How to Make Trouble and Influence People

Overview

A visual record of Australian activism

Exploring Australia’s radical past through more than 300 images and 500 stories of social activism, this book reveals a hidden inspirational history through Indigenous resistance, convict revolts, student occupations, and more. Twelve key Australian activists and pranksters are interviewed regarding their firsthand opposition to racism, nuclear power, war, economic exploitation, and religious conservatism via humor and creativity. A scrapbook of Aussie humor and courage, this is a must have volume for activists and Australian enthusiasts alike.

Reviews

"Fascinating interviews with Australia's best troublemakers make for a riotous scrapbook covering our radical history of revolts and resistance."  —Rachel Power, Australian Education Union News

"A fascinating recovery of Australia's neglected past and a worthy inspiration to today's would-be troublemakers."  —Sean Scalmer, author, Dissent Events

"If you've ever thought of speaking out about an issue or have idly wondered what you could do to make the world a better place, this is the book for you! Fascinating interviews, quirky historical snippets, and stunning photos chronicling all the Australians who have made a difference and who have done so with courage, audacity, and a lot of humor! Keep it on your desk at work for all those moments when you need some inspiration, a bit of hope or just a good laugh."  —Jill Sparrow, coauthor, Radical Melbourne 1 & 2

"The perfect book for enlightened coffee tables."  —Rachel Evans, Green Left Weekly

"McIntyre has amassed hundreds of tales alongside dramatic photographs in what is unashamedly a songbook for Australia's future culture-jammers and mischief makers."  —Katherine Wilson, Age

"There’s no need to sift through dry, academic, text book style stuff, Iain McIntyre has done that for us, with the result being an aesthetically pleasing and easily accessible resource book for anyone interested in progressive activism." —Meredith Jacka, The Socialist

"While the title parodies the most famous example of the self-help genre, How to Make Trouble is more Howard Zinn than Dale Carnegie. It offers an alternative history of Australia, chronicling how it has progressed by a series of little rebellions." —Madeline Ostrander, yesmagazine.org

Author Biography

Iain McIntyre is an author, a musician, and a community radio broadcaster. He is the author of Tomorrow Is Today and You! Andrew Hansen is an award-winning comedian and a musician best known for being a member of the satirical team "The Chaser," which performs on television and in live theater.