Tim RowseCambridge University PressEdition: Illustrated, 7/23/2002EAN 9780521817837, ISBN10: 0521817838Hardcover, 430 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cmLanguage: EnglishH. C. Coombs was one of the most influential Australians of the twentieth century. Born in 1906, he is best known as the governor of the Reserve Bank, but the breadth of his activities and his commitment to public life until his death is unsurpassed. Tim Rowse traces Coombs' life from his childhood in Western Australia to his many roles as policy maker, change agent, advocate and adviser. Particularly interested in Coombs as an economist, Tim Rowse shows that a key motif in his life as a public servant was to create an economic rationality among the political elite that was socially integrative and that looked beyond the strictures of economics to environmental sustainability, scientific and artistic creativity. This 2002 book covers Coombs' life from birth to death, providing intriguing insights into the life of one of Australia's most influential people.Part I. Learning and Teaching1. Childhood and youth2. Schooling3. Self-possession4. Busselton5. Claremont6. Wheat belt days7. Night student8. Finding the words9. Representing10. MurdochPart II. Liberalism's Crisis11. LSE student12. Politics v. economics13. The money power and its critics14. Poor BritainPart III. The Experts we Need15. A vacancy?16. The economists17. From people's bank to central bank18. Sweden and AustraliaPart IV. New Orders19. Trusting the people20. Reconstruction and feminism21. Fighting for 'yes'22. Soldiers and workersPart V. Internationalist23. Labor's new internationalism24. The diplomacy of security25. Success in London26. Global temptations27. Geneva28. Havana29. An official community30. Coombs the KeynesianPart VI. From Labor to Liberal31. Chifley's 'family'32. The commanding heights?33. The Cold War and CSIRO34. Vice Chancellor?35. Reconstructing Papua New Guinea36. Governor and father37. Chifley's man38. Menzies' man?39. Corporate ElizabethanPart VII. Other People's Money40. Inflation and war41. Wage earners' democracy42. Horror budget43. The Governor muted44. Stern mentor?45. Coombs as boss46. Carrots and sticks47. Women at the bank48. A culture of inflation49. Separation50. A Melanesian way?51. Poor man's overdraft52. Frustrated internationalistPart VIII. Managing Creativity53. Reasonable liberty54. Visualising Australia55. Nuclear matters56. Opera57. Ballet58. In search of an audience59. Re-designing AustraliaPart IX. Labor's Second Chance60. Retirement61. Whitlam conscripts Coombs62. Trade reform63. Two cultural constituencies64. Wages and taxesPart X. Rethink65. The stuffed owl of Minerva66. Nature and human nature67. Economies and communities68. Losing the master key69. The responsive public servantPart XI. Elite Outrider70. Torres Strait71. Conservation and Aborigines72. Bapa DhumbulConclusionhistories nostalgic and hopeful.'This is a remarkable study both for the depth of the research, the intellectual range of the analysis, and the sheer force of the exposition. I recommend it wholeheartedly.' Stuart Macintyre 'This is an excellent account of an excellent Australian.' Professor Geoffrey Bolton
