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John Howard Prime Minister - Pru Goward USED
John Howard Prime Minister - Pru Goward
USED Hardback Book : .ex-library book average condition
John Howard: Prime Minister (1997) by David Barnett with Pru Goward:
Overview
The book is a detailed political biography of John Howard, who served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007. It explores his life, career, the politics of the Liberal Party, and the early years of his prime ministership. According to its cataloguing, the book runs to 806 pages, covering a wide range of material.
Goward wrote the first chapter (on Howard’s life before parliament) and Barnett, a long-time political journalist, took on the subsequent sections.The book was published in 1997, early in Howard’s prime ministership, which meaningfully shapes its perspective.
Key Themes & Content
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Early life and rise: The book begins with Howard’s upbringing, education and early career, including his entry into Parliament in 1974. (The first chapter by Goward focusses on this stage.)
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Liberal Party politics: It traces Howard’s long involvement in the Liberal Party, his leadership contests, shadow ministry roles and how he positioned himself to become leader and then Prime Minister.
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1996 election and government formation: A major focus is Howard’s victory in the 1996 federal election, the context of the time (economic issues, public disaffection with the previous government) and how Howard structured his initial ministry.
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Early years of government: The book covers the early policy initiatives of the Howard government: economic reform, industrial relations, social policy, and how he dealt with parliamentary constraints (especially the Senate).
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Leadership style: The authors explore Howard’s managerial approach — his cautious conservatism, emphasis on stability, incremental change — and contrast it with more activist governments of the past.
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Challenges and controversies: Although published early, the book addresses some of the emerging challenges facing Howard: opposition in the Senate, the balancing act between reform and retaining voter trust, and the changing global context (economy, geopolitics).
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Narrative tone and perspective: The book is written with the advantage of “immediate access” to Howard and his circle, which gives it an insider tone. As noted in a review, the authors present a generally favourable account of Howard, framing his ascendancy as a story of resilience and political skill
Significance and Limitations
Because the book was published in 1997, it does not cover the full span of Howard’s time in office (he remained in power until 2007). Therefore, while it offers a rich account of his rise and early term, it lacks later developments (such as the GST consolidation, WorkChoices, the 2007 electoral defeat). Historians note that books written “live” during a leader’s tenure can have more immediacy.
Summary
In short, John Howard: Prime Minister provides a comprehensive and accessible biography of John Howard as he enters his period of national leadership. It charts his journey from Liberal Party member to Australia’s longest-serving (to that point) Prime Minister, examines his political strategy and early reforms, and offers insight into the workings of his government’s early phase. While not covering his full career, the book remains a key source for understanding the man and his politics at an important juncture.
John Howard Prime Minister - Pru Goward
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