Civilisation: Twenty Places on the Edge of the World - Softcover

Braunias, Steve

Softcover

ISBN 10: 187755135X ISBN 13: 9781877551352

Publisher: Awa Press Limited, 2018

Synopsis

Civilisation, winner of the New Zealand Book Award for Non-fiction in 2013, is brilliant New Zealand journalist Steve Braunias at the peak of his powers, the scavenger of social lodestone, rich, fascinating and sometimes disturbing stories of settlements – from Kawakawa in the north, to Mosgiel in the south, and Samoa and Antarctica over the seas – and the people who live there, their lives, loves, aspirations, and sometimes dark secrets. 

This is a book that will enthrall all lovers of great travel writing and outrageous social comment. Jonathan Lorie, director of Travellers' Tales Festival, London, calls Braunias 'a writer the whole world would like to hear about'. He has won over 20 journalism awards, writes a weekly column for The New Zealand Herald, is books editor of leading culture websiteThe Spinoff, and author of eight critically acclaimed books.

"For three years, whenever I could, I went to places no one went to, drawn to their averageness, their nothingness, their banal and exhilarating New Zealandness – small towns, unremarkable suburbs, frozen bases and equatorial outposts ... wherever there was any sign of New Zealand civilisation. I chose them at random. I’d look at a map and say out loud, ‘There.’ People said, ‘Where?’ The next question they asked was, ‘Why?’ They especially asked that in the places I visited. They couldn’t believe anyone would find where they lived of any interest. But the places were probably New Zealand at its best. I wanted to go and live in just about every one." - Steve Braunias

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

WINNER, 2013 NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION

‘An exceptional New Zealand book, beloved by us all ... In print, as in person, Braunias gives the impression of casual ease, but there is nothing casual or easy about writing this good’

- Judges’ Report, 2013 New Zealand Post Book Awards

“The secret to the success of Civilisation is that the author didn’t set out to celebrate anything. He chose simply to listen and to observe. ... It’s a kind of rough music and he plays it by ear, note-perfect’

- John McCrystal, Canvas: The New Zealand Herald

‘Like a superior form of travel writing, Braunias’s 20 essays take us to mostly overlooked New Zealand places ... Grim comedy mixes with genuine human warmth’

- Phillip Matthews, Your Weekend: The Dominion Post & The Press

‘Sharp, brimming with wit, and thoroughly entertaining’

- Ben Sanders, author of Only the Dead, in Herald On Sunday

‘This is one of those books that, as you read it, you keep thinking how much you love it.

... Buy it for (almost) everyone you know’

- Linda Burgess, New Zealand Books

‘A keenly attuned sense of self-awareness and acerbic wit underlie the gravity of Braunias's largely empathetic (and brutally honest) reflections on New Zealand’

- Gillian Terzis, The Australian

‘Steve Braunias is back with his inimitable wit and wisdom. Kooky, unexpected, funny and warm, this delightful book demonstrates Braunias’s particular eye for the unusual tale’

- Time Out Bookstore

‘Steve Braunias is an entertaining writer and this book offers plenty of insight and amusement’

- Caroline Harker, Wanaka Sun

‘A read that is in equal parts challenging, funny and provocative. ... Along with the laughs there is a good dose of social commentary that is at times uncomfortable but always entertaining’

- Jillian Allison-Aitken, The Southland Times

‘Once I started reading this extraordinary book, I found it hard to put it down’

- Christine Frayling, We Love Books, Booksellers New Zealand Blog

About this edition

• Publisher: Awa Press Limited
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 187755135X
• ISBN 13: 9781877551352
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 266