Richard Cooke, Walkley Award–winning journalist and contributing editor to The Monthly, chats with us about volunteer editors, online idealism and the strange, sprawling project that became the world's encyclopedia – all explored in his new book, The Last Best Place on the Internet: A Human History of Wikipedia, which publishes 13 October 2026.

Rome is a city where layers of history reveal themselves at every turn: ancient temples and winding streets sit alongside traditional bars, beloved pasta dishes and memories of liberation. Matthew Kneale, author of The Shortest History of Rome, shares some of the places, flavours and stories that bring the Eternal City to life.

We asked Kneale how he’d spend just 24 hours in Rome, where to find a favourite local treat, which moment in the city’s history he finds most moving, and what surprised him while researching the book.

Madrid is a city that rewards curiosity: world-famous art and royal palaces sit alongside late-night bars, contemporary cultural spaces and streets filled with traces of a dramatic past. Linda Jaivin, author of The Shortest History of Madrid, takes us through some of the places and stories that bring the Spanish capital to life.

We asked Jaivin how she’d spend just 24 hours in Madrid, where she goes for contemporary culture, which period of the city’s history she’d most like to revisit, and what surprised her while researching the book.

Dublin is a city where history, literature and everyday life are intimately entwined. Its Georgian squares, great libraries and museums sit alongside beloved pubs, bookshops and a coastline that’s never far away. Gillian O’Brien, author of The Shortest History of Dublin, knows the stories behind this endlessly fascinating city.

We asked O’Brien how she’d spend just 24 hours in Dublin, the local secret she recommends to visitors, which period in the city’s history she finds most memorable, and the surprising tale she uncovered while writing the book.

Delhi is a city of extraordinary layers, where centuries of conquest, destruction and rebuilding have left their mark on everything from monumental tombs and mosques to crowded laneways and neighbourhood markets. John Zubrzycki, author of The Shortest History of Delhi, knows those layers better than most.

We asked Zubrzycki how he’d spend just 24 hours in the city, where to escape the crowds, which historical place he returns to, and what surprised him most while writing the book.

Berlin is a city built and rebuilt, shaped by grand ambitions, devastating ruptures and a restless urge to reinvent itself. Few writers know its layers as intimately as Rory MacLean, author of The Shortest History of Berlin.

We asked MacLean to take us beyond the usual tourist itinerary: where he’d go with just 24 hours in the city, the local places worth seeking out, the moment in Berlin’s cultural history that means the most to him, and one particularly useful lesson learned along the way.

In a fascinating Q&A, Kate Grenville tells us how she pieced together the story of Joseph Connor from a bundle of archival letters and reflects on the judgements we make when the truth is only ever partial. 

October 2026 brings three standout new titles: The Country Schoolmaster by Kate Grenville; The Last Best Place on the Internet by Ricahrd Cooke, a human history of Wikipedia; and Our Place by Matt Lloyd-Cape who shows us how to solve the housing crisis and rebuild the Australian dream.

Are we ready for our post-American future? In an era of rising danger for all, and dramatic choices for Australia, Hugh White explores how the world is changing and how Australia should respond.

‘Informative and timely ’—Books+Publishing