Allen & Unwin

Twenty years on from the bestselling success of Buddhism for Mothers, Sarah Napthali remains keen to explore the depths of the human experience. Intrigued by reports of the power of mushrooms, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca and others, and the immense potential for personal and spiritual growth, she becomes determined to try these medicines and apply what she learns to the challenges she now faces as a newly divorced empty-nester.Over one year, Sarah takes eight psychedelic medicines. She navigates the highs of new romance and travel, but also grapples with the loss of old friends and a confrontation with aching loneliness.The psychedelic renaissance has provided a wealth of empirical evidence about the potential of these medicines, but this is a first-person account, a chance to join someone on their trips, and see how they impact her daily life.

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONOn 29 July 2023, Erin Patterson hosted a family lunch at her home in the small regional Victorian town of Leongatha. She had invited her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian. Erin made beef Wellington for her guests, individual beef eye fillets covered in mushroom paste, wrapped in pastry. The following day, all four guests were taken to hospital, and Heather, Gail and Don died. Ian Wilkinson barely survived. A toxicologist found traces of the highly poisonous death cap mushroom in the remains of the meal. At first, it appeared to be a dreadful accident. As the police investigation continued, the evidence mounted, seeming to point one way. Yet Erin Patterson spun a web of lies, and steadfastly claimed she did not intend to harm her relatives. Greg Haddrick tells the fascinating inside story of the dramatic murder trial, and the forensic evidence that convinced the jury to convict a suburban mother of a gruesome triple murder. With many details not previously revealed in the media, it is the compelling story of a troubled family, and the world's most poisonous mushroom, which is readily found in parks and gardens.

This collection of short stories, memoir, journal entries, essays and poems spans decades of Alex Miller's life. Opening with a moving depiction of Miller's father leaving for war, it closes with a 2023 poem reflecting on solitude and creative labour. Each piece responds to significant life events, engaging with works by prominent Australian artists and authors -including Janine Burke, Jacob Rosenberg, Sidney Nolan and Emily Kame Kngwarreye - who enriched Australia's cultural landscape. Journey to the End of Time forms a companion to The Simplest Words and A Kind of Confession - three volumes constructing an intimate narrative of Miller's life writing works of quiet power and beauty. His wisdom and experience shine in this rewarding anthology.

Throughout our history birdsong has influenced art, poetry and music. It can elevate our mood and bring our backyards to life. We often hear birds singing as we go about our lives, but have you ever wondered who they are singing to and what they are singing abou? he term 'bird brain' has led us to underestimate the brainpower it takes to hear a song, remember it and practise until it is reproduced correctly. In the same way human infants learn to talk, young birds learn their song by listening and remembering the sounds produced by their parents. Not only that, birds use different songs and calls, and different pitch, tone and volume, depending on who they're communicating with and what they want to say-much like the way we vary our speech. Why Do Birds Sing? provides an insight into the world of bird communication that will surprise and delight you. It's an absorbing and informative book filled with answers to many of the common and often uncommon questions we ask about birdsong. After reading this book you will never listen to a bird song in the same way!

Deep in Tasmania's remote valleys and mountains grow trees whose direct ancestors lived with dinosaurs. Many are thousands of years old, some over ten millennia. Prize-winning nature writer Andrew Darby takes us on an island odyssey to discover these ancient survivors: the mysterious King's Lomatia, perhaps the oldest single tree alive; the primeval King Billy, Pencil and Huon pines with their stories of human admiration and destruction; and the majestic giant eucalypts. He shares tales of the scientists and nature-lovers who identified these ancients and now work to protect them from climate change and fire, offering hope for their future.

'Twas the night before Easter,the workshop was busy! There were baskets to fill and eggs to make pretty. There was so much to do for the big Easter quest. And the Bunny herself? She was, honestly, stressed. When one plucky duck steps up to help out the Easter Bunny, no one expects the outcome to be quite so eggsplosive! Sometimes a catastrophe is just what you need to see the world in a whole new rosy light! Easter has never been this fabulous! Told in sprightly rhyme by bestselling and much-loved children's book author, comedian, podcaster and social media sensation Tanya Hennessy, with gorgeous illustrations by Sophie Kent, Pink Easter is a truly joyous celebration of friendship, teamwork and Easter. The perfect picture book for: - Toddlers and preschoolers - Sharing with your kids at Easter - Parents looking for a chocolate alternative - Fans of Tanya Hennessy's warm, inclusive humour Other bestselling books by Tanya Hennessy: Pink Santa Drumroll Please, It's Stevie Louise Spotlight please, It's Stevie Louise

'A tense and claustrophobic mystery told with startling wit' Tim Minchin'Swerves from cosy Christie homage into something far more brutal' GuardianIt's 1925, and the Empress of Australia sails toward New York with a full passenger manifest. When a body is discovered onboard, Inspector Archie Daniels begins investigating - but one murder becomes two, then three. Racing against time to prevent disaster, Daniels realizes no one is safe, from entitled first-class passengers to those deemed 'dregs of empire' below deck. With nowhere to run on the open Atlantic, the killer remains among them. The Empress Murders delivers a razor-sharp, mind-bendingly clever whodunnit that doubles as a bloodthirsty mystery and scathing examination of British Empire excess as its sun begins setting.

Sometimes people fall. It happens. Sometimes people are pushed. Sometimes people jump. And sometimes there''s someone there to catch them. The summer Beth turns sixteen, she grows. She grows so fast her bones hurt and she feels like throwing up. Everyone - including Etienne, the boy who lives over the road - looks at her differently. Then she starts catching people. People who are falling out of trees or from tall buildings. Soon Beth discovers that helping strangers sometimes hurts. Sometimes it also hurts or annoys the people she loves. It isn''t great for her school grades, either. Is there a way to balance family and friendship and basketball and romance and ... catching? An extraordinary story about finding out who you are, and discovering who you want to be.''Catch is a graceful exploration of what it means to hold others up while trying to find your own balance, and learning to trust yourself, even when the ground is shifting beneath your feet.'' --Karys McEwen, Books+Publishing

'A brilliant guide to mastering your inner world and finding true fulfilment and happiness' Deepak Chopra'Sarah Grynberg is a wise and wonderful person, and this book is a gift that will touch countless lives' Johann Hari'A book for the soul. Sarah graciously shares her life to help you find yours' Liz HayesEver feel like you're hurtling through life, unable to slow down? Things might look good outside, but you're running on empty with no time to reflect on what it's all for. Greatness is the antidote to this discontented feeling - it's about self-knowledge, taking control, and finding meaning beyond modern noise. After experiencing burnout in a high-pressure job, Sarah Grynberg transformed her life and now shares the journey. Drawing from personal stories, mindset coaching, and interviews with thought leaders on her podcast A Life of Greatness, she reveals simple, everyday practices to reconnect with yourself and reclaim your greatness.

'There is a theory that any woman can be rescued from the shoals of failure and despair by finding some man to ask her in marriage, but before I could be happy in love I should at least need to realise myself.'She dazzled Australia with her rebellious novel My Brilliant Career, inspiring generations of young women chafing under conventional expectations. Only 21, Miles Franklin was lauded as the Bronte of the bush, and feted by the rich and influential. But fame can be deceptive. In reality, the book earned her a pittance. The family farm was sold, her new novels were rejected, and she was broke. Just two years after her debut, Miles disappeared. In this real-life sequel to My Brilliant Career, author Kerrie Davies uncovers a little-known period in Miles' life, from the servant's quarters of Sydney and Melbourne's wealthy houses to volatile Chicago, in the turbulent years after her early success. Davies draws on a never-before-published manuscript and diary extracts from Miles' year undercover as a servant, intimate correspondence with poet Banjo Paterson, and archival sources from Australia and Chicago. Miles Franklin Undercover is a powerful story of a young woman's enduring resilience, and her determination to always be her own heroine.

Amalia''s life runs like clockwork: school, family book club, hanging out with her best (and only) friend Mae. It''s comfortable in its predictability.So when Mae announces she''s ready to start dating - against the wishes of her strict parents - Amalia''s world is thrown into chaos. Forever the dutiful friend, she agrees to help set Mae up with the hottest boy in class: Kasun. The only problem? He''s Amalia''s secret crush. Adopting the role of wingwoman, Amalia does her best to navigate an unfamiliar world of parties and romantic drama. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Kasun''s best mates, Jake and Laeli, who frustrate and intrigue her in equal measure. When misunderstandings (and secret kisses) threaten to derail relationships, Amalia is left more confused than ever. Who does she really want to be with? Can the set-up girl ever become the main character of the story?A feel-good romantic comedy of errors, where the road to love rarely runs straight!''Funny, romantic and relatable - a queer delight.'' Erin Gough, award-winning author of Amelia Westlake and Into the Mouth of the Wolf''Utterly charming.'' Jodi McAlister, bestselling author of Valentine and Here For The Right Reasons

Does handwriting still matter? What are rogue waves? What do our teeth reveal about us? A compelling compendium of astonishing facts and occasional weirdness for curious minds. What''s the meaning of a bee''s waggle dance? Who thought budgie smugglers into being? And why is cancer so damn hard to cure? Australia''s best journalists reveal the complex workings of the world - from outer space and the deep sea to our own backyards - as they delve into life''s mysteries, answering questions from the profound to the quirky across health, science, technology, culture and human behavior. Does handwriting still matter? What are rogue waves? What do our teeth reveal about us? A compelling compendium of astonishing facts and occasional weirdness for curious minds.

OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD! Tashi is as brave as he is clever. For thirty years, Tashi has been telling fabulous stories. He escaped from a war lord in a faraway place and flew to this country on the back of a swan. And he wished he could find a friend just like Jack. In this, the first book of his daring adventures, Tashi tells Jack about the time he tricked the last dragon of all. This special anniversary edition of the beloved children''s book includes two bonus short stories and the out-of-print classic Tashi and the Wicked Magician, plus never-before-seen illustrations from Kim Gamble''s sketchbooks. ''The Tashi stories are some of my all-time favourites: a world within a world and a magical place for children to lose themselves in.'' Sally Rippin, Australian Children''s Laureate and bestselling author ''All children should meet Tashi. He can be their mentor on the road to reading, feeding their imaginations with fantastic stories. The Tashi stories have the evergreen qualities of classics.'' Magpies ''I read my kids Tashi - it''s this story that they love.'' Angelina Jolie

Today, I am this and tomorrow I''m that.Today, I''m a tiger! Tomorrow, a bat.By Saturday, I will have been all of that. So ... who might you be? A lively story in which all the illustrations are tangrams; the well-known geometrical puzzle that is a square cut into seven pieces arranged to make various other shapes. It is also a delightful story about the imagination where the words and pictures combine to tell a deeper story about the idea of self, from the highly acclaimed creator of I See, I See.''A book that''s visually captivating, a valuable resource for librarians and primary school educators, and a gentle introduction to poetic language ... Perfect for fans of Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys''s All the Ways to Be Smart and Yamile Saied Méndez and Kate Alizadeh''s What Will You Be?'' Books+Publishing

''It''s like an interplanetary version of Survivor meets The Amazing Race, but with way more death vines and alien venom.'' Better Reading Three days, three clues, one hungry planet. Constant surveillance. The entire universe watching every move. Some will shatter. Most will fail. A select few will make it through, instant celebrities. Welcome to the Surface Trials. The only way into Starquest Academy. For Amethyst Antares, Starquest Academy offers an escape from the prison of her home planet. For Rian - the uber-famous and expertly disguised heir to the universe''s two greatest dynasties - failure to get into his own academy is not an option. And Deneb? Well, he''s an outlier... But this year not everything goes to plan, and Amethyst and her squad find themselves playing for more than Starquest admission. To survive, they''ll have to outsmart carnivorous creatures, share dangerous secrets, maintain trust and embrace the most shocking truth in the galaxy.Set on a fascinating yet hostile alien planet, this pulse-pounding, high-stakes, elimination-quest novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.''HM Waugh writes completely unputdownable stories that will keep you up late - if she''s writing it, I''m reading it.'' Amie Kaufman, NYT bestselling author ''A contest, a journey, a mysterious artefact, this novel never lets up the pace or thrills. I loved it! It''s the kind of book I longed for as a child. Full of thrills, mysteries and kids out there kicking it!'' Bren MacDibble, bestselling author of HOW TO BEE and THE DOG RUNNER''It has everything I love in a story: high stakes, dangerous secrets, and smart kids facing overwhelming odds. Plus space! A wonderfully exciting new book from HM Waugh.'' Lian Tanner, bestselling author of MUSEUM OF THIEVES''Brilliant! Original, riveting and hugely fun.'' Jaclyn Moriarty, bestselling author of the KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES series''The Surface Trials is exactly what I want in a science-fiction book... I can''t recommend it enough.'' Dani Solomon, Readings

Firmly grounded in the day-to-day reality of being a mother, this revised and updated edition of The Complete Buddhism for Mothers gives personal and honest advice based on Buddhist teachings as applied to the everyday challenges of bringing up children. Become a calmer and happier mother with The Complete Buddhism for Mothers, fully revised and updated for the modern mother. Parenthood can be a time of great inner turmoil for a woman yet parenting books invariably focus on nurturing children rather than the mothers who struggle to raise them. This book is different. These two acclaimed bestselling books - Buddhism for Mothers and Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children - bound together in this edition, explore the joy of being with your children in the all-important present moment. In these books, mothers have found the inspiration to be more patient, loving and attentive towards their children, other family members, other parents, but most of all, themselves. In her clear and engaging way, Sarah Napthali takes us on a journey through the challenges (and the pleasures!) of raising children, using Buddhist teachings and principles to help her answer the eternal questions of mothers everywhere: Who am I now? Where am I going? And how can I do my best by my children and myself? This wisdom also allows space for the deeper reflections about who we are and what makes us happy. Writing from personal experience, and weaving in stories from other mothers throughout her narrative, Sarah shows us how spiritual and mindful parenting can help all mothers to be more open and content. Even if exploring Buddhism at this busy stage of your life is not where you thought you''d be, it''s well worth reading this book. It can make a difference.