From the Director of Innovative Pedagogies
End of Term Reading Recommendations
Given the busyness of life, it can sometimes feel indulgent to make time to read, but as we enter holidays next week I wanted to give some recommendations of books that I have enjoyed recently. I find the Easter break, with the cooler weather an appropriate time to spend more time reading than I would at other times of the year. Below are three quite different books I have enjoyed recently that you may want to have a look at over the break.
True History of the Kelly Gang – Peter Carey
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey is in fact,not true. It is a fictitious autobiography of the infamous Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly. Written in a raw, unpunctuated style inspired by Kelly’s own Jerilderie Letter, the novel explores his life from childhood to his final days. Framed as a collection of letters to his daughter, Kelly recounts his struggles growing up in poverty, his Irish heritage, clashes with corrupt authorities, and the events that led to the formation of his gang.
The narrative paints a complex portrait of a man shaped by injustice, loyalty, and a fierce sense of identity. Rather than glorifying violence and the many crimes he committed, Carey humanises Kelly, portraying him as a reluctant outlaw driven by love for his family and the dream of a fairer society. Blending fact with fiction, the novel challenges the myth of Ned Kelly, offering a powerful reimagining of one of Australia’s most iconic and controversial historical figures.
It describes the Victorian bushland lyrically, making me feel somewhat patriotic for our land, but got me questioning the idolisation of Ned Kelly in Australian story telling.
A Very Punchable Face – Colin Jost
Sharp, clever comedy is one of my favourite things. For anyone who has tried to watch a stand-up set on Netflix recently, you would know that a lot of sets now have excessive profanity and try to use taboo subjects to shock the audience into laughing. Colin Jost is not like this. He is a writer on SNL (Saturday Night Live) and runs a regular segment, The Weekend Update.
The book has this title because on four different instances in life, he has been told he has a very ‘punchable’ face. Jost is self-depreciating and shares hilarious and awkward stories from his life, covering everything from his nerdy childhood and Harvard days to behind-the-scenes moments at SNL.
Through tales of bombing onstage, bizarre injuries, and celebrity encounters, he reflects on his insecurities, relationships, and career mishaps with sharp humour and surprising sincerity. Beneath the jokes, Jost reveals a thoughtful, humble side, making the book both laugh-out-loud funny and unexpectedly heartfelt. It’s a clever, candid look at comedy, growing up and unexpectedly getting married to Scarlett Johansen.
I highly recommend the audio book on Spotify, which he personally reads. However in the audiobook you don’t get the photos he is making reference to.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Ironically, I was given this book two years ago but have been too busy to read it until now. The author, John Mark Comer has been looking into staying emotionally and spiritually healthy in the chaos of the modern work, something many of us can relate to.
The book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is a compelling call to slow down in a world obsessed with speed, productivity, and busyness. Drawing from personal experience, spiritual wisdom, and the teachings of Jesus, Comer argues that hurry is one of the greatest threats to a meaningful, spiritually rich life.
He explores how constant distraction, digital overload, and over-commitment rob us of peace, presence, and purpose. Inspired by a conversation with mentor Dallas Willard, Comer embraces a slower, more intentional lifestyle rooted in ancient Christian practices like silence, Sabbath, simplicity, and solitude. The book challenges readers to rethink their pace of life and prioritise deep relationships, spiritual formation, and rest over achievement.
With a conversational tone and practical guidance, Comer offers both critique and hope, inviting us to resist cultural pressure and instead follow the “unhurried” way of Jesus—a life marked by love, presence, and peace in the midst of chaos.
While the the Christian aspect may not appeal to you, the idea of resting, deep connections and peace are things I know many people are looking for. Potentially even more so during the holidays. I would encourage you to think about it with an open mind.
Happy reading and happy holidays. I’d be keen to hear from you if you read or have ready any of these recently.
Christopher Sanders
Director of Innovative Pedagogies