Books Archive
The genius of Theo Schoon, the complete asshole who was inspired by Māori art
Dutch émigré artist Theo Schoon was an anti-Semite and a shithead in so many ways, but he was also a brilliant artist who recognised the beauty and power of Māori art at a time when few Pākehā gave it a second thought. His biographer Damian Skinner reckons with a ghastly genius.
Book of the Week: Linda Burgess reviews Becoming by Michelle Obama
Linda Burgess on the biggest-selling, most-loved book of summer: Becoming, the memoir by Michelle Obama.
Review: Jordan Peterson’s ’12 Rules for Life’
Danyl Mclauchlan investigates the strange philosophy of number one best-selling author and thinker Jordan B Peterson, author of 12 Rules for Life.
Summer reissue: Madeleine Chapman on co-writing Steven Adams’ autobiography
Madeleine Chapman co-wrote basketball star Steven Adams' autobiography. She tells how she wrote the book alongside an athlete she's known since they were both teenagers.
Summer reissue: Jesse Mulligan to Jamie Oliver – you suck
Jesse Mulligan reviews the new cookbook by Jamie Oliver. His calm and measured verdict: It stinks.
Summer Reissue: The 50 best New Zealand books of the past 50 years
To mark the 50th Ockham book awards earlier in the year, we asked 50 experts to name the very best local books published since 1968.
Summer reissue: The first WAGs – A 1970s All Black wife on rugby and women’s lib
We asked former All Black great Bob Burgess to review a new book on his team-mate Keith Murdoch. But then we changed our mind, and asked his wife Linda Burgess to write whatever she wanted about rugby.
Summer Reissue: The subtle and tremendously self-serving art of not giving a fuck
John Summers gets to grips with one of the year's most popular books, a self-help guide to feeling good, deciding what's really important in your life, and "banging blondes": The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.
The bestselling books of 2018 at Unity, Wellington
The top ten best-sellers of 2018 at the Unity store in Willis St, Wellington.
The best-selling kids books of 2018 at Little Unity
The top 10 best-sellers of the year at the Little Unity bookstore for kids in High St, Auckland.
The bestselling books of 2018 at Unity, Auckland
The top ten best-sellers of 2018 at the Unity store in High St, Auckland
The very best book of 2018: Normal People by Sally Rooney
All week this week we count down the five best books of 2018. Number one, the very best: Kim Hill reviews Sally Rooney's novel Normal People.
The second best book of 2018: Māori Made Easy 2 by Scotty Morrison
All week this week we count down the five best books of 2018. Number two: Leonie Hayden reviews the text book Māori Made Easy 2 by Scotty Morrison.
The third best book of 2018: Calypso by David Sedaris
All week this week we count down the five best books of 2018. Number three: Peter Wells reviews Calypso by David Sedaris.
The fourth best book of 2018: Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi
All week this week we count down the five best books of 2018. Number four: Linda Burgess reviews the Ottolenghi cookbook Simple.
The fifth best book of 2018: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
All week this week we name and review the five very best books of 2018. Today: Holly Walker reviews the fifth best book, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a novel about the desperate joys of sleep.
Unity Books bestseller list at Christmas
The best-selling books this Christmas at the Unity stores in High St, Auckland and Willis St, Wellington.
Hear ye, hear ye: these are the 20 best novels of 2018
All week this week we present the best books of 2018. Today: the 20 best novels.
Absolute fact: These are the 20 best non-fiction books of 2018
All week this week we present the 20 best books of the year. Today: the 20 best books of non-fiction.
Official proclamation: The 20 best poetry books of 2018
All week this week we present the 20 best books of the year. Today: the 20 best collections of poetry.
Christmas shopping guide: the 20 best kids books of 2018
All week this week The Spinoff Review of Books presents the best books of the year. Today: the best 20 books for kids.
The Friday Poem: ‘Hawaiki’ by Bob Orr
New poetry by Thames writer Bob Orr.
Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 7
Only 18 shopping days till Xmas, for God's sake! Find what you're looking for by perusing the week's best-selling books at the Unity stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.
Charlotte Grimshaw on the epic achievement of Karl Ove Knausgaard
Book of the Week: Charlotte Grimshaw reviews the titanic, monstrous, final volume of the My Struggle series by the one and only Karl Ove Knausgaard.
