Compared to the epic narratives of America and Europe, our story can seem rather unglamorous. Australia's 'tyranny of distance' from the seismic events of world history induces a vague sense that Australians labour under a certain tyranny of irrelevance. Perhaps we don't look hard enough to appreciate what is unique about our past. Or is is that our innate sense of inferiority tripwires us to sell our legacy short?

Australia's Second Chance: What our history tells us about our future, by George Megalogenis, is a bold and innovative rewriting of our nation's history. It reminds us that our history is noteworthy and of global significance. But it also serves as a cogent warning about the consequences of Australia's current political malaise and policy inaction. In essence, Megalogenis – former political and economic commentator with The Australian – reprocesses the nation's conventional narratives to amplify poorly understood facts and trends. He also downplays the long-term import of what are conventionally regarded as pivotal moments or themes.