Julia Baird’s latest book, Phosphorescence, contains a set of essays that focus on the joy of living and how to live well. Little sparkles of hard-won wisdom sprinkle the book. To create it, Julia Baird has taken some of her previous published articles, mined her own life and sought the secrets of joy and fulfilment in writing from a range of sources.
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Title: Phosphorescence
Author: Julia Baird
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Date: 2020
Pages: 310
ISBN: 978-1-4607-5715-4
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Before I read this book, I knew Julia Baird from her hosting of the nightly news discussion program, The Drum, on ABC TV and from her lively and scholarly biography of Queen Victoria (see blog from 21/3/2019 ). In her roles as commentator and biographer, she struck me as well-educated and thoughtful, someone who based her views on documented sources and was careful to acknowledge those sources.
Her erudition is never boring. In Phosphorescence as well as in Victoria, Julia Baird’s writing is easy to read and dotted with humour and entertaining snippets of information. In her latest book, she reveals much about herself. Her analysis of life-threatening periods of illness and major surgery and her seemingly fruitless activism for women within the Sydney Anglican church are used to illustrate a central message, that even in the darkest times, striving and paying attention to life around you can bring rewards of wonder and awe. Her fascination for the natural phenomenon of phosphorescence serves as a metaphor for this message as well as the basis for a brilliant cover design.
Phosphorescence is a book of hope. Something in it will resonate with every reader and perhaps change their approach to life. What I found refreshing was a departure from the self-centred approach to mindfulness so popular at present to a focus on people and things beyond the self. This is a particularly important insight in this time of relative social isolation when we rely so much on our own company. Julia Baird’s message is simple: look outwards, wonder at the world and live well.