John Hirst is a widely respected historian and social commentator. A former reader in history at La Trobe University, he wrote the official history of Australia for new citizens and took a prominent part in the History Summit convened by the prime minister in 2006. He is a member of the Film Australia Board and the National Museum council. John Hirst is the author of numerous books, including The Australians: Insiders and Outsiders on the National Character since 1770, Freedom on the Fatal Shore: Australia's First Colony, Sense & Nonsense in Australian History, The Shortest History of Europe and Looking for Australia.