Both funny and insightful, ‘That'd Be Right’ is William McInnes’ third book. It is part memoir, part a personal view of the history of Australia over the last thirty years - a biographical trip told through the author’s own experiences, weaving in and around many events that have held a fascination for Australians of all ages.
Some of these events would be considered momentous, some small and personal. They range from a day at the Melbourne Cup with his mother where too many champagnes and too few winners were picked; a swimming carnival early in the morning after a gloomy and long federal election the night before; watching truly surreal Grand Final moments in a pub with a group of odd and unknown bar companions; and sailing on a massive yacht during the Sydney Olympics while listening to the conversation of an elderly lady from Texas in the cabin below. William also writes about a night at the cricket with his son, which shows how things can come full circle.
McInnes’s laconic voice and easy style added greatly to my enjoyment of this collection of memories filled with politicians, cricketers, Olympians, politicians, media moguls, greenies and dams, elections, action figures, lawn mowing, politicians, blind dates, politicians, elections, Anzacs, cricket wars, swimmers, yacht races and turds. Through it all, we are treated to his father Colin’s comments (and usually his mother Iris’s retorts) on a broad range of subjects. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but also a respectful celebration of an Australia that sadly seems to be fading into the past. ( )

That’d Be Right is the third book by William McInnes, and is subtitled “A fairly true history of modern Australia”. McInnes reminisces on thirty years of Australian life. This book is filled with politicians, cricketers, Olympians, politicians, media moghuls, greenies and dams, elections, action figures, lawn mowing, politicians, blind dates, politicians, elections, Anzacs, cricket wars, swimmers, yacht races and turds. Through it all, we are treated to his father Colin’s comments (and usually his mother Iris’s retorts) on a broad range of subjects. Plenty of laugh out loud moments: an enjoyable read. ( )

This is the second book I've read by this author and I really like his easy style of writing. This was a delight to read, not only for the informative short history of important events in Australia, but for the bonding of these events to sporting events and identities scattered throughout the same time line. I like the way family, friends and strangers all get a mention, and there are some pearls of wisdom from Mum and Dad. ( )

A lovely warm, fuzzy read with lots of laughs. Reading it in public (on the bus, in the lunch room at work) is hazardous because I kept bursting out in giggles. He always gives food for thought while entertaining. A lovely view of Australia and Australians. ( )

That’d be right is the autobiography of Australian actor William McInnes. This is a slice of life story about growing up in Australia in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. McInnes has a fantastic sense of humour and has lead an interesting life. This book however focuses more on football and election events and what was happening in his life at those times. The book only touches on the other events in his life (for instance working on Blue Healers whose name does not even get mentioned).
He has written some other books which I have not read so perhaps he covers his own life more closely in those. For me that was the biggest let down of this book, is that he didn’t delve deeper into the fascinating stories we catch glimpses of in this book. Nether the less the characters that McInnes chose to bring to life are eccentric at worst and hilarious at best.
Dont get me wrong this had some great laugh out loud moments and I did enjoy most of the book. But not being a huge sporting fan or politics fan I probably did not get as much out of it as other might. I am probably being harsh only giving it 3 stars but something held me back from loving this book. ( )