Professor Worthington (pictured left) and co-author Captain Michael Ferguson present their analysis in a neat framework, breaking down Alexander the Great’s rule and talking about the lessons he brings to the modern world.

The book details how leadership and warfare have some consistent themes over time, especially relevant in our digital age. But this tome is not just a history lesson on military adventures, it also looks at the security scene in the 21st century. If you are interested in peace, war and strategy, this book shares insights from Alexander the Great’s story that might change your perspective.

“This book may make you feel uncomfortable, but then again, so it should. As the character or even the nature of war changes because of disruptive emerging technologies, it is crucial that the human aspects of generalship, statesmanship, strategic thought and good old boots on the ground are not left behind,” says Professor Worthington.

“Alexander the Great embodies all these things and more. Our book uses a thematic approach to tell a new military history of Alexander within the context and nature of modern warfare and what leaders today should learn and apply from his successes, and especially, his failures.”

The book also includes concluding commentary from Lt Gen HR McMaster, the 25th National Security Advisor to the President of the United States.

Arguing that Alexander’s old campaigns still have something to teach us today, Professor Worthington and Captain Ferguson note how vital it is to have leaders who can adapt and understand history in our tech-heavy world.

Whether you are a student or scholar with interest in the classics, ancient history, modern history, peace studies or military studies, this book is relevant to you. It is not just for academics, but also for defence leaders, military scholars and anyone curious about warfare, military history or history in general.

The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age is published by Routledge.

An Unlikely Prisoner recounts Professor Turnell’s experience of being incarcerated in one of the most terrifying prisons in South-East Asia, where he was held for 650 days. As an academic whose prior experience with confrontation extended only as far as giving constructive criticism to students on their essays, Professor Turnell discovered a great personal resilience as he emerged from his ordeal with an unbroken spirit and his sense of humour intact.

Welcoming Professor Turnell to Australian Parliament House following his release, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked: “What he endured in his 650 days of incarceration is something that no human being should have to endure, yet he has done it with grace and, even in inhumane conditions, with profound humanity.”

Professor Turnell was featured in several prominent media outlets last week, ahead of the release of An Unlikely Prisoner. These included ABC Radio National, The Daily Mail and The Guardian.

An Unlikely Prisoner is published by Penguin Australia.

Dancing with Memories, written by Sally Yule with Professor Ralph Martins (pictured left) and Maggie Beer and illustrated by Cheryl Orsini, is a tale about Lucy, a woman living with dementia. The book was recently shortlisted for the 2023 Educational Publishing Awards Australia.

Reading Lucy’s story, children can learn how it feels to forget and become confused and be made aware of the ways they can help. 

“Dancing with Memories was written to introduce little children to Alzheimer’s, by focusing on the positive experiences of Lucy, who has Alzheimer’s, and how people can help give her a good quality of life with their loving support,” says Professor Martins.

“The book illustrates the importance of good food to prevent Alzheimer’s and encourages young children to begin early. It ends with delicious lunchbox recipes prepared by Maggie Beer. The book, while aimed at children, draws in the whole family.

“Good food matters to keep our brains healthy.”

Speaking about the collaboration with Professor Martins, Ms Yule said: “When Ralph and I were introduced in 2017, it was clear we shared a vision to write a children’s book about dementia – a generative story that would give children agency in helping family and community members live well with dementia.

“Ralph’s three decades of experience in Alzheimer’s research and his continuing commitment to prevention and seeking a cure, is both cross-generational and empowering.”

The book endeavours to educate individuals about the meaningful roles they can play in supporting those living with dementia within their own families or communities and can offer guidance to readers of all ages.

Dancing with Memories is available to borrow from Macquarie University Library. You can also purchase the book here.

Investigating this concept is the Research Handbook on Oil and Gas Law, edited by Professor Tina Soliman Hunter and Dr Madeline Taylor, Macquarie Law School (both pictured left). Professor Soliman Hunter and Dr Taylor are Director and Deputy Director, respectively, of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation (CENRIT).

The research handbook is structured into three distinct parts, each shedding light on a different facet of the oil and gas landscape. Initially, it discusses the historical dominance of oil, tracing the evolution and impact of legal instruments and regulatory frameworks governing the petroleum sector. Drawing upon multiple case studies from different jurisdictions, it then switches focus to the present, offering an examination of existing petroleum legal systems and their relevance in the modern world.

As the narrative unfolds, the research handbook closes with a series of forward-looking chapters that cast a discerning eye on the future challenges and opportunities awaiting the oil and gas industry. It delves into how petroleum-dependent nations can navigate the shifting energy landscape, exploring the dual roles of regulation and facilitation during this age of energy transition.

“The age of oil and gas is not dead,” says Professor Soliman Hunter. “We still produce more than 93 million barrels of oil per day. This book is topical and relevant, with its value lying in its in-depth analysis of important issues such as arbitration, indigenous peoples, and the Russian fuel and energy complex conflict with Ukraine.”

The handbook serves as an invaluable resource for regulators, policymakers, corporations, and legal practitioners who are engaged with the multifaceted dynamics and implications of the future energy landscape.

This book by Macquarie’s Professor Dick Stevenson and Dr Heather Francis (both pictured left) offers a comprehensive and in-depth examination of this growing interdisciplinary field, examining the immediate and long-term consequences of dietary choices on the human brain and mind. With an emphasis on human experiences, the book takes on a wide spectrum of subjects, ranging from brain development, whole diets, individual nutrient contributions and diverse research methodologies, to the concept of food as a drug.

Written with accessibility in mind, it caters to the needs of a broad audience. It is not only an invaluable resource for undergraduate and graduate students engaged in the study of nutritional neuroscience and related disciplines, but also for healthcare professionals looking to apply these insights in their practice. Additionally, industry researchers seeking comprehensive topic insights will find it a valuable reference, as will the general reader intrigued by the remarkable connection between what we eat and how our minds operate.

“Scientists, industry and the public are all interested in how what we eat affects our brain and mind. This book provides the first comprehensive account of this new and emerging science, written in an accessible style, for both educated lay and scientific readers,” says Professor Stevenson.

Within these pages, the book delivers a critical overview, meticulously addressing both the psychological and neurobiological influences of dietary choices. By doing so, it presents a balanced perspective, highlighting the progress made in the field, as well as its limitations, shortcomings and the opportunities presented by unexplored research fronts.

A new biography of Australian astronomer and First Fleet Second Lieutenant William Dawes promises to lift the veil on this little-known historical figure and his role as the colony’s first astronomer and jack of all trades.

William Dawes: Scientist, Governor, Abolitionist: Caught Between Science and Religion, by Macquarie University astronomer Professor Richard de Grijs and co-author Dr Andrew Jacob, curator of Sydney Observatory, is scheduled to be released on 4 December by Springer.

Book cover for William Dawes: Scientist, Governor, Abolitionist: Caught Between Science and Religion

Professor de Grijs has long been interested in the history of maritime navigation, its links to astronomy and the complex combination of calculations and astronomical observations that were essential for sailors working out their geographic location.

“When I moved to Australia six years ago, I started looking into maritime navigation in Australia’s early colonial days and saw mention of William Dawes, but I couldn’t find a book about him and there was very little about his astronomy pursuits,” says Professor de Grijs.

When Professor de Grijs asked Dr Jacob about Dawes, “He replied – ‘Ah, the mysterious William Dawes …’ and I became intrigued,” says Professor de Grijs.

The pair initially worked to find the location of Dawes’ original observatory and on discovering more about his intriguing and ultimately tragic life, decided to write his biography.

Best known for establishing Sydney’s first observatory, during his short time in the new colony, Dawes also served as an engineer, surveyor and ordnance officer, performing weather observations and taking part in early expeditions towards and into the Blue Mountains.

The book describes the important links between astronomy and navigation in the Age of Sail and the essential role of astronomers on early voyages of discovery.

Dr Nevil Maskelyne, Britain’s fifth Astronomer Royal, recommended Dawes to the First Fleet, tasking him with recording the return of a comet that had appeared in 1532 and 1661. It was an observation Dawes was ultimately unable to confirm.

Historic or scholarly literature documents many of Dawes’ clashes with authority; however Professor de Grijs says that, despite his prickly personality, Dawes had a strong social conscience and was way ahead of his time, describing him as brilliant and high performing, but troubled.

Mid-way through his journey to Botany Bay, Dawes quarreled with Captain Arthur Phillip and the pair never reconciled their differences. When Captain Phillip tasked him with raiding an Aboriginal settlement, it was the final insult for Dawes, who had been the first European to make a record of the Gadigal language.

“During his time in the first three years of the colony, when he established the Observatory, he had another altercation with Captain Phillip and was sent back to England at the end of his tour,” says Professor de Grijs.

Dawes’ departure marked the end of Sydney’s first observatory, the site of which Professor de Grijs has since identified. It took another 70 years to establish Sydney’s current observatory, in 1858.

Despite Dawes taking his astronomical instruments back with him to Britain, his astronomical career faltered, and he struggled as an unassigned marine on half-pay. Soon after, Dawes went to the Sierra Leone, in West Africa and found himself that colony’s Governor.

While in Africa, Dawes campaigned fiercely for the abolition of slavery, eventually moving to Antigua in the Caribbean where he was appointed Superintendant of Sunday Schools in the West Indies.

“There was very little information about him easily available about him, so we went through papers from the Board of Longitude, which are online at Cambridge University Library, the Colonial Office archives, Dawes’ Gadigal language notebooks, documents from the Church Missionary Society he worked for in Antigua, and an interesting, very lengthy document of his interrogation by the British Parliament’s House of Lords in relation to the slave trade,” says Professor de Grijs.

“Our aim was to shine a light on the mysterious Mr Dawes, a man who kept trying, but never quite succeeded, and who was ultimately a tragic character, way ahead of his time.”

Read about the search for Sydney’s first observatory on The Lighthouse or watch the video below.

In ancient Macedonian history, the final trio of Antigonid dynasty monarchs – Philip V, Perseus and claimant Andriscus or Philip VI ­– who reigned from 221 BC to 148 BC between them, are often overshadowed by their renowned predecessors, Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great, who ushered in the era of the Macedonian empire.

In his work, The Last Kings of Macedonia and the Triumph of Rome, Professor Ian Worthington undertakes a comprehensive reassessment of these three monarchs, challenging the truth of disparaging depictions of them.

When Philip V ascended to the throne, Macedonia had ceased to be an imperial powerhouse, while the Roman Republic was rapidly extending its dominion across the Mediterranean. These last Macedonian kings are typically depicted by historians as having self-serving ambitions and flawed policies, and are condemned for their defeats at the hands of Rome, events that marked the downfall of the formidable Macedonian phalanx.

“Four or five years ago, I had not considered writing a book about the last kings of ancient Macedonia and how they and their dynasty were victims of Roman imperialism,” says Professor Worthington. “But history is a powerful teacher and influencer. Rather than seeing them as collateral damage in the rise of the Roman Empire in the east, I show they are kings for all ages who give us a potent example of doing the right thing: standing up to any belligerent foe, no matter the odds.”

Professor Worthington provides the first comprehensive analysis of Philip V in more than eight decades and the first English language analysis of Perseus and Andriscus in more than half a century. He argues that this period should not be relegated to the status of an epilogue to Macedonian greatness. Even though Rome possessed significant military and logistical strengths, Philip and Perseus often maintained the advantage in their clashes with Rome.

Professor Worthington underscores the importance of acknowledging these monarchs for their endeavours to protect their kingdom’s independence when faced with such challenges.

Read the book online here.

This volume marks a milestone in scholarly analysis as the contributors delve into the poetic world of Alexander Pope and the intricate dance between his verse and the intellectual currents of mythology and mythography during the early British Enlightenment.

“This is the first book to consider Pope’s entire poetic career in the context of British Enlightenment – and current European – thinking about ancient myths and their contemporary relevance. The contributors include some of the world’s leading scholars on 18th century literature and culture, and on Alexander Pope in particular,” says Emeritus Professor Tony Cousins, one of the editors of the book.

As each chapter takes a journey through Pope’s major works, including one of his most well-known, The Rape of the Lock, we discover that he wielded mythology as a versatile tool, moulding it in diverse ways across his poetic landscape.

In shedding light on this intricate relationship between Pope and myth, we gain a deeper appreciation for how, during the early 18th century in Britain, the very essence of myth was undergoing a transformation. These shifts in understanding weren’t isolated; they were part of a broader intellectual evolution, notably influenced by the groundbreaking ideas of Baconian thought and the far-reaching legacy it left on the cultural and philosophical tapestry of the era.

Read the book online here.

Violence, Image and Victim in Bataille, Agamben and Girard offers a comprehensive examination of the roles played by violence and the image in the philosophies of Georges Bataille, Giorgio Agamben and René Girard, shedding light on their significance. Each of these philosophers receives dedicated chapters within the book for a focused examination of their views.

“Violence, Image and Victim in Bataille, Agamben and Girard provides, for the first time, a deep appreciation of the significance of the three terms in the title – particularly violence. It also shows how violence, image and victim are necessarily linked to each other in the work of three key contemporary thinkers,” says Emeritus Professor Lechte.

The book underscores the contemporary relevance of Bataille, Agamben and Girard, who endeavour to reveal the underpinnings of society and culture within the context of power and the sacred. It argues that an exploration of power unveils the intricate connection between violence and the image, offering insights into the experience of victimhood.

The concluding chapter signals future research on the relationship between victim and the law. It begs the question: Can the law do the victim as scapegoat justice?

A hard copy of this book is available to borrow at the Macquarie University Library, or you can read the book online here.

Children, Deafness, and Deaf Cultures in Popular Media is a collection of critical essays exploring how creative works depict these children. Edited by Emeritus Professor John Stephens, the collection includes contributions from Dr Jessica Kirkness, Dr Sung-Ae Lee and Nerida Wayland from Macquarie as well as 14 other academics.

The contributors analyse numerous themes throughout the collection of essays including stigmas, friendship, discrimination and self-identity, among other important areas of representation.

The academics consider the expressions in multimodal forms such as graphic novels and films that depict experiences from the perspective of deaf and hard of hearing children. They evaluate most of the major genres of children’s literature and film, including realistic fiction, especially young adult novels, as well as works that make use of humour and parody.

“While much creative interest has been shown in children and deafness in print and other media, scholarship has been somewhat sparse and has had to wait until 2023 and the release of Children, Deafness, and Deaf Cultures in Popular Media for the first collection of scholarly studies dedicated to the field,” says Professor Stephens.

“Deaf Studies has been dominated by the United States, which doesn’t represent deafness universally, so the collection casts a much wider net and includes studies from Asia, Australia and Europe.

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing people often perceive themselves as members of a cultural minority, and for the creative arts this may constitute a problem of representation, which contributors address: Is there an emphasis on the ‘otherness’ of deaf characters? Is representation from a hearing perspective? Do deaf characters occupy a central role and function, or are they subordinated to hearing characters? Does representation explain specific characteristics of a character’s deafness and is this grounded in an informed understanding of deafness?

“The primary aim in this collection is to explore some popular representations of deafness in print and multimodal works with a focus on children in order to understand how authors, film producers and researchers envision the phenomenon across various modes, historical periods, regions of the world, and cultural settings.”

An online version is available here or you can purchase a hard copy here.