RECENT BOOKS by Rodney G. Miller, author of publications on using words wisely

All books available worldwide at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BOOKS-A-MILLION, Bookshop.org, IndieBound, and bookstores or libraries ordering via Ingram

Australians Speak Out

Midwest Book Review: Reviewer's Choice, Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer "...key lessons about everyday language to reach people ...highly recommended."

Australian Law Journal: Full Review, Harry Hobbs PhD, Associate Professor, University Technology Sydney Faculty of Law "Miller's... keen eye, quick prose, and strong choice of material keep the reader engaged."

Editorial Review: Roslyn Petelin PhD, Honorary Associate Professor, School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland and author, How Writing Works "A fascinating, monumental book that should be compulsory for all history and political students and many others."

Australians Speak Out assesses rhetorical stylistic choices of public figures in a representative democracy, referencing over 20 notable Australians from the 1890s to modern times. Includes full texts of 15 noteworthy speeches and writing that speak to Federation, womanhood suffrage, trans-Australia communication, artistic appreciation, allied support in war, recognition of Churchill, land rights, national partnership in the Pacific, law reform, economic cooperation, transformation of the City of Brisbane, national reconciliation, gun control, non-sexist behaviour, and the coronavirus pandemic.

The book illustrates how ordinary words move hearts and minds, describing metaphor, democratic symbols, humour, polemic, propaganda, and other elements of style. Insights to evaluate or prepare public discourse, including digital media. Identifies 18 ways that speakers and writers choose language to find common ground.

Assesses language of: Sir Samuel Griffith (chief justice 1903-19); Louisa Lawson (poet, writer, publisher, activist for women’s suffrage, 1848-1920); Alfred Deakin (prime minister, 1903-05, 1905-08, and 1909-10); Sir Robert Menzies (prime minister 1939-41 and 1949-66); John Curtin (wartime prime minister 1941-5); Gough Whitlam (prime minister 1972-5); Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal Tribe [Kath Walker] (poet, artist, author, and activist for First Nations, 1920-93); Bob Hawke (union leader, then prime minister 1983-91); Kevin Gilbert (author, artist, poet, and activist for First Nations, 1933-93); Germaine Greer (author, academic, and activist for women’s rights, born 1939-); and Michael Kirby (law reforming jurist and High Court justice 1996-2009).

More recent, powerful speeches assessed include prime ministers Paul Keating on reconciliation in 1992, John Howard on arms recall after Port Arthur in 1996, Kevin Rudd on the Apology in 2008, and Julia Gillard on sexism in 2012, together with a powerful eulogy for prime minister Gough Whitlam by Noel Pearson in 2014, and a broadcast on the coronavirus pandemic by prime minister Scott Morrison in 2020. Others reviewed include Sallyanne Atkinson, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, Fred Daly, Sir John Forrest, Malcolm Fraser, W.M. Hughes, Ned Kelly, Sir James Killen, Peter Lalor, Dame Enid Lyons, Sir Ian McLennan, Dame Nellie Melba, Andrew Peacock, Sir George Reid, Susan Ryan, and more.

CONTENTS: Language for Persuasion; Democratic Talk of John Curtin and Sir Robert Menzies; Polemic and Propaganda; Rhetorical Humour; Political Words of Gough Whitlam; Choices for Public Talk; The Quiet Rhetoric of Sir Samuel Walker Griffith; Louisa Lawson on Womanhood Suffrage; Alfred Deakin's Language Strategy; Sir Robert Menzies's Measured Style; Action Calls of Kevin Gilbert and Oodgeroo Noonuccal [Kath Walker]; 'Revolution' Rhetoric of Germaine Greer; Winning on Television-Bob Hawke; Reform Advocacy of Michael Kirby; Continuing to Speak Out-Paul Keating, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Noel Pearson, and Scott Morrison; Conclusion; Full text of 15 Notable Speeches and Writing; Appendices; Source Notes; Bibliography; Index.

ISBN 978-1-7374895-1-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-7374895-0-4 (paperback)

Australians Speak Out

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW: Reviewer's Choice, "...key lessons about everyday language to reach people ...highly recommended." - Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer. AUSTRALIAN LAW JOURNAL: "Miller's... keen eye, quick prose, and strong choice of material keep the reader engaged." - Harry Hobbs PhD, Associate Professor, University Technology Sydney Faculty of Law. EDITORIAL REVIEW: "A fascinating, monumental book that should be compulsory for all history and political students and many others." - Roslyn Petelin PhD, Honorary Associate Professor, School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland and author, How Writing Works. / ISBN 978-1-7374895-1-1 (hardcover); 978-1-7374895-0-4 (paperback)

Communication Essays

Connecting these seven thought-provoking essays, written over three decades, is a common aim for communication to optimize results - whether to teach oral communication, strengthen democracy, grow organizational trust, build community relations, or sustain fundraising. These concerns endure among the more substantial communication challenges. Each requires mutual understanding and cooperative action. The book incorporates evaluation of the communication strategies, processes, and behaviors of leaders in high-performing organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It focuses understandings from structured study of institutional advancement leaders at some of the world's most successful universities. Collecting papers shared at conferences or seminars of The Royal Society of Queensland, Corporate Communication International, and The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and in publications of the State University of New York Press. / ISBN 978-1-7374895-4-2 (hardcover); 978-1-7374895-6-6 (ebook)

Bestest Words

Need to tell fact from opinion? And the proven from the plausible? For anyone who cares to crush the manufactured outrage in recent public discourse, Bestest Words pushes back on screams for the camera and other propaganda. These 70 commentaries were written as blog posts from 2020 to 2022, amid worldwide threats to health, safety, and freedoms previously taken for granted. Amid ongoing challenges, the book supports the insight of Albert Camus who recognized a substantial value of democracy to be what it prevents. These commentaries suggest when and how to • Hold public figures and the media accountable. • Stand up to the verbal abuse that Orwell predicted. • Reassert truth and other core values in daily life. A spotlight on using words wisely! / ISBN 978-1-7374895-5-9 (paperback)

Communication and Beyond

Chronicles key pioneering efforts to establish and evolve communication study and teaching in Australia, assessing changing government mandates, research, premier communication courses, faculty personalities, and new career options for graduates. Describes a new dawning in communication education from the the 1970s, delivering new career options, innovative study and teaching, and new experiences putting communication into practice. / ISBN 978-1-7374895-2-8 (hardcover); 979-8-22333658-4-6 (ebook)