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When asked to choose just 10, she explains 鈥淭here were so many to put on this list, but I wanted to include Australians and I wanted some classics and some currents鈥�. Managing to sneak a couple of extras in, Dr McKinnon鈥檚 picks all have something to give their reader; some lesson to learn or a deeper understanding to present.

To those ready to dive into the pages of these books, Dr McKinnon says, 鈥淭here are so many wonderful books to read, but here are some that might change the way you think about the world we live in. If you are someone who believes in equality, if you are someone who wants to help maintain a healthy planet, these books all provide imaginative or factual stories useful for thinking about our shared future鈥�. 

1. : to think about the human desire to create and dominate.
   
   
2. : to understand Australia鈥攚hat was, what is and what could be.
   
   
3. : to remember the ways in which 鈥榬eally big things鈥� can seep into 鈥榮mall things鈥� yet not always destroy them.
   
   
4. : to contemplate how we construct human and animal identity and the assumptions that construction is built upon.
   
   
5. : to contemplate not only the prejudice that exists between different kinds of humans, but also the prejudice that exists between humans and other animals.
   
   
6. and : to meditate upon the constant need (from one generation to then next) to demand equal rights for all people, and to gain some insight into why it is always a struggle.
   
   
7. : to comprehend how the land was cared for and harvested by the First Australians, without depleting its resources, and the misconceptions surrounding that care.
   
   
8. : to learn about the crucial place of trees on this earth, the fall-out of a warming climate, and our shared responsibility for the planet.
   
   
9. and : to contemplate bias in relation to gender.
   
   
10. : to learn about climate change and how to approach doing something about it.

Missing from the list is Dr McKinnon鈥檚 own novel , published by Harper Collins. As one of the characters in the book says 'The land is a book waiting to be read鈥�. This novel tells us the unforgettable and unputdownable story of Australia, our history, our present and our future.

Study creative writing, performing or visual art at UOW.