These two well-written, unpretentious and engaging books address a central question for those interested in parliamentary democracy: who should represent us? Is the best representative someone just like ourselves, or someone who knows how ‘the system’ works and can manipulate it in our interest? Should it be someone from the party in power? Should it be someone wise and experienced, or young and vigorous? Should it be a woman, to represent the largest proportion of the electorate?

There are many more questions like these, and there is no answer to satisfy everyone. Both Peter Andren and Ken Fry, from different positions in the political spectrum, argue for a close attention by the representative to those whom he or she represents. Both come from humble backgrounds, and made their way through persistence and hard work. Both spent a considerable time in the central west of New South Wales: Fry in Bathurst, and Andren in and around Orange. Both had a lot of trouble with the system. Both were, electorally, very successful. Both think that backbenchers are important and overlooked. Fry left politics in 1984 when he thought it was time (his relationship with Labor’s new prime minister, Bob Hawke, he writes delphically, was not warm, ‘which contributed to my decision to retire’). Andren is still there.