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Wednesdays with Bob cover art

Wednesdays with Bob

By: Derek Rielly, Bob Hawke
Narrated by: Jim Daly
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Publisher's Summary

At 87, beloved former PM Bob Hawke reflects on a colourful life.

On Wednesdays, Robert J. Hawke - Australia's 23rd and oldest living prime minister - has welcomed Derek Rielly into his home to share fine cigars and irreverent conversation. On a sun-soaked balcony, the maverick young writer and the charismatic old master talk life, death, love, sex, religion, politics, sport...and everything in between. 

On other days, to paint his subject's enigma from the outside, Rielly interviews Hawke's Liberal MP rival John Howard, Labor allies Gareth Evans and Kim Beazley, wife and lover Blanche d'Alpuget, live-in stepson Louis Pratt, and friends - diplomat Richard Woolcott, economist Ross Garnaut, advertising guru John Singleton and longtime mate Col Cunningham. 

The result is an extraordinary portrait of a beloved Australian - a strange, funny, uniquely personal study of Bob Hawke ruminating on his (and our) past, present and future.

©2018 Derek Rielly and Bob Hawke (P)2018 Macmillan Australia Audio

Critic Reviews

"[A] surprisingly endearing book." (The Saturday Paper)

"Fresh, irreverent and at times very profound...It's like nothing else I've read on Australian politics." (Booktopia

What listeners say about Wednesdays with Bob

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  • Overall
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    3 out of 5 stars

A worthwhile listen

I’m a Hawke fan so I was always going to give this a go. I’m glad I listened to the audio book, mainly because the narration was outstanding. I get the feeling it might have been a slightly dull read, but Jim Daly really brings the story to life.

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incredible to listen to

The wisdom and inspiration coming out of this novel has touched me like no other book before it.

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1 person found this helpful

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Enlightening

An engaging and informative read with interesting antidotes along with researched information.
Thoroughly enjoyable presentation.

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A must for any true Australian, a joy to listen to

it really makes you proud to be an Australian citizen. Really positive role model for anyone coming up in politics.

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Not great

Fawning to an embarrassing extent. Didn’t really learn anything new about the man. I got bored of it.

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Highly insightful and entertaining.

As someone who worked for Bob Hawke in the latter years of his Prime Ministership I found so much of this book brought a wry, warm and familiar smile to my face. I had heard Bob tell many of these “stories” in person but the insights of Rielly were still very enlightening and the questions he put to the great man showed both a deep respect of and admiration for his subject. Excellently narrated by Jim Daly who portrays both protagonists perfectly without the “cartoonish” impersonation of Hawke (and others) we have become used to from TV and radio comedians. Very highly recommended.

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A great tribute to a great Prime Minister!

A great tribute to a not always great man. He was human with failings but an admirable leader. Obviously a leanered and opinionated man who has seen the world. The narration was perfect! A must read if you love Australian history, politics or just loved Hawkey!

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Great book about and Aussie Icon

Such an interesting story and narrated so well! It was hard to stop listening to this one. A must read!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Hawkey is awesome

Great to hear the thoughts of a legend but I found the structure of the book and the narrating less enjoyable.

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Interesting Perspective on Events

After listening to John Howards Memoirs recently, it was interesting to get the opposite perspective on historical events from Bob. Jim Daly was incredibly good in his narration and bought energy to the script. Well worth the read / listen. RIP Bob Hawke.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.