Hugh Mackay's latest book, The Good Life, is unusual in that it is not a report back on the state of mind of the Australian community distilled from his social research. It is much more an appeal to that community to fundamentally reconsider the way they live, the aspirations they nurse and the attitudes they cultivate.

Mackay's book is carefully structured with each of his quite substantial early chapters vigorously unpicking the mirages individuals pursue in search of the good life. The good life, he argues, is not a utopia where children are all "gifted" and adults are all youthful, sexy and materially wealthy. It does not arise necessarily from happiness, certainty, "finding yourself" or incessant good talk.

The good life, when he comes to defining it, is much more simple and much more difficult than that - being bound up with love and respect for others and importantly, it is manifest in what you do rather than what you say. It involves listening, apology for wrongs and the bestowing of forgiveness.

I found myself in a condition of violent agreement with Mackay as I read the opening chapters of his book. I sense frustration in his arguments, as if he had enough of tolerating some of the barmier ideas adrift in our community and just isn't going to take it anymore...or is that just the passion kicking in?

I've been looking for the opportunity to use his three suggested behaviours to lead a good life - and I can tell you it is quite hard for me!  I appreciated this book very much and would recommend it to anyone prepared to confront their assumptions about a good life.