidence, Caoilinn Hughes, 2014 Orchid And The Wasp, Caoilinn Hughes, 2018 The Wild Laughter, Caoilinn Hughes, 2020 The Alternatives, Caoilinn Hughes, 2024 Enter Ghost, Isabella Hammad, 2023 Long Island Compromise, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Caoilinn Hughes

Rodney Hall might be the greatest Australian writer you’ve never heard of. He is a two-time Miles Franklin Award winner and has published dozens of books of fiction, poetry and memoir across his long career. Now 88, Rodney has just released his 14th novel titled Vortex and it might be his best. This week, Michael sits down with Rodney to discuss his new book and why writing is always a collaborative process between author and reader. Reading list: The Ship on the Coin: A Fable of the Bourgeoisie, Rodney Hall, 1972 Just Relations, Rodney Hall, 1982 Kisses of the Enemy, Rodney Hall, 1987 Captivity Captive, Rodney Hall, 1988 The Second Bridegroom, Rodney Hall, 1991 The Grisly Wife, Rodney Hall, 1993 The Island in the Mind, Rodney Hall, 1996 The Day We Had Hitler Home, Rodney Hall, 2000 The Last Love Story, Rodney Hall, 2004 Love Without Hope, Rodney Hall, 2007 Popeye Never Told You, Rodney Hall, 2010 A Stolen Season, Rodney Hall, 2018 Vortex, Rodney Hall, 2024 I Claudius, Robert Graves, 1934 Claudius the God, Robert Graves, 1935 The White Goddess, Robert Graves, 1948 An Experiment in Criticism, C.S. Lewis, 1961 The New Science, Giambattista Vico, 1725 Death at the Sign of the Rook, Kate Atkinson, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rodney Hall

Roxane Gay is a prominent American author, professor, and cultural critic known for her unflinching honesty, quick wit, and razor-sharp intellect. She has gained acclaim for her essays, fiction, and memoirs that explore identity, gender, race, and body image. This week, Roxane joins Michael for a conversation about what it means to be a public intellectual and how this has shifted throughout her career. Reading list: Ayiti, Roxane Gay, 2011 An Untamed State, Roxane Gay, 2014 Bad Feminist, Roxane Gay, 2014 Difficult Women, Roxane Gay, 2017 Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, Roxane Gay, 2017 The Banks, Roxane Gay, 2019 Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business, Roxane Gay, 2023 Jazz, Toni Morrison, 1992 The Source of Self-Regard: Essays, Speeches, Meditations, Toni Morrison, 2019 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Roxane Gay appears at Carriageworks in Sydney, as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas (24-25 August) and at Melbourne Town Hall (27 August), presented by the Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. For more information head to their websites. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Roxane Gay

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British Turkish novelist whose work has been translated into fifty-five languages. She is a self-described “citizen of the world” and has become a notable public intellectual and human rights activist. Elif's latest novel, There are Rivers in the Sky, stretches across millennia, following a single drop of water. This week, Michael chats with Elif about her new book and why she is not just a storyteller but a silence teller, too. Reading list: The Bastard of Istanbul, Elif Shafak, 2006 The Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak, 2009 Honour, Elif Shafak, 2011 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In this Strange World, Elif Shafak, 2019 The Island of Missing Trees, Elif Shafak, 2021 There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak, 2024 Orlando: A Biography, Virginia Woolf, 1928 When Cops Are Criminals, Veronica Gorrie, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Elif Shafak

Eric Beecher is a news man. As a journalist, he’s worked for some of the most well-respected newspapers in the world, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Wall Street Journal. As his career progressed, Eric climbed the media ladder: he’s currently the head of Private Media, which runs the website, Crikey. This week, Michael sits down with Eric to discuss his new book, The Men Who Killed the News. Reading list: The Men Who Killed the News, Eric Beecher, 2024 Woo Woo, Ella Baxter, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Eric Beecher

Alexis Wright’s 2023 novel Praiseworthy has just been awarded the Miles Franklin Award. It also won the Stella Prize and has been described as “an astonishing feat of storytelling and sovereign imagination.” In this special episode, Alexis joins Michael for a conversation about Praiseworthy and reveals why she decided very early on in her literary career that she wasn't going to be trapped in anyone’s box. Reading list: Carpentaria, Alexis Wright, 2006 The Swan Book, Alexis Wright, 2013 Tracker, Alexis Wright 2017 Praiseworthy, Alexis Wright, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Alexis Wright

Evie Wyld writes dark and often trauma-informed books, but she also has a remarkable capacity to capture the tenderness of memory. Her novels have been a critical and commercial success, with her second, All The Birds Singing, winning the Miles Franklin and her third, The Bass Rock, taking home the 2021 Stella Prize. This week, Michael sits down with Evie for a conversation about her latest book The Echoes, which explores how we tell stories around, and into the absences that define us. Reading list: After the Fire, A Still Small Voice, Evie Wyld, 2009 All The Birds, Singing, Evie Wyld, 2013 The Bass Rock, Evie Wyld, 2020 The Echoes, Evie Wyld, 2024 Only Sound Remains, Hossein Asgari, 2023 Wall, Jen Craig, 2023  Anam, Andre Dao, 2023 The Bell of the World, Gregory Day, 2023 Hospital, Sanya Rushdi, 2023 Praiseworthy, Alexis Wright, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Evie Wyld

Michael Robotham began his career as a ghost writer, working on more than a dozen bestselling books for people like Tony Bullimore and Geri Halliwell, before he published a novel under his own name. Twenty years later, he has just released his 18th book, a new crime novel titled Storm Child. This week, the two Michaels sit down together for a conversation about crime writing, truth wizards and what’s next. Reading list: The Suspect, Michael Robotham, 2004 Life or Death, Michael Robotham, 2014 Good Girl, Bad Girl, Michael Robotham, 2019 When She Was Good, Michael Robotham, 2020 Storm Child, Michael Robotham, 2024 Stalking the Feature Story, William Ruehlmann, 1977 For Life, Ailsa Piper, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Michael Robotham

Dylin Hardcastle has been publishing their writing since they were 21, having now completed a memoir, a book of YA fiction and two novels. In their latest work, Dylin takes the reader back to 1972, and across three decades, explores the parallel lives of two women, shaped by their contrasting experiences of desire. This week, Michael sits down with Dylin Hardcastle for a wide-ranging conversation about this new novel, A Language of Limbs. Reading list: A Language of Limbs, Dylin Hardcastle, 2024 Below Deck, Sophie Hardcastle, 2020 Breathing Underwater, Sophie Hardcastle, 2016 Running Like China, Sophie Hardcastle, 2015 In the Dream House, Carmen Maria Machado, 2019 Voice of the Fish: A Lyric Essay, Lars Horn, 2022 The List, Yomi Adegoke, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Dylin Hardcastle