We all know that Australia is the greatest nation on earth, but what is it exactly that makes Australia great? We live in a dynamic, culturally diverse hub-bub, so what now is typically Aussie? What continues to shape us and what are we collectively most proud of in our past and present? AUSTRALIAN GREATS is a fascinating and wide-ranging collection of pieces by noteworthy writers, commentators, larrikins and curmudgeons on distinctive and sometimes surprising aspects of Australian life and history. There are 553entries providing a veritable cornucopia of subjects including politics, the arts, food, sport, distinguished individuals, language, innovations, discoveries, fashion, film and more in a spicy mix of popular and high culture. The delight in this book comes not just from a given subject but who has written about it and what he or she has to say about it. The whole is a quirky and compelling volume that contributes to the debate on national identity in a highly idiosyncratic and readable way. AUSTRALIAN GREATS is a spirited colloquy on identity and nationhood for those of us who call Australia home.